Spontaneous

...is not a word that I really have in my daily vocabulary. Actually, I kind of cringe when I hear it. I work better with a plan. That's just my personality. Even though I'm a stickler for a plan/routine, there are times when being spontaneous can be a good thing. Yesterday Ry called me up and surprised me with a free airline ticket that HAD to be used by Monday. I was like, "Say WHAT?!" What in the world am I going to do? After a few phone calls...I can now say I'm headed to San Diego (by myself) for the weekend to visit Ashley!!!


(She's the O, I'm the Y)
Ash and I met our freshman year at BYU. We lived on the same floor and quickly became inseparable. We were like two peas in a pod. I swear there were so many times that I would walk into Chem 101 and we'd be wearing the same exact outfit just by chance. We had so much fun and were always up to something. During our freshman year, BYU gave us a week off for the Winter Olympics so we high tailed it to LA (where she's from) to hang out in the sun. We even ended up going with a bunch of friends to Price is Right while we were down there.



We haven't seen each other since Ry and I moved to Santa Clara back in 2004. It's been so long! I'm so excited to go! I don't even know what to do with myself! I haven't traveled by myself in over 4 years! What am I going to do?! My husband is so awesome! Thanks for making this happen, Ry!

Engaged!

As I was writing my last post, I was able to look through all my old wedding photos and came across this little cutie, my younger brother (I can't say little because he is a lot taller than me). Well, he gave me a call last night to tell me that he got engaged! Hooray! I'm so excited! I just love his fiancee, Crystal! I'm so happy that she's going to be my sister-in-law! Can't wait until August 15th! Congrats you guys!

6 Years Ago

I'm a day late, but I really wanted these pictures on here so there was a slight delay. This is where I was 6 years ago...





You never know what life will be like after that day. I just find myself constantly thinking that I am so glad that we found each other. Our personalities compliment each other so well and we do so much for each other. I couldn't imagaine making it through life with anyone else, I don't know what I'd do without him! Happy Anniversary!

7 Months!

 

I can't even believe that Max is already 7 months this week! It's crazy! We are now heading into the life of mobility! Max rolls just about everywhere and is starting to crawl a tiny bit. He only crawls backwards or in circles, but I have a feeling that he'll be moving on to bigger and better things soon. For a moment I thought that Max wouldn't be super active like E, but all those thoughts are out the window now. He's just as vocal, loud, wiggly, busy, and active as his older brother! The minute you put him in the exersaucer he is riding it like a horse AND he talks VERY loud to his other baby friends in Sunday School.

 

He is so happy all the time and is pretty good about just going with the flow. He hasn't gotten any teeth yet, but I think he might have something brewing soon. Most people say he looks just like his brother and I'd have to agree. E loves it when people say it too...and if they don't, then he tells them.

 

He's got more dark hair coming in so I think he might be a brunette, but who knows once summer rolls around. Max loves riding in the front part of the grocery cart now that he can sit up so well. He's an angel at the store since he can look around at all the things going on around him (especially E running around doing something). Max is such a cute baby! I know I'm partial because I'm his mother, but he seriously looks like a little Gerber baby. He has this perfect milky skin, big blue eyes, chubby little cheeks, and a little swoop of hair. Another Elmer heart breaker!

Deals of the Week

We bought a vehicle (pictures to come)!!! I can get around town without bumming rides off people! Hooray! So obviously the couponing continues! Saturday I hit up Target and then today I went to CVS and Walgreens and this is what I got:

Target:

Tips for Target: Go to the Target website and check out their printable coupons. You can use the Target coupons on top of manufacturer's coupons so you can save tons if you find the right deals. My total for this transaction was $5.43.

Kashi Waffles: 1.99 I paid 0.50
I got 2 1.50 coupons from the Vocalpoint website

Easy Mac: 0.77 I paid 0.27
Target had $1 off 2 coupons

Colgate Wisp: 1.99 I paid 1.00
Target 0.50 Q
Manufacturer 0.50 Q

Dove Body Wash: 2.99 I paid .49
Target 1.00 Q
Manufacturer 1.50 Q

Oreo Sticks: 2.99 I paid 1.50
2 Manufacturer $1 off
Target $1 off 2

Johnson Baby Q tips: 1.29 I made 0.46 off each one
$3 off 3 Johnson products Q
3 0.75 off Johnson Target Q

Fruit snacks: 0.89 I made 0.11 off each one
$1 off Target fruit snacks

CVS:
Tips for CVS: There is a scanner at the front of the store where you can scan your Extra Care card and it spits out all kinds of fun coupons. I got $3.50 if Extra Care Bucks just for swiping it the other day! Last week I walked out of there paying only $4 and earned $6.99 Extra Care Bucks to spend later. I ended up using those to get the deal I got today. My total today was 0.19 and I earned $5 Extra Care Bucks for later.
My first transaction was the Crest toothpaste. It was on sale for $2.88. I had a 0.75 Q from the Sunday paper and then used $2 of my Extra Care Bucks. I paid 0.18 and received $2 Extra Care Bucks back.

Second Transaction was the Tresemme. They were on sale 3 for $10. I had 3 $1 Q's that I printed from online bringing the total to $7. I used the $6.99 I had in Extra Care Bucks and had to only pay 0.01! Then I received $5 in Extra Care Bucks to use for later!

Last, but not least, Walgreens:
My total was $5.38.
Post Cereal was on sale for 2/$5. I paid 0.50 each
2 $2 Manufacturer's Q's from the Post website

Dental Floss 1.79 I paid 0.25 each
Walgreens Sale 0.99
Manufacturer's Q $1.50 off 2

Physician's Formula Make up: I paid $2.19 each
Tinted Moisturizer 10.99
Eyeshadow 9.99
On sale for 40% off
2 $1 off Q's
$10 mail in rebate

Great Deals!

As you know, I have been living without a car for almost 2 weeks now so the couponing has been a little slow. Lucky for me I have great friends so I hitched a ride with my friend when she went to Target this morning. Great stuff today! I went to Walgreens, Target, and Albertson's and for everything pictured I paid a totally of $8.36! And here's the receipt to prove it. I circled my totals and my savings.


So here is the breakdown...

Walgreens:
2 packages of hair elastics- $2/package + receive $2 register reward= free

Albertsons:
1 gallon of milk- 2.69- used free milk coupon from previous cereal purchase
3 packages of muffin mix- $1/package used 2 .$45 coupons and 1 .40 coupon, both doubled
total......0.08!!! I walked out of Albertsons and only paid in change!

Target:
2 bottles Johnson's lotion- 2.19
Target $1 off coupon
Johnson's $1 off coupon.....0.19/bottle

1 bottle desitin cream- 3.49
Target $1 off
Desitin $1 off.....1.49/bottle

1 buddies soap-0.97
$1 off.........0.03 overage

Hershey's Bliss- 1/2 off from Easter 1.64
Target $1 Q
Bliss $1 Q............0.36 overage

2 bottles V8 fusion- 2.99
$2 Q.....0.99/bottle

Dove body wash-2.99
Target $1 Q
Dove $1.50 Q......0.49/bottle

2 Dry Idea Deodorant- $2
$2 Q.....free

2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights- 1.62/package
Target 1.00 off 2
.55 coupon
.50 coupon...........0.60/package

2 cans Pringles-1.59/can
Target 0.75 off 2
$1 off 2..............0.70/can

1 box Rice cereal-3.19
$3 off Gerber.......0.19/box

So my total for everything today should have been 49.20 so I saved a total of 40.74!

Happy Easter!

We've had some very fun Easter festivities this weekend! We started off with some car shopping...always a fun adventure. Then we headed down to Ry's parents for "Easter Eggstravaganza." G'ma prepared a fun filled evening of dinner and lots and lots of fun games and activities for the boys. They played golf, darts, ring toss, and bean bag toss to win little eggs.


G'pa did a little spiritual lesson about Christ and the Resurrection and while we were doing that everyone else hid eggs for the big Easter egg hunt. G'ma got these super cute eggs that when you hide them they say "Come find me" so the kids had to listen and try to find them.

The egg hunting didn't end there. Grammie put together some eggs that could float in the hot tub so we had a little hunt out there.
The boys had so much fun!


Today the boys had their cute little vests to wear to church. I was so looking forward to E singing for the first time with the Primary, but he got half way up there and then ended up running back and pouting. He did NOT want to go up there! He must have been really tired from last night's festivities AND was coming off his sugar high because he snuggled up with me and fell asleep during sacrament meeting. He even slept through the rest of church! We are the last ward in the building so I just sat with him while he slept and then Ry sat with him the last hour. Max, on the other hand, did not sleep at all during church. While we were at church, my parents came up and started getting Easter dinner ready. Can I tell you how nice it is to come home to home cooked meal?! E got to go on an Easter egg hunt throughout the house and especially loved the eggs with "a hundred thousand dollars" in them. He also got a really fun fire engine puzzle that he put together with Nanny and then played trains with Papa. It's always great to be able to spend time with family!

E has had so much fun this weekend! I feel bad that things won't be quite this fun tomorrow and I have to remember to hide the candy or else I'll be dealing with a monster.

Sticky Work

I am up to my eyeballs in freezer jam! I went to Wal Mart yesterday to pick up a few things for Easter dinner and came across strawberries at $1 a carton. So I decided to make my yearly batch of freezer jam. I like to make a lot so I can tuck a little jar in with the meals that I take to people. It's been a long, sticky day! But freezer jam lasts at least a year in the freezer so make it once and you're good for a full year. Not bad for a days work and a great way to save!

Last Week

 

I really need to blog better, I've gone off the deep end of updates. Other things have taken priority these days like trying to find a car, taking care of kids, and getting sweet deals. I've got to get more pictures uploaded and just sit down and update. But for now, this will have to do.

Last week I was out and about by at my mom's and E got to play on this fun playground while we were there. It was a gorgous day once the sun came out so we were able to enjoy a nice afternoon. I don't know if any of guys have gone through this or are going through this right now...but do your kids just like being in their underwear all the time? I swear the minute we set foot in the house, he is stripped down to his undies and will stay in them all day. I can't keep clothes on the kid! And if I make him get into clothes, he just ends up putting on his PJs! Any tips on how to keep clothes on my child? It's only going to get worse when the Texas heat comes rolling in!

Max is doing really well! He slept through the night once last Sunday. It only happened once, but it happened! Huge milestone for us! He is just such a sweet, little baby. He definitely chooses who he'll smile at and who makes him cry though. It's kind of funny to see him interact with certain people or meeting a new person. Sometimes he'll be all giggly and flirty with people and other times he just scrunches up and bawls. He especially cries while we're at activity days because the girls are a little bit too much for him. He cries the minute he gets there and doesn't really stop until the closing prayer when they're quiet.

I'm still doing the whole coupon game. I've been finding pretty great deals each week and I've enjoyed "talking shop" with a few of my friends to exchange deal tips. There have been a few requests about the whole coupon thing so I might post a few coupon posts for those of you that are interested. Just today I scored 7 big boxes of cereal, 3 gallons of milk, and a box of poptarts for $7! Luckily the free milk came in coupon form and they expire each week so I'll get my weekly gallon of milk for free for the next 3 weeks. This coupon thing has been amazing! I have been able to cut my grocery bill in half and get double the amount of groceries! I've gotten so good at it that we've had to purchase some extra shelves for it all. I really wanted to increase my food storage, but I didn't want to pay for it. Sounds bad...I know...and I felt so guilty for not having any food storage, but this has totally solved my problem! I'm increasing my food storage, saving money, and having fun doing it.

Now if only shopping for a car was this fun...

RIP Corolla 2005-2009

The insurance adjuster came and declared our car "totaled." I guess we're going to be car shopping this weekend.

In an Instant

Life can truly change "in an instant." I've always heard that and it's totally true, but never really experienced it until yesterday. I was talking to Ryan on his way home from work yesterday. He was mid sentence when he made a funny noise and then it sounded like the phone dropped and the phone hung up. It was really weird. I tried calling him back, but he didn't answer. Then I started to get a little worried. I didn't know what in the world happened. Well he called me back after a few minutes to tell me that he had been in a car accident. He was fine, but the car wasn't and that he'd call me back later. So I sat at home and waited the longest period of time in my life. My mind just stated racing...What happened? Is Ry really okay? Are the other people okay? What does our car look like? Do I need to pick him up? How much is this going to cost? A million things are running through my head at this point. Finally, he calls me back and gives me the low down of what happened. We're not really sure who is at fault so I'm not exactly sure how much I can share due to legal purposes. But basically the cars collided on the freeway just after an overpass, Ry did a 360, went down a steep embankment, and ended up on the service road below. He is so lucky that he didn't get hit again on the service road! The lady's car ended up stopping on the grassy embankment. This is what our car looks like now.




Ry tried driving home, but there ended up being a whole in the tire so he had to pull over and change it. So now we have the spare on. He's out right now getting estimates on what the repairs will be. We can't shut the door, the glove box won't close, the trunk had a hard time opening and closing, basically are car is jacked up. I'm so sad. I loved the little Corolla. It was the first car that Ry and I bought together and my grandpa was the dealer that helped us pick it out. We bought it back before E was born so it's only 4 years old. So we'll see what happens. Luckily everyone is okay and no one was hurt. Just the cars. I definitely had a little dose of perspective yesterday. I'm so grateful that Ry is safe and that we live within our means. It really stinks that this had to happen, but it's just a car, it can be replaced and thankfully we have money set aside for emergencies like this. Life can truly change in an instant, but thankfully the Lord protects us.