Abby Turns 8

Abby turned 8 on June 22nd!   I can't believe I have an 8 year old. (I guess every year I will be unable to believe that I have a daughter her age)  Where does the time go?

Thanks to a Wilton cake decorating class, my cakes are looking considerably better than before!  

Abby wanted a "breakfast party".  So the Saturday before her birthday, her friends came over and had a sugar feast.  Pancakes, strawberries, whip cream . . . eggs and bacon . . . and ice cream cake!

Abby is so good at planning things.  She had this party planned for weeks.  Abby thinks of the games she wants to play, and even the time and order she wants to play them.  She had written down an itinerary for me the day before . . . so I'll know what to do:)

Happy Birthday Abby!

Grassy's Funeral

Halle found a praying mantis in our yard two days ago.  She picked it up and made it her pet Grassy.  He lost a leg yesterday (we think Gwen might have pulled it off) and then he died today . . . or maybe last night.   She has been SOOOO sad about this!  Halle has been crying and crying.  

We buried him in our back yard.  This seemed to help her feel better.  Good thing this wasn't a dog or some animal where more investment and attachments happen!  I don't know what I would do!  It made me sad to see her so sad.   

Tonight before bed, Halle said, "I can't wait until I die.  Then I will see Grassy again."

EMBA Class of 2011

Congratulations to Ben!  He has been accepted into the BYU Executive MBA program!  He will start school the beginning of August.  We probably won't see him much for the next two years . . . as we will be adding this to his already busy schedule with work, church calling, and family.  I have to admit, I am a little scared . . . with 4 kids . . . but we feel good about this and I am sure in the end it will be worth it!

Y Mountain

We hiked "the Y" yesterday! I don't think I have done that for 10 years . . . maybe more. It was more uphill than I remember . . . but then it is a mountain . . . so I'm not quite sure what I was expecting.  My legs are feeling it today!

We had fun. The girls loved it and and like being able to say that they have been to the top of the "Y".

Today's Best Quote from Halle

"I can't eat the crust on my sandwich . . . it makes a bone in my back hurt. It started hurting when I started eating the crust, so I think I CAN'T eat it!"

Photo Shoot

My Frugal Quest

In the past (up until 2-3 months ago), I  always thought that shopping at Walmart and Sams Club for groceries, toiletries and household items was maximizing my dollar.  Now, thanks to my cousins Shanna and Alisa I have seen the light of coupons matched up with sales . . . which can save soooo much money!  I don't have the skills that they have yet, but I have been able to buy things for much less than I would have a few months ago w/o coupons or sales.  Here's the results of a couple of my more momentous frugal quests.

Last month, I went to Albertson's and bought 

36 boxes of Post cereal (Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Trail Mix Crunch, Post Select)

2lbs. of oranges

3 2lb. containers of Yoplait yogurt 

2 20 oz. bottles of Sprite 

3 candy bars

Without sales or coupons, these items would have cost me about $175 dollars.  What did I spend?  $16 dollars!!!!!!

I was so excited about this!  Cereal is one of my favorite foods, and so I loved being able to stock up on this for practically nothing!

Today, I went to Target and bought 

3 boxes of Special K cereal

2 boxes of Special K crackers

2 boxes of Wheat Thins Artisan crackers

4 Kraft Easy Mac singles

1 Dry Idea deodorant

1  14 oz. bag of Santitas tortilla chips

1 loaf of bread 

2 travel size Axe shower gel

1 16oz. sour cream 

1 box of 100 sandwich bags 

1 pack of gum

Without coupons or sales these items would have cost about $36 dollars.  I spent $10 dollars! 

Anyway, I have had to change my way of thinking about coupons and such.  I used to think it was such a waste of time for people to clip coupons.  Who cares about saving 35 cents?  Or even a $1 here or there.  I always wondered what that accomplished . . . it's not like you can buy that much more with that extra $1.35 saved.  But when you combine the coupons with a sale . . . that is where some real savings happen.   It is more work, but for me it has been worth it.   Thanks Shanna and Alisa for inspiring me . . . it is so much fun to save money!