Living life in the construction zone!

We have had a BUSY 4 weeks.

(Honestly, more like "Can't catch a break kind of 4 weeks!")
And we felt like this ALOT the past month.

We had some renovations done on the downstairs of our home. We had a new ceiling, lighting and flooring installed. The journey getting there was a challenge with two small kids. It is ever so challenging to live mainly on the upstairs of your home, when your children are way too curious about all the construction on the lower level~!STRESS!
I had to be creative with the cooking, amongst all the drywall floating around.
Only so much $ allowed for takeout. I for one love to cook! However, I do not love a messy house and cooking in one. It was alot of added stress to my life and trying to contain our busy two year old and keep him out of the big buckets for drywall, and the raftors=super stress!

(Caught in action "jumping"on the raftors during renovation time).
I don't recommend cleaning the drywall on your countertops nightly. It was a waste of my time to go into the kitchen and clean every night!
Needless to say that part of the construction took just about 11 days and dead smack into the end of the contruction we hit a HUGE curve ball.
As I blogged earlier-we had been waiting for Feb. 3 to come. We had sleepless nights and a miserable two year old. He had not been responding the last 3 antibiotics for ongoing ear infections. So, Feb finally arrived and it was the night before Kaden's surgery.
Day 8 of renovation was the night before Kaden's surgey.
I had to take Parker over to a friends to spend the night. We had to be at the hospital super early for Kaden's surgery.
Therefore, a sleepover was in the plans for Parker.
I got home 1 hour later to find our hot water heater exploding in the garage.YUP!
A flood of water came streaming down our driveway.  I was shocked! I opened up the garage storage room and it sounded like a shower was running in our garage. I just stood there starring and was completely NUMB. I was in complete, utter, shock!  It really felt like an out of body experience. I was not really seeing it. But I snapped back into reality ~and it was REAL!
Mike was still at work (wrapping up a corporate meeting);I call him in a complete panic and demand that he leave immediately.
I was not a sweet "Proverbs 31" wife at the moment.
I think my tone was calm, but I honestly have NO clue what I said?
I was still trying to unwind from all the construction inside, and preparing for Kaden's surgery in the AM. I was really not prepared for the Hot Water Heater explosion. I was actually saying "WHY!?The night before surgery!?" Really God!??? (A lot of laughter because tears had already overflowed the week before.) "We really can not take anything more."
I called our neighbors, the Hoeyes, and they came right down while Mike was in in route.
They figured out how to shut off the water and gas. Mike was home within 20 min and they investigated the outside meter and it appeared to be a leak going on underground as well.
We called the water company and of course, it was our fault! Not theirs. So the water was shut off!
LOVELY!
No water before a 4:30 wakeup time....NOT fun! We had to be out the door by 5:30 for Kaden's surgery. I don't really think Mike nor I slept much that night.
All Mike was seeing was $$$$$ in his sleep and all I was seeing ?????!!!and thinking~ "OH NO,one more thing of chaos"
So, first thing in the morning we headed up to the hospital and got Kaden all prepped for his Tubes.
  
About 7:20AM they came and wheeled him off to surgery in a wagon.
 He LOVED it! (SMART distraction for a 2 year old!) No tears at all.

Once he was wheeled off, guess what we were doing?
We were on the phone calling plumbing companies.
Great distraction while your child is in surgery...just spend the time and call all the plumbing companies and see who can service you ASAP!
I was on the phone with the local plumbing company setting up a 9AM arrival and in walks the surgeon.
(WOW! That was a fast 13 minutes!.)
I quickly hang up and tell them I will call them back and we hear from the surgeon~
"Everything went great! I drained out his right ear! He was a trooper. No tears the whole time and everything was smooth sailing, he should be peacefully sleeping come today!"
He did fabulous and only cried for about 30 min following surgery.
He has been a different kid ever since!
We are so happy we went through with it for him. This construction was so worth it for him.
His little body had been exposed to so many antibiotics and could not snap those ear infections out of his system. The ears are draining and doing well.
Speaking of draining~As for that water damage that was going on the night before his surgery,it got it all fixed by 3PM.
A 6 hour job; a new underground pipe,a new valving system completely replaced and a new hot water heater!

 Emergency funds are a great thing to have when you own a home! :)
We finally were back on the uphill journey as the end of renovation was wrapping up and then Kaden picked up a virus following surgery. :( That kept us housebound.
Kaden finally recovered, was back to sleeping 3-4 hour naps daily and 13 hours of sleep uninterrupted at night.
And then the very next weekend, Parker's asthma flared up and he went into a really bad attack! So, we added the nebulizer back into his life, 3 days of Prednisone and finally got him back to well.


I had days that I felt like I could take anything! And I had my days where I felt like there was nothing left of me to conquer another "disaster" or "issue."
Many mornings-I would pray; "What is going to happen today? God, we are in this together and I am ready!"
Thankfully, both of the boys are on the mend and Mike and I stayed well!
We are coveting all the prayers of protection around us.
I know Satan really wanted to get in the middle of Mike and me.
However, I kept praying "Lord, help us come out shining like gold!" I don't want to look ugly!" I trust in your timing but I really don't like all that has happend in just 2 weeks!
I had my days that I really got down and discouraged and panicked alot about the list adding up financially.
However, God continued to remind us that he has never once let us down and his ways are greater then ours! (And he always provides!)
I kept coming back to Jeremiah 33:3,"Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not!"
Isn't that the truth! Our home is his and our lives belong to him.
He is in charge yet we have plans! But he can wake you up and change plans in an instant.
The Lord was in the midst of it all! The night our water heater busted, I happened to have been out.(Many nights we are home and boys are in bed by 8PM) Good thing I had to be out, or we may have found out about the end of it's journey in a bad way.
Our water heater was withinin a few hours of a gas fire! (Quoted from the Plumber and Gas specialist who had already seen the copper burning away at the bottom of the water tank).
So, we could have had a gas fire occur. Our water heater was 17 years old. Most water tanks have a 10-13 year life span. EEEK!!! (Sadly,we have been homeowners for 7 years and just learned this.)
So make special note and go check your water heater. If your water heater is older then 13 years get it replaced and save some chaos and $$.
I don't want to go through it all again.
However, I am thankful for the lessons, new renovations and most of all happy to have our home AND Kaden all fixed!

 *Happy moment they were enjoying a cakepop from mommy on Valentines Day!:)
Until our next "piece" of excitement,
Blessings to all,
Jenn :)

Now offering Riese's Piece's Cake Pops & Truffles

Here they are all wrapped! I just made these triple chocolate cake pops for my sister in law's baby shower! They were loved by all.
The joyful thing about a cake pop or truffle, is that it is just the right size for that sweet little crave! You walk away not feeling guilty for having one! They freeze well and are great to pull out when you just want something sweet.
So that's why my new business card says "enjoy some of life's sweet delights!"

I have officially started a business!
I am dipping cake pops all week for a fall festival this coming Saturday. I am loving it and hoping not to come home with any or very little.
My cake pops and truffles can be shipped 8 months out of the year too. September -April.
Current flavors are:
*Apple Cinnamon,(dipped in white and cinnamon/sugar for garnish)
Butter cream,(dipped in white and Pepridge Farm cookie crumbs for garnish)
Triple chocolate( dipped in chocolate and seasonal colored sprinkles for garnish)
Oreo Cookie( dipped in White or chocolate upon request and cookie crumbs)
Strawberry (dipped in white& red sprinkles for garnish)
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (homemade batch of cookie mix and dipped in chocolate and peanut butter)
*Pumpkin-(Dipped in white chocolate and pumpkin almonds for garnish)
Red Velvet(dipped in white or chocolate upon request and red drizzle for garnish)
Chocolate Mint( dipped in chocolate and garnished with Andes Mint Pieces)
Smore Bites-(Marshmallow bites dipped in chocolate and garnished with graham cracker crumbs)


Let me know what flavor and colors you'd like and allow me to make a unique favor, or gift for all.
Cake Pops and Truffle =$1.00 a piece.
Custom orders that need extra detail =$2.00 a piece.
Shipping $8.00 

A day off from my full time job.....

It was a real joy to celebrate another special Mother's Day with Mike and our two sweet boys. I am amazed that God has chosen for me to be a mom. Being a mom has a vast responsibility! The definition of MOM with all it's requirements is somewhat overwhelming but some days rewarding!
I do not say that in a negative way at all. However, I treasure my opportunity to just stay home and be MOM. But, I do not know how Mom's do it in the career world full time? I completely respect each one's convictions but right now-I need to be home. Some days I miss the classroom but I really am grateful to God that I can just be home and "teach" our boys.
So, how much value and worth is a full time mom?
Check out this article for the full breakdown on a mother's worth (click on the back button to see all the roles for what a mom does)....


If you were to put a price on all the roles of "mom" per year here is an idea:

•   cook ($27,000)
• maid ($20,000)
• laundry service ($20,000)
• Psychologist($76,000)
• TOTAL VALUE OF A FULL TIME MOM =$143,000

But I think our real reward will one day be in heaven.
However, I love the Psychologist role-all those teachable moments and moments we don't love so much (the lecture or time out in Target or at Chic-fil-a) are worth over $38.00 an hour! I do not want to get money for being a mom, but it is sure nice to feel appreciated and have some time off occassionally. WOW, if you are full time MOM you are worth $115,000 a year! Give yourself a pat on the back. If you are working mom, you are worth an additional $65,000 (something to be proud of :)!
As Mike would say,I get so caught up in the stress and full load of being MOM, (24/7)~I rarely sit back and enjoy the little joys! (Sigh) I am trying to relish the moments better and not get so worked up about the small things. As many of you know, we don't have family in town, so rarely do I get a full day off!(But then again? What full time Mom does?) Now that we have 2 kids, I have a greater appreciation for "Mother's Day" and the "holiday" that it is :) It is starting to become a favorite holiday of mine. This is the one day a year that I must say, Mike goes ALL out to make sure I am pampered, appreciated, and treated like a "queen." Not having family in town, he knows how tireing it gets and I know he feels like he has 2 jobs-but he NEVER complains about it,and makes sure I get my breaks! :)
(I do not deserve MIKE-he is a gem and has been such a blessing to me :)
He took me out to dinner and a movie (without the boys on Saturday night). Sunday we spent the whole day as a family. A trip to Starbucks, church, my favorite BBQ and spending the day as a family :) Mike had to leave for Brazil on Mother's Night. He made sure to get the most of the day spent at home. The night ended with my favorite ice-cream sandwiches....Chocolate Mint Skinny Cows! It was so sweet to eat my favorite ice-cream dessert with Parker. I am so blessed.

 (This is a hilarious photo and the best we got....Kaden is being Kaden and Parker, (DOES NOT want to take a photo)

 (Mother's Day Luncheon; I had another sweet time with Parker at his pre-school.) I am so in love with this little boy (even when he is SO strong willed). Photo can not show it, but he just started getting freckles!!! :)

(Heart Attack on a plate! (AKA=Ooh-La-La) from a famous restaurant in downtown Acworth! It was my Mommy night out meal. I was running it off the next morning :)
Mike always is looking for a "gift" idea for Mother's day-but I gave a big hint that my biggest desire this year was a day off! (I do not say that in a negative way, or to say I do not appreciate or LOVE being MOM (24/7), but there is something special about a big upcoming "day off"!)
I come back refreshed and renewed. If you have family in town and get breaks frequently, cherish it! I am trying to focus all of my time on the boys. BUT, I fail many days, as I get impatient and stressed. But I am so glad that each day is a NEW day. I think my 7 years of teaching and creating lesson plans set a standard for my expectation of "mommy-hood" ERASE!!!! ERASE!!!! I have learned that there are NO lesson plans in the world of "MOM", but it is still good to have a set schedule for general routines. However, I have had to BE FLEXIBLE and most of all be a role-model! (That is so humbling and I fail so much). I want our boys to grow up with a love and desire to serve the Lord, respect authority, and be a gentleman :)
Since there are NO days off and NO weekends in the world of MOM, my wish was granted. That longing for an end in sight, a day off, something to look forward too-NO "kid" responsibilities etc. was given to me by Mike and the boys. Mike took an upcoming Friday off and gave me some $$ for some shopping (for ME???!) I guess I shop for the boys so much, I don't do much for myself anymore.
 I think I have convinced Joy to go with me. (Anybody else want to join us?) Looks like we will be going, Friday, May27th around 10AM!) THANK YOU, Mike! Good luck :) But, I already know me....I will be leaving Mike a schedule,  I will be calling in and YES, I will miss them :) But, I will try not to feel guilty when I am away for the day.
"MOM, before I became a mom, I never grasped why you always wanted a quiet house and NO gifts! It all makes sense now!" Mom always said that all she wanted for Mother's day was "a cup of tea, a quiet house and time to read (uninterrupted)!" WOW-two kids later...I get it!
My mother and my mother-in-law have taught me SO much about being a mom, comforted my heart during frustration or failure and laughed with me during milestones accomplished or just memorable moments with the boys. (And they often remind me in moments that I don't find funny-that I will one day laugh!:) THANK YOU both for being a Proverbs 31 role model! I could not be where I am today without both of you in my life.
I have come to accept that it is important for me to have that alone time as a mom. So, May 27th is coming and I can't wait.  Some day when I have many hours and moments "Off" I will be wishing these days and moments back.
So, what do you do for yourself on a weekly basis to get time "off" for yourself?
I know that many of you have similar situations like me-and I would love your ideas, besides the obvious (Trip to target, working out at the Y) :)
I would not get this day off if it were not for our two sweet boys. I have to share a cute video of Parker singing his version of the "A,B,C's"-He does not say "L,m,n,o,p"-instead it comes out "I'm a little P!" It is priceless and THIS is why I LOVE staying home and capturing these moments.
Blessed Mommy :)

SWEETPEA, it's a BOY: The $6000 Savings Baby

Kaden Mikah Ramsey Riese

Surprise, It's a Boy!

And a surprise, indeed, that December 28th is Kaden's birthdate.

We are thrilled and happy to announce our adorable 7lb 6oz, 18 1/2" healthy 36-week brown-haired baby boy.  He was born via scheduled [as of this afternoon] c-section, and arrived at 5:30pm.

Kaden and Mom are doing well.  Parker and Dad are holding down the fort and waiting for NeNe and Papa to arrive on the 29th!

Thank you for all the love and prayers.  More photos to come!

*****

Yes, those of you who know the father, will appreciate the second middle name as well as give Mike props for lucking out on his son's healthy birth and bypassing the January 1st change in health insurance.  Stay tuned in to Dave Ramsey... 

Tax Deduction Baby??!

Is what Daddy is really hoping for...Mommy-not so much! 

Today, we had my 36 week check up and we got some surprising news. I am already 2cm and 50 % effaced. Now, of course many mom's walk around being dialated for awhile-but I can only dialate to 5 and then my OB has to schedule me for my c-section. My OB said the baby is definitely not going to make it to Jan. 13th! She can not automatically schedule us next week for a c-section because I will not be 38 weeks (GA state Law for inductions or scheduled c-sections) But- Mike would be thrilled if we really have "Sweet Pea"  come naturally by  next Friday. From Mike's world as a CPA He is looking at things financially! -It would save us just about $7,000 to have the baby before the 31st. We will be switching to a new Health Care plan for GE on Jan. 1st. And unfortunately, we have a lovely 5k deductible on top of  oweing 20% of my hospital visit! But of course if the baby comes-before the year is over, it is all under the OLD plan and how amazing that it is 100% covered! Mike obviously cares most about the health and safety of me and the baby! But  he just reminded me of all that info today! No pressure on me by any means!!!!! I am having more frequent Braxton Hicks-but I am SO content for Baby to stay in as long as possible for the growth of the lungs and health over all! Not to mention that my mom doesn't come in until Jan. 9th and Uncle Rick and Aunt La-La (our neighbors and close friends who will take care of Parker if I go in before the 13th) are headed to FL next week! We do have some back up plans just in case. God really has a great sense of humor. I know that the moment we found out that we were expecting "Sweet Pea," God already knew how the whole ending would/will unfold. It really is a waiting window now for us. I really do not want the baby to come before the 5th- but that is me the "Planner/teacher" speaking! Keep us in your prayers over the next week! I did video the baby's heartbeat today (just for a fun memory). Heart was beating at  143 and that is really close to what Parker always was! I say BOY and Mike says GIRL!

We have been enjoying our time with Parker as we get ready for the Christmas Holiday!

I Love this photo of him looking so innocent and sweet!

 This past weekend we had a special visit from my College Friend, Krisha -her Husband Dave, and their 4 boys! Yes...We had a house of 5 little boys running around and Parker loved it! He was unsure what to think at first-but the boys showed him some new ways to play "Basketball" and now he loves it even more. They spent 1 night with us and are in FL for the week visiting some family. We will see them the beginning of next week before they head back to MI.

                       

                       I finally got our Christmas decorations up and

                       I really did keep it SIMPLE!

 

(The Wall Hanging Parker made at Pre-School!)

 I will add the video soon of Sweet Pea's heartbeat!

Next visit with my OB is on Tuesday at 10:30AM!

We will keep you posted!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Shoe Deal of the Year...Thanks to Oprah and Payless!

I had an Alexander (Horrible, NoGood, Very Bad day)-yesterday! I was really down and then discovered that my steroid I am currently taken for my asthma flarring up- is the main reason for it! So, I am grateful that I do not have to take it every day. So, I didn't need to take it last night and had a very productive day today! :)

My day ended on a very happy note. Simple things really make this pregnant~ stay at home mama happy and shoes REALLY make me happy!
I was watching Oprah today and at the end of the show-they announced that for the next 24 hours, you can get 50%off your total purchase at Payless .

I thought it had to have a catch! Funny thing was-, I was just "crying" the other day to Mike that I don't have black boots anymore and my feet have grown~ (obviously with the pregnancy). I desperately needed some good ol' black flats! I went to Oprah's website, printed the coupon and tested the sale tonight! One important little detail- I only had 30 minutes to shop!

Mike got home at 6:30 and I needed to be back by 7:15. (He had a softball game at 8 tonight). Well, I was focused and had a list of what I needed the minute I entered the store.

Here is how I did....(and the total for each shoe item(s) is after my 50%)

4 Pairs of flat ballets =$32.00

(2 favorites that I had to get -I LOVE Purple!)

2 Pairs of boots (1 short pair and 1 knee length pair) =$30.00

2 Pair of shoes for Parker=$16.50

2 pairs of socks= $2.50

1 set of (3 pair of earrings)=$2.00

All came to $87.00 (and that was with the tax)

My receipt came to $165.93 ~BUT after the 50% off coupon I saved $83.00!

So, I got all of the above for $87.94 in 25 minutes!

The ladies in the store were impressed to see a pregnant girl shop that fast!

Check out the Payless near you to save 50% if you read this post before 9PM on Friday, 10/30!

Thanks Payless and Oprah for making a pregnant mommy very happy!

Happy Shoe Girl,

Jenn :)

BUNKO "Queen!"

Great story to share~
Tuesday night I had the best night playing with 11 of my neighborhood girl-friends(whom I am still getting accquainted with!)
In the south it is a tradition for many of the neighborhoods to have a Bunko Club! There are 12 members for 1 year and you meet 1 time each month at the neighborhood clubhouse or (in our case) at one of the member's homes. (Each lady hosts bunko 1 time a year!)
Top ten reasons to play BUNKO

1. Fellowship-someone is cooking you dinner
2. Play the BUNKO GAME -aiming to WIN
   
3. Laugh often,eat great foods, see each other's home
   
4. Get prizes for winning the most rounds
5. Get a prize for losing the most rounds
6. Get a prize if your name is drawn out of the Door prize bowl
7. Get a prize for having the most Bunkos
   
8. It only costs $5.00 (and you could walk away with 50-$100.00 in gifts)
9. get to know more about each other's family
10. Have some company while DH is away -or great excuse to get out of the house (after a long stressful day!)
    

I was asked to become a sub member in Aug. and I willingly said "yes" since BUNKO is on Tuesday's nights and my lovely Mike-is away most Tuesdays.
I went last night and had the time of my life-no clue that I would walk away with 2 gifts and be so tired...but relaxed when I got home!
Here is the object of the game-(not sure this makes sense)....

• In the game of Bunko you have 3 sets of dice(3 in each set) you split up into groups of 4....go to 3 different rooms and play the game (at the same time).
  
• When the head table rings the bell-the game begins.
• The Goal of the game is to aim for the digit on your paper (to roll that) on the dice. We have 6 digits on the dice-so you begin with 1 -
• Each play takes a turn rolling the dice...any time that I roll that dice on Round 1 -and it has a 1 dot on it-you get a tally mark....you continue this each time...till you can not roll that number.
  
• You also gain the points of your partner!
  
• If at any time on your roll that you accomplish to roll 3 of that digit...it is called a BUNKO and you automatically win that round with your partner (no matter wich team -at the table was ahead!)
• Once you hear BUNKO- or JUST the Head table (who rings the bell) gets to 21 then the round ends
  
• Then you move on to the next room and begin playing the next row...which would be 2's!

All of that to say.... I am known for 1 month know as the BUNKO queen -until Jan. 9th- because I successfully had 3 BUNKOS last night!(It is totally on a luck of the throw of dice!) I was thrilled and more shocked at how many Bunkos I had. Then to make matters funnier I also gained the door prize of the night-they drew my name and I got a beautiful serving casserole platter and Iron rod stand for it. My Bunko prize was a crystal dish!
I can not wait till I host it...and have no clue what my theme or meal will be! Good thing is-I can sit and ponder it for 4 months!( I do not host BUNKO until April 9th!)
In the meantime I have many more things that will preoccupy my mind: Work-Christmas presents-Christmas cards, Mike( and I am excited to see him...he is on his way home)!
I am so glad I could bore you with my life of BUNKO World!
Until next time-
Blessing to you all,
Jennifer (aka: "BUNKO QUEEN!")

Debt Free Cars !

What an amazing year it has been for Mike and I since joining the "Dave Ramsey-Total Money Makeover!"
It all started 1 year ago when a good friend of ours from Church told us about Dave Ramsey! Mike finally heard Dave Ramsey on the Radio and decided to check him out! He called into the show, got his book (free...of course)- Mike has his ways) and read it in 2 days! Once he had the book read the road to "being out of debt" began for us!
We paid off Mike's car in the spring- 1 year early. And as of Saturday, Nov.18th, we paid off my car -3 years early! It is exciting to know that we know have no more car payments! We still have college debt and then the house mortgage to go, but drum roll please.....We have officially paid off $29,7000 of debt in 1 year! Having a marriage where we know where we are headed financially is key! So many marriages have fallen apart because of finances and we are looking forward to "living like no one else now-so we can live like no one else later!"
Saturday-was a good day for us too,because we got to go see Dave Ramsey LIVE! It was a great seminar and we highly recomend anyone to go to him.
Check out his site:Http://www.daveramsey.com
I am not sure if I am excited because it is Tuesday afternoon and I have a break for 3 days-or that fact that we are getting out of debt!?? One way or the other I am looking forward to relaxing and staying in GA with friends from Charlotte (Chris and Meghan Metzler!)
We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday-We are very thankful to have that chunk of debt behind us!
Blessings,
Jenn and Mike

Finally! A Bedroom Set for our House!

I got an email yesterday from the Development Office (here at school-) telling me that if I bought 1 item from our Christian Collection Catalog sale, from my class consumption-I would win $100! (My class had to sell 210 items...total! They sold 209!) I hardly had to hesitate to spend $8-10.00 on an item that would in return allow me to gain $100.00! (Actually I would really get ...($82.00 to make out for the money I am already spending!) To fill you in-we have been selling Christian Collection! (It is a Catalog fundraiser to help out our school!) I do not contribute to the class orders...but once in a while, I will order from a student outside of my class room! So in the world of a husband who is an accountant ...he was all into helping me choose something last night! Anything with a goal-numbers- and Money back-HE is all for!) Michael told me it was a smooth move! We looked through the catalog to see what was the cheapest, to get the "1" item!
I actually found a great Stocking gift for Mom Riese!!! It was not so cheap...don't worry Mom Riese!
Speaking of blessings and money....Mike is due to get his Bonus for work, next week! So, we went out and bought a whole NEW bedroom set on Labor day! In 29 Years- (almost 29 :) I have never gone out and picked out a brand new bedroom set! I always remember, being so excited when Dad would get me a new bed that he got a garage sale! I was so happy whenever something was passed on to me...it "felt" new in my room! (My life of a purple bedroom and crisp white furniture-such the memories!)
So, I was like a kid at the Rooms-to-Go store-to pick out a new set! I wanted it delivered as soon as possible!! The "Soon as Possible" is actually not going to be delivered until,Saturday, Sept. 22! Oh the days will not come soon enough! But then when it comes...I will be so excited!
I am proud of all your hard work,Mike! I love you!Thanks for getting the Bedroom set for "US!" As Mike and I have been taught...decorate 1 room at a time (when you buy a house!)
We are loving the house and taking it slowly to decorate as we pay upfront! Patience is a big lesson through all this! Don't go into debt to decorate!!!
So my overall moral today: Be wise with the Money God has given you!
Blessings to you all,
Jenn & Mike

Debt Free -Car!!!!

Hello all (who find time to read our blog~)
This is Mike,
I am very excited (yeah baby-yeah!)
Today, Jenn and I paid off our 2003 -Toyota Coralla!
It feels great to have paid it off 13 months early! Now onto the other things we must pay off (Jenn's Rav 4, 2 College loans and the house!) We will have a big party when all the others are paid off!
Just had to share some excitement-somehow-what better way then to tell you all!
Happy Mother's Day ,Mom, and all you other mommies out there~
Later,
Mike (and Jenn too!)

We WON!

March Madness is over and the results from the PWC Bracket tournament are in!
We won 2nd place out of 144 entries!! YEAH- I say "WE" because the entry that won had my name on it! However Mike chose them all so he really won...but he is being generous and allowing me to use a portion of money from the winnings to go to Canada this summer to see Jolyn! YEAH, Again!
Today is the 1 year anniversary of Uncle Moose's homegoing. We are praying today for all of you Parkers and want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers especially today. Precious memories we will allways treasure of him!!
We saw some sites today of D.C. we will upload photos soon. We are waiting for Phil to return from class so we can download the photos.
Off to go make Turkey dinner for the guys. Mom and Dad Riese return tonight!! Can't wait to hear all about their cruise'n adventure!!
Blessings to all,
Jenn