Claudette is gone and the sunshine is bright. Watching the weather on Monday, Joshua said, "it can't rain, the sign said Florida is the sunshine state!"

This is a picture of a Pirate Ship that passed by yesterday. I have talked with Joshua about pirates, but must have left out a small detail...at what time period they lived. When we saw this ship he got really excited, it even shot off a cannon! He ran and grabbed the binoculars and with a very serious tone exclaimed, "it is not a real pirate ship...they are all wearing swimming trunks!" Then looking again he said, "and only one person is wearing a hat...wait...it is a sunhat...and a girl is driving the ship, definitely not a real pirate ship!" I love this age!


Lots and lots and lots of sandcastles, dams, holes-yes just holes...

Here is Katherine looking so sweet. Ibuprofen is a wonderful thing. She woke up with a fever yesterday...we are bracing for what may follow. Right now it is just a fever. When the meds begin to work she joins us for some fun. We are hoping she can get in the pool tomorrow.

I get to have fun too!

Isn't this photo so good? We took about 250 of them before everyone smiled, looked at the camera, turned the right direction, opened both eyes...


Our days are all running together at this point. We get up around 6:00-6:30 eat breakfast and suprisingly are the first ones on the beach. We come in for lunch then hit the pool and beach again. Then, I get dragged into the condo...kicking and screaming...for dinner (which I have to prepare!). After dinner, it is back to the beach for a sunset walk. I love Florida!

Vacation

We are enjoying our time in Destin, FL. With the exception of Claudette, an uninvited guest, we are having a good time. Here are a few photos from our first day at the beach. We are hoping to be able to go outside again tomorrow.


Ready, set, jump!

Lydia rolls in the waves all day!Katherine rolling in the waves like her big sister. She learned quickly to lay with her head away from the water...and to lay on her back-not her belly!

Lydia and Steve getting a bit deeper. Due to the tropical storm about to hit, the waves are large and the current is strong so we were not able to go very deep.


More to come...

Back to School

The supplies. I had so many that the cashier at Walmart asked me if I was a school teacher!

As a child, I loved going back to school in the fall. The new clothes and shoes, sharp crayons, crisp notebooks, and friends. It is a bitter-sweet time as summer is coming to a close - I have always loved summertime, but fall is around the corner. Autumn brings beautiful colors, crisp mornings, holidays, and of course my birthday. I really like autumn also, we have many fun traditions. Although, nothing beats a lazy summer day in the pool. Okay, "lazy" is not an accurate description-but you get my point.

The girls started pre-school today. Lydia goes three days and week and Katherine goes one day a week. Joshua will begin Kindergarten this year, but his school begins later.

(For my OT/PT friends, Katherine's backpack appears huge but really is stuffed with a change of clothes and a blanket for rest time so it is not too heavy!)

WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!!

Yes, we are debt free! We recently made the last payment on Steve's student loans!!!! We are now debt free except for our house. If you read my blog, you will remember the post last January about post-poning our hardwood floors. I still have my ugly carpet but it was worth it!!!!

Spring 2008 we completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University through our church. Prior to the class we had a budget, used the cash envelope system, and were making slow progress on our debt. The average person who completes FPU is debt free (except for their house) in 18-24 months. We had a large sum remaining and figured we would be closer to 3 or so years...13 months later we mailed the final check.

The end result is great. However, the process is pretty great as well. It requires that you and your spouse are completely 100% on the same page when it comes to finances. No, you won't always agree, but you compromise and decide what is best long-term for the family. It is not always easy but just like anything else, you work as a team and get it done. Other than good communication, it really is nothing more than what every generation before the 1980's did-spend less than what you make. It really is financial peace.

Our children, although young have learned alot in the process as well. Here are some of the many conversations we have had in the past year:

We have been in dire need of sand in our sandbox for about a month...the other day Joshua said, "now that we are debt free, we can start saving up to buy some sand!"

Lydia noticed Oreos come in pink now and wanted to buy some. I explained they were not on sale and we could not get them. Later, after coming home she asked, "is it wrong to buy something not on sale?"
Me, wanting to clarify what she asked said, "wrong?"
Lydia, "yes, bad, like something only bad people do?"
Me, "no, why do you ask that?"
Lydia, "then why don't you ever buy anything not on sale?"

Grandpa T. to Joshua, "when are you getting a swimming pool?"
Joshua, "after we are debt free"
Grandpa T. "do you know what debt is?"
Joshua, "no"

Often at our home you will find the kids having a yard sale and the other day Joshua and Lydia were having a buget meeting. A constant reminder that we are teachers at all times.


"Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." Dave Ramsey

or my favorite

"Live like no one else so later you can give like no one else." Dave Ramsey