Beau and some GOOD deals!!

I have to start this post out with some comic relief.  All I can say is...it's a darn good thing he is SO cute!!!

He was SO proud of himself.  If you look closely at this picture, you can see the oats shoved up his nose and glued to his face with snot.  Just keepin' it real!!

On to better news:)

This is an AMAZING week at Walgreens!

Everything in the picture below cost me $23.73.  I also got back $18 in Register Rewards.  I did use some Register Rewards from last week to bring down my out-of-pocket expense, but that is how this game works!!!

A few really good deals this week...Irish Spring deodorant and body wash is 2/$6 with a $4 Register Reward.  A good deal ($1/each) without coupons, but with coupons from yesterday's paper you can get both for $0.50 total.  The Right Guard deodorant is B1G1 Free.  With the B1G1 Free coupon from the yesterday's paper these were both free.  The Clearasil is $2 off and has a $2 Register Reward.  I also had 2 $2 printable coupons, so I actually made $0.50 on these.  The Herbal Essences shampoo is on sale for $2.99 with a $1 Register Reward.  There was a B1G1 Free coupon yesterday, making them $1 each.  The Dial NutriSkin lotion was $4.99 with a $3 Register Reward.  With the $1 coupon from yesterday's papers it was $0.99.  The Purex crystals were $4.99 with a $2 Register Reward.  With the $2 coupon from the paper they were also $0.99.  The Renuzit Crystal Elements were $3.99 and with the $3 coupon from yesterday's paper they were also $0.99.  Read about the diaper deal below!

I did check out twice, because I had 2 sets of Irish Spring and Clearasil.  (If you try 2 of the same deal in one transaction, it will only print 1 of the Register Rewards).

The cashiers couldn't have been more friendly!  A manager checked me out, and even told me that she didn't think they had ordered enough of the good deals, so she had placed another order that should be in by Tuesday.

After testing out the diapers, I went back today for more!  I also got a $1/Irish Spring deodorant coupon from the machine at the register at Walgreens yesterday, so I did that deal again also.  I paid a total of $3.98 for the things in the picture below and got back a $4 Register Reward.  (I used some Register Rewards from yesterday to bring my out-of-pocket down).

The best deal of the week, by far, is the diapers. I am a diaper snob, and I will admit that I LOVE Huggies diapers. I have used them exclusively on Beau until the Pampers deal a few weeks ago. But, NO MORE! I just couldn't resist this deal, so I bought some Walgreens brand diapers....and I LOVE them. They are kind of a cross between Huggies and Pampers, and I HEART them!!

The best part....they are only $2.50/ pack this week. This is an EASY deal that anyone who needs diapers MUST do this week!! They are on sale for $8.99 and they are Buy 1 Get 1 FREE.  Then you just need to get the Walgreens coupon out of the "Infant Care" booklet below.  At the Greenwood Walgreens, there is a stack of these at the cosmetics counter.  If you don't see them, just ask:). 

Have the cashier scan the bottom right coupon, which is $2 off each pack of Walgreens diapers.  It will automomatically take off $2 for EACH pack you buy. (No need to have 1 for each pack you buy).  Don't even give them the coupon, just let them scan it.  (They throw all the Walgreens coupons away after they scan them).  You want to keep this one, because it doesn't expire until 12/31/11!!!!

So, in the end you get 2 packs of diapers for $5 or $2.50/pack!!!

My receipts for the stuff in the pictures says I saved $103.40.  Obviously, I would never have bought the stuff for full price, but it still feels good to know that I really did save A LOT!!  If you have been thinking about trying Walgreens, this is YOUR week!!!!

Groceries on a budget...

Okay, so I have blogged about the  new budget we started at the first of the year.  I have budgeted myself $75/week for groceries.  I have done really well, I think.  I have gone over a few dollars a couple of times, but for the most part, it hasn't been too bad.  I will say, that I am definitely being MUCH more careful when I shop.  I think and re-think everything that goes into my cart.  I've also found myself making more from scratch, because it's just SO much cheaper!

This is a look at my grocery trip to Wal-Mart this morning.  I spent $42.55.  I LOVE to find hamburger meat marked down.  Meat is a budget killer.  I price-matched eggs at Target for $1.29 and had a coupon for $0.55/2 dozen.  I had a coupon for buy a Swiffer starter kit ($4.47) and get a refill free ($7.97).  That was a GREAT deal for Swiffer dusters, and that is pretty much the only way I have time to dust is with a Swiffer...

Another good deal I am working on right now is the Gain dryer sheets.  The 80ct. boxes are $3.12 and there was a coupon recently for $3.00.  I bought some extra coupons on ebay for around $0.35 each.  That is making each box $0.47 which you just can't beat.  So, I am stocking up for a long time on this deal!

I also found footed PJ's marked down to $3.  I bought a pair for Beau for next winter.  So, I could probably take $3 off my grocery total, because those should come out of the clothing budget.

My original subtotal before coupons was $62.77 and my subtotal after coupons was $38.17.  I'm finding that with a little bit of work ahead of time, I can truly stay with my $75/week budget.  I love a challenge!

And here is my sweet little "sick" boy.  He is feeling MUCH better today.  He unzipped his shirt and I just thought he looked hilarious!!  Hopefully he will be feeling well enough to go to MOPS tomorrow!  I REALLY hope so, because it is going to be SO good!!

So, anyone else trying a grocery budget?  How are you doing?

Super Walgreens Deal & Beau Bonding:)

This has got to be one of the BEST "easy" deals in a long time!!  At Walgreens this week there is an in-ad coupon for $5 off PediaCare products.  The infants drops (acetaminophen/Tylenol) are regular priced at $5.99.  So, you can get them for $0.99 with almost no effort.  But, at www.coupons.com there is a printable coupon for $2/1 which makes it EVEN BETTER!  You can print the coupon twice and buy 2 bottles and make $2.  The children's liquid (not infant drops) is also regularly $6.99.  So, if you need that it would be free also with the printable coupons. 

So, anyone who has smallish kids or is going to need a gift for a new baby anytime soon should totally do this!!  Be sure if you are buying the infants drops that you pick up the 0.5 oz. bottle and not the 1 oz. bottle.  They were all together on the shelf, so just FYI!!

The Softsoap shower gel is on sale for 2/$7 and a $5 Register Reward prints at the register, so that makes the shower gel $1 each after Register Reward.  Some good stuff this week!!!

On the home front....I had to take Beau to a walk-in clinic yesterday.  He was coughing his head off and I looked at his ears with the "neighborhood otoscope" (thanks, Sherry) and knew his ears were infected.  Bailey Clinic was closed for renovations so I had to take him to Pro-Med in Ft. Smith.  He has been pretty miserable all day today.  So, when Travis came home I REALLY needed a break!

This is the two of them playing while I was getting supper ready.  You would never guess by this picture that he felt bad:).  He had been in his pajamas ALL day!

After supper we HAD to catch up on Idol.  Beau was fussing like crazy, and wouldn't stay off the furniture, so Travis jumped in the "castle" with him (thanks Katie for our new baby jail).  Again, you would never guess he was CRANKY from this picture!!  He loves his daddy, and I'm SO glad that Travis is willing to take his turn entertaining sometimes!!!

I'm SO disappointed that Beau can't go to MDO tomorrow.  I was supposed to work at the book fair all day and I HATE letting people down.  Thank you to the sweet friends that are filling in for me tomorrow.  I owe you guys BIG TIME!!  I"m hoping Beau rounds the corner tomorrow.  I just can't take many more sick baby days!!!

Lately...

I feel like we have been so busy, but I'm not sure anything has been particularly "blog worthy".  We had a HUGE Pre-Growing Kids Sale at my house last weekend.  I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures, but it was HUGE.  Between me, Sherry, Sharon, Katie, Dottie, Mischelle, and Tamara we have 23 kids!!!  That is a LOT OF STUFF!!  It was SO worth it though.  We made combined over $1600 in 2 days.  That is $480 we got to keep as compared to selling it at GKS and giving them 30%. 

Today was our second to last Upward games.  The boys have really enjoyed it.  Neither of their teams have won many games, but it has still been fun.  Evan scored 9 of the 12 points his team made today:)  Pretty low scoring game, but I was proud of him!  Blake has gotten more aggressive this year.  He seems to be "getting" the game more this go round and has had a lot of fun playing with some of his best friends!

This morning we had to take 2 cars to the game, and as Travis was walking out the door he asked if I needed the stroller.  I said yes and he said he would stick it in the Suburban for me.  (I had taken it out to take all my stuff to GKS yesterday).  So, when I got to the Naz I opened the back and he had forgotten to put it in!  I looked around and saw Ryan pulling into the parking lot in their Suburban.  I flagged him down and asked if Whitney's stroller was in their car.  It was, and so Beau spent the game sitting in a PINK stroller!!!  Ha!  Real men ride in pink!!!  He might need another hair cut and I won't even mention how many people told me how cute she was this morning:)

 In other news, baby Georgia is growing like a weed!!  These pictures are almost 2 weeks old, but still so sweet.  The boys getting to meet her for the first time!!

Blake was smitten!!

 All four grandkids in a picture for the first time!!!

I have gone over to visit several times while Beau was at MDO.  She is just so sweet and tiny.  It is SO fun to sit and hold her, then know I get to hand her back to her mommy!! 

Evan has his first baseball practice tomorrow!!  I can't believe it!  It makes me look forward to spring, though.  This year is going to be TOUGH at the ball fields with Beau.  It will be interesting for sure!!!

Walgreens FYI...Pampers $2.99

Just a quick FYI for my friends out there who use Pampers diapers.  This week at Walgreens the Pampers are on sale for $8.99.  When you buy a pack you get a $2 Register Reward.  I combined that with a coupon from the paper for $2.  There is also an "Infant Care" booklet in the store (I asked for one at the cosmetics counter), that has a $2 Walgreens coupon in it.  Combining all that together makes the packs of Pampers $2.99 each!!!

Just remember that for this to work, you have to buy 1 pack at a time.  If you buy more than 1 in the same transaction the Register Reward will only print once.  Also, don't try to use the Pampers Register Reward towards another pack of Pampers or another Register Reward will not print!

I'm not a huge Pampers fan, but for $2.99 I will ABSOLUTELY use them!!

As for the new budget...so far so good.  I went over about $10 at Wal-Mart one week (I have budgeted $75/wk for groceries).  That was when I was buying all my Growing Kids hangers, safety pins, zip ties, Ziplocs...so I felt pretty okay about that. 

I have stayed right on track with my $15/week at Walgreens.  I did spend $16.?? yesterday, but seeing how I got a lot of stuff including some Mucinex for Evan (we had been to the doctor and he has a sinus infection)  plus 2 packs of diapers, I was okay with that also.

I can say that having cash in an envelope has made me re-think just about every single thing I put in my cart.  I am being SO much more careful about what I buy.  It has been SO good for me!! 

Beau~15 months

Our sweet little baby Beau is not so little anymore:)  You are growing like a weed and learning new tricks EVERYDAY!!

My little Beau, you push me to my limit every single day.  But, you are also so stinkin' sweet.  This are a few things are up to these days...

 ~You are SO independent.  You want to explore and try everything you see.
~You are the smallest of my boys.  You weigh around 22 pounds.

 ~You are wearing a size 3 diaper and size 12-18 month clothes.  I have a whole tub of 18-24 month winter clothes, but you aren't going to get to wear many of them.  Your big brother Evan wore them all at your age:)

 ~You are a great sleeper.  You go to bed around 8:00 and wake up between 6:15-6:45.  You take a nap usually around 11:30 and sleep for 2-3 hours. 

 ~You are learning to eat lots of new things.  You are trying to eat with a fork, but usually you hold it in one hand and eat with the other hand:)  There isn't much of anything we have given you that you didn't eat.  You LOVE anything in a Sonic cup.  You will stand at the counter and BEG for the cup!!!  You drink milk and juice both out of a straw sippy cup.

~You are still nursing 2 or 3 times a day.  Usually just when you go to sleep at night and when you first wake up in the morning.  Those are some of my MOST favorite times with you.  You are still, and let me snuggle you and I LOVE IT!!!

~You have learned to get into every single space in this house.  You can squeeze between the end tables, under the dining room table, and behind your table in your room.  You can climb into the bathtub, onto the kitchen table, piano, dining room table, coffe table, and TV stand.  There is nothing off limits in your eyes:)

~As these pictures show...you LOVE Q-tips.  You stand in the bathroom and beg for them.  I usually give you one because it will keep you out of the drawers for a minute or two.

~You have the sweetest little mischevious grin!  You love to make us laugh!

Here is a picture of the first time you climbed onto the table.  I had NO idea that you could even get up in a chair.  I turned around from the stove and there you were...eating a big handful of cheese:)

~I think you are going to be a dare devil like your brother Evan.  You get on your giraffe, balance your feet on the seat, and stand up with your arms in the air.  Then you look to see if I am watching and start clapping for yourself. 

~The pantry is, hands down, your MOST favorite room in the house.  You get into everything!  This day you pried the lid off the can of popcorn and were having a little snack with Snowy when I found you!

~Another day that you got into the pantry.  I think you would have sat there and eaten that whole can of Pringles if would have let you:)

And the TV table...all I can say is, you make me crazy some days!!!!

~You are saying several words now.  I love it when you start to ramble really fast in gibberish.  You look at us like we should understand exactly what you mean!!  Some words you are saying: mama, dada, bubba, more, thank you, Beau, and please.  Your vocabulary is starting to grow a little.  You are really good at just grunting or saying "booooow" for everything!

~You have finally picked up on one sign language word and that is "more".  You sit in your high chair and sign it over and over when you like something you are eating!!

~Your big brothers still adore you.  They carry you around and you have started reaching out and hugging them all the time!  SO cute!!

It's hard for me to believe that we have completely passed the baby stage of your life.  You are a busy toddler that doesn't stop for a single second during the day.  I am so happy that you are healthy and happy.  I can't wait to see what the next months bring!  You are a blessing and we love you SO much!!!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is probably my least favorite holiday.  I think it is WAY over-rated.  I feel like it forces you to spend money to "prove" to someone that you love them.  That being said....I also love a great surprise!

On Valentine's morning Evan came in my room with a red rose and 2 cards.  He had asked Travis to take him shopping the day before to buy me something.  He spent his own money and picked out everything himself.  He was so proud and I was SO happy.  Blake is usually the one who thinks ahead and plans, so I was glad to see Evan thinking ahead this time.

The 2nd grade at East Pointe took a field trip on Valentine's Day to see the play Snow White and then to Pizza Warehouse to eat and play.  Travis and I met Evan's class there.  I was glad I got to go, because this year making these field trips has been harder with Beau.

All the kids burned through there tokens in NO time!!

Feeding the ticket machine!

Me and my Valentine!  He played one of those silly "claw" machines and actually won the ball he is holding:)

And, a picture of Ev's Valentine sack before I threw it away...

This post seems all about Ev but I also had a great day with the rest of my Valentine's!  Blake made me a sweet Valentine's note after he realized what Evan had done:)  I didn't make it to Blake's party becuase it was in the afternoon and Beau HAD to take a nap.  But, he brought home a sack full of "stuff" and said it was fun!

Travis and I had agreed not to get each other anything, in hopes that instead we might could go on a date sometime this week.  That didn't happen, but I had have high hopes for next week:)  But, he did order me a jacket that I have been wanting and it was delivered on Valentine's day.  So, it kinda felt like a Valentine's gift:)

All of the boys got sweet gifts from both sets of grandparents.  I didn't take pictures of either, but the big boys LOVE cold hard cash right now and Beau is pretty proud of his Pillow Pet and blue doggy:)

It was a good day and I'm SO very thankful that I have the most amazing husband in the world.  He is truly amazing and  love that I get to celebrate being with him everyday, not just Valentine's Day!!!