Coupon Shopping

I keep telling some of you that I would post this so here it is. As some of you might know I have started to get more and more into coupon shopping. With how tight money is right now it is the only way we survive. I have been trying really hard to do better at it and stick to a budget. I try to stick to $75.00-$80.00 a week. This is a picture of today's shopping. If you can't tell what's in it here is a list.

1 Chicken
1 dozen eggs
8 boxes of Honey Nut Chex
3 boxes Wheaties
1 box Apple Jacks
1 box fruit loops
2 box frosted mini wheats
4 boxes of Life
1 box Quaker squares
2 loafes of bread
4.59 lbs of bannanas
Lettuce
1 bottle Infusium Shampoo
1 bottle Infusium Conditioner
5 bottles of Powerade
5 64oz Juicy Juice
3 of the big Kleenex boxes
2 boxes of ghiradelii turtle brownies(I am excited to make these)
2 6 oz bottles of suave lotion
3 gallons of milk
6 yogurts
2 boxes of ice cream
2.28 lbs of grapes
5 bags of rice cakes
10 bags of goldfish crackers
2 buckets of the Lloyds shredded beef
3 packages of Hamburger buns


The total was $78.75

I used a total of $32.50 in coupons which defiantly paid for the newspaper. I pay $17.25 a months for 5 Sunday papers so I can get five set of adds. By doing this I can get more discounts. It has become easier and easier and less time consuming as I am figuring out the ends and outs of it. I love it because me food storage is getting built up and I don't have to spend more money I actually spend less and get more food. The trick is to learn how to stock up and learn how to eat of your food storage.


I wish I had a picture of last weeks shopping it was a great coupon week too. There is no picture but this is what I got:
4 jars of peanut butter
2 bags of chocolate chips
3 gallons of milk
2 gallons of Apple Juice
2 cans of creasant rolls
12 cans of green beans
1/2 gallon of ice cream
2 boxes of butter
5 cans of chilli
4 1/2 lbs of apples
3.18 lbs bannans
2 bags of salad
12 boxes of that Pasta Roni
2 boxes of pop tarts
10 packages of those breaded chicken patties (4 in each package)
1 bag of Nabisco cookie bites
1 bag of Ritz bites
1 package of hamburger buns,
1 loaf of bread,
1 sour cream
8 boxes of Quaker instant oatmeal
2 dozen eggs
20 cans of Spaghetti O’s

All for $76.22

If money is tight and you don't coupon shop I highly suggest that you learn how. I am hoping to go to Elko soon and teach a class there. If you would like to learn more contact me I would love to help. I am all about saving money.

Hair Cuts

Last Saturday we had a hair cutting day. It started at 10 am and didn't end until 4pm, due to the clippers breaking, having to go buy new ones and then having to return the new ones and buying another pair. But we all got our hair cut.
Madelyn and I went to the beauty college for ours (we are cheap $3.25 for a hair cut) while the boys stayed home and got theirs cut.
After much contemplation we cut Madelyn's hair about 9 inches. I cut her hair at 4 months old and that has been her only hair cut until now (she will be three in two months). I mourned the lost of her beautiful hair for about a day but I think it is cute and I am so glad she is does not twist her hair in knots any more. After taking the picture of Madeyln she wanted to take a picture of my hair cut, I was surprised she got me in the picture. believe it or not I got 4 inches cut off mine.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Today is my Mom's birthday and I always like to spend some quite time thinking about her on this day since she passed away.
Birthday's are great they give us a special day out of the year to let people know how glad we are that they came to this earth.

I am grateful for my mom for so many reasons here are few...

My love for the Temple. I remember the look on her face when I was getting ready to enter the house of the Lord for the first time and how excited she was for me she said that it was her favorite place to be. I always like to go to the Temple close to her birthday because I know that is how she would want me to celebrate her.

My testimony. We all have no doubt she had one. Yes, I do make mistakes but Mom clearly taught us that you can not be happy saying you are LDS when you don't live the standards. I don't know how many times she could have just gave up teaching by example and through Family Home Evening but she didn't.

My love for General Conference. We didn't get the option of staying home and watching it (no cable). We got dressed up for all four sessions and went to the Church all day with a picnic lunch because the church was to far away to drive back and forth in between sessions. From that example of going I have learned to love General Conference it is my most favorite meetings of the year.

My love for the Prophets. When I was 4 years old my mom was on the phone crying when she got off I remember looking at her and she said the prophet died. Right then and there I know that the Prophet was a great man.

Her love for the scriptures. I remember her siting in her blue recliner reading often, with the navy blue and pink plastic canvas cover on them that she made herself.

My family, what would we do without each other we are the best family ever, even with all our difficulties.

The gift of gab... my whole family can talk and talk and talk and talk over each other and none of us care, our spouses might but we don't mind.

All the dolls she made me. She made me a doll every Christmas until I got married.

The little notes and presents she would send me when I was at Ricks just because she loved me. I pull them out now when I want a good cry and memories.

Her hugs. When I was at Ricks I remember craving for her hugs. When things were hard I just wanted a hug from her sometimes I still do.

Her sewing room. I now understand why she would get so upset with us when we went in there and tinkered with all her stuff. I remember sitting in there and talking for hours. She was a good listener. I use to tell her I felt like I was gossiping, I told her everything and she would say it's not gossip because she was not going to tell anyone. If my friends only new all that my Mom new about them :).

That we don't take anything with us when we die. After she died we cleaned out her sewing room and believe me she took nothing but herself with her. I have learned that I can get rid of a lot of things because I am not going to have them forever.

I am grateful for the memories and the fact that she was a person worth missing.

I am most grateful for the knowledge that I will see her again and that families are eternal. I imagine that when I die she will be there with her arms stretched open for me.

I love you, Mom!!!!!!!!!!

Another Bun in the Oven

Thought I would let you all know that there is one more on the way. I am due anywhere from July 19th to July 22nd(this one and Bradley will be two years apart, his birthday is July 24th). I have been feeling yucky 24/7 and very tired all the time I was convinced I was having twins. By the ultrasound you can tell there is only one but the doctor says it looks like there could have been two and one could have miscarried at 6 to 7 weeks(see the little black pocket under where the baby is laying that is most likely the sack that is now slowly disappearing) so that could explain why I feel the way I do. Could you imagine if I would have had twins!!! As if 4 kids under the age of 5 won't be enough!!!!!!!

There is still the fear of gestational diabetes with this one because I had it with the last. I am starting 30 pounds lighter than I did with Bradley, the Doctor says that may or may not help but he thinks that I could probably just exercise and eat right and everything should be fine because I did a pretty good job controlling it last time. I thought yeah that was for 6 weeks, this would be for 20 plus weeks.

True to myself when it comes to being pregnant I look like I could be much farther along than I really am. At four or five months I am usually asked if I am due any day and at 8 months if I am having multiples. The picture I took of myself is from 2 weeks ago, I am having a very hard time trying to hide this one. (and no Clayton I didn't shove a pillow in my shirt :))

Getting To Know You

Jeremy's brother came down this weekend and he was talking about personality types. He was talking about different letters being different personalities. I can't remember what exactly each one meant but I was thinking about it and random things that I do that maybe you do that maybe you don't know about me (if that makes sense)for example... I am obsessed with list making I love making lists I am a sucker for the free little notebooks that come in the mail or are given away, I have little note books all over the house with lists of grocery's, finances, clothes the kids have and need, what needs to be done for the day, fun activities to do with the kids, books I want to read, food I would like to make someday, goals and so on. The funny thing about it is that if I don't get everything accomplished on my list it's not a big deal I just add it to the next list I make.

Another thing they were talking about is leadership and spotlight, I take the leadership position if nobody will step up and take it, if somebody does than I will sit back and let them have it. Like when I was in school when there was a group project I would usually lead if nobody took that position but I don't like to be the one that presents in front of people, or give talks or be on stage I wouldn't mind directing the play but I wouldn't want to be the actress on the stage. I am not a good public speaker and I am a horrible teacher in front of my peers. I can teach primary but beyond that I am horrible.

I can be indecisive if it comes to just me and my family but for example when there is a large group and something that needs to planned and everyone is sitting around ho humming I make a decision then make sure everyone is okay with it and then do it.

So what are you like passive, a thinker, leader, an actor, list maker and so on?

Happy New Year!!!

We had such a fun New Years Eve and Day I think we are going to make a tradition out of it. We went camping… in our front room. We set up the three man tent inside the house and pulled out the sleeping bags. We started off with none other than the traditional camping dinner of hot dogs, chips and Capri Suns. Then we played games, roasted marshmallow for smores, watched a movie, ate popcorn and candy, got snuggled in sleeping bags and read camping books by the lantern. Bradley slept in his crib and Jeremy and I went into bed about 10 after the kids were all set to sleep in the tent. I read my book until midnight while Jeremy watched some Tom Seleck western movie on the portable DVD player.

In the morning we had pancakes and hot chocolate and the kids played camping all day. I go to finish my book, “Deep in the Heart of Trouble” by Deeanne Gist. (I love Bethany House books, you can always guarantee they are clean books www.bethanyhouse.com and they are written so much better than LDS fiction books). Jeremy pulled out his new mummy bag he got for Christmas and climbed in the tent with the kids, they sure love when dad is home!!!!!!

We hope all of you have great New Year!!!!!

Snow

It was to yucky and snowy Christmas Day to go out in the snow so went out the day after. The snow was all powder the kids loved jumping in it. Jeremy made them a hill to sled down. They all loved it. There favorite thing to play was that Madelyn was Mrs. Claus on the sleigh and Hadley was Rudolph pulling her around. It was hilarious watching and listening to them.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I know this is a little late, but we hope you all had a good Christmas. We had a very relaxing Christmas. Christmas Eve we had a friend over and her kids and Jeremy's parents for dinner, Santa then door bell ditched a game for the kids. So we played games and then the kids begged to go to bed. So they opened the new jammies Grandma and Grandpa from California gave them and went to bed without a peep. (I think that was the best Christmas present I got :) )

Christmas morning was a blast the kids were so cute and exctied. We took our time opening gifts, They each got a new robe, slippers and new outfit. Hadley got lincoln logs, Bradley a ball popper and Madelyn a little doll house. I thought we had downsized Christmas but our house sure looked like they had gotten a million things. We stayed in our jammies all day and played games, watched movies, ate and played with the new Christmas toys. It was so fun and relaxing.

For the few weeks before Christmas we have been talking about why we celebarte Christmas and why we give gifts and that it does not matter how many we get or what we get but we are given gifts because people love us. After all the presents were open Hadley said,"I didn't get everything I wanted but I am still happy and like all that I got". That made my day right there the fact that he is starting to understand that Christmas is not about what you did or did not get.

Our Christmas tree is in front of our Front door because that is the only place we had room for it.
we hung a sign on the front door that said "Santa's work shop closed. Please vist Mrs. Claus's kitchen" with and arrow pointing to the side door. Got to love small houses!
The pictures of the kids in costumes were of us doing the nativity. Bradley was the wandering cow. Hadley loved dressing up and doing it. Madelyn felt important since she did not get to the ward one becasue she was to little.