When it rains, it pours

So we've hit a few road bumps lately in the finance department...and forking over the money for it is NOT FUN!

First up..washer dies over labor day weekend! Not a big deal as I always wanted a new washer...so we went washer shopping and purchased one. Small expense?...NO, but needed! Especially when you are a cloth diaper family! Need that thing to keep those diapers clean!

Then...when MEA weekend started (for those not in MN, students get Thursday and Friday off of school...so there weekend starts Wed evening), some kids decided they would like to destroy other people's property. We were the lucky people they decided to throw a rock through our 2nd story window. Not only did it NOT wake us up, Mya didn't even do anything. I noticed it the next morning after feeding Turner. I went to go put him on his play mat so I could get ready and there was glass all over our couch and living room floor. The shades were down so I didn't know exactly what happened...but it freaked me out so I immediately went and woke Tate up. We called the police and they came to take a report. Turns out we were one of twos with window damage. What worries me the most about this is that living room window is right next to Turner's room. I just freaked out thinking what if they would have hit his window. What pisses me off is that these punk kids think it's OK to do this type of stuff. I said a prayer for those kids.

Next up...Tate and I BOTH needed new tires for our cars. Well we all know those cost a pretty penny. It's also something we can't put off. Winter is approaching and we have a little one to think about for safety reasons. So new tires it was...wah wah!

As I am getting my tires installed...they decide to tell me my brake pads need replacing along with some rotors. That would be an additional $400+ just for that. Luckily...I thought maybe our daycare lady's husband knew a think or two about cars and asked if does this type of work ever. Sure enough...he does!!! Woohooo...that saved us over 50% of what the auto repair place would have charged us.

THEN...haha, yes...a few more things!

Our house was built in 1995. We have windows that are wood frame inside (vinyl outside). I was cleaning and noticed that our bedroom window was 'rotting'. There was condensation on the window which causes the wood to get wet and eventually rot over the years. Well great...we've been sleeping in a room with rotting windows. I am a germ freak so of course I bleached the heck out it and called my dad to figure out what to do. He talked about ways to reduce the condensation in our home and also told us to consider replacing the windows since they were older. I've wanted to actually replace our windows and patio door for some time, but never wanted to fork over the money for it...I mean we are talking 5 digits here!!!! We've had a few window companies to the house to go over things and now Tate and I need to make some decisions on what we want to do for sure.

Then...one evening Tate and I were driving back from a evening with friends (with Turner in the car). We were about 1 mile from our house when a deer ran out in front of us...luckily Tate avoided hitting it. But then...the buck that was chasing the doe that we avoided hitting, literally runs into the side of my car. Hits my passenger side (where I am sitting). FREAKED ME OUT! Tate pulled over and got out. The deer had gotten up, ran back to where it came from, and then crossed the road. My car had a nice big dent on the side and my door makes a lovely noise when you open it. Thank gosh for insurance...but there is still a deductible to pay. I'm just thankful we were all OK and nothing more serious happened. Turner slept through the whole thing.

Even though we've been hit with a string of bad luck, I am still feeling truly blessed and thankful. I've been waking up every morning so excited for a new day and feel very grateful for the life that God has chosen for me. I'm not going to lie...this is not normal for me when things like everything listed above has been happening. Maybe it's because being a mom puts everything into perspective of what is really important, maybe it's our food challenge making me feel really good or maybe it's because I know we are going to be OK since we have money saved with our emergency fund for these type of situations. Either reason is fine by me and it feels good to not be stressed about it.

With Thanksgiving approaching, it's nice to be extra thankful for what we do have. We have our health and our happiness. We are beyond blessed. Of course I'm always thinking of new things I want want want...but everything I need...I already have!

And it looks like our luck is finally turning around. We got pulled over on Friday evening on the way to a friends house. Tate wasn't paying attention to how fast he was going. The State Trooper gave us a warning and sent us on our marry way...THANK GOSH (it may have had something to do with Tate telling the trooper that it was getting close to Turner's feeding time and him screaming in the back may have just helped)!!! Fingers crossed we are on the up and up from this point forward!!!