CVS Deals

Another good week at CVS...very little out of pocket and lots of ECBs generated!

So here are the deals that interested me this week:

Softsoap Scrub Body Wash $4.99
Earn $4.49 ECBs (Limit 1)
$1.50/1 coupon from the CVS Reinventing Beauty magazine

Colgate Enamel Protect, Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste, or 360 Sensitive Toothbrush $3.99
Earn $3.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
$1/1 coupon from the internet and $0.75/1 coupon from the 3/29 newspaper

Pantene Pro-V Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler 2/$7
Earn $2 ECBs (Limit 3)
$3/2 coupon from last week's newspaper

Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes, Corn Pops, Rice Krispies, Apple Jacks or Froot Loops $2 (Limit 4)
$1/1 coupon from last week's newspaper


So these were my purchases:

Transaction 1:
Pantene Shampoo 3.50
Pantene Conditioner 3.50
Colgate Toothpaste 3.99
Softsoap Body Wash 4.99
=15.98 total
-1.00 colgate coupon
-1.50 softsoap coupon
-3.00 pantene coupon
-10.00 ECBs from last week
=0.48 (+ tax) cash + earned 10.48 ECBs

Transaction 2:
Colgate Toothpaste 3.99
Kellogg Corn Pops 2.00
Kellogg Corn Flakes 2.00
=7.99 total
-0.75 colgate coupon
-1.00 kellogg coupon
-1.00 kellogg coupon
-4.49 ECB from previous transaction
=0.75 (+ tax) cash + earned 3.99 ECBs

So this week, I spent $1.23 (+ tax) out of pocket and have 9.98 ECBs to spend another time!

Easter Recap

Well, it's not the best picture, but it's the best we got!

We had a fun Easter weekend celebrating with my side of the family. Saturday morning, Brent and Dad took the boys fishing. Jack has the potential to carry on the family fishing legacy; he is a very patient fisherman. Will was a little too young to sit and wait for a bite. And the fish weren't biting that morning so it was a bit of a bummer. Saturday afternoon, Jack dyed Easter eggs while Will napped. It was such a pleasure this year to dye eggs! Jack was old enough to be able to do the dying all by himself, so Mom and I sat and talked with him while he took care of his eggs.
On Sunday morning, the plan was for Mom and Dad to go to early church and then they would keep Will while Brent, Jack and I went to Mass. Well, once we got everyone dressed in their Easter outfits, Will was certain he was going to Mass too. Told Grammama that he didn't want to stay with her. Grrrreat! So off we go. I did bring the new books that the Easter Bunny left in their baskets as entertainment. And Will was better behavior-wise than Christmas Eve Mass, by just a little bit.

Before Mass began, I was trying to entertain him by pointing out the stained glass windows. For one I said, "Look Will, a baby!" The baby was wrapped in a cloth and Will said, "Baby has diapers! Baby has poops in his diapers!" The two girls sitting behind us thought that was pretty funny. He did try to take some money out of the offeratory plate. And when he wasn't given anything to eat at the Eucharist, he protested quite loudly, "I want some! I want some! Can I have some, please?" Everyone on the first few pews got a good chuckle out of that. Typical two year old behavior, but I was reminded why we use the nursery every week!

The cousins enjoyed playing together after church, especially all of the time they had to play in the backyard. The daddies got smart and locked the door from the backyard so that we could enjoy an uninterrupted dessert! That just might become a new family tradition ;-).

We Could Have Been on HGTV Today

It is Spring Break for us this week. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we went to visit Gramma and Granddaddy. The boys played with Gramma and Granddaddy's toys, Jack and I got our teeth cleaned, and we went to the Children's Museum. There is a very cool exhibit at the Museum right now. North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty has built a stick village. He collected sticks and branches from around the city and used them to build a stick sculpture. The sculpture is five primitive houses...very cool. It took over 1000 man hours to build the sculpture and they expect it to last 1-2 years, until nature takes its toll. The boys had a blast going through the 'houses'. The design of the sculpture was planned so that some of the houses lean, because the artist thought that added interest.

Brent has taken Thursday and Friday off, so we have enjoyed spending the day with Daddy! All of the boys were outside all day and had a blast. Our big excitement was that we had the backyard resodded. When we moved into the house, the backyard was 90% weeds and 10% bermuda. Brent conquered the weeds and nursed the bermuda into a presentable backyard. The problem was that the backyard was too shady for bermuda, so the lawn was always a little thin and patchy. Then we went into the draught and the lawn struggled. And then came what we refer to as The Unfortunate Fertilizing Disaster of 2008. Suffice it to say that too much of a good thing will kill what little bermuda survives a draught...just a heads up for ya! So for about the past year, we have had what we affectionately called 'the White Trash Trailer Park backyard'...hard, sun-baked dirt! It has been soooo lovely to look at. And all of the dirt that the boys drug in after playing in the backyard was just an added bonus!

Today, we had the drainage pipes buried deeper, the backyard leveled, and Zeon Zoysia laid down, which is a more shade-tolerant grass. And it has been a most welcome transformation. Brent has assured me that the yard is pretty much done now (ha ha ha!), with the idea of an outside fireplace down the road "once we have done some work on the inside of the house." I am learning that you are never done with your house, inside or out. There is always something that needs to be fixed, maintained, or updated. Thus, the term 'Money Pit'!

Here is a pictorial recap of the day:

We have sod! I love how they are holding hands =).

Our landscaper was such a nice guy. Jack got to sit in the bobcat. Will thought it was "too scarewy!"

Before:

After:

CVS Deals

Another week at CVS...a bit more out of pocket this week because I was stocking up on makeup.

Here are the CVS deals that interested me this week:

Easter Grass $0.79 (ECB given Sunday and Monday only)
Earn $0.79 ECB (Limit 2) (after Monday, no ECB given)

Skintimate shaving cream $3.49
Earn $3.49 ECB (Limit 1)

Colgate MaxWhite or MaxFresh toothpaste $2.99
Earn $2.00 ECB (Limit 1)
0.75/1 Colgate coupon

Cover Girl Makeup spend $20 get $10 ECB
$1/1 coupon from this week's paper

Pringles chips (excludes fat free and Select) $0.88
$1/2 coupon in this week's paper

Excedrin 20ct extra strength $1.99
$2/1 coupon printed from internet

Schick Intuition Plus Razor & Refills buy one get one free prices starting at $9.99
$4/1 coupon from paper

Glade Air Freshener $0.99
Buy one Get one Free coupon from paper


So these were my purchases:

Transaction 1:
2 Easter grass 1.58
1 Skintimate 3.49
1 Colgate MaxFresh toothpaste
=8.06 total
-0.75 colgate coupon
-7.00 ECBs from a previous week
=0.31 (+ tax) cash + earned 7.07 ECB

Transaction 2:
4 Pringles 3.52
2 Glade air fresheners 1.98
2 Excedrin 3.98
1 Schick razor (free)
1 Schick refill 10.99
1 CG eyeshadow 4.99
2 CG foundation 15.98
=41.44 total
-1.00 (Pringle's coupon)
-1.00 (Pringle's coupon)
-0.99 (Glade buy one get one free coupon)
-2.00 (Excedrin coupon)
-2.00 (Excedrin coupon)
-4.00 (Schick coupon)
-4.00 (Schick coupon)
-1.00 (Cover Girl coupon)
-1.00 (Cover Girl coupon)
-1.00 (Cover Girl coupon)
-7.07 ECBs from previous transaction
-1.00 ECB earned previously
=15.38 (+ tax) cash + earned 10 ECB

So this week, I spent 15.69 (+ tax) out of pocket and have 10 ECBs to spend another time!

Hooray!

Jack got into SJ, which was our first choice for school! All of the Catholic schools mail out acceptance letters on the first Friday in April, you receive them on Saturday, and then all the schools are out for Spring Break the following week. So any disgruntled parents have a week to cool off before they can call the schools. Pretty smart plan, if you ask me.

So needless to say, I started stalking the postman Saturday morning. What was cute was that when I opened the letter from SJ, confetti spilled out of the envelope. A fun surprise! I have just been giddy, I am so happy. Jack seems to be taking it all in stride, not overly excited. I think that is because he really has no idea what kindergarten is about. I have been explaining all the fun things they will do at SJ that is similar to preschool...gym, art, music, computer, spanish, eating lunch at school, etc. And today at church, I pointed out that the playground is where he will have recess in kindergarten, the cafeteria is where he'll eat lunch. Hopefully by the time he is ready to go this fall, he'll have a better idea of what to expect and be excited to start elementary school.

Saturday night we went out as a family to celebrate! We had ourselves a cajun feast: crawfish bread and fried gator for appetizers; for dinner I had a crawfish platter, Brent had boiled crawfish, and the boys split a fried catfish kids meal; then for dessert, Lost Bread (it actually had some other name that I can't remember) which is French bread soaked in an egg custard and topped with fruit and whipped cream. Everything was soooo good. And the best part was that the boys were so well behaved. Brent and I couldn't believe how good they were! The owner even complimented them on their behavior and gave them some special treats: hushpuppies and extra french bread for appetizers and beads and dabloons before we left. It was a very enjoyable dinner for everyone.

So now we have a reprieve on stressing about the school situation until Jack heads to high school. Now that Jack is in SJ, Will is in too, when it is time for him to go to kindergarten. And that is a good thing for our little rock eater!

Growing Boys into Men

Yesterday, Antique Mommy wrote this post, which I thought was beautiful and bittersweet.

And it touches upon what I think is one of the most important parts of parenting. Finding teachable moments in the seemingly ordinary, everyday life events. And I hope I am doing just that, although there are many nights that I lie awake and wonder if I am missing opportunities.

I pray that Brent and I are raising our boys to be men of character with God-seeking hearts.

The Hunt

Will had his first Easter Egg Hunt today. It was moved inside because of the rain, rain, and more rain, but that didn't dampen the spirits. Will had fun...and I do believe we have a natural! Will is one of the oldest in his class, so he 'got' the idea of hunting eggs, plus I told him, "Go get the eggs, they have treats inside!" Well, no need to say more...

So here is the hunt:
Don't you just love the basket hooked over the arm?!?

Some of the other children were more interested in exploring this new room that they were in; not Will, he was a man on a mission, who ended up with a basket full of eggs. His teacher wanted to make sure that every child left with a dozen eggs, so some of his loot was swiped but there was still plenty of chocolate.

Checking out the goodies:

TREATS!

And just to hone his egg hunting skills, Jack orchestrated several more hunts for Will this afternoon. I think we are ready for the big leagues!