We needed a new table, actually the table was ok but we needed new chairs. The other ones were collapsing. Did teach my 3 yr old not to wiggle so much, every time she did on of the legs fell off. Anyway I wanted a bench type this time to fit in the space I have better. I was planning on getting one at Aldi's if they ran their sale again. It was around 2 hundred last year. Not the best table but it would do for several years. As we were driving past my neighbors shop I saw a great rectangular table with benches in front of it. The table had been 369 and the benches were 119. (each) I got all three pieces for 299. I was delighted, especially when they agreed to deliver it on their way home!! All I have to do is cover the seats with plastic (little kids) The table will last the rest of our lives I am sure. It is wood, solid tree trunks about 3 or 4 inches in diameter for legs and the sides of the bench and the plank part of the table is at least 1 and 1/2 inches thick. A great table.

It was a long trip East but the prize at the end was worth it. I got all my children and their children in the same room at the same time. I was allowed to take a picture of two grown children with my two little ones. I was also allowed a picture of my grandchildren, all of them! Of course that will change in a couple weeks when the new one is born. I wish I could be there for that. The curse of having to earn a living I guess. Only job seems to be 1500 miles away from those I love. DIL keeps begging us to find one closer but at our age it is difficult. We are sticking with this company in the hope they will move us after the transition is complete and then the distance will be cut in half. In the meantime we only get to see them a couple times a year.

Our debt is a Yoyo. We are trying to eliminate it but the trips East are adding to it. Still wouldn't give them up for anything. I love my kids and grandkids. Just reduced it quite a bit tho. We have two cards that we are carrying a balance on. We also have one we use online and pay off every month. The goal is to get it back to 1 that carries a balance and then drop it to zero and use it for trips only, paying it off when the bill comes.

Hey the IRS gave me more money! Guess when they said early May they meant it. I promptly put it on a credit card along with DH bonus. He got a raise too so things are looking up. Now to set up things so we can save it. Have to wait till we get back form our trip East but it will be set up the day after that.

My 3 year old is not feeling well today. She crawled in with me about five thirty this morning and has been whimpering on an doff ever since. I keep putting her back in bed when she falls asleep and 30 minutes later she is staggering up to me. She then lays on me and falls back asleep. I feel so bad for her. No fever, just "my tummy doesn't feel good" as I was writing this she called and I ran up. She gagged a couple times and fell back asleep. Sometimes I wish she'd just throw up and get it over with!! Ah well, with 4 kids for the last 6 weeks I guess I am blessed that this was the first time any of em got sick, now if we can just contain this!!

I got an IM from my DIL telling my that my DS1's mid tour leave had been canceled. They were on a mission and would be unable to contact us for up to 2 months or more. In my DS1's words, they were going into "hell" I was to put it mildly terrified. Two days later I got a phone call telling me th emission was canceled because it was too dangerous. While I am VERY glad his leave is back on it has made me think of what others are facing. While I worried about him it didn't occur to me that others are in even more danger. Time to step up my prayers.