End of May

Really? Is it really already the end of May? Its been super busy around our household. Our garden is planted, both our raised bed and our balcony garden and they are doing very well! School is almost out and we are on the countdown to vacation!

Tyler finished up preschool last week. Danielle has 3 more dance classes before her big performance. Erika has her expander in place and the braces will go on soon! DJ is busy with marching band season with several parades.

This past weekend we celebrated Erikas birthday on Friday night (had her party late), Danielle had a full dress rehearsal and the most exciting part of the weekend was DJ dedicated his life to God by being baptized!! We had a small celebration afterwards with family and friends.

Today was spent with friends playing in the pool, volleyball, BBQ and just enjoying some great company! I have included a few pictures/snippets of the past couple of weeks!

I hope to be back to regular grocery shopping/posting next month.

Week of May 10th

FARMERS MARKET PURCHASES


ALL OF THIS WEEKS PURCHASES


Ok well its only May 9th but I did my shopping for the week today. I love this time of year. Farmers markets, produce stands and lots of fresh veggies! We are working on switching to alot more healthy eating in our home including alot more vegetarian type dishes (kids don't eat much meat anyways) and more organic. That is a very easy thing to do in this town!

This week I shopped at the Farmers Market, Produce Stand, Trader Joes and Cost Cutter. We are going to a mothers day BBQ tomorrow and I will be brining broccoli salad and snickers salad *YUM*.

Farmers Market:
2 bunches baby carrots $5.00
1 bag mixed salad greens $4.00
1 loaf ciabatta bread $4

Total spent: $13

Produce Stand:
1 red onion
green apples
red apples
bag baby carrots
celery
sunflower kernels

Total spent: $10.45

Trader Joes:
raw sugar $2.99
2- red pepper/tomato soup $5.58
2 bags brussels sprouts $3.98
olive oil $5.99
chili lime chicken burgers $3.49
carne asada $10.41
sliced sharp cheddar $4.69
flat bread $1.99

Total spent: $39.12

Cost Cutter:
bacon $2.69
potato patties $3.54
corn tortillas $1.39
pasta salad $3.01
cantalope $1.77
2 cool whip $3
2 ketchup $2.50
3 turkey franks $2.64
1# smoked turkey $4.19
vanilla pudding $1.65
5 snickers $4.45
2 milk $3.78
mayo $3.89
box of juices $3.00

Total: $41.93

TOTAL SPENT this week: $104.50
Amount of this for BBQ- $20
Total for home groceries $84.50

Happy 12th Birthday Erika!

Sunday was my daughters 12th birthday. I still cannot believe she is 12! I took her to lunch just the two of us and then we had a few friends over for dinner before she headed out to Karaoke with one of her friends. We will be doing her actual party later in the month because she left Tuesday for 6th grade outdoor school for the week and her best friend was out of town on her birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA I love you! :)

Bowling for Junior Achievement

Every year our company does a fundraiser for Junior Achievement this was the first year our department was actually big enough to get a team together. We had a great time bowling for a great cause! Check out the JA website (linked in this post) and take the time to volunteer in your local school!

1st Week of May 2009

Above is a picture from 2 stores. I did go to Costco yesterday but did not get a picture of it.

My oldest daughter turned 12 on Sunday and her choice for her birthday dinner were: Pizza rolls, ham/pickle rolls, deviled eggs and cupcakes.

Cost Cutter:
2 totinos pizza rolls $9.58
2.16# bananas $1.27
2 loaves bread $1.54 (store coupon item)
salad dressing $2.50
2 apple juice $1.98 (store coupon item)
2 poweraid $1.00 (store coupon item)
hamburger buns $1.49
hotdog buns $1.49
whipped cream cheese $2.99
2- 1/2 gallons milk $1.59 (bogo free store coupon)
pickle spears $3.35
butter $1.47 (store coupon)
3 bags salad $3
2 ltr root beer $1.99 (for bday dinner)
2 ltr Mt dew $1.99 (for bday dinner)
2 1/2 gallons ice cream $5.00 (store coupon)

Total: $42.65
How much of that was for the bday dinner: $19.41

HAGGEN:
1 gallon milk $1.49 (store coupon)
half & half $1.99
1 box honey nut cheereos $1.87 (store coupon)
10# potatoes $1.59
cupcakes for party $6.99

Total: $13.93
of that For party: $6.99

So my party total: $26.40
Grocery total: $34.18

Costco:
hummus $6.99
broccoli $3.99
chicken nuggets $11.99
butter $6.39
lettuce $2.99
Total: $32.35

TOTAL SPENDING FOR THE WEEK:
Party: $26.40
Non Party- $66.53
Check out what Gayle and the others have done at the Grocery Cart Challenge

Spring is finally here YEAH!

Spring is finally here the sun is shining and the birds are singing. I love this time of year! A little "catch up"

Last week we were able to start working on our garden! Living in a 3rd floor apartment, gardening is not much of an option. I was very excited a few months ago when I found that there was a community garden starting in our neighborhood. I immediately got in contact with them and was one of the first to get a 4x16' raised bed. This whole garden is being built from scratch so everyone has to put in alot of work. We will be gardening using the Lasagna Gardening method. No we are not growing lasagna but if you google "Lasagna Gardening" its an amazing concept! We went last weekend and layed the 1st layer of cardboard. This past week we went and filled in our bed with about 12 wheelbarrow loads of dirt. The whole family is chipping in!

This weekend my 2 older kids went on a church youth group retreat up to MT Baker. They were able to sled and enjoy the last of the winter snow along with some great worship music and Christian fellowship. One of the most exciting things out of the weekend is my oldest son commited his life to Christ and has decided to get babtized next month!!!

I met up with my mom/sister in law/neice and another friend with the 2 youngest kids and we went to check out the Dirty Dan's Seafood festival. It was alot of fun! There were crafts and activities for the kids. All sorts of seafood booths, live music and some really neat shops to check out.

I don't have much to share grocery wise this week as I am going out of town for work for 3 days and the 4 kids are all going in different directions. I have the most awesome and amazing friends that jumped in to help so I could go to this conference. The kids are all very excited its an adventure for them to. They get to stay overnight with friends on a SCHOOL NIGHT! LOL

Above are a few pictures of our adventure this weekend.

Week of April 19-25th

Did not need much this week but did have to make a trip to Costco.

Cost Cutter:
Lettuce .78
tomato .88
half & half $2.49
hamburger buns $1.49
whip cream $1.29
beef patties $9.99 (we will get 4 meals out of this box)
2 cream cheese $3.00
shredded lettuce $1.24
2 gallons milk $3.98

Total: $25.14
Our grocery store also now has a "gas" card you add up savings for gas at a local station. I needed gas yesterday and over the past month had earned a savings of .45 per gallon! That was a savings of $4.50!!

Costco:
Case Dr pepper $9.49
Eggos $7.99
2 dozen eggs $2.99
5 romaine lettuce $2.99
French fries $5.79
Muffins $6.49
Total: $36.55

Total spent: $61.69
See what Gayle and the others have done at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu for the week:

Breakfast options:
muffins
eggos
cereal
eggs/toast
pancakes

Lunches:
3 kids in school will eat hot lunch at school
Youngest and I will eat at home

Dinner:
S- Slow roasted beef with horseradish cream sauce, mashed potatoes and peas
M- Crispy garlic chicken cutlets, buttered noodles, veggies
T- Tacos
W- Spaghetti, salad, hm french bread
Th- Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
F- Meatloaf Mac & cheese and green beans
S- Pizza @ church