And the Winner is.....

Sara! Great job! My total was $430.16 I am not really sure what your prize will be but I will think of something good for you my friend!

$679.85

Now for a family of 6 I don't think to many people would be shocked to hear that you spend $679.85 on groceries. Especially if they include ALL of the items they purchase at the store as their groceries (diapers, TP, toothpaste etc.). Well my heart is happy to say that I did not spend that much this time....that is how much I SAVED! WHOO HOO! Yep, I saved all that using coupons! I remember when I was one of those people that said "I never use the stuff in the coupon ads, so I see no point in getting them" or " the store brand is always cheaper" Not true. Your also probably wondering how much I spent in order to get that kind of savings.... any guesses?? I would like to hear them. So much that the closest person to my total without going over wins a little surprise from me :) Yes like the Price is Right (I have always wanted to be a contestant) **** I have at least 2 months to give it to you.
And just a little tid bit of info. I do include diapers and wipes as groceries. I only have 1 kid in diapers but 3 using toilet paper (sometimes)
And Amber M....sorry I already told you so you can't be in this one ;)

EDIT: THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOMETIME TOMORROW :) LIKE 8isH

I am just so excited for this weekend! I have been waiting almost 4 years to put grass in the front yard and it is finally happening! No more laying on my neighbors front yard to watch the kids ride bikes! Gardening is going to be so much better! My heart is happy :) So come one Rain, Come on Sun and Grow Grass Grow! And in case your wondering Pioneer Women do exist in the Hood...they just feed there animals with gasoline instead of hay :)

Sit with me....

So yesterday was the last day for the Albertson's Doubler coupons for this weeks ad. So I decided to take some time Like 3 HOURS and try to get the best deal and buy things I needed. So I was pretty excited to go and get some really good stuff....BUT GUESS WHAT....I get there and most of the stuff I was going to get GONE! Yep all the other coupon ladies snagged it before I could get my greedy hands on it. So what does that mean? Meet sitting in the middle of the store sifting through my millions of coupons to get another good deal. Thankfully I went at night and didn't have my kids with me. But I did bring my husband along and he will probably never come with me again. All in all I got some good deals, but not what I hoped for. So far this month I have spent about 289$ I think this is pretty good considering we have 6.5 people (no I am not pregnant, we have a roommate).
If you haven't looked through the Albertsons ad this week you should. I am going to get a ton of free stuff. Yep don't really need it, but it is free and I am the Queen of Free.
And even if you don't want to enter the world of coupon.... CLICK HERE for a free pack of hotdogs. Sara this will work for Island girls too :)

And she is 3....

Ava we love you so much! You are a treasure and add so much spunk to our family. I love how you take care of your little baby doll and act like a little mommy. I love how you wear a pretty frilly dress and wear moon boots with it (i need to get a picture of this). I love your scrunchy face and your big beautiful brown eyes. Your name means Fragile like a bird, but I think you are anything but fragile. Although you fall a lot so maybe you are trying to fly like one? Happy Birthday my sweet Ava Lay. We love you!

deals, deals, deals

Whew was this week a fun week! I can't even believe all the deals that I scored on. I always love a good bargin!! Picture # 1 cost me .50 cents!! And picture # two cost $29.53 and that is with 6/ 20 oz packages of ground turkey, 5lbs Braeburn Apples, 20 yogurts, & 3 carton of eggs. So yes, you can eat healthy and still coupon ;)
My friend Amber wrote a good post too on some good reasons to coupon. It is well worth the time and the money you save. I pretty much saved $170 this week alone. And yes we needed the stuff. Collin has also been enjoying his alone time while i shop playing video games...so I guess it is a win win situation!

My Brood

This is a picture of us on Mothers day. Aren't they the cutest things you ever did see? It is funny because today was a really bad day as far as raising kids go. They just stretched me to no end, but then I look at a picture like this and all I want to do is crawl in bed with them and give them kissed and hugs.
Ava's birthday is in a few days.....here is a pre-post-picture for you. I just love her scrunchy face!

Happy Mothers' Day by Collin Bustanoby

Happy Mothers' Day

I know that the kids will always remember the fun times. You are fearless. Need to get something from the store? No PROBLEM-O, "Load up the Eurovan and let's git-R-DONE." If your hip and back get tired from holding the youngest, why, you might just invent a Baby-to-Hip Velcro System and sell 'em on Etsy! You are a pioneer woman if I ever saw one. If I didn't provide a roof over your head....you'd probably just find a free one on Craigslist. You are so trustworthy when it comes to money. I think you are the best shopper I've ever known. The way you can stretch a dollar I'd swear they were made out of rubber. You look good (okay, GREAT) and don't spend a lot doing it. What a dream woman! Your daughters' future husbands will thank you for your lessons in frugality and stewardship.
Your kids love you. They claw at the door and wail whenever "mommma-aaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaaaa-momm-aaaaaaa" goes anywhere without them. You aren't supposed to have fun with your friends. They want you all to themselves. I know you can do everything that I can't because the kids tell me. If it wasn't for your motherly skills, there would never be cute hair on our girls. Pony and pig tails don't work out well when you have daddy sausage fingers. You need delicate momma fingers to pull that off.

I love you Honey, you are a great MOMMA

You want a playhouse?? I'll give you a playhouse!

This is what we did on our ONE sunny day last week. I know that sounds like I am complaining...and I am! Anyway it was so much fun and the kids and I kept "remodeling" the place. We ending up stringing Christmas lights in it so that it wasn't so dark in there. Unfortunately, the rain came and it is now in the recycle bin. But boy oh boy we will be doing this again for sure! Maybe I can sell these on Etsy...Ha!

How much?? That's right One Dollar and thirteen cents!!

And this is at TARGET PEOPLE!! Crazy I know and if they had everything I wanted then it would of been even better :) Couponing is a ton of work, but I am seeing the fruits of my labor. And just incase you are wondering how I come up with these senerios it is only because I am following other peoples blogs. Frugal Living & Fistful of Coupons are my favorites. If you don't coupon yet....Trust me your going to wish you had :)

*my out of pocket expense was $9.13
I will send it a 3$ rebate to lysol & I also was given a 5$ giftcard (you can use on your next purchase) right away. Which brought the total to $1.13


I also went to Safeway on Tuesday and scored big time too.
8 boxes of cereal
2 boxes of popcorn
1 box capri suns
2 avacodos
2 red/green peppers
(can't remember what else)
but it only cost $17.89

So if all else fails....come to my house and we can have a bowl of cereal together ;O

Is she one?? Really?

It seriously feels like yesterday that we had her. I just got finished reading this POST
and I am reminded of how much fun it was bringing her into this world. I think my husband could also have a business in delivery blogging. I mean I usually don't get more than 8 comments on a post (and that is even rare) and here we got 59!

Norah is the biggest delight. She is sweet, gentle, easily amused and the list can go on. I just love her to pieces. So do her brother and sisters. I still crack up with Dallas' response to people when they verbalize her cuteness "yep, we are going to keep her!" And we will for sure!

So Norah, Happy Birthday Sweet Girl of Ours! Mom and Dad love you!