Tag Archives: family

Back to Being a 2 Car Family

You may recall back in October of 2011 when we sold my beloved KIA Spectra and became a one car family. Since then, things have REALLY changed around here. When we sold the car, Alex was working 3^rd shift and we were expecting baby #4 which also meant our family would no longer fit, as a whole, in the car. During that time, gas prices were also outrageous and it just made more sense, financially, to only have one car.

While, since then, Alex has moved to 2^nd shift, we welcomed baby #5 AND we now have a 2^nd car once again (and it only cost us $1.00 plus license, title and registration).

Alex's Sweet Ride

Now that we are rocking two cars once again, I try to do whatever I can to save when it comes to vehicle maintenance, which can get very expensive. This year, we’ve already put new tires on the van in addition to new wipers, an alignment and of course an oil change too.

Since we are approaching fall and soon winter will arrive along with the holidays, I am pinching every penny I can and trying to stick to a strict budget. This is when I search the internet for the best deals and I have discovered that there are great savings on car maintenance as well at many places, including Lynch Chevy of WI. With great service specials, we will be able to prepare our vehicles for winter at a price that we can afford!

It is because of my penny pinching and budgeting during this time of year that we are able to have a great holiday season and spoil the kids with gifts!

Uncategorized

The crazy busy emotional week from hell

Anne Younger Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that week ago today our family spent the day up north with the Alex’s parents, grandma and 2 uncles to enjoy an early Thanksgiving together before my in-laws departs for their 3 week Trans Atlantic cruise. We had a great time, shared some wonderful conversation, there was laughing and playing, kids running to and fro and even nap time for those who had indulged in too much turkey.

24 hours after that wonderful family celebration, we found ourselves in mourning.
One of the uncles that we had enjoyed the holiday with had passed away very unexpectedly.
There we were, in shock, tears flowing and our hearts breaking.

24 hours after learning of the news of Uncle Chet’s passing, we learned that Zack would need to have surgery and have screwed placed in his right hip to stabilize a growth plate that had slipped causing him pain.

24 hours later, I was sitting in a hospital room with Zack helping to comfort him and get through the pain from his surgery.

Less than 24 hours later we were leaving the hospital and bringing Zack hope to start his 8 week recovery.

Yesterday we attended the funeral for Uncle Chet. We shared stories that made us laugh and cry and we remembered a great man. We talked with other family members about what needs to be done, who needs to do what, right down to shipping furniture here and there to ensure that everyone in the family has something to remember Uncle Chet.

In the past week, I have shed more tears than I have in the last 6 months. It has been crazy, busy and emotional but it is a week to give thanks and I will be forever grateful that we spent last Sunday celebrating Thanksgiving early allowing us that last chance to spend time with Uncle Chet before he made his way to heaven.

It's All About Me

It’s Our Life, NOT YOURS!

Anne Younger Leave a comment

**Alex is the Alex commenting.**
I’m sick of people judging me, my family, my children….my life in general.
(Alex – This happens way too much and it causes a lot of consternation in our household. And to those, unnamed, who like to think that all of the problems we have are due to my wonderful wife and I have no say in matters or that believe they know how I should run my life better than I do, you can just go FUCK yourselves.)
Yes, I’m fat (Alex – Hey SO AM I!!!)—I know it, get over it!
I plan on changing that after I’m done growing a human being inside of me.
Yes, I am a strict parent…when I need to be. (Alex – They are called CHORES for a reason. When our children have not finished the chores that they have been given because they decide they would rather goof off and procrastinate then they should not be allowed to go somewhere and have fun especially when they get back from this place they have an even worse attitude then before they went.)
Most of the time, I let my kids be kids but am teaching them responsibility at the same time. (Alex – They have more responsibility than I had at their age but I have grown to be a very lazy person who does not like to do anything so I am trying to make them a more productive member of society than I am and get them to grab hold of the opportunities given to them like I never did.)
No, I do not shelter or coddle my children.
I feel they are better off knowing how the world works and experiencing things. (Alex – I think it is much better for our kids to be informed properly than having to piece things together from the things they hear from other kids or to be woefully ignorant in the ways of the world.)
I also let my kids be kids and they run around barefoot when they want, play in the dirt, get grass stains, jump around and can be wild and crazy but that’s the fun of being a kid. (Alex – The way our parents were raised but some of them seem to have forgotten when raising us and when talking about our kids.)
They get bruises, banged up and get the occasional cut.
But again, they are kids and when you are being a kid these things happen.
Yes, I have moments when I am mean, when they get disciplined and when they are grounded but they know this happens because I am only trying to do what is best for them. (Alex – sometimes I do go overboard but I am working to be a better parent and I do apologize to the kids when I take the stress and anxiety from work and school out on them. I am doing my best to not be the same type of parent as my Dad but its hard when that is what I know.)
They get mad at me, tell me they hate me, but in the end they always forgive me.
In the end, this is OUR LIFE, NOT YOURS.
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to be a part of it.