GO FISH!

I forgot to mention in the previous post the great deal I got on some Cd's and a DVD for my kids. In December the band GO Fish was in concert in Cedar Rapids. Our kids LOVE THEM!!! It was not a hard decision to decide to take them. They had a BLAST, so did we, even Jeni. Those guys can really do a show to appeal to all ages. Well, at their show they had buy one cd for 15.00 and all others were 5.00/ea no limit. I didnt hve the funds with me then so had to pass it up. Two weeks ago I went to their website: http://www.gofishguys.com they were still running that same deal! Woo hoo, so I bought one for 15 (they only give 3 choices but we had two of them) and then went shopping. They do not charge shipping and we got them in a couple days time. I think we have listened to them at least once a day and the DVD has had some serious miles put on it, but it is funny, no violence, great message and fun songs, plus the kids reinact it. They also refer to the guys by name like they see them everyday and are great pals (technically on DVD they do see them) Anyway, back to the savings, by taking up that deal, I saved 50.00 in the cost of the cd's. Not bad.

It all started with the cottonballs...

So, about a month ago I was in Walmart, and every trip to Walmart MUST include a trip down the clearance isle, it is a habit of mine. You never know what sort of deal you may find there. So, I am driving on down the isle when I notice cotton balls on the shelf and thought, well, that is an odd item to be on clearance, not like it expires or is not a usable item. Then I notice that they are selling for .82/ for a bag of 225. Wow, that is a deal! A 1.00 off the normal price. So, I grab two. The next day I am at my sisters house and was joking about the cottonballs being on clearance, she said, she would have bought alot since it is an item that would get used. SOOOOO a few days later I am back at Wally World taking a spin down the clearance isle and there is still quite a few bags left, so I grabbed 10.00. I couldn't get myself to take them all so I left a couple bags. Then I got to thinking about wow, between that visit and the previous I had saved 12.00 on an item we frequently run out of. Hmmmm.
THEN, my sister and my mom start telling me about all these great deals they have been getting using coupons and sales at Walgreens and CVS. I was getting a tad jealous of this (guilty admission). So, I started asking some questions and clippin' the Q's. A couple weeks ago the sis and I headed into town for me to get a "tutorial" of sorts on the in's and outs of getting a good deal and stockpiling items that we generally use. First stop, CVS, now I will admit that their card thing was/is really intimidating to me but w/ some coaching (thanks Dawn) I walked out of there spending 2.30 for two tubes of toothpaste and earning 2.00 in CVS Bucks for another trip! Not bad! Next trip was to Walgreens (aka WAGS) we scored some good deals there too, I walked out of there spending 27.88 and saving 44.67! Not to be forgotten was the 13.xx in rebates that I had coming too! Woo Hooooooo!!!!! Needless to say that was quite the rush from saving that much and getting items my family would need to use AND stretching out the income. I could hardly sleep that night.
So, needless to say the clipping of the Q's has become an obsession of mine and finding good deals. Today I was going through my receipts to send in for some free stuff and started totaling up what I have saved since the first cottonball purchase, ok, are you sitting? (Yeah, like who stands to read blogs?) drumroll please..........$180.24! That is in a months time! I did not tally how much spent b/c some of the receipts included Christmas gifts and I didn't want to break it all down. And to copy my sis on her blog http://www.thehappelfamily.blogspot.com/ I will be posting my savings as well. I will however, NOT be putting my pedometer readings on this. Seriously, only 39 steps to cross my house, that is alot of pacing.

Against the wind....

YES finally some real showings of spring, the flowers are starting to bud, the temps are a bit warmer, even though it is hard to notice with the true trademark of spring. WIND. It is more than just a nice spring breeze, this will knock you off your feet, or if you are like Jarrett blow you down the sidewalk. That is exactly what happened to him today. He got home from school and we were just talking and a big gust of wind comes and there he goes rolling down the sidewalk. He thought it was funny and just kept guiding himself to see how far he would go (what a boy)

The great dress hunt

No, I haven't died, I'm still living (I think)Been extra busy this weekend. Friday night the hubby and I went on a romantic date, to Best Buy, Family Christian Book Store, Taco Bell, Menards and Walmart. Well, we take what we can get, not an easy task w/ 5 kids and one that is generally our side kick. But it is just a season in life, someday we will wish that they were still at home (or that's what people say happens ha ha ha) Best Buy was a trip to look at cameras, our decided to no longer work in the delivery room when we had little e, great timing huh? Too bad the hospital couldn't rush it to the ER. Let me tell you about Taco Bell, we had the funniest thing happen to us. We were leaving the parking lot (you know we only ever do drive thru) and this car full of teenage boys stops in front of us (if we hadn't been watching we would have t boned them) Anyway they all look at us w/ this serious look on their faces and then do this weird thing w/ their arms, kinda like they were dancing and doing the jerk but w/ their arms bent. I couldn't stop laughing after it sank in what they were doing, then they drove off. How hilarious! and dorky all at the same time. I still giggle remembering it. Then horror of horrors happened as we were pulling onto the street, my pop fell over, and the lid wasn't on tight ALL my pop went flying across the floor, I almost cried. That ranks up there w/ spilling a beer back in my drinking days. I was thirsty and CRAVING a pop. Thankfully my sweet hubby drove to a gas station so I could get a replacement. Whew.

Saturday I took Jeni on our second trip out to find a prom dress. We hit two consignment shops, she tried on two at the first, one was too tight, one was too short. At the second store I think she tried on 5 or 6, this older man comes over while she was showing it to me and said" I didn't know they had models here! I'll take you to the prom!" So funny, her face turned red. This man had to be old enough to be her grandpa! Finally we went to JCPennys, I figured maybe they would have something on sale since no one is her height and a toothpick too. We thought maybe we had scored big time b/c the dress she really wanted was marked way down but they didn't have her size, sniff. But we did find the super cutest dress, it is perfect for her! a cream color w/ gold glitter, its halter top style and has a cute little brooch on it. I did let her try some of the pricier dresses on for fun though after.

Sunday was busy as usual, Church then later that evening we got together w/ our Care Group. We really enjoy that time fellowshipping w/ others who love Christ.

Today, we finally did it. We bought a camera, so I will be able to post UPDATED photos! YEEE HAAAAAWWWWWWWWW. I cant wait to get some good picks of the kiddos. Gotta Run MOPS tomorrow and bible study w/ my dear Gladdy. Maybe somewhere along the line I can find my humor again, this post is a tad bit dry. Sorry.

violet= red+blue

Ahhhhh...forgetfullness such a great thing, when it is to your advantage. Today I got to experience to the max the no so great benefit of forgetting. Its a little thing call Genetian Violet, heard of it? Great stuff, unless it is the possesion of a two year old. Yes you read that right. Actually, there are not many things that are good in the possesion of a two year old. Especially when it is a substance that is bright purple and stains. I was getting little e to sleep for his nap and in walks Gretchen, handing me the bottle (isnt she thoughful?) with one hand and the lid with the other, her fat little fingers, purple. It took a moment to register what I was seeing. I yelled for Jeni as this was going to take back up. Dont let her touch anything and get her off the carpet. Personally I could care less if the diningroom floor was stained, it is on the list for replacement anyway. We find that the diningroom floor has a nice purple puddle on it, her foot also has a splash of color too, along w/ the pretty pink outfit that she got for her birthday a couple weeks ago. She got to wear it once and one hour, now she has a very pretty pink and purple outfit to wear to play outside in. grrrr. Not even hairspray works to take this stuff out. I may try rubbing alcohol, can you drink that? ha ha Needless to say my day that was going really good, went to crud, really quick. That took alot of cleanup and I was to say the least, seeing red and the ruined outfit made me a tad bit blue. Did I mention I left it out?

On a GOOD note, I got the girls bedroom clean, finally. I cant believe the amount of clothing we have accumulated for them. I put away TWO heaping laundry baskets of clothes, plus hung up I think 20 dresses (not really, it may have been 10) geez, time to sort out and purge the clothes. I am sure that there is stuff in there that fits neither one of them, besides, those are probably the ones that are procreating with the others and causing the influx of laundry in my laundryroom, they must go! If only that happened with socks...

Little e is on his way to moving up in the world, he is now the proud owner of a big boy car seat. He seems to like it just fine so far, but it is in the livingroom and motionless, we will see. The reviews for installing this seat were not that great, so we will see how great we think it is then. Well I gotta freshly shaved hubby behind me, gotta go smell him. Nite!

The Heartbreak Kid and the Lip Gloss Store

Today we went shopping for Eeeks, Prom Dresses. I never thought I would ever have a child old enough to go to Prom. Unfortunately we don't have a spare 105.00 laying around for the "dress of her dreams" so we hit a few consignment shops. Personally I think everything she tried on looked beautiful, but I may be a little biased. We were at this consignment shop in CR and Gabi saw a flower girl dress there that she just HAD to try on, sure why not, Jeni was trying on dresses. She came out of the dressing room in this way too cute pink dress w/ pretty little flowers around the bottom. The words angelic come to mind, she had this pretty little smile on her face, she was in complete princess world. Of course she wanted to buy the dress which was hard to tell her no but I had to. The dress by most standards was not very much, 17.50 and it fit her perfectly, but it fit her perfectly and she is a growing 4 year old, plus well we need to get this prom dress first. But this was one heartbroken princess. With tears. I felt like such a meanie. I am hoping we can find some clearance easter dresses somewhere.

So off we went on our rainy day adventure, and ended up at the lip gloss store, as called by a pretty little blonde I know, known to the rest of the world as Walmart. All through the store, what can I get? I finally broke down, she has birthday money. We came out w/ a disney princess purse (don't all 4 year olds need a purse? Mom's in training right?) and two wallets, one for her, one for Gretchen.

Well, gotta run since I have only been home for about 2 hours today, something has to get done other than supper before I leave for bible study. Sounding like it will be feeding Little E at least.

Hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed evening!

25 18 33.5 30

Yep, those are the numbers from the drs office today. Took the youngest two in for their 4 month and 2 year appts. Little E is not so little he is 18 pounds and 25 inches, the doctor mentioned something about a linebacker. Hmmmm heavyweight wrestler maybe? Little Miss Gretchen is getting pretty big herself 30 pounds (Gabs weighs 37) and is 33.5 inches. She is getting up there, actually her and Gabi can wear the same size shorts and some shirts, which is nice because I don't think anyone but me really knows whose clothes belong to who.

We have been trying for months now to get Gretchen to say her name, she can, we have heard it a small handful of times, but she prefers to call herself Gabi, or me. I have tried over and over, ok say Gretchen, and all that comes out is "me" or "Gabi" she either has an identity issue or her name is just hard to say. Sometimes I think she may just be confused b/c when we call Gabi she runs up and says "what." At least maybe one of them will hear me. Gabi and Jarrett have gone to trying to get her to say it by syllable which is funny. Gabi saying " say Gretchen grrrr grrr ee ee tchen gretchen" so today Gretchen put a little spin on that one. She repeated her alright grrr ah me. She was very proud of herself. She makes me smile. Most of the time.