Ramsey Solutions

We took a little trip right before Thanksgiving to Tennessee. 

Before that....a picture of Lee in his exam chair checking something on his phone.  I swung by the office for some reason and he was sitting in there.  I asked him if he often sat in his exam chair while no patients were there, and he said no.  Too funny though.


Yep, Christmas exploded in our house!  Several times...


I thought what she wrote about screen time was funny.  This is Shanna's.


And it doesn't hurt to have indoor access to your office at Walmart (and access to a private bathroom too).


Now to the trip.  We left really early to head to Tennessee on a Friday morning, around 3am.  About 10:30 or so we stopped at this rest area in Tennessee.  There was an interesting work of art with each Tennessee county on a plaque.  Lee couldn't figure out the significance of the different sizes of the plaques and what not, which was slightly frustrating to him.  The kids are all standing on the Robertson county plaque.










We all got dressed here and I fixed the kids hair before we headed into Brentwood, TN.


The reason of our trip was to see my sister Lena and her husband Mike and family do their "debt free scream" at Ramsey Solutions.  I've wanted to visit his office for a few years and this was a great excuse to do so!  I couldn't go without bringing Dave a copy of the Book of Mormon.  His book The Total Money Makeover really helped Lee and I, giving us the needed knowledge and plans to handle our money and get out of debt.  His book changed the way we handle money, so I figured I'd give him a book that has changed my life.  I'm sure he's received several copies, but I gave him one anyway. When I got it embossed at the local Christian bookstore the guy asked if I had bought the book there or if it was mine.  I thought that was kind of funny. I would gladly have the Book of Mormon stocked there for free for you!


We met the Erekson's at a make-your-own pizza place in Brentwood. 








Lee snapped a picture of some guys praying.  He thought it was pretty cool they were saying a prayer before eating.


We loved eating at this place.  You pick out what toppings you want on your pizza and they bake it in a fire oven (or whatever it's called).  Lena and Mike treated our whole family.  Thanks guys!
















After a yummy lunch we headed over to Ramsey Solutions.  A couple of summers ago we were going to swing through on our way back from Utah but we were way off on our time and couldn't stop.  We would have arrived at 11pm or something at night.  Way too late to watch his radio show live.  It's fun because people can come in and listen to Dave's radio show live and sit in the lobby.  Behind me you can see him through the glass doing his show. 




They have a fun bookstore.


And a coffee shop/bakery where all drinks and goodies are free.  So fun! 


We met Dave at one of the breaks.  I've met him before but it was fun for my kids to meet him.


My kids asked a few times why we never did a debt free scream when we paid off our house a couple years ago.  We did a little one to my parents when I called and told them.  I had the idea that maybe when we met Dave we could do a really quick debt free scream out in the lobby.  Off air of course.  Dave didn't mind at all and counted us down.  The host lady (not sure what to call her) thought to take a video which was really sweet.  So kids, we did our debt free scream!

The Ereksons and Dave!  Minus Keith.  He must have been outside with Elden.  It was such a gorgeous day there!  In the high 70s.


Dorothy at the cafe does hot chocolate too.  Even with the warm temps outside my kids enjoyed the hot chocolate.








The cool teenagers.


Lena and Mike getting ready to do their debt free scream!  They paid off their house in seven years!!!  I was and am so proud of them!  They really sacrificed to reach this goal.  And they did it before Mike turned 40.  It was so so so fun to be there with them! I LOVED it!




Lena said she was pretty nervous to talk to Dave.  They did a great job.


At the end with all their kids.


They got to sign these after their debt free scream.




You can watch their debt free scream here.  Yep, they have 8 beautiful kids! 



Ethan was eyeing this game in the bookstore, several times apparently.  Right before he left Dorothy gave it to him!  So fun!


The lighting was awesome outside at that time and we took a bunch of pictures.  Elden and Cal also stuffed their pockets with tons of acorns.




Clark and the cousins came up with an impromptu plan for him to skip school and go to Iowa early for Thanksgiving early.  He had some obligations that weekend, but once they were somewhat resolved we decided he could go.  He loved going up early with them and was able to go to the temple with his cousins too in St. Louis.

After we said goodbye, we stopped at the mall across the street.  After looking around and leaving, we decided to stop at the rest stop we had stopped at earlier in the day to have dinner.  I brought the butane stove and some canned soup. I fell asleep soon after we left and I didn't even wake up when we stopped at the rest area.  The kids were tired so no one ever ate dinner.  About 9pm I started driving and drove the rest of the way home.  We got home about 2 am.  I was listening to a creepy Nancy Drew story. 

I have as much fun in the American Girl store as my girls do!


Over a year ago I bought fabric for the kids to make mini-sleeping bags.  Shanna finally made hers that Saturday.  I still need to help Haley do hers.  I keep putting it off.  I helped Shanna with the measuring and cutting, but she sewed it all by herself. 


Her doll fits great in the sleeping bag!


Later on Saturday we headed up to the temple.  It was a crazy trip since we arrived home early that morning from Tennessee.  But it was the best time to go, so we did!




Shanna trying out a hairdo for wacky hair day or mismatched day....can't remember.


Also around this time I made a stocking for my nephew James.


I guess I already put this video on the blog.  Well, here is a second link!