My feeble first attempt ROCKED!

Ok all you "couponers" out there, I have finally joined the club! This was my first attempt, and a very thrown-together, not-well-planned one too. In my opinion, the savings will only get better as I learn more and have more time to prepare. My sister-in-law sent me an e-mail today with some information about the coupon thing and I looked around online for a while and made an attempt at it this evening. I wanted to try it right away just to show myself it is worth it, and it is!!! I didn't buy a ton because I didn't have a ton of coupons to begin with. All the coupons I had were one's I found online today. I then made myself a list and a plan as to how to buy this stuff to save the most money with the in-store sale at Albertson's. I think I did a great job considering my inexperience and lack of more coupons.
SOOOO.......I am sure you want to know what I spent on this and what I saved, right????
Here goes:

Total actually spent: $24.82
Total before coupons: $90.81
Total SAVED: $65.99!!!!

Thanks, Tricia, you are right......IT IS WORTH IT!
I have much more to learn, but now I know I can do this and that it is WELL worth my time!

Grandma and Aden's visit

My Mom came up for a few days this week to do her Africa presentation for the YW. She also brought Aden with her to play with the kids. We had lots of fun and it was great having Aden here too! Here is Drew playing with her souvenirs from Africa.

It is great to have the opportunity for the kids to play together. The first night Aden kept saying, " I just want to go home", because he was in a strange place. But by the last day, he didn't want to leave! I am glad he was happy here with us, we love him!

Creepy Coraline

We took the kids to go see this movie for Valentine's Day today......and we loved it! (Well, Doug didn't, but we will talk about that in a sec.) Dallin and I thought it was great! Keep in mind, we love dark and wierd things. It was almost magical in a freaky and scary way. Anything that is dark or out there is usually something I will like. It was real cool that it was in 3D too. That made it much more fun and exciting in a dark show. There were a few things that I didn't like that I thought were somewhat inappropriate for a children's movie. #1- Coraline said "Oh my God", which I did not appreciate at all. #2- There was a part in which an old lady was dressed in something you might see a woman in an ADULT FILM wearing-which makes it inappropriate for kids and also quite disturbing.
All in all, I thought it was great and I liked the spooky story line.
Doug on the other hand didn't like it, but he isn't amused by a whole lot anyway. He does not appreciate the dark stuff, and the story line was just too creepy for a kid's show in his opinion. He said the words "creepy" and "eerie". But, he said the 3D effects were awesome and he really liked that part.
So, see it if you like, I think it is just different and interesting enough that it is worth checking out!

Out to Lunch

Here is a pic of Dallin, Drew and Aden with Grandma. Lindsey and Jared met me and Doug and my mom for lunch at the Bistro on 25th street over the holidays. I just thought this was a cute picture, the looks on their faces are hilarious! It must have been "brown day" because everyone has brown on. Oh, and........love the hat Mom!

Our Eventful New Year

Well, nothing special, but this is how we rung in the new year.....Dallin sleeping and Drew won't go to bed. We did have our own fun putting glasses and a hat on Dallin to take this picture, but when he saw it the next day he WAS SO MAD AT US!!!! He wants me to erase it, but I think it is too great not to! (I know, mean mom) Such excitement at our house!
We did go out to dinner and took the kids and one of Dallin's friends to a movie, so it wasn't all boring. Then I had to go take a shift as a chaperone at the stake center in the middle of the night for a dance. Good times.....

Husband Tag

1. Where we met: My work at Standard Optical in Roy. Ha ha, he couldn't get away!

2. How long we dated before we got hitched: Met in June or July and we were married by the end of January.

3. How long have we been married: 8 years as of 2 days ago!

4. What's my favorite feature about him: Physically, I like his big shoulders. Otherwise, how funny he is!

5. What's my favorite quality about him: He is such a hard worker and would do anything for me and the kids.

6. What's his nickname for me: It started as Karie, went to Keddy, then to Teddy, now it is just plain TED.

7. His favorite color: I really don't know. Maybe red??

8. His favorite food: Anything I make.....ha ha, yeah right. More like anything his MOM makes! He does love chocolate shakes with oreo or reese's PB cups. He is a Roast Beef and Potatoes kind of guy.

9. His favorite sport: He loves football. Luckily I have been able to get him down to like one game a week (after 8 years!) But he also LOVES Jazz basketball!

10. Who said the L word first: Probably me. He was like freakishly scared of me or something. It took him a LONG time to really come out of his shell and let loose.

11. First kiss when and where: I don't know when.....maybe like 3 or 4 dates into it. It was outside his car in front of my Dad's house. Sorry Dad if that is a bad thought for you.....

12. Favorite couple thing to do: Anything without the kids! We never get away from them!!!! (not that we don't love them)

13. How many kids: 2 boys and no fetuses, or feti as my sister pointed out to me. Maybe a fetus in the future though!

14. His hidden talent: Well he has so many.......Ummmm don't you all wish you got to see the kinds of dance moves I get to see at home!? I'd have to tell all the ladies to BACK OFF if they saw that. No, in all seriousness, it is just plain HILARIOUS!
15. His age: 31

16. His favorite music: Just about anything....country, rock, pop.

17. What I admire most about him: How much he loves his family, what a good Dad he is, and how hard he works for all of us. I also love his even temperment and as hard as I might try, he never gives in to fighting with me (except the rare occasion). But that is saying something if you won't fight with me!

18. His favorite pastimes: Looking at guns (ugh!), watching sports, relaxing in his bed, hanging with his fam.-he is just a homebody.

19. Will he read this: He has no idea what I put on the blog.

Tag: Katee, Marnae, Danika (if she ever gets on), Lisa Peterson and Katie Kammeyer

5 for 5

Well, we just found out that my sister Lindsey is having another boy! We are so excited for her! That will be 5 out of 5 between me, Lindsey and Blair. Funny isn't it? But we all just LOVE little boys and they fit us. She is very excited so CONGRATULATIONS LINDSEY AND JARED! We love you guys!