Merry Christmas

I am wanting to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Lets not forget the true meaning of Christmas tomorrow. Our bedtime story tonight was about Baby Jesus being born. It is pretty cool, when the kids can tell us the story and we just sit and listen. Chloe wanted me to draw a pic of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, so I did and then she said we need a star! That is pretty cool that our 3 year old even knows the true meaning of Christmas! So with that said Have a Merry Christmas, and don't forget to thank the Lord for sending His Son, for us.

Merry Christmas!

CVS Trip and a BUSY day!!

Well today I did not have much planned, but when I got home from work that all changed. First things first though!! Well before work I made a trip to CVS to do my last transaction this week, and asked the lady what time they switch to next weeks sales she said 1:00. Perfect that is what time I get off, so after work, I headed straight there! I got alot of good stuff and I only spent $.02 yes that says TWO CENTS. Here is a pic!


I was so excited also walked away with almost $70.00 in Extra Care Bucks! If you wonder how I did it check out this www.iheartvcvs.com for how to play The CVS Game! It is quite fun!

So then I get home and my wonderful husband and three kids, has cleaned the house and picked up ALL the toys! So I decided to wrap some presents! Still not done though. Then I decided to make Cinnamon Rolls, Bill wants to take them to our neighbors for Christmas, (Sorry megan and mom no you aren't getting any, you have to wait till Christmas at mom's). So I made a total of 8 pans of Cinnamon Rolls, my house smelled good! Then I made 2 pans of Rice Krispie treats for Church tomorrow, we are having a Birthday Party for Jesus tomorrow with all of he kids probably close to 80-90 kids, you think 2 pans are enough! Just joking, there are several others bringing some!

Then I decided to do some laundry, which I am still working on! Then I rearranged the furniture downstairs so that we can actually walk down there, it was a disaster. Then for some reason I cleaned some dressers, and Bill hooked my stero back up today, and he fixed my dryer. Anyways I really did straighten and clean the house up today, we redid the family room several weeks ago, and it is now FINISHED! It looks so much better now!! Well I still need to get some new curtains, the old ones do not match!

So now all I need to do is make some Christmas Cookies with the kids on Monday. And then I am done baking for the holidays! Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm it is going to be getting COLDDDDDDDDDDDDDD! Bundle up or maybe just stay inside by the fire!!!

Sneak Peak

Well this evening after baths I decided I better get the Christmas Pics done if I want them done. Since Christmas is only 12 days from now. I think this is the latest I have ever done Christmas cards, so don't worry they are coming soon!!!
So here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy until you get the Christmas card!





Ali thought it would be good to put the manager and the dog in the pic. I'm not sure we needed them in there!

Can you guess which one we used for the Christmas card!
Have a good evening!

Survey- Try it!!

100 Things Survery


This was on one of the websites I like to read, thought it looked like fun!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo ( I don't think so!!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Absouletly awful)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (would like to!)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (Uh i live in one!!)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (le me expalin, One time I paid a bill out of my personal check book instead of the business! oops, honest mistake!!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier. (NASTY, DON'T TRY)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day (can you believe it )

33 out of 100 Not too bad, let's see how you do!!
Have a good evening!!

K-Mart

My kmart shopping trip was pretty good. Although I forgot my 5/50 coupon. I was so mad that I forgot it I walked in the door and I remembered that I left it on the printer. So here is a pic of it:




I spent a total of $11.xx should of been 6.XX oh well I guess $11. is pretty good.
Here is what I got
4 boxes of cereal
3 bottle of lotion
1 eyelash curler
2 packs Dixie plates
3 boxes of tylenol
4- endust
2- reynolds tinfoil
2-celestial tea boxes
2- lifesaver gummies

I guess the cereal would normally cost me 11.xx so I thought it was a good quick unplanned trip! I guess I should plan and then I would have saved another $5.00 !!

I love the KMART super doubles!!!

Snow Play

Well my kids have been begging to go out in the snow. So finally I was able to go and get them new snow pants and Ali new boots. I don't know why I didn't get any last year on sale at the end of the season. But anyways I got them some today, and as soon as Ali got home from school, she put them on and out they all went in the snow. Bill came home from work and helped them build a snowman, here is a pic!




They had lots of fun. I am not liking the cold weather, I must be getting old, it didn't used to bother me!

43 days

Wow! I can't believe there is only 43 days till Christmas! I have no idea what I am getting my kids for Christmas. If anyone has ideas for your own kids let me know what they are. My kids are 6-5-3, all girls. Any ideas would be great. I am going tommorrow on a shopping trip to Michigan City outlets with a bunch of ladies from church, should be a good time. Hopefully I can start a little bit of my shopping tommorrow! Have a good evening!

Kroger Trip Today Well Worth It Or Not??

Well today I went and did my grocery shopping, something I used to dread to do. Now I kind if enjoy it, not only am I getting food for my family I am saving lots of money, or maybe I should say LOTS & LOTS of money!

So you wonder how I did it well check out this blog to find out more, she can explain it better than me. On to my grocery shopping trip, Here is a pic: (Something that I never thought I would do is take a pic of my grocery shopping:)




I got all this for $19.xx Awesome deals, the purex soap I had a rain check from last week, each bottle cost me .50 each. And the blocks of cheese in the pics are not part of the Mega Event. I have to support my husbands cheese addicition:) Seriously he will eat half the block in one sitting, and if my Dad is here forget it all three of them would be gone in one sitting and now Chloe is always asking for cheese.
Here is list of what I got today:
2-Cheerios
2-lint rollers
2-scotch brite scrubbers
2-muffin mix
2-cookie mix
8-Hot cocoa mix
2-rice
4-condensed milk
3-Stouffers Single serve (great for lunches at work)
2-Duncan Hines frosting
2-bic razor
2-toaster strudels
2-Packs of Dial
2-Betty Crocker Fruit snacks
2-Betty crocker potatoes

These were part of the Mega Event Buy 10 of them automaticaly get $5.00 off. I did 2 transactions.
Not part of the deal-
1-Cottonelle- .25 after coupon
4-purex soap- .50 each after coupons
2- Duncan hines cake mix- 1.00 each
3- Blocks of cheese which were 3/$5

So all that for $19.xx I thought that was AWESOME! Some week I would like to do my coupon shopping and then go to Wal-XXXX and buy the exact same thing and see how much I actually save, I think I would faint. I don't know if Wal-XXXX really saves us more! Like they say, anyways let me know what great deals you found this week! I would say this trip was WELL WORTH IT!!
Happy Shopping!

Movie Night

Well we decided to take the kids to OPENING NIGHT of High School Musical 3. We got there at 4:40 (started at 5) and there was a line out the door. I was surprised! I guess I have never been to a movie on opening night. We did get in, it was close to a sell out, but I did see a few open seats!

The kids loved and I did to, the signing and dancing in the movie is really good. So I would recommend the movie if you were debating on going to see it. If you haven't watched High School Muscial 1 or 2 you better watch those before you go!

Have a great weekend! Tomorrow we are going to the Pumpkin Farm with some friends, hopefully I remember my camera and will post some pics!

Fall Time

Well today I told the girls I would carve pumpkins with them! We don't celebrate halloween, and so we don't do scary faces on the pumpkins. We just try to have fun, here are some pics of us this afternoon!








The girls carved this one last week with Bill, so I told the girls to sit down by it so I could take a pic, and Snickers (our dog) jumps up there with them and turned and looked right at me when I took the pic. I guess she likes the camera!



Grandma has been gone for 2 weeks and so the girls wanted to put the pumpkin at her house, so here they are sitting on her front porch, with the pumpkin we carved. Ali doesn't think that she will see it. We'll see how long it takes her to see it. Shh, don't tell her!!! Also Ali did the mouth on the pumpkin, she wanted it to look like her, what do you think does it look her missing teeth!? And Chloe well, she is a little grumpy, I think she misses Nana!

Fall is probably my favorite time of the year, with all the trees turning different colors, mums,pumpkins and just the cooler weather. I love to decorate for fall, although this fall I have been extremely busy, so I have not done much but do have a few decorations up. So anyways my mums are in full bloom, so here are our girls with one of my mums! I think the sun was in their faces.

Bus #6

Well last Thursday Jama got to stay all day, well school let out at 12:30 so she got to eat lunch at school.(Normally she only goes half day and gets out at Noon) So anyways this is the first time she got out of school at the same time as the rest of the kids. So I come to pick up the girls (which I do everyday, my kids do not ride the bus, never have, I have no idea what bus # they would ride if they did.) So Ali and Jama get in the car and Jama tells me she got on Bus #6, I said "WHAT", she said "you didn't tell me if I should ride the bus or not, so I decided to ride Bus #6 home" "the bus driver asked who my parents were and he knew you" This is about all I know, oh and Her teacher (who I saw running across the yard) went to get Jama off the bus. I have no idea what she was thinking, luckily the bus driver was paying attention and noticed that this little girl did not belong on that bus.

I asked Jama what she was thinking, and she thought that any bus would take her home. So we explained to her how buses work, so hopefully the next time she won't get on Bus #6!
I called Bill (my husband) and said only Jama, she is a very cute little girl, but sometimes she can be spacey and say some of the funniest things we have ever heard. We got a big laugh out of, so when you see Jama next be sure to ask her about her almost trip on Bus #6!!! We love you Jama you are too cute!

CVS Trip

Well, today on the way home from getting my girls some new clothes ( they desperatly needed them, they were wearing high water pants) we stopped by a CVS. I just ran in and got the following:
1-Blood Gloucuse monitior- 14.99
1-Milk- 2.99

Total 17.98
Used the following coupons
Free Monitor -14.99
ECB-2.00

OOP- .84
Got back $10.00 ECB
Pretty good deal, so I went out to the car and told my husband to run in and get the same on his CVS card. So he got the following:
1-Blood Gloucuse monitior- 14.99
2-Milk- 2.99x2=5.98

Total 21.97
Used the following coupons
Free Monitior-14.99
ECB used- 5.97

OOP- 0.00 Yes that is right ZERO dollars, I am not sure how that happened because he should of spent at least .80, I couldn't figure out the receipt!
Plus he got back 11.50 in ECB, 10. for monitor and 1.50 for quarterly spending!

He was quite excited as he came walking out of CVS, he wanted to do another transaction! But I didn't have any worked up. So today we got our weekly milk, 3 gallons for .84 that is pretty good!

To learn more about how to use coupons and Extra Care Bucks at CVS check out Money Saving Mom or I Heart CVS

Check out this post!

I was reading one of the blogs I like and she is doing a giveaway, leave a comment and you may be the one who wins. Hurry the drawing is on Firday! Check out this website

Sorry

Well I have done it, I added the Christmas Countdown to my blog! I figured that since we have drawn names for our family that I will put up a Christmas Countdown! So enjoy it only 88 days till Christmas, I guess that also means that cold weather is just around the corner also!

Did anyone see this movie this weekend?

I really want to see this movie. I think we will get a babysitter next weekend and go see it. If anyone saw it let me know what you thought of it. This movie is produced by the same as Facing the Giants. A awesome movie, if you haven't seen it go rent it today!
Check out the website.

Johnson Buddies!

Well the final count is 26! With 5 more 3/3 coupons so that will make 15 more for a total of 41. I guess Megan had me beat by one until I go and use my coupons for 15 more. Great job, keep up couponing ladies!

I need your feedback!

Can you have too many of these Johnson Buddies Soap?

Now I am talking about the little soaps in the box. My kids absolety love these, and so do I. When I went to Mexico , on a missions trip, I took one with me it was great. I didn't have to take a sponge and body wash soap. So my question is can I have too many of these. Let me know how many you have and I will tell you how many I have tomorrow night! Lets see who has more! Come on Sarah and Megan count them up! And everyone else tell me what you think too many or not!?

Jama to the DR. and Chloe falls out of her bed!

Well I spent two hours in the Dr. office this evening with Jama and Chloe has falling out of her bed two nights in a row! And she doesn't wake up we just hear a load THUMP, and Bill and I say oh Chloe fell out of her bed again!!



Jama has a double ear infection, the Dr's are so slow and busy we waited TWO hours to be seen. But I did a good deal at CVS when we went to get her prescription. Last week I got a postcard from CVS with a coupon for a $25. gift card when you fill a prescription, so I cut it out and put it in my wallet. Well tonight when the Dr gave me the prescription he told me Wal-mart has this prescription for $4. I said well I'm not going there I will just go to CVS its closer ( well you know why I wanted to go to CVS Shh!) So the DR. said well you can tell cvs that wal-mart has it for $4. and they will match it, I said really, ok well I will try it. So I got to CVS and gave the lady my prescription and said I have this coupon also for a gift card and she said ok, and then I said also wal-mart will fill the prescription for $4. can you match it. She said OK. I don't know if she talks or if she just says OK. So when I checked out I got my prescription for $4. and a $25.00 gift card. So of course I was at CVS so I did a deal and spent nothing oop (out of pocket) and got $13
back in ECB pretty good deal. But poor Jama has an ear infection, but I will not be paying anything out of oop for awhile, that $25. will last awhile at CVS. So thanks CVS for my gift card, please send me more coupons!!



Have a great evening everyone!

God is AWESOME!

I found this pic tonight I thought this pic is absolutely beautiful!

It reminds me of how awesome God is!

28 Boxes of Granola Bars

Yesterday I looked in the pantry, and what did I see? Twenty-eight boxes of granola bars. I couldn't believe it! My wife's coupon hobby has really taken off. I eat name brand stuff all the time now. Honestly, at this rate, we'll never, ever be able to eat all the food she brings home. She brings in more each week than we eat.

Anyway, here's my story on my first deal trip.

We went to Angola to Scott's (Kroger's). They had 4 packes of tp (toilet paper) on sale, and we had coupons too (I'm told this is how you get the deals...you have to coupon on sale items, otherwise, you should just keep them for a rainy day. You should also try to combine manufacturer's coupons with store coupons. Brooke, you trained me well.). So between Brooke and me, we spent $.14 on 16 rolls of tp. If you're any good at math, that's less than $.01 per roll. And with all the granola bars we eat now, our tp usage is up 43%. Seriously. I have the spreadsheet and I can email it to you if you want.

All in all, my experience was incredibly amazing. I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling evening.

Bring on the coupons!

Guest Blogger,
Bill Sines

Grocery Shopping today

Well, I think I had a pretty good week I only spent $42.00 today on my weekly shopping trip to Meijer, Krogers and Wal-greens!

I thought I did real well at Krogers the checkout lady even complimented me on how well I did on planning my deal out. Here is a pic from Krogers, My original total was $24.xx and then I handed the checkout lady my coupons and then she said "well that will be $3.xx, that was a really good deal and planning!" I smiled and said thanks, what else do I say!

So here is the picture~

I only used 1 coupon from the internet the rest were from the Sunday's papers I get!

There is 12 cans of soup - 2 boxes of cereal- 2 chex mix - 1 cheerios snack mix- 6 boxes of granola bars(variety)

I think I might do up another deal to go this weekend, this is quite fun! Thanks Megan for showing me coupons. Sorry, I laughed at you! I really did, I never thought couponing would save me this much money and I never thought it would be fun! I may spend time getting my coupons ready, but what I get makes it all worth it.

Sorry, I ran out of time on taking the other pictures. I had to make time for this pic!

Stay tuned I will be having a GUEST blogger tomorrow night, for some great laughs!

I will leave you with one more thing for tonight! A couple of nights ago Chloe (who is 3 1/2 yrs old) she did the "This little Piggy" (you know on your toes) well this is how it went for her on my toes. (Seriously, I did not help her or did I ever do this to her she was on her own)

This little piggy went to the market

This little piggy went to Nana's

This little piggy stayed home and clipped coupons

Bill and I laughed so much that she never got to finish "This little Piggy" So I am not sure this means she watches me very close or if I coupon alot. Well, ok maybe it is both! Anyways don't kids say the funniest things!

This is Chloe (my Baby)! Does she look ornery!

Hamburger Helper

Well dig out your Hamburger helper coupons and head to Millers

On the way home from Bible study, Mom said that Millers had their Hamb. Helper on sale for .50 a box. I immediately said well lets stop, I have COUPONS!!! So I went in and sure enough it was on sale for .50 limit of 3. Perfect, I have a coupon for .80 off of 3 boxes. So my total was a whopping $.70 I think I can budget that in this week.

So now I have dug out my coupons I have 5 more coupons so I will be getting 15 more boxes this week. So hurry and get your share too.

Bill said people might think my pantry is the food and clothes basket! Oh well, it is nice to get a good deal, since the gas stations are price gouging right now well that is another whole blog!

Have a good evening!

How is Ali going to Eat!!

Ali lost another tooth this afternoon!

She now has three teeth missing! She is not sure if she is going to be able to eat. She just wanted toast for supper, maybe we should give her a teething ring!!!

Jama and my nephew Koen

Jama loves holding her cousin, really she loves holding any baby that won't cry for her!

They are so cute!

Jama & Chloe Sleeping

This is who I found in my bed this morning, somehow they hear Bill get out of bed every morning and come running to my bed. This morning I thought it was too cute the way they were cuddle up to each other!

Jama and Chloe Sleeping in my bed!

Grocery Shopping!!

Well I never thougt that I would take or put pics of my groceries on my blog.... But I started couponing a few months ago. Thanks to my sister, who is alot better and I am still learning. But I thought today that I did pretty good! Here is a pic of what I got for $52.31!

This pic here is at Wal-Greens (never thought I would buy groceries there) I bought all this for $.85 Yes you read that right eighty-five cents after coupons and register rewards!

I wasn't sure about the South beach living bars, but WOW I just ate one and they are really good. I think I might go back tomorrow to get some more boxes!

The above pic is my trip to Meijer, I spent $32.65!! Thanks to Megan who I saw at Meijer's and told me about the free Veggie steamers (w/coupon which I had with me) Also the toliet bowl cleaner was .04 cents and the kitchen lysol was .14!! Never liked Meijer's till a few months ago, did you know meijers will double up to .50 coupons. (Varys by region)

What's up with Wal-mart they don't double or triple anything Boo to Wal-mart!

And least but not last, is Krogers

I found another bag after I took the pic so there is two pics!

I spent a total of $18.81 A little more than I like to spend at Krogers but I got some good stuff!

If you want more info on how to get groceries with coupons go check out

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ she will tell you all about it!

Have a great day!

Happy Couponing!

Bill beard or not!

Well the other day I told Bill maybe he should grow a beard... so he did. Now I'm not sure I like it and ... well guess what he likes it now. So what do you think, beard or no beard.


Now this is a side view pic, I took it tonight with my cell phone on the way home from Basketball.

For those that don't know Bill he can't ever do a serious face it always has to be a goofy one!

So anyways Ali and Jama both started basketball camp tonight. It is on Tuesdays for an hour. It is quite funny to see 60 little girls ages from k-2nd and a couple of coaches trying to tell them what to do. They all did pretty good, and were a little sweaty, well I think the coaches were sweating more than the kids! :)

I posted a poll on the side of the blog so be sure to vote for the beard!

Happy Birthday to my WONDERFUL, HUSBAND!

Happy Birthday Honey,

I Love You.

He is 29 for the third time!!

Trying to keep him young like me!

Also a tribute to our sweet dog Lacey, who died a little over a month ago.

We sure miss Lacey running around the house!

We had her before we had kids she was 8 years old.

My Baby!

Where did the time go, how did they grow up so fast,

this is my baby 3 1/2 years ago!

Were we crazy to have the girls this close together!

Ali was 3 Jama 2 and Chloe a newborn!

Now I look back an wonder where did that time go. Then I thought they will never grow up. Now they are Ali-6(almost 7) Jama 5(almost 6) and Chloe 3 1/2 years old.

You are all a blessing and a joy to me,

I love my three little princesses!

They will always be my Little Princesses!

Chloe first day of Preschool

Chloe getting ready to leave for her first day of preschool!

Many people asked me if I cried when I dropped her off, for some reason I did not. It helped that Chloe was so excited we pulled up to the church (preschool) and she un-buckels and says "BYE MOM, See you later". Teacher opens doors and she jumps out smiling and never looks back at me. She marches down the stairs and then I can not see her. When I picked her up Sarah (her teacher) said she smiled and giggled all day, I said are you sure it was Chloe! She is totally different when I'm not there I guess!! So anyway here is a picture of her!

First Day of School!

Kissing Chloe Goodbye- I don't know if Chloe liked it!

Ali and Jama on their first day of School.

Ali is in 1st Grade

Jama in Kindergarten

STARTING BLOGGING

I' M OFFICALLY BLOGGING!!! THANKS TO MY MOTHER!