Uncle Ben is staying for a while....

No, we don't have an actual "Uncle Ben"..... BUT we have saved some "Uncle Ben's" during my shopping trips this week. Like, MAJORLY saved.

I'm not sure how to describe it other than a "coupon hoarding, club card loading, double/tripling coupon, save, save, saving" game. It has completely consumed my shopping experience. 

It take MUCH preparation - and by that I mean less sleep (I was up until 4am only to get up at 6am to go shopping before Jer went to work.) and more clipping and research. (My google search bar is my best friend....)

SO: Here is how I saved with this trip.

Regular price: $48.00

(9) boxes of GM cereal

(4) boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Snack

(3) Nature Valley Granola Bars

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Randall's was having a 'Buy 4 boxes of GM cereal, Get $4 off instantly AND one free box of Nature Valley Granola Bars.')

Here's what I spent.

Honey Nut Cheerios - $1.99 ($.75 off coupon)

(2) Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $1.99 ea. - ($.60 off coupon and $.55 off coupon. In ADDITION to a $1 off 2 boxes of GM cereal.)

Cocoa Puffs and Trix Cereals - $1.99 ($1 off 2 boxes of GM cereal)

I had an in-store coupon from a previous shopping trip for $2 off of any 5 boxes of GM cereal.

With the purchase of (4) cereals I got (1) box of Nature Valley Granola Bars for FREE. On my shopping card, I uploaded a $.50 e-coupon which was taken off of my free granola bars and Randall's also honored my $.50 off coupon and even doubled it. (SO - I got $1.50 off of my purchase....)

Bringing my total to:  $2.24

Kroger is running a "Buy 10, get $5 off" special on select items. Here is what I snagged:

(4) Tombstone pizzas - $2.49 ea. (I had (4) $2 off coupons which made them $.49 each)

(1) pack of hot dogs - $.89 each

(13) Kraft Easy Macs - $.50 each

(2) Miracle Whip Squeeze Bottles - $1.67 ea. (I had (2) $1 off coupons, which made them $.67 each)

(10) Suave Deodorants - $1 each. ( I had (10) $.50 off coupons - Kroger doubles up to $.50 coupons, which meant I got all 10 for FREE.)

Bringing my total to: $10.71

(Probably would have been cheaper if my children didn't LOVE mac n' cheese so much....) :)

    

  

pierced.

Here at the Lamson house, we have put into place a "Chore Chart" and each day; Juliana, Jack and Jacie have certain chores they are responsible for. ( I LOVE this system for the sheer fact that it is a lighter work load for mommy!)

Juliana came to Jer and I at the beginning of the week and asked if she could get her ears pierced. So....we responded, "SURE!" But you must earn it....

As you can see, she did a great job this week!

This is before she got pierced.

 

Marking the exact spots for her earrings.

Just a little pinch....

VIOLA!! Finished product....and she didn't even flinch...ONCE!

I look at the picture above and all I see is that sweet, little 6 month old baby face. How on earth did she grow up SO fast?!?! And what was I doing??? 

<3

freedom.

 Yesterday marked our sixth 4th of July as a clan. We were able to spend it with some great friends and some great food...... (mmmmm.....burgers.)

So- here are some quick highlights:

Jack has a jumping good time on the trampoline....we probably should change his name to "Jumpin' Jack Flash". He is my hamball. From the moment I stepped outside with my camera aimed for shooting, Jack would pose in a different way each jump....and each pose even more exaggerated than the last. This one is my favorite....

Jonah had a great first fourth of July. However, not quite sure he was too interested in anything but food, multiple stinky diapers for mom and having in-depth conversations with daddy.

If pictures are worth a million words...than I should be a millionaire. I am still trying to wrap my head around why Juliana was so scared of this sparkler - I know she had experience with them in the past. I would like to believe that it is because Jeremiah is a firefighter and the kiddos we WELL educated on fire safety. This is still priceless. :)

My Jacie girl. Adventurous little Jacie. I lost count how many times she tried to poke her brother (and mom) with this lit sparkler but she had a BLAST. ;)

freedom. 

I take for granted EVERY minute of every day how lucky we are to have freedom. Not only in our country but with our heavenly Father. Thank you Jesus for giving me freedom. 

P.S. - On a side note, Jeremiah had a MAJOR fire that his station responded to. Here is the  video news story.

rain, rain {come and stay.}

I do realize that from last post to this post, we have dealt with two COMPLETELY extreme weather conditions... and for that I apologize Poppy. :)

Katy had some crazy storms this past week. Hurricane Alex rolled through Mexico/Southern Texas and we got hit with the thunder and downpour of it all. (Which was a FANTASTIC thing!)

Yesterday afternoon, Juliana and I left home on a mission: All things rain boots. 

Here is what we found: 

We had a blast playing in the rain before dinner. And there were puddles, streams, raindrops GALORE.

Jeremiah had the camera while I joined in on the fun!

Needless to say, dinner was quiet and bedtime was easy. ;)