Spring Break Week

 Spring Break means no change for me, except Emily took off work this week too, and I didn't see the kids for long periods. 

It's so hard to remember what happened this week, so I went back to last week and read mine and Emily's texts to each other to jog my memory.  

I reluctantly pulled out my tax forms and got logged into Turbo Tax to try to do my own this year.  It wasn't necessarily easy, but that's only because I couldn't follow instructions on the screen.  I just had to enter my 1099-Rs and 1099-INT this year.  The problem I had was getting a copy of the form onto Turbo Tax pages.  Once I found out that you could just type the information in, I was all set.  One page refused to advance because I had one item that needed review.  I went over and over it - there were only about 3 boxes to transfer - and then just left it for a bit.  When I came back, I realized that I had left off an account number from one of the boxes.  I didn't do that on the other ones.  

My favorite one was the Vanguard one where I went on line and told it to transfer to Turbo Tax.  Poof - there it was.  I only had to agree.  Today I do the Social Security one, the last one.  It was so hard to do manually last year, but I think I can plug in all the information and have it magically tell me what I want to know.  Here's hoping, because I've waited way to late.  I wonder if H&R Block is open tomorrow in case I fail.  

Otherwise with this rain and cold, I was content to do what I wanted to in the apartment.  It was so miserable that I decided to order Amazon Fresh instead of going across the parkway to Safeway.  That's pretty lazy, but I just don't care.  I think the prices might be better, and even with the tip, I come out even.  I also ordered cat food and cat litter and didn't have to haul those heavy boxes through the rain.  The cats and I had food and were totally content.  

Emily and I send pictures constantly by text, and sometimes I forget to down load them.  This is one I got over the weekend.  Katherine went to softball practice with friends, so they didn't get any good pictures, but here she looks pretty serious.  They say she can hit the ball and looks really cute in her uniform.  Little pink cleats and a purple glove.  What could be better?

I got a rare picture of Luna, the rescue kitty that didn't really enjoy coming into a house with active kids.  She stayed anxious all the time and ran from people until they decided to make her an outdoor cat, and she seems perfectly happy with her little heated igloo and critters to chase.  I think the raccoons are the only thing she doesn't like out there, but the new kitty and puppy staring at her through the glass door can't be fun either.

I love getting little glimpses into the girls' playtime instead of just hearing, "They're playing upstairs."  They do play so well together.  These pictures made my heart feel good.  They've collected the little Calico Critters over the past few years, and they have what's left of my venture into dollhouse miniatures back in the 80s.  I got a Michael's dollhouse kit and built it pretty much myself.  Mike had more patience so did the roof shingles and the hardwood floors, but I loved working on it.  I ended up needing stitches on a finger and having a friend come over and bail me out when the top floors would stay on the bottom one, but otherwise it was a good experience.  I love miniatures and was able to get a few things, but the furniture was about as expensive as full-sized furniture.  I did do some DIY things - like a little pumpkin, Christmas wreaths, and a pan of biscuits.  I also enjoyed needlepointing a couple of rugs and made some towels.  I guess they didn't make it through the years.  

The bathroom seems to be a popular gathering place.  I see the baby bed almost out of the picture.  it may be a dog kennel  I'm not sure.

That red "leather" chair was always my favorite, and I kind of wanted a big one in our house.

The little flowered rug is one I made.  I really had a lot more patience then.

Emily called and asked if I wanted to meet them at the park yesterday morning.  I think she was surprised that I did and said they were out front waiting for me.  It was so nice and warm-ish.  She went and got Woodrow to romp on the grass, and he just ran wild.  Dogs can't be off the leash at all unless there are no other dogs and no people around, so he mainly had to put up with the leash.

I walked home after a while because they all wanted to walk on the hiking trail, and that was not a biggie for me.  

I did pick up the girls during the afternoon for some time away from home.  I let them choose our outing, and they decided they wanted to stop at another park where there's a zip line.  There were no free benches, so I enjoyed sitting in the car in the sunshine watching them.

They immediately found some friends to play with.

Next, we went to the North Bend library.  It's a little bigger than ours, and they enjoyed looking for some books to take home.  They are so funny about not taking any books that they don't think they will love, like they're going to have to pay for them.  I told them I would take 10 books home and maybe one of them would be really good enough to finish.  They looked dubious and picked their two favorites.  I sneaked 3 more in that I thought they would like.  Mimi know best - or thinks she does!



Pictures are migrating to the wrong paragraphs, and I'm wasting valuable tax time, so I'll come back later and finish.