It's official!

We are now following Dave Ramsey's plan. While we were in school, we've just tried to take out as few loans as possible, and to not worry about paying them off because we didn't have the funds to do that. The Army scholarship was such a blessing. We had to take out loans the first year of optometry school, but then the rest of school--the next three years, we took out only one or two more loans.

We've had a thousand dollar emergency fund for awhile (Baby Step 1), but didn't start paying on our loans till now because of traveling and Lee being in Texas. So, yes! We paid off our FIRST loan today! And what's even more fun, it wasn't even due yet. Our grace period ends on Halloween. We've officially started our debt snowball (Baby Step 2). We've paid off 11% of our debt, only 89% left. The countdown is on!

Lee and I have been talking about some things that we are going to cut out this year and next. One thing we are going to cut out is Christmas cards. I really like sending them out; it's just part of Christmas! But this year, we hope our blog will suffice. (And we would love to get Christmas cards from any of you!) We are still aiming to be out of debt by November or beginning of December of 2009 (before I turn 30). Christmas will be pretty fun next year!

We also found out a few weeks ago that for one or two of the loans, we can request a military deferment because Lee is active duty. That means we can pay them off, but won't have to pay interest! So thanks all of you tax payers!

While I am mentioning debt and stuff, there are two commercials that I heard on the radio that I just have to vent about. The first: a grocery store was advertising that by shopping there you could buy great food items for dinner for your family for under $10! What is so amazing about that?

The other commercial was for some store that offered financing for a computer, and they didn't even do a credit check! Okay, there are some things that I can see people financing, like a car or a house. But a COMPUTER? Come on!

We're up for debt reduction competitions anyone!

Thanks Chris!



Monday is Columbus Day. It is a Federal Holiday celebrated the second Monday in October. Apparently here at Fort Wood and other Army installations, if there is a holiday on a Monday, they like to go ahead and take Friday off too. As a result, Lee gets a four-day weekend. Well, I am not going to complain! Happy Columbus Day everyone (on Monday).

Also, Andrea, Happy Birthday to you today!!!

Hi everyone! We are up and running with our blogging! (Kind of.) Lee did a post about our drive out to Missouri, so go to his site to read the details: nostrebor's site. Like he mentions, we stopped and saw some friends, the Smiths. We wish we could have visited longer, but we'll take what we can get.

Shanna at the Smiths


Lee took some pictures of the boys, Bronson Clark and Camden


Bronson, Clark and Camden


Cal and Emerson


We met the Smith Family in Johnson City and Brooks graduated from med school the same day Lee graduated from Optometry school. We both have four kids (they have a little girl almost 1) and we share lots of the same opinions and ideas, so we always have fun talking together. Thanks for the visit and the yummy ice pops!

Haley and Shanna at the Smiths


So, there is a lot to write about, but I won't take the time right now. We are very thankful for the large house we were able to get on base! Seven bedrooms, four bathrooms. It's in pretty good condition too. It's a duplex, and we have the whole thing. We will take pictures of the inside when we are finally unpacked. It is taking a while to unpack. A lot of our things have been in storage at my parents for almost 2 years and I have a lot of things that need to be sorted and organized. We are getting at it though. People have been really nice here. Our first day here the neighborhood kids were welcoming us. Clark likes school (I think) and started up again on Wednesday. His school is about a mile away.

My neighbor, Teresa, came over on Thursday bringing us yummy cookies, a package of strawberries, lots of green grapes and a bottle of wine. It is from a local winery. I told her that I didn't drink wine or cook with it and she was a little surprised. She is really nice and it was so sweet to bring over those goodies! She has five kids and her husband is in Korea right now. Well, I'll stop typing. Here are some pictures!

Haley in the living room yesterday.


Here is our duplex. We don't have to mow the lawn either! Yeah!
















Cal yesterday. We enjoyed watching/listening to General Conference today and yesterday. It was fun to get Lee's bi-yearly report of Priesthood Session. Hope you all are well and happy! Happy October!

We are heading out tomorrow around 1:30ish (that is when we will officially be on the road and have Lee with us!) We will stop and see the Smiths and then journey on to Johnson City. We will have internet connection but might not be able to use it as we aren't tech enough to have a wireless card. (Well, we got one, but it wasn't compatible with Windows XP even though it read on the box that it was.) SO...it may be awhile before you hear from us. I've got everything packed up except for some clean clothes and the bathroom stuff. I'm glad I starting pack last Saturday night. Sheldon and Dad helped me wrap up my bed. I am glad we saved the plastic covering from when we bought it!

Take care everyone and there'll be lots of entries the beginning of October!

Happy 6th Anniversary Lee & Ruth!

Six years ago, we were married and sealed in the Provo, Utah Temple at about 11:00 am. Through our journey we've laughed, been scared out of our wits, been surprised--Haley was one of them!, cried--of course, and felt Heavenly Father's love for us as he blessed and blesses us and our family. One thing that Lee and I are both grateful for is that we each married our best friend! Thanks for a wonderful son Mom and Dad R; and Mom and Dad B, I am sure Lee thanks you too!

Lee, you are the best: best friend, best husband, best father!

In the past 6 years...
We've moved six times, (seven this coming Saturday!)
We've had five major events, well more, but for the sake of the pose, I'll just mention five: three guys in masks with guns, one ultrasound revealing two babies instead of one, and one smart cookie (Lee) finishing optometry school graduating Magna Cum Laude!
We've had four kids (last year when the girls were born we were married four years at that point, so it was fun to say that we had four kids in four years of marriage and their ages were four and under.)
We've had three different vehicles: a 1991 Plymouth Sundance, a 1998 Nissan Sentra, and presently a 1997 Mercury Villager GS.
We've had two flat tires (one was on the way to the airport at 5 am...talk about stressful. Thanks Don! You were a great hometeacher!)
We've had one digital camera that was purchased in 2002 and still works great!

In celebration of the big day and our last Sunday in North Carolina, I thought I would make a fattening, delicious dessert; though sadly, Lee isn't here to partake.

I made homemade caramel, and mixed it with pecans from Uncle Lee and Aunt Anna Lee and drizzled melted milk chocolate chocolate chips on top. YUM! I could only eat two. Hope you're jealous Lois!


Lee has a hard time surprising me. I am a fairly curious person and not that I try to find stuff out, little things happen that lead me to conclusions that Lee tries to keep secret. Despite Lee being gone, he has made it an awesome anniversary! I would say the best, but he isn't here, so I'll wait till next year to write that statement in my blog. On Friday I received a sweet card, along with some yummy Godiva dark chocolate mint pearls and some play money. With using technology while he's been gone--the cell phone and email and blogs, it was such a treat to get a card with a handwritten note in it from my best friend. (And I didn't mind the other things in the package either!)

Did he stop there? No! He got me the COOLEST present EVER! For years, yes six years, I've had my bridal pictures and wedding pictures in a box, or some sort of container. My friend Sara showed me her wedding album a few years back and I really liked it. I just never got around to buying a nice album like that. And never really had the funds to get the album and get extra prints of photos. Plus I found out last summer that the guy who took my bridal pictures no longer was doing that and my negatives were long gone to the dumpster. RATS! I still have my wedding negatives, but I would have liked to get some enlargements of some of my bridal pictures.

So, guessed what he got me? He secretly found my bridal pictures, our wedding photos, wedding announcement and newspaper clipping of our engagement. Then, he hired the best scrapbook lady on the PLANET: Ruth Whitemarsh. She made a GORGEOUS scrapbook of our wedding! WOW! I was SO surprised! I really thought Lee was building me a bike at first! Lee told me there are more pages to come and I am so excited to see them! Thanks Ruth! You have an amazing talent (should people send you orders Ruth?) Lee, this was such a sweet and thoughtful and very SURPRISING gift! THANK YOU!

Look how cute the packaging is!!! You are awesome Ruth W! I need to take pictures of the pages, but better yet, come and visit me in Missouri and see them yourself!


Clark was looking through the book with me and while looking at the group photos in the back of the Provo Temple, he asked me where he was. I told him he was in heaven. He doesn't seem to like that when we say that to him.


Yesterday afternoon after a primary activity on being missionaries, we went fishing. We've found a great place to fish just a couple of miles from Daniel, the Durant Nature Park. I've mentioned it earlier. Yesterday was really nice out and we had a fun time.




My dad is so nice to keep everyone fishing. He untangles lines, adds worms to the hooks and make sure everyone gets a chance at fishing.




So, I had been casting the line of the fishing pole and set the it down. Clark came over and was holding the pole not more than a minute or so and he got a bite! Yeah!






On Monday for FHE I did a lesson about Jonah and the whale. I think the kids liked it.



If I feed the girls a late lunch, Shanna tends to fall asleep. We tried to get a picture of Haley kissing Shanna, but no luck.


I also forgot to mention that the week before last I made some chair covers for Clark's classroom. Eighteen of them, actually. To describe them, they are shaped almost like a squared shaped S. So the top part of the cover covers the back of the chair, and then the lower opposite side is a pocket. I was going to take a picture of them but then I didn't. I wish I would have. I think they turned out pretty well. Also, since Sheldon is back in town, dad and Sheldon took the girls for me last week during Relief Society and also today and it was great!

To end my long post, I need to give out an award: The Best Grandpa in the Clayton Ward Award to Darrell Bartholomew. I went to my friend's house the other day with some other ladies and some of their kiddos, and some of them commented on how sweet my dad was to take the babies and help me out. I totally agree! My mom and dad have been great to take the girls on walks with them. It's also been nice being here because if the girls are napping I sometimes will leave and get errands done because my mom or dad are at home. We'll miss these perks!

Okay, I'm done. Sweet dreams!

So...I really want to do a post right now with pictures and all, but the internet is being so SLOW! It won't upload my pictures. I'll shut down the computer and try, try again!

P.S. It's mine and Lee's 6 year anniversary today! Happy 6 Lee!