Mn Zoo with Beth & Bill!

Lauren, Ethan & Ty posing in front of the fountain.

Lauren & Ethan in front of the Siberian Tiger Exhibit...
they were all hiding from us!

Lauren & Ty navigating our way around the zoo.

Lauren & Ty, hand-in-hand leading us to our car...
Are they the cutest things you have ever seen??

Ethan on the way home from the zoo, he was tuckered out!!!

Thank you Beth & Bill for a fantastic day!!!

Kindergarten graduation picnic!

Today was Lauren's Kindergarten Graduation Picnic!! Here she is with her diploma!

Our first family picture with our Kindergarten Graduate!!!

Look Ma!! No tooth!!!

Lauren showing off her toothless grin!!

Lauren lost her first tooth!!!!

She started out with high hopes, she wanted floss tied around it & she was just going to yank it out!! Turns out, that is a lot harder than is sounds! She ended up getting it so loose, that it had to come out!! It was hanging on for dear life. I was not comfortable letting her go to bed with it hanging like that...

So, Mom had to help! It popped right out!! Her first words to me (when she saw the blood) "Mom- why did you do that?"

Judging by the smile on her face 1 minute later, I was forgiven (for doing what she asked me to do...)

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN!!!

Too Cute Tuesday

Lauren helping her little man out by brushing his teeth in the shower!

Too Cute!!!

Lauren's loose tooth!!

Here is what may be the last picture of Lauren with all of her teeth intact!! Lauren has an extremely loose tooth, which may fall out at any time!!

She is excited, but scared for this to happen though, because Daddy told her that if it comes out too early it will grow in crooked & all messed up!

Dinner with friends

Tonight we were invited out to dinner at a friends house. They have kids with food allergies as well, so my guard was able to go WAYYYYY down!! It was so nice to not have to worry about food at a cookout!! It is very rare that I am able to just relax & let the kids have a good time without worrying about food... Lauren & her friend even went into the yard & picked honeysuckles & tasted them!!

We made safe chocolate chip cookies & cupcakes too for the kiddo's to enjoy!! I think they were a big hit!!!

Just look at that view off the deck!! That is a very calm & beautiful Mississippi River.

Foot soak!!

Foot soak time!!!

Pizza

Tonight, for dinner, I made the kiddo's a (kiddo safe) taco pizza!!

I think that it turned out pretty good!!

I am guessing that the kids thought so too, because between them, they ate more than half!!

Park, park, park!!

Today, when daddy got home from work, we went to the park & spent the whole evening just hanging out!! The kids had such a great time!!!

They also played so hard that they wore themselves out!!
It was not difficult getting them to bed tonight!!!

No eyedrops, mom!!

Ethan trying to hide from mom, who is about to give him his new eyedrops...

School Farm Field Trip!!

Today, Ethan & I got to go with Lauren's class on a field trip to the High School Farm. Here is Lauren admiring the "cute little baby piggies".

Our new TV stand!!

Here is a picture of Ethan showing off our new TV stand. Brad put it together all on his own (well, with some help from little man) on Friday while I was on the farm field trip with Lauren!! Go Daddy!!

Wres-lin!

Can't tell, but she was laughing hysterically the whole time...
What a girl will do for her little brother!!

Saturday at Springfest!

Today, Daddy & the kiddo's went to Epiphany's annual Springfest carnival!!
Gpa Steve, Gma Penny, Uncle Andy & Auntie Sarah also shared in the fun!!

The first one is Ethan, Lauren & Gpa Steve on the helicopter.
Ethan says "Hio-copter, up & down, up & down...

Lauren, Ethan Daddy & Gpa Steve on the spinning strawberries!

Lauren was dancing, spinning & not paying attention to her feet and she tripped on the curb & cut her head open. OUCH!!

I am so proud of Brad though, he brought her straight to the first aid booth!!
What a great daddy!!!

Poor little lady!!!

Friday, field trip day!!

Me & Lauren snugglin' on the hayride at the Moe Farm!

Lauren holding the little chicken, she loved his little comb!

Lauren with the calf.

Lauren & her friends trying to wrangle a baby goat!

Lauren feeding the little "kid" some hay.

Ashley in her "bubble"

Ok Ashley, you have officially made it now, you're on my blog!!



Ashley is one of my coworkers at the YMCA. We were having fun with a new toy!!

Deals & Steals

Today, I want to share with you my new LOVE of coupons. I have always been a very thrifty shopper, and I am a regular in the clearance section. Lauren used to rat me out to others, when they would complement her on her outfit, she would boldly point out that "Thanks, my mom got it for 3 bucks at Walmart..."

Recently I have learned that you can "stack" coupons at certain stores. By stack, I mean use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon for the same item. This, many times, makes items which were not affordable now manageable. Sometimes, you can even find one of these items on sale, or on clearance, then stack your coupons on top of that to make them free!!

Target, Walgreens and Cub are the best place (in my area) to stack coupons. Though I am an avid Walmart shopper, they do not provide any store coupons to use.

Here are some of my recent "Deals & Steals":

Ok, the first few have no coupons, but I am proud of them.

TV stand (needed it for a long while) Original price $119.99 Clearance $29.99
2 computer games for Lauren for Christmas Orig. $19.99 ea Clearance $4.98 ea
Insoles for Brads sore & tired feet Orig. $6.99 Clearance $2.98

Clearasil face wash orig. $2.96 -$2.00 Mfr coupon = $.96
Kelloggs cereal On sale for $1.99 -$.75 Target coupon -$1.00 manufacturer coupon = $.24!!
Dannon Activia 4 pk On sale for $2 -$1.00 Mfr coupon = $.25 each
Schick Quattro shaver Orig. $9.94 -$2.00 Target Coupon -$4.00 Mfr. coupon = $3.94
Cascade Rinse agent (for dishwasher) Orig. $3.14 FREE with coupon!!

Here is the one I am really proud of...
My kids have spring allergies, so they depend on Breathe Right Strips to get them thru the night, and I found them at Cub like this...



Orig. $12.19 on clearance for $2.99 - $2.00 Mfr coupon = .99 each 30 pack!!
That is $.03 each! (compare to $.41 each at regular price)

Too Cute Tuesday

Daddy & Ethan having Cocoa Puffs for breakfast...

Too Cute!!

Mother's Day at the Twins Game!

Me & my little lady

Me & my little man

Daddy & Ethan

Mmmmmm... cotton candy.