Friday was payday, and yesterday I was spendy, simply out of necessity: gas tank was empty ($70.85 to fill it at Sam's Club), cupboards were bare ($104.00 at Aldi's), I spent $40 stocking up on toilet paper, papert towels, shampoo and tooth paste in order ot get a coupon redeemable for a $15 i-tunes card (my kids use them for their ipod app purchases), and then $8 between Michaels for some needed DMC floss and a clearance puzzle, and a new fire starter and flip flops at Target. Spending done for another week!

Still keeping it cheap, as far as the entertainment budget: pool four times this week, library FREE, concert at the park FREE. We've got ocupons for bowling and this upcoming week is the second round of Vacation Bible School - since I co-cordinated it, the fee was waived, saving me $90, but this program is really heavy on Catholic doctrine and theology and the day is long (9-2:30) and my kids are really in vacation mode (bed at 10, up at 9) - so this really isn't a "Gee, I can't wait to go" experience for them, or me really (since I rolled myself out of bed at 9:22)

Family! My grandma (91) came yesterday from California and she is so much fun. We hosted a s'mores party last night with my parents, brother, and Gran - lots of FUN. My brother is single and dating so it is very interesting to hear his adventures looking for the *right* one - today we're celebrating my mom's birthday which was Friday. My baker boys (oldest sons) are making a cake that looks like a pig (involving 2-9" round cakes and some cupcakes) and the smallest on is making Peppermint Pig cookies, thank goodness DH has some kitchen talent - I sort of bake the basics and then they get creative. We're giving my mom a Vera Bradley bag bought on sale at the outlet last week at 30% off lowest price (MSRP was $59, I paid $22+tax). My non-Irish cousin had a baby and borrowed one of our names (think past Dylan, Brandon, Sean, Patrick, Kelly, Erin and Coleen - and I've got kids with names like Seamus, Conal, Eoin, Eamonn, Mairead, Cliona, Nuala). Very funny to me that the non-Irish would even WANT a name like this - plus with a hefty polysyllabic Italian name!) Anhow, its a very cute baby!