What a year!!!!

I can't help but to look back at all the craziness 2009 brought me and my family. It seemed like Luke and I were laid off for most of the year, but still managed to go to Kauai. What a weird and stressful yet amazing year! This year has probably been the best for my marriage and family but the worst for my finances. Which seems odd because isn't money issues one of the top reason why people get divorced? All of our problems that we had to work through this year only made us closer and I feel like all of our hard work has finally paid off. Luke and I both have great jobs which we really love. We just got to buy a new car (2008 Ford Escape) which we have been talking about doing for YEARS. I just feel so blessed right now, I can't help but to feel uneasy about the future just because the last time I was laid off I TOTALLY wasn't expecting it and worrying is just what I do best =) I am trying really hard to stay optimistic and just enjoy it!

As of the last couple month Luke and I have both been really busy working a lot. I have never been so proud of Luke, he really seems so dedicated to being a great superintendent and husband. Aiden is doing really good in Kindergarten, we got his first report card a while ago and it was great. The last two weeks Aiden had off of school for winter break and he got to come to work with me everyday (love my job) he was SO good, I couldn't believe sitting in my small office for hours and just behaving so good. The other day I caught him and Riley playing "my job" they were basically trying to rent houses out to each other =)

Anyway that's all for now, I need to get Aiden ready for bed.

Life is good!

It has been a while since my last posting and a lot has happened. I am very glad to say that only good things have been happening for the Williamson's. I have been loving my new job. It has been about 1 1/2 months. I really have been enjoying this change of pace. Everyday is something new, everyday flies by because I am busy going places and meeting people. Although I will say I drive a lot and have been at the gas station a LOT. I have been making great money and loving every penny of it. Apparently this is the slow season, I am excited for the busy season. Another perk of the job is you get to meet a lot of people, one day I met someone that was hiring for a couple different positions in this construction company he worked for. So of course I thought of Luke, one thing led to another, Luke interviewed and GOT THE JOB!!! We are ecstatic, we forgot what it felt like to both have stable jobs at the same time. Luke got hired as a Superintendent, he gets benefits for the whole family, 401K, paid holidays, gas discounts and more. His first day is tomorrow.

Aiden has been doing well in Kindergarten. He is excited to go everyday. I have volunteered a couple times in his class and he loves having me there. He went on a field trip last week to the pumpkin patch. That same day he had pumpkin carving night at his school. It's really fun experiencing all these school events. A couple weeks ago we went to pizza bingo night at his school also a lot of fun. I was really impressed by his principle Mr. Terri I was watching him and I think he knows every kids name in the whole dang school. Aiden ran right up to him and gave him a hug...almost made me cry.

All-in-all things are really going great for us. I am just trying to really enjoy it and not take anything for granted.

I got a new job AGAIN =)

Last week I got a new job. I was laid off for about 3 weeks and am very happy it didn't take 4 months to find a job like it did last time. My title is called Assistant Property Manager. My office is in Bellevue (although I won't be there much) it is called Windermere Property Management. I work for one Property Manager, she is VERY nice and we get along GREAT! This job is something that I feel very comfortable in and don't think it will take much training. There will be some big adjustments, such as making my own schedule (part time), being out at homes more than in front of a computer, and being paid base+commission. I had to get a blackberry, GPS, and laptop, all fun things to have just never a necessity. Also I will never need to put Aiden in child care because I get to make my own schedule and can bring him with me to work if needed. I think all these changes will work out for the better it is just a matter of getting used to them. I am anxious to get started and get into a routine.

And I have been reassured that I won't be getting laid off =)

Aiden started Kindergarten!

Aiden is officially a kindergartener he went to two days of kindergarten last week and so far loves it! We went to a school BBQ/Meet the teacher day before school started and Aiden got really excited once he got to see his class room. The second he sat down at his desk he asked if he could color. I hope this excitement lasts for a long time. I already signed up for PTA and plan to volunteer as much as possible. Which seems really do-able right now considering I don't have a job AGAIN. Anyway Aiden's teach is really nice is around my age and Aiden has a crush on her I think =) He always tells me how pretty her hair and face is.

As you may already know I did get laid off AGAIN. This came as a TOTAL surprise to me! All in one day my boss said he was losing a couple clients that brought him allot of income and had to lay me off. I can't believe I am back in this situation again. I did have an interview last week and I will go in for my 2nd interview this Wednesday so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Life seems like it has been very unstable lately. We have just been taking things day by day and trying to stay positive. I know things will all work out in the end I am just so ready to get things back on track and thought we were moving towards that direction and now we have had another set back.

Besides those two major things. Riley stayed with us all last week. We have been going to the park allot. Went to the Dave Matthews concert on Saturday compliments of Sara and the company she works, best free concert I have ever been to =). Visited Luke's parents. Went to the Evergreen State Fair. Luke and I have been loving our vegetable garden. We used some of our vegi's for a stir fry, I made zucchini bread and we had the best BLT with lettuce and tomatoes from our garden.

Hopefully the next time you hear from me I will be writing about a new great job. =)

It's a long one!

It has been about 5 weeks from my last post (i think). Allot has been happening mostly good but some bad.

Let's start with the good. We have been really busy and trying to enjoy all this great weather. We took the kids to Snoqualmie Falls, it was allot of fun did the little hike down to the bottom of the falls and realized the hike wasn't so little and the kids pretty much complained the whole way back (up hill). While we were there it gave me the idea of going back for dinner on Luke and I's 4 year anniversary which was a few days later. We did end up going back for dinner, it was very fancy and delicious. The menu was interesting, duck, pheasant, rabbit all stuff that I would never eat. So I got fish and Luke had duck we both really enjoyed our meals, wine and dessert. Oh yeah we had a fabulous table with a great view and the waitress gave us a special dessert.

Yesterday Aiden, grammy, papa Lyle and I went to Springbrook Trout Farm. Papa Lyle has been wanting to take Aiden there so we finally went. It was a really cute place it had some man made ponds in the woods kind of seemed like someones back yard and a really cool one at that. Aiden got 6 fish within 45 min.

Another thing going on is getting ready for kindergarten, starting to prepare for school supplies and some new clothes. It is really exciting, although I am nervous too because I know I am going to need to start a whole new routine based around school. I really want to make this as fun as possible so Aiden loves school.

Our vegetable garden is growing allot and Luke and I have really been getting excited every time we see how much it grows. Luke even surprised me with some green peppers, more tomatoes, and raspberry's to plant. He is really getting into it, it's nice to both be excited about the same thing.

On a sour note. Luke got injured about a week and half ago. It was the worst phone call ever. I was at work, and he called me in massive pain, saying he cut his hand really bad with a skill saw and he was driving himself to the hospital....probably not a great idea. Anyway he ended up getting ten stitches and the Dr. is recommending surgery because he cut a major nerve. Did I mention we don't have health insurance. Yes I know we are stupid and it is our own fault. Trust me that is all we think about.

Ironically with all our financial stress, I feel like Luke and I have really got allot closer. We try to calm the other one down, when one might be overly stressed. I reassure him when he is freaking and a vesa versa. I feel like our family is closer now than ever before.

Luke and Aiden are like best friends. They like to do the same things and Aiden is now old enough to do all the things Luke enjoys. They can sit and play Zelda, mario cart, and leggos. Aiden really just want to be where ever Luke is and always want to help him with whatever he is doing. Which is great for me because neither one of them care if I need to go out and have a girls night because they have each other to play with.

I have been at my job now for about 5 weeks and still totally love it! My boss and I get along GREAT. I am learning allot but still have much more to learn.

Tomorrow the kids and I are going to the beach to hopefully see some Blue Angels and soak up some sun. Monday (my day off) we are going to this park in Crossroads that has water fountains for the kids to run through and cool toys to play on. I love exploring places we haven't been before so we are really excited. I will take pictures and share them in 5 more weeks =)

I think that is everything. Have a great weekend everyone!

Little Update

I have officially started my job. I worked 3 days last week and so far really like it. It is a lot like my old job just a totally different industry. I am very excited to learn more about investing and financial planning, I hope one day I can put everything I learn to use with my own finances. I am anxious for the future and want to be past the learning curve, be working full time and start being able to have some extra money again =)
For 4th of July we went to Dionne and Brian's cabin which we do every year. Like always we had so much fun. Played games, searched for star fish and crab, relaxed in the sun, Aiden and Riley got to ride Alana's dirt bike, and of course camp fires and smores.

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!

Movin on up!

This week has been a GREAT week to say the least. I got a fabulous job working for a financial adviser, I am his client services assistant. He owns his own branch and there is only 3 of us in his office. The pay is more than I was making, plus bonuses, plus benefits. The office is located in a cute area in Mercer Island. I turned down a job a week or two ago because I new I wouldn't be very happy at the job and the pay was NOT good. I new I was worth more and had a lot to offer some employer out there. I am SOOO glad I followed my instincts and stayed on the job market! I start June 30th and already am making lists of things I want to get done before then =)

Also this week (today) Aiden graduated from Junior Kindergarten. His class sang 4 songs and even did a little dance with sunglasses on it was SUPER cute. I only teared up when I watched Aiden give his teach his cards he made for them, I really surprised myself thought I would cry all day =) During the graduation ceremony they gave out a couple awards to parents for helping through out the year. Guess who got one......I was pretty proud of myself and surprised. They called me the "field trip mom" and gave me a certificate. I just hope my new job will allow me the time to still be apart of Aiden's next school year and all the other years that Aiden allows me to show up =)

ALSO this week Luke and I started a big project (didn't realize it was so big). We removed the wood shed to make room for a vegetable garden. We dug up all the grass and now are getting ready to make the raised vegetable garden. I have broccoli, squashes, pumpkins, cantaloupe, cilantro and tomatoes that we are going to plant. I just hope they don't die after we plant them.

We also went to the Tomlinson's new cabin for the first time a couple weekends ago, we had SO much fun. I included some pictures from that weekend too.