Merry Christmas!

One Year Already

Ollie turned one today! I think we'll get through Christmas this year without it being such a blur like it was last year. He sure has changed in the last year:

Just born

With his brothers and sister for the first time

Ready to go home (at only about 16 hours old!)

On Christmas Day

Three months old

Six months old

Nine months old

One year old

Holiday Groceries

Barry went with me yesterday to finish our Christmas shopping and get some groceries. Pamida had toys on sale, buy 1 get 1 50% off. I used a $5 coupon on one of the toys, got 4 toys total, and saved a little money.
For groceries at Super One, more good holiday deals:
Some $0.97 items--

Crystal Farms spray whipped cream
Thank You cherry pie filling
Creamette lasagna noodles
Hunt's ketchup
Flavorite shredded cheese
Simply Potatoes hash browns

Snack food--


Keebler crackers--$1.66 each, used 2 $1/2 coupons=$1.16 each
Planters almonds--$3.99-$1 coupon=$2.99
Planters dry roasted peanuts--$2.50-$1/2 coupon=$2
Planters cashews--$2.99-$1/2 coupon=$2.49
Summer sausage--$0.99 (short dated)

FREE items--

Dixie napkins--FREE with purchase of two Dixie paper plates, also used $0.55 coupon, making these a money maker
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter--FREE with purchase of big Skippy peanut butter
Yogi tea--FREE with coupon from company (I thought I had lost this coupon, but randomly found it the other day)
Kangaroo pita bread--FREE with coupon from company

Other deals--

Dole pineapple--$0.97-$0.55/2 coupon=$0.70 each
Kashi--$2.99-$1.50 coupon=$1.49
Contandina pizza sauce--$1.00-$0.50 coupon=$0.50 each
Royal gelatin--$0.29 each
International Delight creamer--$1.99-$0.55 coupon=$1.44
Gedney pickles--$1.88-$0.60 coupon=$1.28
Fisher sunflower seeds--$1.29-$1 coupon=$0.29
Dixie paper plates--2/$5, used 2-$0.55 coupons=$1.95, plus got napkins free

Overall I saved 37% or around $80.

Sugar Cookies

We love to make sugar cookies and decorate them around the holidays--and not just Christmas, we have cookie cutters for Valentine's Day, Halloween, and spring. I've gotten over wanting them to look magazine perfect and just let the kids go at it, with some supervision of course.

Jackson is the only one who can use sprinkles without Mom's help

Raina wanted to make lots of different colors

Remy could use the sprinkles that were almost gone--I was quite impressed with how he did!

Great fun for all!

Super One Trip

Time for another grocery stock up trip--it had been three weeks since my last big grocery trip. I saved $120.30 or 36% by shopping sales and using coupons. Not the best total, but I bought some extra baking supplies that added to the total. Super One had a lot of BOGO (buy one get one free) items this week, like--

Old Dutch twin pack chips: $3.99/2=$1.99 each
Keebler saltines: $3.09/2=$1.60 each
M & M's and Snickers (stocking stuffers for the kids): $0.79, used 2 BOGO coupons=$0.40 each
Schweigert sausage: $3.89/2=$1.95 each
Grapefruit: $3.98/2=$1.99 each
Potatoes: $2.47/2=$1.24 each
Arrowhead cottage cheese: $3.89/2=$1.95 each
Arrowhead orange juice: $3.19/2=$1.60 each

Other sales--All detergent: $5.79-$2 coupon=$3.79
Gedney pickles: $2-$0.60=$1.40
Fisher sunflower seeds: $1.29-$1=$0.29
Geisha tuna: $0.49 each
Angel Soft: $4.94-$0.50=$4.44
Kellogg's Raisin Bran varieties: 3/$8-$1 coupon-$3.49 (FREE milk when you buy 3 Raisin Bran)=$1.17 each
Mini carrots: $0.44
Marzetti dip: $2.97-$1=$1.97
Kashi: $2.99-$1.50=$1.49
Swiss Miss hot cocoa: $0.97-$0.50/2=$0.72 each

International Delight creamer: $1.66 each, used 2 $0.55 and 1 FREE coupon (from becoming a fan on Facebook)=$0.74 each
Old Orchard apple juice: $0.77-$0.25=$0.52 each
Old Orchard cranberry blend juices: $0.99-$0.25=$0.74 each

And the baking ingredients (not all a bargain!)

Jif peanut butter: $1.49
Barrel O' Fun pretzels: $2
Crystal sugar, 4 lb.: $1.49
Nestle chocolate chips: $1.49 each
Gurley almond bark: $2
Powdered and brown sugar: $1.29 each
Mini marshmallows: $0.69
Reese's Mini peanut butter cups: $3.49
Holiday M & M's: 2/$5-$1/2=$2 each
Hershey Kisses: $2.88-$1/2=$2.38 each
Sprinkles: $1

Pamida Double Coupons

Pamida had double coupons this week, so I stopped by when I went to the grocery store. I got all of this, plus a toy/Christmas present, for under $10.

Welch's sparkling grape juice was 2/$5, I used 2-$1 coupons doubled=$0.50 each
Kiwi shoelaces were FREE after double coupons
Dial soap was $2, no coupons
Suave lotion (not pictured) was $3.50, used $1 coupon doubled=$1.50
This Spud Buds toy was on sale for $8.99 and I had a $5 coupon, making it only $3.99

Raina's Lost Tooth

Raina is very excited that she lost her first tooth. The tooth fairy left her $1 in quarters (I hear sometimes she leaves $5 or $10? Must be for a top tooth!) and a tooth fairy sized note.

Happy Birthday, Liam!

Happy birthday to our nephew Liam who turned 5 today! Eat some cake for me!

Holiday Photos

Every year at the beginning of December I torture myself trying to get the perfect holiday photo of the kids together. Trying to get more than one kid to look at the camera and smile at the same time is not an easy feat. Since I first started doing this in 2004 (when Raina was about 6 months old), we've had lots of bloopers:

Raina wasn't sitting well on her own yet and kept falling over.
Jackson apparently wasn't sitting still.

Someone was a little grumpy.

Too early in the morning, maybe?

Cute picture of Remy, but where's Jackson?

Ollie had just been born, and this was the best we got last year.

Raina was wiggling her tooth, and Remy was not cooperating.

Remy was REALLY not cooperating, Raina's looking away,
Ollie blowing bubbles--good job Jackson!

At least Jackson knows what to do!

I do have a couple I can choose from to turn into our Christmas card this year, but you'll have to wait to see those!

FREE Amazon Music Downloads

Did you know you can get free music at amazon.com? They have a new Christmas download every day through Christmas. Go here to get your free tunes! Today's download is the Coventry Carol by Mediaeval Baebes.

Chex Deal

Our little local grocery store doesn't have a lot of great deals, but once in awhile something comes along. Last week they had Chex cereal for 3/$7.50, but they had a coupon in the ad for $3 off when you buy 3. I also used a $1/2 coupon, so I got 3 boxes of Chex for $3.50, or $1.17 per box. I can use these for Chex mix or puppy chow to snack on through the holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for the big things like my family, our health, and salvation through Jesus, but I'm also thankful for less significant things, like:
Alakef Highlander Grogg coffee with
International Delight Hershey's Chocolate Caramel creamer
The Internet, which links me to the rest of the world
Living on the great Lake Superior
Yarn, for crocheting
A husband who keeps on going, even when the going gets tough
Jackson, who shares my love of reading and has read five of the 11 books he checked out at the library yesterday
Raina, whose artistic creativity must come from her dad
Remy, who tells me he loves me at least a dozen times a day
Ollie, who is learning so much these days
I am truly blessed!

Eleven Months

A couple days ago, Ollie turned eleven months old. He has five teeth (3 on top, 2 on bottom). His favorite thing to do is empty every shelf that is at his level. He can stand alone for a few seconds before he gets scared and sits down. He's starting to outgrow his 12 month clothes, so I got out the size 18 month boxes the other day. I can't believe next month he'll already be a year old!

Ollie finishes off Remy's cottage cheese

Thanksgiving Groceries

You really can't beat the sales that come around holidays. Here are a few things I picked up on Saturday at Super One.
For FREE:
Kashi Go Lean was $2.99, used $3 coupon
Ritz Crackerfuls (2 boxes) were FREE when you buy Ritz crackers
Flavorite butter was FREE when you buy 5 Pillsbury products
Kangaroo pita pockets were FREE with coupon from Kangaroo
Other pictured:
Birds Eye frozen veggies were $0.97, used $0.35 coupons=$0.62 each
Green Giant Steamers were $1.50, used 2-$0.40 and 1-$0.50 coupon=$1.06 each
Swiss Miss hot cocoa was $1 each, used $0.50/2 coupon=$0.75 each
Philadelphia cream cheese was $0.97, used $1/3 coupon=$0.64 each
Not pictured:
Raspberry Jell-o was $0.67 each, used $0.50/2 coupon=$0.42 each
Fisher sunflower seeds were $1.29, used $1 coupon-$0.29
A & W Root Beer, Sunkist, Cherry 7-up 2 liters were $0.79 each
Stove Top stuffing was $0.97
Ocean Spray cranberry sauce was $0.97
Dole pineapple was $0.97
Farmland smoked sausage (like ring bologna) was $2, used $0.55 coupon=$1.45
Reddi Whip was $1.49, used $0.50 coupon=$0.99
Cool Whip was $0.97
Breyer's ice cream was $2.97, used $0.75 coupons=$2.22 each
And the star of the show: a 14+ pound turkey for about $5.50 ($0.38 per pound)!
I saved $113, or 44% this week.

Last Week's Deals

Jackson and Raina didn't have school last Thursday and Friday, so we took a trip to visit Grandpas and Grandmas. I always like to scope out the deals while I'm down there, and here's what I found:
Target--

Luvs were $6.99-$5 coupon=$1.99

Up & Up wipes (replaced Target brand) were $1.54-$1 coupon=$0.54 each

Glade Scented Oil products were $2.50 each and you get a $5 Target gift card when you buy 5. I used a $2/2 coupon, 2 "free refill when you buy a holder" coupons, and $1 coupon, so all 5 were $4.50, and I got a $5 gift card back. I can also get a $5 rebate from SC Johnson (the parent company of Glade) for buying three products, essentially making this deal a $5.50 money maker!
I also bought some straw cups for Remy ($2.89), striped pants for Raina ($2) and Paul Frank monkey pajamas for Remy--I forgot to pack PJs for him ($6.48).

I did a second transaction and bought two kits for covering windows in the winter. They were on sale for $8, I used 2-$1 coupons and my $5 gift card from the first transaction, for a total of $10.10 for both kits.

Overall I saved about 48%.

Coborn's:

Hungry jack syrup was buy one get one free at $3.99. I used a $0.55 coupon and a coupon for free pancake mix when you buy syrup=$1.15 average for each item.
Snuggle was $4.59-$3 coupon=$1.59 each
Old Orchard apple juice was $0.99

I paid $8.14 total and saved $12.13, or 62%.

Cub Foods:

Ragu was $0.88 each.
We (mom and I) bought a few other things, including turkey at $0.39/pound, and saved 61%.

Outside

What kid doesn't love to play outside?