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Thursday, May 12, 2016

Sandbox, meals to go, CVS and some thrift store finds

Hello everyone! 
Grandpa built a sandbox for our backyard.  All the grands are enjoying it, even 11 month old Jackson.  


We had a big family gathering here for Mothers Day lunch.  My husband smoked turkey and I fixed green beans in the crockpot with cole slaw, tabouli, fresh fruit and banana pudding.  I did everything ahead so it was ready to eat when we got home from church.  

Daughter in law Sheena brought an adult dot to dot workbook.  She and son Jimmy both did one.  
The numbers are teeny-tiny and I think they went up to 600 or 900 or so.  


Sheena and Jimmy enjoyed doing them but just looking close at them makes me cross-eyed.  
Where adult coloring are supposed to be relaxing, I think adult dot to dot books might just stress a person out :) 


I've been mostly cooking things off of my May menu plan. I made 2 meals to go- each was shared with my parents and my daughters family.  They are especially easy meals and very kid-friendly.  
Above is Homemade rolls, fresh fruit salad, homemade fried rice with lots of veggies, and Tyson Popcorn chicken.  

We don't eat a lot of prepared foods but we do like frozen Tyson chicken.  These 2 kinds are made with whole white meat, not chopped up and formed back together, and they taste really good.  


Below is Tyson Crispy chicken strips, strawberries and tiny potatoes cooked with whole green beans. 



CVS drug store 

I am so stocked from previous CVS shopping that we just don't need much. 
Last week, I had a 30% off email coupon good on anything not on sale.  
So I used it along with my ExtraCareBucks to get a great deal on the press on nails I like so much.  
My total was low and I saved 84%.  
But I was a wee bit sad to not get any ExtraCareBucks back even though I knew I wouldn't.  

I may go to CVS this week but I will probably wait until the new sale.  CVS sent me a $5 BeautyBucksExtraCareBucks, a $6/$30 coupon and a 20% off coupon. They sure know how to entice this bargain shopper.  


Thrift store finds 
I don't think I've been in a month or so.  Here is what I bought this morning......
2 free books for my husband 
2 picture frames for my daughter - she plans to do a photo collage wall soon
Shorts for the 3 youngest grand sons 
A skort and play shorts for one granddaughter
A brand new Disney top for another granddaughter 
3 nice pair of long pants, size 4T, for next winter.  It is really hard to find like-new long pants for little boys- they seem to always have worn knees or stains.
Columbia brand shorts for my dad and North Face shorts for my husband. 

And a bundle of needed plastic hangers.


I had a lot of comments on my last post about the Silver Dollar City skillet meal on our May Menu.  I haven't made it yet, but when I do, I will photograph and blog about it.  

That's about it from here.  My husband has had several Doctor appointments that have kept us busy, nothing serious.  The oldest grands are busy with end of school activities and summer sports. 
And we are very excited about the upcoming birth of grandchild #8, a brother to these pretty sisters.  

Enjoy May everyone, it's going fast! 

20 comments:

  1. That is an awesome sandbox. I'm sure the kids will get hours and hours of fun from it.

    I also love how you made the meals ahead. I do that too,sometimes. I love to cook and give food to people, too.

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  2. You did find some really nice things at the thrift store and those meals look amazing! Your grandson in the sandbox is just adorable and so are those precious grandgirls. :) How exciting that you are going to have another grandson to love on here soon. Congratulations on your growing family!

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  3. Great deals on the grandchildren's clothes! Oh my goodness 8 grandchildren...a lot of fun for sure! All your grandchildren are so pretty!
    CVS only sends me great coupons for weekend shopping...I can only go through the week. wish it was closer.
    so funny adult coloring books make me more stressed because I just want to get done...I think dot to dot would definitely stress me out! haha
    Have a great day



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  4. The food looks amazing. I love all you blogs and encouraging words. I want to be a great wonderful grandma if my kids decided they want kids but until then you have really taught me to cherish and embrace being a homemaker with pride. Thank you!

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  5. Happy Belated Mothers Day. Funny how Moms still cook for 'their' day. What all do you put in your fruit salad? It seems no matter what I do the menfolk just will not eat it...I get tired of eating just one fruit all the time.

    Glad to see you back...I have been quiet due to all of The Dude's VA appts. Finally, after 8 long years he is rated at 100% with Special Circumstances. They also made him part of the Clock is Ticking 'club'. Club is my word...it means as per the VA he will be dead within 10 years. Isn't that so sweet of them...total sarcasm. The VA...love them or hate them.

    blessings, jill

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  6. Hello Mrs. Rhonda,

    I'm just stopping by to catch up on all you've been doing this past week. I love all the food ideas you've shared for the recent get togethers y'all have been a part of. The food looks so yummy, my mouth is watering.
    Your husband did a terrific job on the sandbox. We have one of those little turtle sandboxes with a lid on it ... the lid is a must because we have lots of barn cats and without a lid they will use it as a litter box - naughty kitties!

    Blessings to you and yours,
    Mrs.B

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  7. Hi Rhonda!
    Your meals look so tasty. I've gotten lazy and strayed from having a menu plan. I'm not really strict, but I at least like having some meals planned out. Great thrift store finds. I try not to go more than 2 times per month, otherwise it's pretty much the same stuff.
    You have beautiful grand children ~ congratulations on the soon to be 8th!!

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  8. Your meals look delicious! I love Tyson Chicken also, especially the Chicken Strips.
    Congratulations on the upcoming new arrival!

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  9. I have never heard of dot to dot for adults. I bought my adult daughter several adult coloring books for Christmas. I'll have to ask her if she would like some of the dot to dot. I would probably like it but I don't think I can read the number anymore. Nice haul from the thrift. Buying shorts in the winter and long pants in the summer is a good way to do it. I keep the granddaughters in clothes from the thrift. You can find brand new or nearly new at an affordable price. The Daddy, my son, loves that I do this.

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  10. I don't think I could do that many connect a dot but it did make an interesting picture! Like you, I think my eyes would cross, lol. I have been trying various things from the Aldi freezer case. We used to get the Southern Fried Chicken pieces which are good but lately we've bought the round Chicken Patty and like those even better. I'm planning to try the strips and things over the next few weeks. I do like the Tyson products a lot but since I shop mostly at Aldi these days I'm sampling their store brand.

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  11. I love that you get to spend so much time with your grands. I know envy is wrong, but I do envy your time together. Our time is Facetime, which I appreciate, but it is no substitute for real life time.
    The sandbox is wonderful and I know the grands will have a ball in it!

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  12. Jackson is getting so big. I love the sandbox.

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  13. Jackson is getting so big. I love the sandbox.

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  14. Jackson is getting so big. I love the sandbox.

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  15. Jackson is getting so big. I love the sandbox.

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  16. Nice thrift finds. So nice of you to cook meals and share!!! Sandboxes are so fun. Glad nothing serious with Jeff. Cute picture of the girls. Jackson is growing!!!

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  17. You do so well with lovely clothes for your Grandchildren. That must be such a big help.
    I love the sand box! It will get a lot of use. Have a great week Rhonda, love Annabel.xxx

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  18. Hi Rhonda!
    I've often thought of having a sand box for the littles... do you cover this? I'm leary of the feral cats here in the country 'going' in the box.
    But...it looks fun for the babies!
    You and I are neck and neck in the grandbaby department. LOL... we're getting another in July! I can hardly believe it.
    Mother's Day sounded fun... and your thrift shopping finds are great!

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  19. May is going by quickly.....swish. Seems like it flies. The lil girls in blue denim is darling. Great Thrift finds. Love it when this happens. Blessings to you,
    d

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  20. Your grandchildren are adorable. What a blessing it is to have so many of them and an eighth on the way. Your hubby did a great job on the sandbox.

    There is nothing better than thrift store finds and it looks like you hit the jackpot.

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