Grocery Smarts

Sometime in August I attended a homemaking meeting geared to help everyone save money. Erin Ruy taught us about the grocery smart method. Her husband has been out of work for 6 months and they are still solvent because of savings and pinching their pennies. I asked her how much she spends on groceries each week - $50 maximum - one week she only spent $3!

I love a good challenge so I decided to try to match her. I haven't succeeded even once but I come really close most weeks and am adding to my food storage as I go. I only buy the foods I normally buy (except when a new food is a screaming deal - then we try it) and between the few stores that are close I find most items on sale. (Erin only shops at one store per week.)

What kind of deals have I gotten? Canned beans and corn for 26 cents each (compared to 78 cents each at Sams). $20 of free Kraft foods (though I couldn't find exactly what I wanted and just ended up with a year's supply of Mac 'n Cheese). And on Thursday I got 3 lbs of chicken free at Smiths.

If anyone is interested in know more, please contact me. I would be happy to give you any tips I have found. Or you can go to www.grocerysmarts.com and enter the code g84cer. The website is free. They do recommend that you subscribe to the paper to collect coupons but I have found that if you shop at Smiths the only coupons provided by Grocery Smarts are usually just as good. (Smiths is the only one I have found to consistenly accept the, though. You can also check out deals on www.pinchingyourpennies.com

Happy Saving!

Cailin's Blessing

Cailin was blessed on Sunday, September 13th at our ward. My father performed the lessing with Aaron, Ben and several of our ward friends in the circle. The word that kept coming up for her was joy. She will find joy in her life and be a joy to those around her - and of course she already is!

Our happy family

Cousin Abby holding Cailin

Bubble Camp

During the entire summer, Braden attended bubble camp at Gymboree once a week for a 3 hour class. When we switched him from Thursdays to Wednesdays (from music to art day) the art projects started flooding in. Braden also started asking to stay for aports class afterward since all of the other kids in Wednesday class did. So, by the end, he was gone for over 4 hours at a time and even then didn’t really want to come home. Something tells me that there will be no tears when he starts Kindergarten in a few years!

A life size scuba-braden with his other oart projects.

Visit from Grandma Guthrie

Grandma Guthrie came up for a visit during the last week of July. She stayed with us for 2 days before heading down to Provo to spend time with GG (Great Grandma Yonally), Kathy and Caroline. We took her to play group at the park where she climbed trees with Braden and of course we stopped at Sweet Afton’s for some licorice. Since everyone likes the black licorice pipes and Loyce loves to share, she bought all the pipes Sweet AFton's had in stock. Next time (particularly for her Christmas visit when there are 20+ people who want pipes) we are going to give them a little notice and ask them to special order an entire box for us.

Grandma Guthrie and Braden in their tree fort.

24th of July Friends

On July 24th Aaron took Braden to see the Bountiful parade with Mike, Becca, Anna, Adam, Grandma and Grandpa Parker. I stayed home with Cailin because she had a low grade fever (99.6) – not something to be concerned about after 2 months, but before that a fever of 100.4 would have meant a 10 night hospital stay for her. I think everyone enjoyed the parade but Anna and Braden particularly enjoyed each other's company. It was really fun to watch them together while Mike and Becca were here for a visit. Braden learned to play Pet Shop with Anna. She conceded and played dinosaur dog (dino from the flintstones) several times with Braden. They really become fast friends. After the evening, there were a few things that were talked about several times. First some excitement when a fire engine left the route or had to cross the route to help someone (since I wasn't there I was never clear on this). And second that Anna and Braden rode an enclosed ferris wheel by themselves! That is surprising for Braden but even more so for Anna. I guess everything is easier when you get to do it with a friend.

Anna and Braden at the Bountiful Parade

Braden with another close friend...

Disney Days

July 21st we took Tyler to Disney Days at the Gallivan center. Initially the boys wanted to go to the Dinosaur Museum but we taliked them into the Gallivan Center with the lure of possibly seeing a Disney Character. The boys got their faces painted - Braden as a tiger and Tyler as a leopard. They jumped in a bounce house, played games to win prizes and rode a fun train that gave them a train whistle. Did they meet Mickey Mouse? No. Evidently this event is so named because Radio Disney is one of its many sponsors and the name "American Family Insurance Days" just won't bring the kids in droves.

Afterwards Tyler and Braden still wanted to go to the Dinosaur Museum so we did. (We actually go there all the time since we bought season passes, we just don’t really mention it anymore.) Did they see dinosaurs? Yes :).

Parade Float Preview

On July 20th we went to see the parade float preview at the South Town Expo center. We saw floats with animals, animation and even toys but the one the kids loved the most had 3 couples dancing on it. When we had seen all of the floats (and pretty much torn them away from the dancing one), Braden waited in line and got his face painted like spiderman while Tyler, Anna and Adam got twisted balloons. When we met up with them again, Grandma had a balloon sword for Braden, too, so a lot of running, pretend fighting and animal rescuing ensued. Even when Braden ran face first into a tall square garbage can, the play paused for about 30 seconds and then just kept going. Kids + open spaces = FUN!

Spider-Braden

Left to Right: Adam, Tyler, Braden adn Anna

Fair Day for the Zoo and Training Table?

On July 18th Aaron took Braden to the Children’s fair (I stayed home with Cailin to keep her out of the heat this time). WE had been a few years ago at the tail end and loved it so we are going to try to catch it every year from now on. There are train rides, crafts, and all sorts of fun and it is, of course, free to the public. This year Braden met several costume characters and built his own toolbox from wood at the home depot tent. Next they met Grandma and Grandpa Christensen at the Zoo for ice block day. I hear the ice blocks weren't that great this year but it was all made up for when Grandma bought Braden a snow cone!

Then they met Cailin and I at Training Table to eat lunch with Mike and Beccca who had come in town to celebrate the 24th. What a busy but fun day! (By the way, I am a hickory burger girl, how about you?)

Braden hammering his tool box together

Braden with the Bees Mascot

This is the place - for popsicles

Sometime in mid July (forgive my lack of memory - I was more than a little sleep deprived at the time) we went to the This is the Place State Park for a special event day. Although the employees didn’t seem to know much about what was going on, we eventually stumbled into lots of free fun to be had. There were bounce houses to heat you up and cold water and popsicles to cool you down. There was even a magic show if you wanted to sit under a tent. Because of the heat we didn't stay long for Cailin's sake but it was great while it lasted.

4th of July Fireworks

On the 4th of July we celebrated Cailin's one week birthday by walking to the Wyker's - some friends a few blocks away - and watching the most spectacular home fireworks display I have ever seen. Several men and boys (all acting like boys) kept at least 3 fireworks going non-stop for 45 minutes! With those and the occasional illegal firework that burst above us from somewhere nearby (not sure where but we have a guess) it felt like we had gone to Sugarhouse Park by the time we were done! Braden absolutely loved the evening. He got to drink his own full can of lemonade, held his first sparklers and spent time with the Wyker’s son, Alex – a new favorite friend. Cailin, on the other hand, just took a really nice long nap. A great evening for all.