Kroger's Mega Sale!!

I usually don't take pictures from my shopping, coupon extravaganza but this was a great one. Four hundred dollars worth of food and I only spent $138. Plus I got $5.50 to use on my next shopping trip. The cash register wouldn't let the transaction go through because I saved so much money a manager had to come and override it. Did I say how much a love kroger's mega sales?

Third times a Charm

This is the third year in a row we have planted a garden. This has been a good year for some things while other have failed. But we got a ton of peppers (which we love). Our squash and cucumbers did better last year but it has rained so much the water doesn't have anywhere to go. Not to mention the hose was left on for 24 hours (don't ask it might make me angry at Wesley and Todd again). But here are some before and after shots. We did patio tomatoes this year.

Right after planting

Our experiment, Todd made a Topsy-Turvy.

New Dresses for Easter

I have two cute little girls (also a cute boy) and I wanted them to have matching dresses. I couldn't find any I liked so I made some. Wesley had a green shirt and vest so I made green dresses. Sunday was a busy day, Todd had a meeting in the morning he came home and I immediately left because I also had a meeting, I was going to do their hair the same way with a bow but time was not my friend.

Maddie wouldn't be Maddie unless she posed for a picture.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

I know this is late but it has been a busy month so I'm posting a lot in a row. We celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with a dinner of green eggs and ham, cupcakes, and new books for Wesley and Maddie.

When Maddie and Wesley came home this is what they saw. Maddie said, "What the?" Even though the eggs were green they ate them all. But the cupcakes were their favorite part.

Even though this has nothing to do with Dr. Seuss I thought it was cute. They were playing caterpillars and butterflies. They would pretend they were in a crystallise and come out slowly singing a song from the nutcracker. It was really cute. I was surprised they knew the song and was pretty proud but then I asked where they learned it and they said, "Maddie's barbie movie."

This is the email I just sent Sam's Club. What do you think?

I just arrived home from my local Sams Club in Conroe TX. When I went into the store the sun was out and when I was done shopping a lightning and thunder was going on. I had parked by the front entrance and the out entrance was on the other side of the building. I had my infant daughter with me so I asked if I could go out the front entrance because it was poring down rain. The person checking my receipt quickly said no and moved on to the next person. I understand the policy about goods only going out one door but couldn't someone walk me to the door with my receipt. I was very disappointed in the customer service and my baby got soaking wet. One of the main reasons I shop at Sams Club is because of the formula is less expensive but I'm not happy with the customer service. My husband is an offshore geologist and is gone most of the time being that I have three kids I try to do most of my shopping in one trip. But if I can save money somewhere I will go there. I'm wondering if it's worth the few dollars if the customer service is so poor.

I walked up the stairs and this is what I found!!!!!!!

Our TV completely taken apart. It's good having Todd home.

Okay, This Proves We Are Procrastinators

Wesley probably knew how to ride his bike without training wheels a long time ago, but we finally go around to it. We were all outside because it was such a nice day and we noticed Wesley didn't use his training wheels (to be fair he doesn't ride his bike that much), he's a runner not a rider. Todd took off his wheels and away he went (with only a few falls). Spencer needs to teach him how to fall off with grace. Nothing beats his wipeouts at Silver Falls.

Homemade Laundry Soap

I have been making my own laundry soap on and off for the last two years (when I'm feeling lazy I buy Tide). It's so easy I thought I would share my recipe. First you only need three ingredients 1. Borax 2. Washing Soda (not baking soda) 3. ZOTE or Fels Naptha soap bar. I get Borax and Washing Soda at Krogers and they are less than three dollars each. Zote I have to go to Super Marcado (Target used to carry it).

I thought the flowers were a cute effect (they happened to be on the table)

I take the ZOTE soap and I grate it in the food processor

After this I put it in a cake pan and let it dry over night (in the garage because your house will smell of soap).

When it's dry I put it back into the food processor (this time use the chop blade)

1 cup borax

1 cup Washing Soda

1 dry, grated bar of ZOTE

Mix all together and it should look like this:

I store it in a Ziploc bag and only use a few spoonfuls for each load. This lasts us anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks (depends on how many times Maddie changes her clothes in a day). Todd and I figure it cost around $ 1.50 for each batch. Try it see if you like it.

One small step for Dad, One giant relief for Mom

I have the best husband in the world. To begin with my house is a disaster zone. I hate trying to clean when the kids are home from school because they go right behind me and mess it up. I casually told Todd that are Houston Space Center passes are almost expired. And he said (with a little persuasion) that he would take all the kids there. What a house to myself with no kids, not even the baby (I recently stopped nursing). I don't remember the last time this has happened. I'm cleaning all day and it might stay clean until they come home.

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This!!!

I discovered a great secret. I never have heard of this before. Wesley and Maddie are 7 and 6 years old and they fight non stop. All day I hear screaming, tattle telling, whining, and teasing usually I just send them to their room so I don't have to hear it. But today I discovered the secret of how to get them to stop fighting and a cleaner house. You want to hear it?  Every time they start to fight they automatically get a job to do. Did you read that? No negotiating (Maddie is good at that). I love, love, love it. The fighting has almost stopped and when it doesn't a chore gets done. Someone, somewhere knew this but didn't share, so now I'm telling everyone.

GOOD lighting, BAD idea

In our master bathroom there is a row of about 6 lights. We have been in this house for three years now and we have only had two light bulbs in. Through couponing I got a box of fluorescent light bulbs for free. I said to myself (I do this often) "why not put all the light bulbs in my bathroom". After I put them in I looked in the mirror and to my surprise I saw wrinkles I didn't even know I had. Needless to say the light bulbs didn't last long.

Living On Top Ramen For The Next Two Months

Last night I had a dream that we had another boy. I dreamed of the pregnancy, delivery and in the hospital after. I even dreamed my nurses were horrible and I kept asking for new ones. Well today in the mail a stork named fedex dropped off my new baby.

A CRICUT EXPRESSION!! I found an awesome deal on Amazon it was their gold box deal. It came with a my story laminator and two cricut cartridges. Little did I know Todd bought me a flip camera on ebay (I didn't know, honest, I didn't, ask him). Both things I have been drooling over for a long time. Well what is a girl to do. Should she return the Cricut and get here money back? Should she try to sell the flip camera on ebay??? Probably, But I will tell you what she did do, she kept both items and lived on Top Ramen for two months.