I dread pictures.

Having 4 kids, it always seems like getting pictures is excruciating!  It doesn't matter the occasion, there is always one who is pitching a fit about pictures, or just won't smile right or just won't even look at the camera.  Well, last week, Money Saving Mom posted an offer about how to get a free 20 page scrapbook for the cost of just shipping, and I really wanted to make a fall book.  So, today I decided to bust out with the cute outfits and camera and get to shooting. 

I was ssssoooooooo blessed!  I got the most amazing pictures!  Every one of the kids were happy and helpful and attentive and smiling and still and CUTE!  I AM SO EXCITED.  Thought about giving the book away to one of the grandparents, but I don't think I will be able to bring myself to do that.  (Sorry parents!)

I can't even believe my Eli!

Just last week, I was excited that he was going potty on the big boy potty even though he was still not pooping on the potty.  Well, for 2 days now, he has not had a SINGLE accident!  Poop or potty, he does it all AND he has been waking up dry every morning and after nap!  UNBELIEVABLE!!!  AMAZING!!!  I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Potty Training Update

Well, aside from the "#2" Eli has been doing AWESOME at the whole potty training thing.  Poor Todd.  Tonight I left to take Olivia to church and while I was gone, Todd was downstairs putting the boys to bed (they were very cranky today when they got home from school so we had decided that early bedtimes were in order).  Well while he was praying, Eli said "Here Daddy" and Todd held out his hand.  Much to his dismay, Eli handed him a pile of poop.  I guess Eli didn't like the feeling of the poop in his undies and decided to try to remedy the situation and just didn't know what to do with the poop that he so kindly pulled out of his drawers.  LOL...sorry Todd.  I am just glad that wasn't me...hehehe

So all of a sudden I am tired of diapers!

Well, Eli, lately has been wetting through his diapers at night requiring me to change the sheets almost every day!  UGHHH!  So, Monday, I just decided that was enough.  Every time I were to ask Eli if he needed to go potty, he would respond with a quick but sweet, "No!"  Monday morning, I decided to ask again.  He actually said yes!  I was excited. I sat him up on the potty and nothing came out.  He bored of that pretty quickly and got down.  "That is okay" I said to myself.  At least it was progress.  I did not put his diaper back on him.  Well, we continued doing that several times all with the same result....Nothing in the toilet.  So I changed things up.  I asked him if he would potty in the bathtub.  He likes doing that before I run the bath water, so, if I could get him to go in the tub, GREAT!  He said yes, and quickly got into the tub and pottied in the drain!!!  YEA!  Success.  We continued that all day and we had great success.  He is not too fond of the toilet, but is more than willing to potty in the tub.  Am I sick in the head?  There isn't anything wrong with that is there?  Problem was, later that day, when I sat him on the toilet to poop, he said, "No Mommy, I poop in the tub."  So, we haven't conquered the pooping yet, but in my opinion he is making great strides in the pottying area.  Sometimes he still has accidents, but I think over all he loves his underwear and he loves going potty in the tub.  He has a stool now to stand on, to potty in the toilet.  He does that occasionally, but if he hasn't gone in a while, I offer the tub.  We run the water occasionally to "inspire" him and we also are trying to continually pump him full of liquids.  We decided that to reward his successes in the bathroom, we would give him 2 mini marshmallows for his achievements.  He likes that!  Guess we will see what happens when we go to church tonight!  Yikes!

My Walgreen's Trip Yesterday

Went to Walgreens yesterday and where I didn't find a ton of deals, my trip was definitely worth it!  Here are the things I got.

4 pkgs of the new Trident "Layers" gum
4 cans campbells Chicken noodle soup
8 Hersheys candy bars (it is smores season ;0)  )
4 boxes of Jello

The total out of pocket was only $2.98!!

According to my receipts, I saved $19.44.

How did I do it?  Well.  Here is the breakdown.

Trident gum was on sale 2/$2.  I had 4 - $.75 off coupons/1  (printed online) and when you purchase 2, you get a $1 register reward coupon.  I got paid $.74 to take 4 packages home!

The Campbell's soup was on sale 2/$1.  I had $1/2 coupons (printed online), making them FREE!

The Jello was on sale 2/$1.  I had $.50/2 coupons (printed online), making them only $.25/each!

The candybars were only $.29 each...on sale this week.  No coupon.  This was my most expensive item.  Without them, I would have only spent around $.30!!!

Thank you MoneySavingMom!  (My favorite website ever!)

Yep, I lost it!

This is really bad.  You know those moments as a parent that you cannot laugh, but what your child says really makes it hard?  Well, I usually do really well, but not yesterday.

We were at church and had finished up practice for the praise team when Jonathan comes up bawling.  Naturally, I stop the conversation I was engaged in and called Jadon over to explain the problem.  Jadon, who is only 5, proceeded to tell me...

MMooommm, Jonathan's mouth ran into my FooooT!

I lost it! Laughed out loud!
He is definitely TODD's SON!!!

Lovin' the Savings

I went to Target this afternoon to get back on the wagon with my couponing deals and I had a great time.  Just so happened I even was able to make the trip with my great friend Michelle.  Here is the list of things that I purchased...
2 - 80 oz Biz Laundry detergent
4 Boxes Chex Mix Bars
2 Boxes Ocean Spray drink mix
10 pkgs Crystal Light drink mix (travel size)
6 pkgs/boxes Ronzoni Healthy Harvest whole wheat pasta
3 - Renu Contact Lens solution 2oz
4 - Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls

My total before coupons = $57.91
My savings = $39.50
My total = $18.41
I had 2 $5 gift cards from my last trip to Target
My total out of pocket expense = $8.41!!!!