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Home > Archive: May, 2006
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Archive for May, 2006
May 29th, 2006 at 03:34 pm
We aren't leaving until tomorrow morning, but I am going to have Colton over for a slumber party tonight...so I know I will be busy, busy.
We are pretty much packed an ready to go.
Im ready to go RELAXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The next time I blog, I will be a year older...45! Thanks to Retire @ 50, I can enjoy a Red Robin burger when I get back .
Boomeyer...keep that DH informed of all the stay at home mom virtues!
Ima and Kitty..keep climbing those stairs!
Kashi- take care of your poor head.
miclasason- Keep enjoying that car!
Contrary1 - you're on the downhill side! (June is almost here-which means July is just around the corner!!!)
Fern- good luck with those decisions...I vote for the the telecommuting idea.
flash- I could say have a relaxing week yourself, but I know better...you will continue to take care of all of us!
lrjohsnon- I am going to use your challenge as an inspiration to keep on track this week!
Money Talks...I am going to watch for Donald and Mickey!
Lucky Robin...I hope you keep finding money!
Sarah...your big month is almosthere!
Princess Perky- enjoy those picnics by the pool!
Kyles- I hope you figure out the add image thing so we can see those Communion pics!
Markio26- again, Happy Anniversary!
and Divajen and robex and stressless and mjrube....
*GS SHOWED UP EARLY and it is now Monday and we are getting ready to leave. So anyone I didn't mention, please have a fantastic week...I am looking forward to catching up when I get home!
Have a good one!
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May 27th, 2006 at 03:51 pm
Yep, the entire vacation will be going on the credit card.
The rewards card that currently has no balance on it.
We will stick to our budget and when we get home, the money will be pulled from the ING account earmarked for vacations to payoff the card again.
Not only will we earn $$ on the rewards card, we will continue to earn interest on the vacation account until we need to pull it out to pay off the cc!!
(A couple of years ago, I would have stopped at the end of the first sentence up there and dealt with the consequenses for a couple of years).
Life is so much more enjoyable this way.
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May 27th, 2006 at 02:52 am
Baby love....that is my Grace's motto.
(12 yo blind yellow lab)
One day, when GD- Kaitlyn was just a newborn, she and her mom came to visit. kaitlyn was fussing...which turned into crying and then to hysterics...as babies often do.
Mom was still nursing...and Grace, who couldnt see the baby, certainly heard the baby.
So Grace sat by moms legs and NUDGED the baby up against moms chest...while mom started to nurse. And Grace held her head against the baby for the longest time, making sure she was snuggly being fed.
Now, that baby is 8 months old and sitting up. Grace is so patient with her. Kaitlyn pulls hair, screams and pounds (well, as hard as those little fists can, which is not much)...and Grace sits there, nudges forward to get closer and contently allows the baby to play for as long as she wants. Then Grace licks the baby and wags her tail.
Grace has true baby love. I guess she knows she is in the 'Gramma' stage of her life too.
Grace's wounds are healing nicely. She is not as willing to venture outside...and when she does, she stays close to home.
She is napping at my feet as I write this. Her favorite spot in life is where she feels the safest....chuckle...which is often in my lap...my 90 lb- baby loving lap dog.
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May 26th, 2006 at 09:26 pm
I made a new friend today. A delightful lady with such a positive outlook on life. She has fibromyalgia and is unable to work.
She receives a small amount in food stamps, but that is all. So she depends on her family for a place to live.
In return, she cleans their homes, cooks, and takes care of their children when she is feeling well enough.
She and I just had a nice long visit and she was showing off her 'new' sketchers tennis shoes. She was just tickled with her shoes...they look brand new and they are very cute.
They were a hand-me-downs from a niece who no longer wanted them. The niece also gave her some sandals, which my new friend proudly wears to church (and gets compliments on) with her thift store dress.(again, that she is very proud of).
I am looking forward to getting to know her much better. She is frugal-wise in ways I won't pretend to understand.
I gained a new perspective today...I have always looked at frugal finds as a 'cool thing that saved me a little money'...but today I saw how a frugal find is a necessity for some to even have the basics.
I know, pretty naive and nearsighted of me.
I am already trying to come up with small ways to make a difference for her....I can't do alot, but I can (and will) do something(s).
A nice, surprise blessing to my day.
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FRAK (frugal random acts of kindness) Update
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May 26th, 2006 at 02:55 pm
Friday has finally arrived!
I took three more HUGE- {couldn't fit another thing in if I tried}- bags of clothes to Goodwill this week. DD3 has been growing this year, so many of the items were those she has outgrown.
Yesterday was a no-spend day for us.
Putting the final touches on the house and trailer for vacation. This is literally the first time I will come home to a nice, tidy CLEAN home after vacation...usually we are so disorganized it was like a bomb went off---no so fun to come home to.
WFB - still no word back from them...I am ready to write off the darn $25 and close the account, just to be DONE. I will make one final attempt today...
Have a good one!
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May 26th, 2006 at 01:17 am
What!!?!! A $300 date!!
Yep, our little boy Bear is off on his first $300 date tonight...
That is what we will be paid if all goes well...
Bear is a registered Chocolate Lab...and he is off to make an honest living..
Our fee: $300
What we paid for Bear: $300
from here on out, it's profit!
Go Bear Go!!! lol (forgive the quirky sense of humor!...it's been one of those days!)
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May 25th, 2006 at 03:17 pm
I have set a goal to go 3 times to the bottle/can return before vacation to give us some extra gas money for vacation. I made trip #1 last night and I took primarily bottles... threw a bunch in the car on my way out to pick up DD3 from the library...
I made a whopping $5.50...LOL
ok, so that is....about 1 1/2 gallons of gas...or about 25-30 miles in my husbands truck..LOL Ok, albiet slow, it is progress...I will try to take MORE CANS AND BOTTLES this time...maybe I can make a full 2 gallons...
aicheewawa
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May 23rd, 2006 at 10:48 pm
How many hours does it take to collect a $25 gift card you received (or should have anyway) for opening a new account online?
So far, it is (conservatively) 2. Two hours of trying the website, getting a 'not found' message, emailing both WFB and Gift Certs.com, receiving back emails that were no help (call WFB, no contact GC.com)...
days in between calls back and emails....
lots of e l e v a t o r m u s i c........
GC.com has given up and put it all back on WFB....and WFB just put me back to where I was last Thursday [monotone deep voice here] "Well, ma'am, I can forward this to the department...blah, blah, blah...and someone will call you back with a new certificate number"
All I can say is that SONIC BURGER BETTER BE WORTH ALL THIS *(&*#&*&$#(_&*$(*&$**(&$# FRUSTRATION!!!
(that is if the mysterious department ever contacts me)
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May 23rd, 2006 at 05:18 pm
I am doing much planning to help keep our vacation as frugal as possible.
I saved $300 for this trip, plus the bottle return money, plus the gas cards, plus the OT that DH worked last week. This is the first vacation that I have stuck hard and true to a budget on.
The main expenses are GAS and the cost of the site $90.
Groceries would have been purchased anyway, so that will come out of our weekly budget rather than the vacation budget.
I am making a grocery list for all meals. We will cook them all except DH loves this little breakfast diner over there and has requested one breakfast out and one dinner out (tbd).
We are borrowing some DVDs to watch, just in case.
I have checked out some books from the library to take.
I have gathered a couple of new knitting projects from my craft room.
I have the 2 $10 gas cards from Great Fun. A small amount compared to the actual cost, but it is still FREE GAS!
I will be turning in some of the bottles/cans this afternoon. My goal is to make three trips by Sunday.
And DH is taking his quad and we will spend one day on the dunes. (a fun, frugal day)
DH bought 2 new pairs of shorts for the trip...but otherwise, we aren't buying any special 'vacation' clothes.
I hope we get in lots of 'ocean watching' time and that DH gets rested up. He has been working some long hours lately and the wood business will be picking up as soon as we get home. So our time will be packed for the next few months.
I am getting excited for the trip (can you tell?)....6 more days...
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May 23rd, 2006 at 02:56 am
Lesson #1= Teenagers often lose track of time. Especially when no one is home to remind them....
Lesson #2= Teenagers will postpone to the very last second chores that you ask them to do when you are not home.
Lesson #3 = Teenagers will hide the evidence if lesson #1 and Lesson #2 result in disaster..
Lesson #4 - If lesson #s 1,2 &3 have anything to do with a pork roast in the crockpot on Saturday, that should have been taken out and refridgerated so it was all ready for dinner on Monday, DO NOT WAIT until dinner time to confirm that roast was indeed removed at the prescribed time.
Lesson #5 - If mom fails on lesson #4, fast food may be the only option when the roast turns out to be drier than the Sahara Desert.
Lesson #6 - Dogs will eat and enjoy dry roast.
Lesson # 7...Taco Bell is ugh
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May 22nd, 2006 at 10:33 pm
I went to lunch with the soon to be CEO at my former job today.
I decided on the way I would run errands and save on gas.
I mailed the Pacific Coupon Train off (I missed the post office Friday night, so I mailed them Express Delivery today)
I dropped off three HUGE bags of clothes etc to Goodwill and got a receipt for tax time.
I took those movies back to Blockbuster that I rented last week.
and I deposited my paycheck in the ATM.
Then I met my lunchdate and we visited for about an hour and a half. Wonderful person, he is going to make a great CEO (he takes over at the first of the year). It was fun hearing his excitement and catching up on everyone.
Now I am home and getting my to-do list made for this week. I want to have everything ready when we leave Monday morning for vacation.
I have a goal of 3 trips to the bottle/can return this week to make some extra $$ for our trip.
I sure enjoy productive days like this!!
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May 22nd, 2006 at 02:35 am
Not the most frugal day lately, but definately one of the most fun.
DD2 called this morning and suggested a potluck BBQ this afternoon.
DH and I made a dump run and went and bought a new gas grill for all these BBQs. (Our old grill fit about 4 patties...this new one fits enough for the whole family at the same time.) This was a need and a want all at the same time. It will be used ALOT.
The BBQ was in honor of DSs 22nd birthday (5-25). So all 4 kids, SOs, my parents, the g-kids and DH and I...13 in all.
Cloudy cool weather, great food, wonderful company...Id say a real success! Pleasantly exhausted tonight!
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May 21st, 2006 at 03:19 am
Recently, DH was telling me about a friend of his who is going through a nasty breakup with his SO (primarily money related). I won't go into all the details, but when DH finished the story, he looked at me and told me how thankful he was that I was so careful with our money.
This was a BIG step for DH because he has always been the one who needed a money muzzle...and he really fought having to do without.
So today, we were on our way to Target to look at gas grills and he said "I am really thinking about spending money anymore. I have to justify it in my mind before I buy...and determine if it is a 'need or a want'."
(Do you think he noticed my whiplash fast look...and read my "Is this my husband??" thoughts..")
Im not quite sure HOW it happened...but I am so glad it did. Without trying or really talking about it, he has gotten hisself onto the same frugal page as I am.
This is a momentus day for me....for us. I did not think it would ever come....and here it is!
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May 20th, 2006 at 06:11 pm
DD3 is going to a rock-a-thon this afternoon and tonight. Her youth group is trying to make money for a trip they are taking in June.
We are going to pack up a couple of small rockers for the girls to use and off she goes...I don't envy the volunteeers tonight. (My DD1 is one of the volunteers, bless her heart!)
DH and I will have the night to ourselves...so I splurged a couple of days ago and got THREE movies at blockbuster. (I had a coupon so the three movies came to $7.97) We have 'Proof', 'Dreamer' and some action blow em up movie that I plan to read or knit through.
I will cook something here at home for dinner...better get that thawing now that I think about it.
We should be busy getting things done today, but it is 11am and I am on the puter...DH and DD3 are still asleep...so not so productive yet. (I am doing laundry tho- so Im not totally wasting time...right?)
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May 20th, 2006 at 05:50 pm
Literally!
I am doing laundry this morning and am using FREE SAMPLES of laundry detergent. (I have enough for three loads)
Then I am going to shower, and will again use FREE SAMPLES of shampoo and conditioner. (I have enough for about 4 days)
Grace will enjoy a FREE SAMPLE breakfast.
and I have a FREE SAMPLE of deodorant.
I love FREEBIES.
(Most of my samples came from Walmart and Vocalpoint).
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May 20th, 2006 at 04:06 am
Today was not a good day for Miss Gracie. (12 yo blind yellow lab)
She went for a walk to the mailbox with DD1 and decided to head over to Nana and Papas to see if she could beg a doggy treat. DD1 headed back home.
A few minutes later, DD1 heard barking and a painful cry.
Poor Gracie accidentally walked into the neighbors yard right next to nana and papas. (she misjudged the fence line)This was not a good thing, as Gracie has had a long standing feud with the dogs who live there...and they were not kind.
10 teeth punctures and a very sad Gracie tonight. About two years ago, these same dogs got out of their electric fence and attacked Gracie in my entryway (yes they came in my house unexpectedly when I opened the door) and every since then Gracie has needed to sleep/sit/rest next to wherever I am in the house. I am sure todays terror will affect her as well.
Luckily, the wounds are not bad enough for a vet visit or stitches...But my little Gracie is one sad, hurting girl tonight.
**Saturday Update**
Grace is still not feeling so hot. I am keeping an eye on her leg. She is not getting up much and I have a feeling it is because of the bite on the back of her hind leg. If its not better by Monday, looks like a vet visit afterall.
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May 20th, 2006 at 03:53 am
I finished opening the online BofA account last week...and low and behold I received a $50 bonus deposit to the account today!! Woo-hoo!
I am going to add that $50 to my challenge money on Monday and will update the total at that time! (Don't you just LOVE free money!!)
Wells fargo, however, is making me work for the $25 gc. That account has been opened over a month, the certificate code for GC.com STILL does not work...service via email has been no help...and I did not receive the call back from their support department as promised today. I will try again on Monday. I feel like IMTHISCLOSE... yet miles away at the same time.
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$20 Challenge
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May 20th, 2006 at 03:46 am
I have been trying to work with DD1 on budgeting and living more frugally. She and her DH are trying to live off of 1 paycheck so that she can raise her DD without daycare. Needless to say, finances stay pretty tight.
This afternoon, we gathered up my coupons and headed off to Target to see what deals we could find...
Low and behold, we were able to get deodorant for 33 cents, toothpaste for 66 cents, shampoo for 74 cents, amazing deals for a fraction of the normal prices. She was excited to see what a little work could do to a shopping total.
I picked up several items from our vacation list...which will help stock the trailer for the summer too.
I got great deals on toilet paper, laundry soap, toiletries, food items,
dog food, all things I needed to buy, so I feel like we really did well.
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May 19th, 2006 at 04:05 pm
I am not feeling well again today. My tummy is at it again...ugh.
So my post is short and to the point:
1. Nana got back from her trip safely. Enjoyed her brothers, but is mighty glad to be home.
2. Nice dinner with friends last night. My food was not the best, I tried something new...don't know if it was the food, or my tummy...but I am feeling yucky this morning.
3. DH wroked all night last night, so next weeks paycheck will have some nice OT---just in time for vacation!!
4. Rain clouds have arrived as promised...they're nice and dark and it is significantly cooler today (no rain yet...Ill just be happy with the cooler weather)
5. It's Friday!! I am looking forward to a peaceful, possibly rainy weekend at home.
Have a good one.
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May 18th, 2006 at 06:03 pm
I know this is not a weather blog....but I am so darn excited at the possibility of some rain and relief from this heatwave!
Thank you Contrary1 for mentioning that rain may be coming our way...I checked out Medfords weather and sure enough...there is a chance of rain this weekend...and the expected highs are back down into the 60's and 70s for the next week....woo-hoo! (Boomeyer...your good wishes may have done it for us!!)
Doin' the rain dance...
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May 18th, 2006 at 04:51 pm
DH and I decided to stay home this weekend instead of going camping. We have quite a bit of catch-up to do before we leave for vacation in a week. plus we will save about $50 in gas.
Tonight is my monthly dinner out with friends. We are going to mexican food- which I love...but I am cautious still with the tummy...I enjoy these dinners...I am going to look and see if I have a coupon for this restaraunt to help cut the expense.
It is going to be another super hot day today....so air conditioner is still running in the bedroom. (Luckily the den where the office is at is in the lower lever of my home (we have a tri-level) and it has stayed fairly cool so far.
Will hang all laundry today!
Have a good one!
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May 18th, 2006 at 05:27 am
Well, DD3 (14) cleaned library books this afternoon to payoff her $7 in fines.
She enjoyed working at the library, shelving books, talking to the patrons, looking up stuff on the computer...but wasn't too keen on the book cleaning part...
So we talked about how there are book cleaners and librarians in life. Librarians set goals, worked hard, stayed in school so that they could have a job they love.
Book cleaners could have been librarians...but they made different choices....and have a job just to make money to survive...
Everyone has choices...and she needs to make hers carefully....would she rather be a librarian or a book cleaner?
I think she got this lesson....and the volunteer job this summer should be very good for her as she faces high school next year.
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May 17th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
I opened a WFB account about a month ago and as promised, I received a Supercertificate code# for Gift Certificates.com for $25 in my email today.
However, when I tried to use the code to redeem, it said 'not found'. Hmmm...So I have emailed the site to see if they can help me.
Hopefully, this will be resolved quickly and I can get get a gift card...
I noticed that one of our restaurant choices is SONIC...and that new one will be open in the next couple of months...I think I see a burger in our future!!
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May 17th, 2006 at 04:26 pm
DD3 and I go to the library every Wednesday. Rather than take the bus home, she walks to the library and spends an hour with her 'study group' friends and then I meet her there afterwards and we check out books.
Being that we are there WEEKLY, you would think library fees would be non-existent.
Well...
I stopped by the library a few days ago with DD3 and the librarian mentioned that DD3 had some overdue fines...so, I pulled out a dollar..thinking $.20-$.30.....but the fines were $7!!!!!!
Without batting an eye, the libraran looked at DD3 and said "I think you should 'work' these fines off. I have some books that need to be cleaned/shelved...can you come Wednesday after school?"
Of course DD3 was more than willing...and I was greatful for the non-monetary solution. So DD3 will be 'working' at her first job tonight. (It pays $4 per hour towards the fees, so she will work for 2 hours)
DD3 had already volunteered to work at the library 2 days per week this summer so this workoff of fines will be good training.
and I have decided that $7 will go to the $20 challenge since I didn't have to pay afterall!
Challenge update: stairs last week = $14 to challnge plus todays $7 = $235.06!!
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$20 Challenge
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May 17th, 2006 at 04:29 am
I was a cheap date today. When my head would lift off the pillow, I opted for water....and then moved to grape juice this afternoon.
I just had some toast.
I think I will live afterall...I sure hope that wasn't something contagious.
Someone went and turned on the furnace in Oregon. What the heck...all of a sudden we're having a a record breaking heat wave....so the air conditioner that Id hoped to postpone a few more weeks has been turned on.
I can hear that little meter running full speed out there....Cha-ching....but when the weather is in the upper 90's, it is a GOOD THING to have air in the upstairs rooms....we just try to be careful with the amount we run it.
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May 16th, 2006 at 04:02 pm
Ima Saver....your hubby's ailment managed to jumped a few states... all the way to Oregon and landed in my tummy last night at 11:30pm....
Ugh....
No, make that a DOUBLE UGH...
Poor Ray...I had an all-nighter...and am not having a much better morning....
UGH.
off to die a slow and torturous death Im sure...
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May 16th, 2006 at 01:02 am
Dh and I are going camping again this weekend! Woo-hoo.
Last time we went, we found a great free campsite right on the river. Free= no hookups...but we are self contained and have a generator so it is no problem.
I am crossing my fingers that it will be available for us this weekend...If not, we will just camp at my fav little spot, also on the river for $16 per night.
So, Ive got my checklist and am checking it twice. We leave friday.
Then, we will be home Memorial Day weekend, but we leave on Memorial Day for our week at the coast...I am sooooo looking forward to the trip!!!
We stay in a National Park campground and our site is one facing the ocean (I had to reserve it last September!!!)
I will try post some pictures of both trips when we get back!
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May 16th, 2006 at 12:50 am
Don't you love almost-freebies? (Well, if you can't have a total freebie that is!)
DD3 and I took a drive over to our neighboring small town (7 miles) where the library is and picked up 3 books Id reserved. This little town is one street...one little restaraunt, a grocery store, a tiny gas station a bank, post office and library. It is also where DD3 goes to school.
The drive over follows the river...very pretty this time of year! and so on the way home we stopped at one of the free sites along the river and dipped our toes in. (Record heat today : 98 degrees)
Then, we turned off to travel the river into a super nice housing area where the homes all are on the river...and admired the beautiful landscaping and the gorgeous homes.
Then we came back home and DD3 got to drive the last couple of blocks...she is 'practicing' for her permit.
Total for books, cooled toes, sightseeing and driving lesson....just the gas to get there and back.
My point is, that there is free entertainment all around us. It does not take a lot of money to create a memory...or to have a fun afternoon.
When we got home DD3 said she really enjoyed it....and I have to say, I really did too!
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May 15th, 2006 at 09:50 pm
This is my GD 8 months..
She spends alot of days here since her mommy and I work together.
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May 15th, 2006 at 02:48 am
I had a beautiful Mothers Day.
I had let the kids know that I didn't want/need anything...but I ended up with some sweet, sweet gifts.
DD1 threw a BBQ for all the moms/grandmas in hers and SILs family...quite a group...POTLUCK, so no one person spent too much. Very good food. Great company...nice day.
Then she potted starters off of her favorite spider plant...so all us moms/grammas went home with a 'baby'. She also gave us a framed photo. (The photos were all different and special in their own way....Mine was the 4 generations...my mom, me, DD1 and GD)
DD3 painted a rock with a sunflower- which I LOVE.
DS and his wife gave me a cute makeup bag with cherries on it...and some of my fav chocolate.
What a beautiful day. They each gave me a card with the /sweetest nicest notes inside.
I feel very blessed. What a beautiful day.
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