No, I Will Not Help You Move....

So, I feel like its been forever since I've written, but its only been a week. We've had so much, and still do, on our plate that I feel like we're kind of stuck in the eye of the storm trying to find our way out. Don't worry, nothing bad, just making some big decisions.

So in my last blog I mentioned our rental situation and my concerns about how that might play out. Well our renters have renewed their lease so that is a weight lifted off of our shoulders. They seem to be happy there but we are having some plumbing issues at the condo right now that we are trying to resolve in a cheap and easy manner. Luckily, if there is one industry our family is full of help, it would be plumbing. Larry and Daniel are going to clear the lines, install new toilets, and faucets that Mike was able to get through work. Like I said, we've got good connections as far as plumbing is concerned. So hopefully this will all be worked out in the next couple of weeks.

Now as far as our living situation goes, we're still in limbo. We decided that we need to be saving some money each month and rent seems to be a good place to start looking, especially because we have rental income and an opportunity to be making some money instead of spending more. So we bit the bullet, so to speak, and told our landlords that if possible we need a rental decrease or we would have to give our notice instead of renewing. You know me, I'm all over craigslist and I know we can find something cheaper, of course with way less room and probably minus the backyard, etc...but what's important right now is saving money and not worrying about how we are going to pay our bills in order to keep a big house. So after a week of waiting, we finally heard back from the landlords and they are considering lowering the rent but are also considering selling the house so...we're still in limbo. Next step, Mike's truck. We've been trying to sell that thing for a couple of years now. Its a great truck, low mileage, and in perfect condition but the reality is our car payment was ideal for a dual income family, not just one especially when it doesn't get driven at all. But the economy being what it is, we've been so upside down in the loan that we couldn't even pawn the thing off...until now. After some research, multiple days at the dealership, so many trips back and forth that I lost count... finally got rid of the truck and bought (we like to say hoopty, but its not really) an older model Expedition. Since I don't drive anywhere, at least not in the extra car, gas was not really a concern. We wanted cheap and safe. It literally was one of the cheapest on the lot and we think its a steal and its a great car we can grow into without Mike giving into the minivan pull, he's been very persistent about "never" driving one, plus we're able to save lots of money a month, and it will be paid off in the same time we had left on the truck loan. Oh yeah, did I mention Mike is loving the idea of not getting called to help people move anymore...not that he really minds, but its just another little thing us lazy bodies are excited about. So all in all, we're making great strides to fulfill our goal of saving money and making better decisions.

Onto lighter notes...last week Van had school pictures so I thought I would post some. This week he's had a fabulous week at school and really enjoyed it, never giving us a hard time about going or having to stay there, but actually going willingly. Hopefully we've reached a turning point, or at least we had a great week. The week of the pictures was still during Van's difficult times, as you'll see in the group shot (just posted so you can see the hysterics). Also, the mom who took the pics also captured some of Ava and either she's getting cuter by the day or that mom is the best photographer around. Although I can't take credit for taking the pics, I will take credit for posting them. Enjoy.

Sweet....sometimes

that was the best smile we could get

as her uncle jarod says...just look at those eyes, we're doomed

...and suckers for those big wide mouth smiles

another pic of them in the same frame...again, you take what you can get, right?

Okay this was the group one I mentioned, check out Van, front row on the right

That's all for now. Leaving for Hawaii in 4 days, may not be back before then...so it may be awhile before you hear from me. I'll try to keep you posted.

B