Monday, September 19, 2011

To Coupon or Not to coupon....that is my question

I know, I know, I need to get a real problem. But Steven recently overhead someone (who will remain nameless) talk about all the money she saved with couponing so he has decided that I should try it. He has been very discontent with our Walmart bill as of late, and so I agreed to at least look at the websites and see. I know people save a lot of money doing this but I am just not convinced that it is for me....and here are my reasons....
1. I shop at Walmart and Food Lion, which I have heard that neither of these places double or triple coupons. The closest Harris Teeter is 20 minutes and I don't even know where to find Kroger and BiLo.
2. I don't buy very much of the food that is in the coupon fliers, the yogurt and diapers that I do buy I use coupons for. Everything else, for me, is cheaper to buy generic at Walmart.
3. I have 3 children that make a very simple grocery store run quite exhausting, I can't imagine spending even more time looking for the exact brand, size, and quantity of items that (I have heard) are often sold out of if it's a really good deal.
Ok, so those are my reasons, but....I will give it a good ole college try, for Steven's sake. Or maybe I should make him do it. Just reading the SouthernSavers website has made me tired. I will say, I am growing fond of Aldi's. I shopped there today with Eli and David and thought I was prepared. I had my quarter for the buggy and bags for the food (last trip there I was 8 months pregnant, carrying everything, with Sadie and Eli running around). I was feeling quite smug until I finished checking out and was reminded they take only debit or cash (who carries cash these days?), and I haven't used my debit card in so long I had forgotten my pin. It was quite embarrasing, but thankfully the lady at the bank was familiar with Aldi's and kindly reset my password right there so I could use my debit card. Lesson learned.
Eli is quite the handful these days. I think age 2 is the cutest but also the most trying age (I say that, but I don't currently have a 3 year old - so I might retract this statement next year). He constantly says things like "I a big boy" and "I wanna do it by mydelf" but just as quickly whines like a baby when he can't get his shoe on or spills syrup on his shirt. He has so many funny things he says, I'll try to list a few:  pee-cool (preschool), dunday cool (sunday school), yo-rick (yogurt), pampakes (pancakes), and tousins (cousins). Of course right now I can't think of anymore, how is that possible when he talks all day long? I'll ask him if I should coupon. I'm sure he'll have an answer for me. Comments are welcome, as well, on the issue. Goodnight!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sibling Love

 I still can't believe I have 3 offspring, but I have to say it is starting to sink in. For the kids too, they are getting pretty attached to each other. Steven and I just spent a few days in California and just took the baby. It was a great weekend in Tiburon for my cousin's wedding, then we spent a couple days in San Fran with Steven's high school buddy and his wife. Lil D traveled pretty well but I have to say I am pretty ready to just be home for awhile now. The big kids stayed with my in-laws and were excited to see us, but especially David, when we got home. It was cute.
This picture doesn't really have anything to do with my post, I just thought it was too cute not to include. She was the flower girl in a wedding last month and this is her at the rehearsal dinner.
 And here is my little man, getting bigger all the time! He's the only one that's hit the 50th percentile on growth so far. Sadie is 4 years old and 32 pounds, which puts her just under the 3rd percentile - par for her course. Eli's about 27-28 pounds, so not far behind Sadie.
 As you can see, David is quite enamored with his big brother. The 100-200 "tisses" every day from Eli don't seem to bother him. Below is a kiss in action (Eli prefers to give fish kisses, if possible, and to me he says "I want to tiss you on da mouf!"). Yeah, I will definitely pull this picture out when they're all tough and playing high school baseball together.
Now these 2 are quite the pair these days. They have fun together and get in trouble together. Sadie is pretty bossy but Eli usually doesn't mind and for the most part they play well together. The other day Sadie was on a special trip with Daddy and Eli and I were having lunch together while David took a nap. I said a quick blessing for our food and time together and he immdiately shouted "Mommy you didn't pay fa Dadie!" (pray for Sadie, if you don't regularly interpret Eli).
 Sadie's first day of preschool was today! She was very excited and had a great day. She said she even climbed under the bathroom stall to "rescue" a little girl that couldn't unlock the door. The only reason I believe her is because that's a pretty elaborate story to make up if it's not true. She has several "old friends" in her class from last year but assured me she was going to make some new ones too. I get that Girl Scout song in my head every time we talk about that, you remember, "make new friends....but keep the o-ld....one is silver and the o-ther gold". At least it replaces the Fresh Beat Band songs, which are usually playing (in my head, embarrasingly).
 I have to mention a little cousin love, mainly because I couldn't not put this picture up. We actually saw a little pee-pee out of this experience, but in general potty training is pretty much at a standstill. I'm not worried about it, he wont wear diapers to kindergarten.....right?
This has been a very random post but my brain is working sub-par these days, so forgive me please. My camera is again in my posession so I am trying to take more pictures these days (it was left at a church for about 3&1/2 weeks in August, and hiding in my pocketbook for a couple weeks in July). Until next time!!