Monday, June 25, 2012

Father's Day and Anniversary!!!!

Can you believe it here I am posting again only 2 weeks later! But it has been quite a fun filled 2 weeks. We'll start with Father's Day...I was sitting here pondering what else could I get Russ for Father's Day other than just a letter opener than it clicked with me. I knew he found a truck that he really liked and wanted but just couldn't see how to do it. So that was my goal to get him the truck for Father's Day. But I must back up and tell the whole story.

Several months ago I found another vehicle big enough for our family that I wanted too, but wasn't sure how to do it yet either. That's when the light bulb turned on. Russ said to me (several months ago) if I could figure out how to buy another vehicle large enough for our family, get him a truck, keep our Suburban, and keep the payments at the same price or less then he would go for it. (he should have never challenged me like that)

Not sure how many of you know me real well but let's just put it this way I go to discount stores (like K-Mart and Wal-Mart) and ask for a discount on their clearance items (yes I really do and Russ just shakes his head), funny thing is I usually always get it as well. Not only that I'm a professional coupon shopper and will not buy anything that's over $3.00. For example...just did some coupon shopping and got 160 Yoplait yogurts and only paid $18.00 for all of them, that's about .11 cents per yogurt. Not the best that I've done but not to bad. Anyways onto the story...

Since I'm a professional bargain shopper I knew if I played it right I could make it work. I knew it was going to take some tricky moves but I could do it and especially since he challenged me, I was determined to find a way. So once the light bulb turned on I made some phone calls to the sellers of the truck, the other family vehicle, and the bank. As I was speaking to the bank I let them know what my payment needed to stay at or be at, what I expected for my interest rate, and what all vehicles I was planning to purchase. After a few moments of number crunching and talking they finally came back to me with a quote (I did have to remind them the price range I was expecting to stay at, and they finally listened and came to my terms). I asked them to please hold while I went to converse with my husband. Hard at work irrigating I asked Russ for his signature, well of course at that point he asked me why I needed it. So I had to disclose what was going on. All he could do was shake his head and laugh. His words were "I should've known if there was anyone out there that could find a way to make it work, it would be you. And yes I did say if you could find a way, I would go for it."

So for Father's Day Russ received a '93 Ford Ranger extended cab (and a letter opener)! He loves the truck (as well as the letter opener)!

As for the other vehicle well a week later was our Anniversary! So for our Anniversary we received a 2003 GMC Denali! And yes we do love it!!!!

We finally have two reliable vehicles large enough to carry our family anywhere so when one of us needs to be gone for something the other one still has a way to carry children. Russ also finally got the little truck that he's been wanting. All in all it's been an exciting and fun two weeks!!!

Russ says the moral of the story is....."If you want something accomplished all you need to do is challenge Torie on it and it will be done!!!"

Love to all!!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

I am a Slacker!!!

Yep you read that right I am a slacker. I can't believe it's almost been a full year since I last posted on here, holy crud where does the time go? So I'm just going to give you a quick low down on our last year....

August 2011: WE BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE!!!! Our home is 3600sq feet with an unfinished basement. It came with 8 acres most of which are great camping, lots of trees, type of acres. We have loved every part of it!

Kids started back in public schools but in a different district except for AJ who insisted on going to Lovell High so he could have his favorite coach ever!

Mom started subbing and loved it!

September 2011: We got our first ever kittens. Those of you that really know me, know that I do not like pets but especially cats! So yes I can't believe it either we got 3 kittens but unfortunately only 1 survived, her name is TiePor Dickson and yes I do LOVE her. In fact we are pretty sure she is expecting her first and only litter.

November 2011: First Thanksgiving here and we had over 40 people in my house. It was so much fun!!!

December 2011: First Christmas in the house and the kids loved it! I had some Christmas on layaway at K-Mart and when I went in to pay it off I discovered some secret Santa came in and had paid more than half of it off. Wow what an awesome Christmas blessing!

AJ lettered in Cross Country and took 1st place at the Powell race as a freshman!!!

January 2012-March 2012:  KinCaid was baptized in January!!! He was so cute and excited, I just love watching the kids transform from the before to the after!

AJ did Indoor Track and I traveled the state of Wyoming to watch the meets. And yes Indoor meets take a lot longer than Outdoor Track meets do!

Oh remember that part about me not liking pets well I must admit I bought a dog! She's a golden Lab and we love her so much. Her name is Lizzie Bella Dickson. Russ wasn't so sure about it when I surprised him with her after a long day at work. But he quickly warmed up to her. It did help that I only had to pay $37.50 for her.

April 2012-May 2012: AJ did Outdoor Track and lettered yet again he also was the only Freshman from Division 2A to make it to state not to mention the only one placing! Yes this mom is quite proud of her son.

All the kids finished their first year back in public schools and it went really quite well. We had lots of fun and mom loved being in the school subbing and seeing the kids. Must admit I love every age from Kindergarten all the way through High School.

Current and Future: We are currently building a bathroom, office, and real wall for AJ's room in the basement. Having tons of fun figuring out the whole irrigating thing, gardening, and playing on the property. Getting ready to go to South Dakota, have family reunion here at our property and in Yellowstone and hoping for some visitors in late July first of August. Must admit right now we are just basically loving and living life to the fullest!

AJ is gone for 6 weeks to UW, staying in the dorms and taking college courses and loving life!

JR, Addie, KinCaid, Allie, and Donavan are just being mom's little helpers and learning all they can about gardening, irrigating, and water snakes!

Russ is busy working and doing what he can where he can when he gets home from work. He's also decided to start exercising with me everyday. I'm sort of hoping he'll get the bug to want to run a marathon with me. But I guess only time will tell.

And well me...I'm just a swimming 1 mile 3 days a week, running/walking 10 miles a day (training for a marathon), gardening, mowing, cleaning house, building basement, training dog, learning a new eating lifestyle, and raising some hard working kids type of a mom. As you can see I don't do much but it's all quite exciting. I am also starting a new adventure in my life I am changing all of my eating habits and transferring to the Paleo diet and training for a marathon. I'm hoping to blog (victoriarasmussendickson.blogspot.com)(new blogspot just for this) everything every step of the way.

Well anyways now that I'm sure I've overwhelmed you all with way to much to read I am going to head off to bed for the night. I wish you all well and sweet dreams!

Love to everyone,
Torie




Followers