April 16, 2008

  • Life!

    Wow, so it's been like a really long time since I've posted on here. I told Dan last night that I don't think I've gone two weeks w/o posting since I started posting regularly like 3 years ago. He was slightly aghast that I actually post that much, I think. :)

    The trip to Missouri was great. It was so fun to see all Dan's family that truly is family to me. And I love seeing all the cousins play together. There are 10 cousins right now (and the oldest is 6), so whole family get-togethers at this stage are usually loud and chaotic much of the time. (The parents greatly anticipate bedtime when all the adult fun begins. :) ) Anyway, besides a few minor bouts of sickness (Hallie and Tristan had a fever for two days, Hallie threw up and Will had a cold that Tristan has just now caught...) that actually were not as hampering as they sound.... (thanks, ibuprofen. ;) ) we really had a terrific two weeks. We are all getting together again in 3 months, and I am already stoked. :) Yay for family fun!

    One thing I discovered while in MO was that two of my brother-in-laws are using an online envelope cash-management system for their family budgets. I am the finance person in our family, and at one point (before kids) I had us pretty well on track with Quicken. However, all that entering and tracking got sidetracked with kids (plus I got bored with it.... and didn't really care too much about where our money went after awhile......) Anyway, all that to say that once again, five years later, I am again tacking the budgeting issue. Dan and I do pretty well with spending within our means, but I honestly have no clue how much we spend on gas each month. Or groceries. Or anything for that matter. And I when I say no clue, I mean NO CLUE. It could be $100 or $400 on gas or whatever, I really have no idea. All I know is that what comes in every month usually goes out in the same ratio. :) So as boring as all this probably sounds to most of you, I am happy to feel like we might be getting a handle on what we are spending where for once!

    I packed a picnic lunch today and took the kids out to play. It was a lovely, warm, sunny, blue-skied day, and it was so great to be outside! I think a spring picnic is one of my very favorite things in the whole world. :)

    More to come-- I have much more to say, but dinner calls. :)

Comments (2)

  • I was just thinking that it's been a while since we heard from you!

    I'm glad you had a great time visiting. Sounds like a blast.

    What's the online program you're using? I think the organizational part of me is what thrives on finance management, but whatever it is, I've developed all these spreadsheets and methods of predicting and tracking expenses. I would love to get a tip for something that might help me cut down on the time I spend doing these things!

  • @brietta - 

    It's called Mvelopes (mvelopes.com). It has gotten rave reviews, but I don't know yet as I just started using it. So far, I really like what I see! :)

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