Nudie Nudie

While it does look like we have moved to Magna and are now raising our daughter to be serious white trash, I'd like to explain the picture. Addy has this fun game she likes to play that goes a little like this: Eat dinner and make a mess. Mom takes me into the bathroom for a bath and gets me undressed. While she turns around to feel the temperature of the water, I take off running and laughing. I find her all sorts of fun places, but I thought these were censored appropriately for an unblocked blog.

Just for the record, I don't think we'll be sharing these toys. :-)

I Heart Dave Ramsey

My name is Miki and I'm a Dave Ramsey addict.

If you haven't heard of him, he's a financial guy who pretty much teaches common sense, and I love it. As a woman, I think security is what I want most...security in my relationship, security in my home, and security with our finances. I have been a big Dave supporter for the past year. I found him on the radio after we moved back from Cali when I would drive to clients' homes. (570 AM from 7 to 10 pm) He starts every show by saying, "This is where debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid off mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice." I bought his book, Total Money Makeover, and we started following his principles. Jonathan and I went and saw his live event yesterday at the E-Center and were thoroughly entertained. He gives 7 baby steps to follow to financial security.

1. Get a $1000 emergency fund fast.



2. Pay off ALL debt except house. (cars, student loans, credit cards, HLOC, etc)



3. Increase emergency fund to 3 to 6 months expenses.



4. Put 15% of your income into retirement.



5. Fund your kids' college education funds.



6. Pay off your house.



7. Give!

He's all about never borrowing money and paying for everything with cash. So I will continue to drive my good ol' Civic until we have saved enough cash to upgrade. One of my favorite things on the radio show is when he lets people call in and scream that they are "debt-free." While we don't have any debt (except the house), I seriously get teary-eyed when I hear families do this. I just think it's amazing how hard people are working and how this is changing lives for the better.

Any other Dave Ramsey fans out there?

Wonder Woman

If you know my sister Dani, this won't surprise you at all.

Dani can do everything and anything. Seriously.

She has built 2 houses, put in her own sprinkling system, changes the oil in her car, organizes a huge boutique (http://www.ohsweetsadie.com/), makes dinner for anyone in need at 15 minutes notice, watches everyone's kids (including mine) always with a smile, builds computer databases, had 4 babies a la natural childbirth within 5 years, plans amazing parties, creates the cutest invitations, baby announcements, notepads, etc. etc. etc.

Some people think she's crazy. She's not. Have you met my mother? Or my grandmother? Let's just say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree (except for my apple).

Well, this is her latest adventure. She has started a new bike gang. She is the leader and pulls 3 out of her 4 kids behind her. Literally. Emmy (5) on the tandum, and Oliver (4) & Calvin (2) in the trailer. That's some serious weight to pull. She rode all the way to my house, about 3 miles with some pretty good hills. This brings new meaning to the term, "family bike ride."

Cottage Cheese Anyone?

Addy seems to be going through an ovo-lacto vegetarian phase right now. She doesn't like chicken or beef, but loves beans, eggs, and cottage cheese.

For obvious reasons, cottage cheese is usually at dinner so she can go straight to the tub.

And yes, we are working on using utinsils, for now they just seem to take up space on the tray.

Like Mother Like Daughter

So Jonathan and I never really could tell who Addy looked like, so we figured she was just a random mix. My little brother Alex emailed me this picture and I guess it's pretty clear. We both have crazy legs (Addy is constantly sitting like this), we both make that same scowl, and that is her exact hair these days. What do you think?