$55 worth for $3!

Once again, this is why I love coupons! Most of these items I was able to get for free! I got my coupons from the Sunday paper inserts, and a couple from the Internet. A lot of times, manufactures will have coupons for free products on their actual websites. That's how I got the Suave conditioner for free and the Smart ones breakfast for free.
I love too that prior to couponing I couldn't afford name brand items, I could only afford generic store brand items (not that there is anything wrong with that), but now with the coupons I'm getting the name brand items for cheaper (or free) than the generic store brand! The trick is to pair the coupons with store sales and to use the Albertsons "Twice the Value" coupons. The items in this picture I got from Albertsons and Walmart.
The other trick is to read the coupon blogs (there are several out there), I have previously linked the ones that are my favorites. They do all the research for you and figure out what stores are having sales and which coupons you should pair with them for the best deals. (For example, they told me that there was a coupon for Schick disposable razors in this past Sunday's paper for $2 off and Walmart sells them for $1.97, so if you use the coupon at Walmart, you can get them for free!) They also tell you where you can sign up to get free stuff in your mail, like coupons for free things, etc. The other day I even got free underwear in the mail! One of my favorite coupon blogs is The Coupon Project. I like her because she's local and so she posts local deals. I'd love to hear about your deals that you get!

Stay at home Mom's go read this woman's blog post. It made me cry!

Update

My baby is sick with a fever, declaring "I just need you Mommy" all day. My big girl is having too much fun with Grandma (and before that, Aunt Becky) to talk to me on the phone. My hubby is at a church plant in Oregon (with a team from our church), preparing to preach tomorrow. I am sleepily trying to decide if I should do the dishes and organize my closet or just call it a night. . .

If you are in the are next weekend, come to the garage sale that my sister in law, Pam, and I are having at Pam's house. I have been going through stuff like a mad woman! So far I have gotten rid of two pickup truck loads of stuff and two van loads of stuff for the garage sale! It is ridiculous that I have that much stuff to get rid of. I think I might have some slight hoarder tendencies. I'm getting rid of all my baby stuff too. I'm pretty sure that season of our lives is done, but God may have other plans.

I am missing my Grandma and praying for my Uncle who was diagnosed with Leukemia just a couple of weeks after my Grandma died. It has been a rough year for my family. I am thankful that my Grandpa has gone to church with my Mom twice now, that is huge for him!

We have reinstated family devotions at breakfast and I am loving it! I am so thankful for my Godly leader of a husband. We have a children's catechism book that we go through, I love hearing my girls learning truths about God and memorizing them. Even Anna, at two years old, can learn great truths about God, it's so exciting to watch. We also alternate reading from Rylie's "big girl" Bible and the Jesus Storybook Bible. Then we have prayer time. I love hearing them pray and listening to who/what they choose to pray for.

Pam and I took a little overnight getaway last week at the beach. We scrap booked and ate, and talked and slept in. It was great! I got 42 pages scrap booked! I only have time to scrapbook about twice a year so I have to make the most of it when I can.

Rylie successfully completed her very first soccer season! We were so proud of her! She had a lot of fun. And had a little crush in the process, she told us she was going to marry one of the little boys on her team (the star player), Daddy didn't like that too much! Now on to T-ball!

That's about all the updates I can think of at the moment. I'll try to be better about blogging more than just pictures.

"Father, I pray today that you may count us worthy of your calling. Enable us to become increasingly holy, self-denying, loving, full of integrity, steeped in the knowledge of you and your Word, ever delighted and eager to trust and obey you. We are not strong enough or disciplined enough to live up to your calling on our own. But I ask that you will so work in our lives that we may grow in all things that please you so that you ultimately judge us to be living up to the calling that we have received....Lord Jesus, thank you that you are transforming us into your likeness with ever increasing glory by your marvelous grace. It is only by your grace that we can become fruitful. It is only by your grace that we can persevere. It is only by your grace that we can mature. It is your grace that enables us to love others more. It is your grace that enables us to cherish holiness and a deepening knowledge of God. Therefore I ask all these things on the basis of your grace.” (DA Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Chapter 3, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Father's Day

Rylie's Last Soccer Game

I love my man!

At the beach . . .

Getaway

Ryan and I are off on a little getaway to celebrate our Anniversary. Our Anniversary was in May, but we couldn't get away until now. We received a very generous gift from our Church for Pastor Appreciation Day, a stay in this beautiful Inn in Ocean Shores! Rylie and Anna were happy to go spend a couple nights with Grandma and Grandpa (thanks Mom and Dad!)
I had a delicious bowl of clam chowder at an Irish Pub Restaurant last night. Today we spent time reading at a local coffee shop and then played at the beach. Now we're off to a "fancy" dinner! I'm enjoying relaxing and spending uninterrupted time with my hubby!

Happy 4th Birthday Luke!

My nephew, Luke, turns 4 today! We had his dinosaur birthday party yesterday. Can you tell by those dimples that he had a great time?!

Sunday School Promotion

This past Sunday was Sunday School Promotion at our church. Basically this means that the kids that are moving on to the next grade are "promoted" to the next Sunday School class. The kids that aren't moving up yet, get a certificate of participation for participating in that year of Sunday School. Both of my girls are staying in their classes for one more year since their birthdays fall in March. They are both happy about that though because they each love their teachers! Rylie had been looking forward to getting Mr. and Mrs. Oldright all last summer, and they didn't disappoint.
Anna loves her teachers as well. She can be crying and not wanting me to leave and then Mrs. Jacki will hug her and she'll be just fine!
I am thrilled that they were both taught God's Word faithfully every week. It would have been so easy for their teachers, (especially for the two year old class) to just have play time or crafts, but they faithfully shared the Gospel and taught my daughters. For that I am very thankful!

Happy Best Friend's Day!

My first sewing project!

My friend, Katie is teaching me how to sew! She is going to be gone all summer, so she is lending me her sewing machine so I can practice all summer. She helped me make something out of my old shirt. We cut it up and made it into a shirt for Rylie and a dress for Anna! It's a little short for Anna but we're going to try to make some bloomers to go with it.
I used some of the left over fabric to make some barrettes and a headband to match.
I also thought I'd make some napkins because that was just sewing straight lines!

Memorial Day BBQ

For Memorial Day we went to Ryan's Mom's house for a barbecue. We had tons of food and great fun outside as the rain stopped soon after we got there. The girls had a blast playing with their cousins all day!

"Doublers" are my friends!

Loving the Albertsons "doubler" coupons yet again! $42 worth of products for $7! (and 4 of the things were completely free!)

My Dad bought me the cookbook I had on my wish list! It came today, I'm excited to try some of the recipes. Rylie was looking through it and already picked out the crackers that she wants me to make. I'm going to make my own butter too! Fun times! Thanks Dad!