I made monkey bread tonight for Dusty's work in the morning, and this afternoon/evening I filed our taxes. The end.
No, but really Dusty has the IT phone this week for work, so he is responsible for bringing breakfast on Friday. It's a good deal though because the phone person also gets off work 2 hours early Friday, too. I decided to make monkey bread muffins. I made regular monkey bread, only I put them into muffin tins instead of a big bundt pan. It's easier to divide, and, well, I don't have a big bundt pan. :) I made them from scratch from a yeast roll recipe I tried a couple of weeks ago. It's really good. I wish he didn't have to take all of them tomorrow...ah well. I'll just make some more.
I did our taxes today and e-filed, so we should get our refund in a little over a week. We have done our own taxes the past two years, and I like it a lot better than waiting until after 10 pm on April 15th (or the 18th this year, which I still haven't figured out) for our accountant to e-file for us. I was FURIOUS two years ago. It was finally done at 10:45pm. I am not that person. I can NOT wait that long. I was itching to get it done a month ago, and finally decided today was the day.
We were going to go on a mission trip to South Dakota this year, but we're rethinking that possibility. It's a 14 hour drive from our house, and we think that's rather extensive with a 2 and 4 year old. We're thinking maybe we could just invest the same amount of money into a mission trip that's closer to our home. It's sad though because I was really looking forward to going with the people who are going. Maybe next year...if it's closer. If only I knew the planner of these trips...
Seth is an accomplished potty trained kid. He still wears a pull up at night, and has only been dry 2 nights out of the last 11 or so, but I'll take what I can get. He's had two minor accidents and was VERY upset about them. That's a great sign. :) We have diapers left though...maybe I should've planned this a little better and used all of them. Oh well. I have a niece and nephew that could probably wear them. I have PLENTY of Dora pull ups too, and some Princess ones thrown in the mix. My poor emasculated son. It's a good thing Hannah's a tomboy.
We have no visitors coming this month. We're not taking any trips anywhere. It's a little sad, in a way. I would like to have something which I can look forward to and plan. I guess I'll just have to make some maple bacon cupcakes to take up that extra time. It'll be good though. We can visit people around here that we haven't seen in a while, and hang out with our new friends. One friend is supposed to come for supper on Monday. I hope she remembers. *cough* Do you? *cough* It's hilarious because we had to plan for her to come 2 1/2 weeks in advance because our schedules were so crazy that was the first time we could get together. Whoa...I'm a rambling [wo]man! I'm talking about everything under the sun tonight! I think I'll just go to bed.
Yea! My husband will be home early tomorrow! Post naps will not be a time for me to face alone! HOORAY!!!
I REMEMBER I REMEMBER I REMEMBER!
ReplyDeleteIt's on my calendar!
The tax deadline this year is the 18th because the 15th falls on a Friday and they are giving you the weekend as well. I hope you are feeling appropriately warm and fuzzy.
ReplyDeleteSome old man advice: If your tax refunds are more than a few hundred dollars you should reduce your withholding rate. The refund is just an interest free loan you made to the IRS, and is the wrong way to save. Lower the withholding and put the difference into your savings account. Most people enjoy the once a year refund, but it is financial folly.
Re the mission trip: Thinking like the analytical engineer that I sometimes am, here is a rough cost projection. Assume 800 miles each way, or 1600 total miles. Assume gasoline is $4.00 a gallon. Your gasoline expense, assuming 20 miles per gallon, will be $320. Actually your true auto costs will be higher. A good estimate for true auto costs is about 50 cents per mile. (The IRS allows you 51 cents for business travel, and they are not generous.) 1600 miles at 50 cents per mile is $800 dollars. Now figure in meals, room, etc. I have no idea what those costs will be. The mission trip will not be cheap, even with free room and board. I vote for the closer to home mission activity.
However, I also understand that you want (and maybe need) the companionship and fellowship of the mission trip, and this may well justify the costs. Just understand the real costs before you make a decision.
Who is that masked man who makes these mission trip location choices...?
Yea, Stephanie! :)
ReplyDeleteTommy-I feel so loved that the IRS would give us the extra day. Seems quite strange.
As for the mission trip, I'd figured out mileage similarly. The money really isn't what is the kicker for us, but the amount of time spent in the car. It will be grueling for our kids. Just not something I want to think about doing right now.
Your first sentence made me lol. I hate when I write a title for a post and then think....yup, that's all I wanted to say.
ReplyDeleteI would be more sad that you might not go on the mission trip if I were going, but I'm not, so....But still! It would be cool if you could do some kind of mission trip. I think it's valuable to start ingraining that kind of servant attitude in your kids' minds early. Even if they are in nursery or whatever, they're seeing their parents serve.