Using Coupons Pays Off!

A few months ago, I started getting more serious about using coupons in order to save more money. Boy, has it really paid off! Combining coupons with sales (& Albertson's doubler coupons), I've been able to stock up our pantry (including the freezer) for about the same I was already spending on groceries. Our 40+ boxes of cereal that I purchased a few months ago have been dwindling down, so last night, we stopped at Albertson's to take advantage of another deal.

Our total out-of-pocket cost was $31.37.

That's for everything you see in the picture:
17 boxes of cereal
10 boxes of macaroni & cheese
5 pints of ice cream (those ended up being FREE!)
7 pkgs shredded cheese (I freeze them for pizza or taco night)
2 gallons milk
2 2-liters of Coke
2 tubs sour cream

According to the sales receipts, I saved $122.77!! In addition to the immediate coupon savings, we received a printout coupon at the register to save $2 on our next order. Also, with all the cereal we purchased, we will be receiving a $10 rebate in the mail from Kellogg's. woo hoo!

A Video of David

Check out this video of our little man from Sunday!

More 4th of July Photos

I love the contrast of the prom dress with the tank

yeah, we thought we'd let David light off a few... NOT!we let him eat them instead (just kidding! it's an empty box!)

they look so innocent don't they...

...not for long! See who the instigator is this time?

Independence Day

We had a fantastic, fun-filled 3 day weekend celebrating the 4th of July! It all started off Thursday with a bonfire @ Tammy & Latu's, including a dip in the hot tub. We let David have some fun with lots of splashing, of course. He didn't have a s'more, but David did stuff his mouth full with a giant marshmallow.. it was pretty funny! Friday we took some time to get things done @ home & prepare for Saturday's BBQ with friends. We started off the fourth by heading to downtown Ridgefield, where there was a parade & a whole day full of festivities. Not only was it Independence day, but Ridgefield is celebrating it's 100th year in 2009. It was a great parade with lots of tractors, classic cars & the local high school band (yes, there was a marching horn.. I checked). I loved the opportunity to experience the small town charm of the city we live in. It's small, but not too small. Ridgefield has big plans to grow with more housing developments coming in down the road & rumors of a grocery store & cinema in the near future! This is such a funny thing to me since I grew up in the Sacramento area & there were no less than 3 grocery stores within walking distance of our home. Now, I'm driving about 6 miles to get to the grocery store (or anywhere, for that matter) But I've gotten off track...
David spent much of the parade on his Daddy's shoulders, conducting music & pointing to new & different things. It was a lot of fun with no sunburns! YAY! We then joined up with friends for a nice relaxing afternoon & evening. There was BBQ, a kiddie pool, David's splash/sprinkler toy, bubbles, games with friends, a little nap & of course, fireworks. This is a cute quote that a friend posted on the 4th of July:

Erma Bombeck..."You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is PATRIOTISM."

Mall Playland

I've been a slacker in getting these cute pictures up on the blog. These are from the beginning of June.

A few months back Ashley & I walked the mall in the morning. We took advantage of the light traffic of shoppers & let the boys play in the mall Playland. They had a lot of fun playing on the cars, going down the slide & hanging out together. Kids being kids.

Visit with the Coates

We had such fun a couple weeks ago when Jamin's best friend, BJ & his wife, Lindsay stayed with us for a few days. We explored Portland & showed them the temple, made pizza & watched movies, relaxed for Father's Day & explored Seattle for a day. It was a busy & fun extended weekend! Thanks so much guys for making the trip! We can't wait to visit you again!