This Year

We have a ton to be thankful for this year.  Ashlinn has been great (she is an amazing little girl), we had a wonderful vacation (minus the camera loss...although that didn't ruin things), we both have jobs, we love our house, we have our health, and of course while we were at our jobs we've had great day care.

That said, this year has been one Money Suck.  The car is still having issues and we are trying to pay down the loan enough so we can use our insurance money (hail damage) to pay off the rest of the loan for the engine.  The company we bought the engine from did send new parts to get things working again, but it sounds like we'll have to come up with another 300-350.  I keep telling myself that this is just a rough year and next year will be better, but I'm pretty frustrated.  

Susan has been fabulous with Ashlinn this last year.  She, Mike, and Nathan have been a fixture for much of the time we've had her. I've said this many times, but we don't worry.  The great news is they are having another baby!  The bad news is that, at least for awhile, we need to find an alternative (not complaining).  Jen and I have been mulling things over and trying to figure out our options.  The sad thing is that we feel like anything option is going to be such a huge step down from what we have.  We have a great person watching our little girl.  How do you replace that?  I don't know.

Two months left in the year...ugh.   

Still taking suggestions for an awesome daycare alternative.