We’ve moved!

Hey!! Sorry for the inconvienence, but we have moved this blog to wordsofwilliams.com. Check it out!!

Happy birthday, hubby!

Well hey there, Ric. It’s your birthday!!! I’m glad that you are 27 now, just like me. I’m sorry I have been so darn busy this week. Like I’ve hardly been home to snuggle with you. I’ve only been home long enough to leave my clothes all over the bedroom. And I was so busy that I didn’t even buy you a birthday card. Kind of like we forgot to buy each other cards for Valentine’s Day. Forgive me? I am so excited to spend this weekend with you in Kansas City. Let’s make this year the best ever. Deal?

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with how lucky I am that I was put on this planet to love you. And boy, do I love you. Let me count the ways.

I love your green eyes.

I love our bedtime routine.

I love that you are learning so much about our new camera and exploring the world of photography. It is so fun to see what you see.

I love that we are so open and honest with each other.

I love renting Redbox movies with you every weekend. And how we make a mean batch of microwave popcorn.

I love that you are such a great uncle.

I love that we love the same music. And singing “Come What May” together at the top of our lungs. (Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.)

I love that you set goals and try to be the best version of yourself that you can be.

Thank you for cooking supper for me almost every night.

Thank you for rubbing and scratching my back every time I ask you to. And for those times when I don’t even ask.

Thank you for working so hard at two jobs to pay off our debt.

Thank you for plucking my eyebrows when they look like a tarantula. Even I don’t want to do that.

I love holding your hand as we fall asleep.

I want to do that forever.

Working on my photography skills

Well, let me tell you: I get plenty of practice at portrait photography during the 30 for 30 challenge that Kels is doing on Snappy Casual. I thought I would share my favorite, as well as some other random shots that I’ve taken since my last photography post.

Look at my pretty wife! The sun was perfect at when we took these shots. I love the angelic look it created.

Our neice, Myah, bowling.

Our other neice, Maysen, had a blast dropping the ball and running away, like it was a grenade.

Macro shot of one of my favorite Bible verses, Romans 12: 2. Couldn’t quite get the exact look I was going for…

I took this in early February in Lake Mills at Kels’ parents’ house. I caught the early morning frost.

I can’t wait for warmer weather so I can get outside and take some more macro and landscape shots. It’s just been too cold. Brrr…

A tough financial decision

Every other weekend, Eric and I peek in our food money envelope to see how much money we have to last us the next five days. We are pretty consistent with how often we go out to eat and how much we spend on groceries, but it’s a fun little game to see if we can splurge on a dinner out over the weekend or if we need to buckle down until we get paid.

So last Saturday, there we went to my purse. We had $46 and some change, so Eric said I could pick if we went out to eat or not (he’s so good to me). I thought, we can go out to eat for about $25 and have $21 left for groceries. We would be able to get the necessities for the week. And that would have been fine (and what we normally do). But since we’ve started using the Grocery Gadget app, I’ve realized that you can get a lot of groceries for $46. And I have been craving Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream, Easter candy and the cookies we always eat in the summer when we go boating.

So for the first time ever in the history of our marriage, I chose groceries over eating out. When we went through Financial Peace University two years ago, we realized that we were spending about $700 (!!!) on food each month. (I take most of the blame on that…) Now, we spend $200 on food every two weeks.

So after church on Saturday night we went to the grocery store. I was so excited to have the freedom to buy all the junk food I wanted. Eric pushed the cart and I was in charge of the list. We went through all the aisles and didn’t hold back on any desires.

At the checkout, I gave Eric our food envelope and told him it should cost $34.17. I then headed to Redbox to get a movie (Karate Kid). When he came over, I asked him how much it cost. He said $37 and looked at the receipt and we had been charged for two applesauces instead of one. So we went to customer service and they gave us $3 back and our applesauce for free! (Aren’t you proud, mom? You taught me something.)

So now we have even more money to spend on goodies. Which is good, because Hy-Vee didn’t have any SweeTarts Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies (my must-have Easter candy). I’ll find you, my pretties…