My Couponing Perserverance and Pitfalls

 This coupon thing can be tricky tricky! I'm not a pushy, outgoing person by nature so I don't like to question the cashiers, but I've quickly learned that's just going to be part of it. On my last post about couponing, Coupon Queen in Training, I lamented my 2/$5 off formula coupons that the cashier couldn't get to work and reassured me even a manager couldn't type in by hand. It bothered me so much I just had to go back a few weeks later and try again. That cashier had problems getting them to ring too and without batting an eyelash she checked the coupon to the formula and typed it in manually! In the same purchase I discovered a pitfall...I am prone to the buy one get one free, hence the Crush sodas that I never would have purchased and could have gone back to the soda aisle and paid a ton less for a 2 liter of store brand. Lesson learned.

In spite of those little lessons and pitfalls, I'm quickly rising in the ranks towards that coveted Coupon Queen crown! Last week I saved $92.49 on groceries that should have cost me $238.52, nearly 40% savings! Today I went to Walmart after my first freebies and money makers. Learned another lesson, hit the store early in the week because the real queens have cleared the shelves by Friday. Still super excited. What I acquired should have cost $11.48 but cost me $.98 before tax, yep, that's right! And I even discovered the toothpaste deal on my own! That's why the binder must come with me always. Woohoo!

Here's the breakdown for interested coupon nerd hopefuls like myself. Toothpaste on sale for $.97 ea., $.75 off coupon, final cost to me $.22 ea., panty liners on sale for $1.24 ea, coupon for $1 off, final cost $.24 ea. Bic pens on sale for $.97, coupon for $1 off, profit $.03 Razors on sale for $1.97, coupon for $2, profit of $.03. Total $.12 profit goes toward the other purchases, sweetness! Another place where I had to be persistent and have her get a manger. She didn't think I could use a coupon for more off than the cost of the item. I am just having way too much fun with this!

Spitfire

 Lil' Spitfire turns 6 today! Can you tell he's excited? Ah, Spitfire, I'm so glad you were born to me. Your nickname was hard earned but as you grow the battles are few and far between and certainly less dramatic. Aside from your fiery nature you are one of the sweetest kids I know. Thoughtful, generous and loving. I think that kind of passion and love are just the kind of thing can make the world a better place.

Little 'Ole Orphan Annie

My Annie cat is getting old and is starting to act it. It makes me a little sad. She's lived with me since before kids, before husband, since before husband and I were even an official "item". She is decidedly my cat, not the family's cat. She's suffered the indecency of sharing her home with other pets. 5 cats and 4 dogs to be exact. 14 years, so much has happened in those years. If she had a mouth to speak she could tell the story of the majority of my adult life. I'll count her lack a blessing! Though having a conversation with her would be incredibly cool.

Coupon Queen (in training)

I feel an obsession coming on, a coupon obsession! I'm definitely taking baby steps (teehee, get it, baby steps...ok sorry) but I'm really excited about it. Above is the result of my first outing specifically for the purpose of using all of a certain coupon to get a good deal. It's no Extreme Couponing feat of savings but I did get $23.16 worth of baby food and baby cereal for $14.06! Sweetness! I was so disappointed that two of my coupons didn't scan for an unknown reason, those would have gotten me $24 in formula for $14. Still learning the rules and regs! In the pic below are some batteries from Office Depot that I will get 100% back in gift cards just by using my free rewards card when purchasing them, that made me happy!

You know the saying it takes money to make money? That would be my binder below. Not that it was hugely expensive but it was sort of hard to spend money when you're going into this thing to save. My binder makes me too happy, I'm sure it's a sickness. I keep telling my husband "everything in life should be like this binder, everything neatly in it's place, labelled, clean and tidy. Mmmmm."

My first grocery shopping trip with my binder felt like a disaster. Between store card, coupons and digital coupons I saved about $30, fine except that my total bill was about 2x's the usual, wowza! For a family of 5 with three pets you can imagine that would be a large amount. I felt a little better about it later when I took a good look at it. Turns out attention to detail equals big grocery bill...but hopefully no small trips in addition to the big one, tricking me into thinking I spend less on groceries. Ok, off to hunt some bargains and try to keep the reigns on this potential addiction, moderation in all things right?

Christmas Junkie

I love Christmas, there are no two ways about it. I love everything about it and this year is turning out to be the best in awhile. Mostly because I decided this year to take a big giant chill pill before the start of the season, to know that it's supposed to be fun for all involved not stressful, and to be intentionally friendly and kind to those I run into in my daily goings about who may be dealing with extra rudeness during this season (aka any poor soul working retail and cash registers).

I also have 3 of the sweetest little boys and having kids puts a new excitement into Christmas, every year is more exciting, and filled with more interesting comments. The Little Mister is going to be 9 months old in a few days, he's loving the lights and music. He's getting new skills at the speed of light. Sitting up and pulling up all in one day, signing for food and drink, knowing that he wants to have and do things that he can't.

 The big boys are starting to say fun things. Lets see, what stories do I have...

The other day someone gifted us the most gorgeous Christmas train. I was more excited than the boys, I mean really embarrassingly giddy, like a little kid. To the boys I said "You know I love Christmas but I love Christmas trains even more!!!" and Mr. Golden Curls, my little lover of trains since before he could say "Thomas" mind you, says "Mama, I think I like Christmas even more than trains because I get to celebrate Jesus' birthday." Wow, now if that's not convicting!

 Hilarious things get said when you have a Fisher-Price Nativity set and several boys running around, awesomely hilarious things. Poor baby Jesus, eaten, slobbered on, trapped in little boys' stinky pits, made to converse with the likes of Lightening McQueen and Lego Harry Potter. One night on our way home from the boys' school musical we stopped to buy eggnog and ginger snaps to take home. On the way into the house Spitfire is swinging the bag of ginger snaps, trash talking "You better watch it or I will smash all your ginger snaps and turn you into a giiiirl!!!" Clearly at 5 years old he did not know the implication of his threat but I thought I'd hurt myself with laughter.

So I carry on into the season belting out Dolly Parton Christmas songs to myself, being overjoyed that it snowed the tiniest bit while I was doing some Christmas shopping and keeping a constant stock of eggnog, candy canes and peppermint ice cream and being way too excited about the little things. Then in the New Year I think I'll make it a resolution to try and keep that happiness all year. I'm too much of a sarcastic 'ole grump, it's time to spread out that Christmas spirit!

Trick-or-Treat?...I'd say Trick!

 Well, we have our first broken bone. In a house full of boys I suspect it will not be our last. Sunday at the church's Fall Festival, on the very last ride down the bouncy slide, Spitfire broke his skinny, 'lil, knobby kneed chicken leg. All five of us headed to the ER in Halloween garb. Spitfire was a werewolf, Golden Curls was Dracula, and the Little Mister was a skeleton. I'm hoping to make him a mummy for Halloween trick-or-treating but I hear my time being sucked out the window!

Wereman before. After they gave him a shot for pain he made this face and then immediately relaxed back into his chair like a little stoner to talk about how he was no longer a tearful smiley on the pain chart but "more like a 2...no 1...no zero, I'm a zero."

 Spookiest waiting room in town! I have such good boys that the wait was painless, we all just hung out doing our thing.

 Spitfire was a little upset that they ended up needed to cut the leg off his werewolf pants but I reassured him we could put them back together for Halloween.

 Pappa and Golden Curls pretending to be bored.

This is our whole clan pre-broken leg.

Cutest monsters I know!

I don't know what I expected from a broken bone, I've never had one so I guess I just thought it would hurt until they had it stable. No such luck! But by yesterday afternoon he had had a visit from some sweet friends, Pappa had brought his reading basket home from school and things were looking up. Last night he didn't wake up in pain and today he's seeming much more like himself...a little spitfire...hummm, I better watch my back! It's going to be a little tricky around here for a few months. He keeps the straight leg splint and stays home with Mamma until Monday then he gets a bent leg, non-walking cast for 6-8 weeks when we'll discover if a 5 year old can work crutches or has to be wheeled around in a chair. Just another of life's little adventures!

Thank You For Making Me, Me

Every night before we go to bed we say prayers with the boys. Usually my husband and I will lead it and the boys will repeat. The other night Spitfire got sent to play in his bedroom after being too distracting during stories. When it came time to get ready for bed we found he had already put himself to bed and was dead asleep (see below:).

Since it was just me and the big one I asked if he would like to lead the prayer that night and this is the beautifully simple prayer he said: "Thank you God for this day and that we got to play all day. Thank you for giving us food and hope. Thank you for making me, me. The end."

Why isn't that my genuine prayer at the end of each day? I'm so full of grumbling and discontent about what I don't have, what I "need". So full of insecurities and my own worst bully. But in reality I have this day and that alone is an incredible gift not everyone has to enjoy. I get to stay home all day with my babies in these first most awesome years of their lives. I even get to fit in a little graphic design work and crafting here and there;  my own play all day. I certainly have food and hope. But the last part got me the most. "Thank you for making me, me. The end." I think it's time I start trying to reform my 'ole pessimistic, negative self into an optimist so I can start being happy that God made me, me too.