We had a swim team meal on her birthday so we brought the cake!
She ended the night of her actual Birthday by throwing away her car seat!
On Sunday, we enjoyed lunch with my parents and then Kendall, Lily and I headed to the mall. Kendall called this “a big girl shopping trip.”
Of course, we had to go to “Build a Bear”
Both Kendall and Lily had to buy their own scent!
After finishing a lot of shopping, Kendall chose to eat at “Olive Garden”
Desert to go!
June was a difficult month both financial and emotional. Things did not at all go as planned with my mother accident and hospitalization. Today, I feel like our summer has official started so I hope to enjoy some down time and get things in proper order for the upcoming months.
Personal-
1. Blogging– Post 20 per month. Fail. This is post number 12. I started out strong but things change. Next month should be better!
2.Weight Loss– 175#. I am proud to say that I have been able to exercise at least 3 times a week this month but the scale is still not my friend.
3. Spiritual– Spend at least 5 days a week, reading and studying The Bible. Nope. I am hoping to finish reading through the Bible this month and start something new.
Personal goals are a failure this month. Not much more to say in regards to that.
Financial-
1. Set aside money each month in every budget category. Fail
2. Establish and maintain Emergency Fund- Fail.
3. Groceries: Goal is for $700. Goal Met. We spent $356 in Groceries this month. I am so excited to see this number and I hope to have a repeat for the next 2 months. I will say that my cabinets are starting to look a little bare but with veggies and stuff coming in our freezers are full!
4. Gas: Spend $400 a month- Goal Met! Still have $54 to spare.
5. Pay off all Credit Card debit by December 2016- Fail. I am meeting bare minimal payments on everything but really was hoping to begin to get control and reduce this number.
As you can tell we are struggling. My goal for July is to use the third paycheck of the month to get us back on track. We have been doing some belt tightening in June and plan to continue in July but also enjoy our summer!
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This is a picture that I took last night of Zach. I am truly amazed at it. Zach is the only one of my children who did not like the water. We spend a big part of our summer at the pool most years but Zach has always preferred to play on the edge or just watch others until this year. He decided that he was going to swim on the swim team and then decide he wanted to play in the deep end. When I arrived after work yesterday, he wanted me to watch him go off the diving board, so of course I had to take a picture.
The weather today is different, it is less humid but very cloudy. We spent the morning outside working in the garden. We were able to pick another couple of family servings of green beans, which have already been cooked and placed in the freezer. We also unfortunately had to pull some plants like our snap peas, which have stopped producing and several of our squash plants which have been attacked by the squash bug. We also tied up tomatoes which I really really hope start to produce in the next couple of weeks.
Lily will be arriving home from camp this afternoon so the current plan is to wash her clothes and we may end up renting a movie.
I have several items that I need to take care of on this not the best of days to go to the pool including a monthly calendar and menu plan for the next couple of weeks.
Bring on Summer play!
I let both Kendall and Zach take pictures at the swim meet yesterday. They both got several good shots.
Kendall loves the Back Stroke
Matt hard at work as the stroke judge
1. Last Thursday night my mother fell and broke her hip on her amputee leg. I have spent the majority of the past week either at the hospital or talking with some who is at the hospital. Fortunately, she was able to return home last night. I know that the next 3 months are going to be super busy but I am so thankful she is home and not in pain.
2. We did pick up the 120# of chicken on Tuesday. I am planning a post with all the details for this weekend.
3. Lily leaves from her first overnight camp on Monday. She will not return until next Saturday.
4. Zach has been undergoing some dental work the past couple of weeks. The process is both expensive and emotionally draining.
5. Lily was accepted into a charter school and will begin in the fall.
Our first official harvest from this morning. We have been collecting and freezing basil for the past few weeks and have used a couple of squash, but this is the beginning of what I hope to be a very productive season for us.