Coupon Virgin No More

So ever since Heather moved she has be telling me about the really cool way of shopping by using coupons combined with sales and getting killer deals on groceries. But when she was telling me about it she didn't know how I could do it where I was living (now you can). So now that I have moved I can do it. I was waiting for me to have my baby and then get adjusted. Well I have finally been ready to start shopping with coupons. Groceries seem outrageously priced to me here (I miss Winco). Last week I spent a day with Heather and she got me hooked up with her coupons, and signed up to get my own.

I went shopping with my kids yesterday after I picked up Landon from school. Two hours later with two really well behaved kids (I bought them treats), and one hungry baby and mommy this is how I did:


Albertson:
Easy mac $1.50 each (no coupon)
Prego $1.67 each (no coupon)
Taco Dinners $1.50 each (no coupon)
Flatbread Melts $1.50 each (no coupon)
Robin Eggs $.50
Two other bags of Easter candy $2.00 each
Purex Fabric Softener $1.98 each

Total spent: $31.09
Total saved: $35.76


Smiths:
Powerade $.49 each (no coupon)
Fritos $1.49 each (no coupon)
Mini Wheats little bites $.67 each
Kens salad Dressing $.49 each
American Beauty Pasta $.49 each (no coupon)
Colgate Toothpaste $.25 each
Colgate Toothbrush $.25 each
Kotex Pads $1.00 each
Kotex Liner and Tampons $1.25 each

Total Spent: 32.34
Total Saved: $64.34

I think I did better at Smiths, but I had a lot more coupons. If you are interested I have two friends that could help get a newspaper subscription (and get a commission) and teach classes on how it works, or I could let you know too. One in Utah and one in Idaho.

As a side note Landon loved shopping. He thinks I can buy whatever I want now that I have coupons. I love my Landon. Albertson's was the last store, and Tannen was pretty fussy. When I got up to the check out Landon loaded all of my groceries for me on the conveyor belt for me while I was holding Tannen. It was awesome.

The story of my life

Me, no make up, nursing Tannen with the kitty on my lap (which happens often while I nurse) and my two other little monsters. Pretty cute huh?

Dress up

Yesterday was teacher appreciation day at Landon's school. To help celebrate they had the kids dress up like their teachers. The kids that participated would get a treat and the student who looked most like their teacher would get a prize. Landon wanted to participate. We had a discussion on what his teacher wears. She doesn't do dresses or hats. But Landon told me she has a black long sleeve shirt that she wears that says "Make a difference" on the back. So I had Landon wear my black long sleeve shirt over one of his shirts. We made a sign that said "Make a difference" and pinned it on the back. He was a little concerned that kids might tease him, so I told him he could just take my shirt off and put it in his backpack. I figured he would have fun dressing up and participating, and at least he would get a treat.

When I picked him up he told me he had fun, and that it was fun to dress up like his teacher. I asked him if he got a treat and he said yes. Everyone in his class got a tootsie roll, but he got something different. He would show me when we got home. When we got home he pulled out one of those really huge chocolate Symphony bars. And told me he got it because he looked the most like his teacher. I was a little surprised that he won but I guess wearing your mom's shirt with a sign pinned on the back goes a long way.

So Many Firsts

The hole in Landon's mouth.


Tannen's first smiles


Tannen playing with Daddy

We have been having a lot of firsts happening around here. First Marcus found my first gray hair last week. I really have been surprised that we haven't found one before then, not that he digs through my hair looking for them. I just never noticed them. But most of my siblings found gray hairs before they were 28. So yeah for me.

Then on Saturday Landon FINALLY lost his first tooth. Marcus tried pulling it with his fingers, but it was just too little and slick. So he got some floss and tied it on to his tooth. He thought that it slid down in the gums and really loosened it up. He pulled on the string and didn't even feel any pull and thought the floss just slipped off. But no the tooth came out with it. Landon didn't even flinch it was that ready to come out. He was pretty excited.

Tannen is 1 month old today. Last night Marcus and I were playing with Tannen, and Marcus was able to get his first smile. It was such a cute full faced smile. He got two really great ones before I thought to get the camera, and gave us a couple of smiles after, but I was a little too slow to click the button so I got more after smiles. He is still really cute though.

I was also able to work out for the first time since having Tannen, and really it has been a few months. I was very happy to finally have enough energy this morning to get going.

Kids Kids Kids

Life is going just great. Tannen is growing a ton. Last week for his two week appointment they weighed him. The doctor just wants him to gain back the weight he lost after being born. Tannen was 6lb 14 oz, and at two weeks was 7lbs 13oz! The doctor asked me what I was feeding him. I told him straight cream. Adjusting to three kids has so far been amazingly easy. (I am sure in a year I will be singing a different song.) I think it has to do with the fact that he is a really good baby (unless he has a bubble - look out), and that Landon and Kylie are older, and I don't have any toddlers. So it feels like I am still just dealing with Landon and Kylie and all of their drama.

They actually have done really good lately. They have been on a Harry Potter kick lately. We have the first two Harry Potter games for our Play station and they love playing it. Then as an added bonus, when they are all done they play Harry Potter in real life. They pick out the character that they want to be - they are usually fighting over who gets to be Ron. The kids have been on this HP kick for over a week, and have been using screw drivers as their wands. So on Saturday while we were out and about Marcus decided to drive up in the mountains to find them some wands. They went on a short hike in the snow (I stayed in the car with Tannen) and Marcus cut a couple of wands. We came home and Marcus carved them. They love their new wands, and had a great time getting them.

We have also had our fair share of drama. Does it seem like a rite of passage that kids have to go through to eat all of their dinner if they are going to get dessert. And it is the most painful thing they go through. I actually made dinner last night, and earlier made brownies for Family Home Evening. Most of the time I don't care if they finish their dinner. I figure they will just be hungry for the rest of the evening, and that is punishment enough. But they can't eat anything for the rest of the night. Landon didn't like dinner last night, but of course really wanted a brownie. It was drama drama drama to get him to eat. So many tears and squealing. It drove me crazy that he would sit there for an hour bemoaning the fact that he had to eat, instead of just eating it. Oh well, I remember having similar experiences as a kid

He's Finally Here

My beautiful babies!!


1 week old


"Feed Me"


Close up of Tannen


Daddy being silly with Tannen


Mommy pleased he is finally here.


I love this picture. Landon looks like he is in heaven, and Kylie is kissing on him - which she had been doing the last four months. She loved to kiss and hug my tummy.


Happy little family of five!!


Tannen just moments after being born.


My 'before' shot the morning I had Tannen.

We finally got our little baby here. Marcus and I called the hospital Tuesday morning on the 3rd to see when they had room for us to come in and be induced. They asked us to get there by 7:30am. We were very excited and got all ready. I was mostly packed already. We called Marcus' mother and she was on her way to watch our kids. She met us at the hospital and took our kids back to our apartment.

I was started on the pitocin at 9:00am. When I got there I was at a 1 1/2 and 75% effaced. Things progresses slowly. I was able to go for a short walk after I had been sitting on the bed for a few hours. And it actually felt better. I got my epidural about 3 hours into labor. I dilated at a four and was stuck there for hours. They said his head needed to turn just a little. And if I could get to a five then things would go a lot faster for the second half. My nurse checked me around 3:30pm and I was still at a four. She came in around 4:30pm to check again. Marcus told her to tell us anything than a four. A 4 1/2 would be fine, just not a 4. She checked and I was complete and ready to deliver. I had been wondering if I was ready because a couple of times I felt the urge to push, but wondered if it was just hopeful thinking on my part because it wasn't every contraction. They get everything ready really fast, and the Doctor got there really fast too. By the time everything was ready you could already see he head. I pushed thru three contractions and he was here. I tore just a little. He was born at 5:01pm, 6 lbs 14 oz, and 19 1/2 inches long. He came out looking perfect. No squished nose like my other two, and no red blotches or anything.

We named him Tannen A Simons. Marcus is Marcus T Simons - just the letter, and Grandpa is Floyd A - just the letter. We thought it would be nice to pick a T name because it is Marcus' middle name, and use just a letter like his Daddy and Grandpa. So we decided to use Grandpa's middle name. He is such a beautiful baby. He sleeps really good, and seems to be a good natured little guy so far. We are so in love with him. Landon and Kylie couldn't be happier. In fact Landon told me that having a little brother was way funner than having a kitty. I thought it was pretty cute.