I'm seeing coupons when I close my eyes!

My blog isn't a sales/couponing blog, it's my journal, but I have to do a post about sales/couponing to share how it is my newest hobby!

Thanks to my wonderful friends on our trip to Spokanne a little over a month ago, especially Cortney who is my coupon queen hero, I've been having more fun at the grocery stores than ever, but spending way less money than ever.  You have to understand, I've not exactly been the most thrifty person in the world.  So this is a big step for me.  Normally, if I want something and can afford it, I buy it.  End of story.  But if I can afford it AND save even more money, why not try?

On my girls getaway, we each bought a Sunday paper for its coupons, a 3 ring binder, a pack of baseball card collector insert pages, and tabbed dividers.   We labeled our dividers with the different grocery store departments and cut and organized our coupons accordingly.  They taught me how to try to get free items with multiple coupons on "BOGO" sales (buy one get one free) and using Albertsons doublers coupons (doubles the value of the manufacturer's coupon) and rebates/rewards/in store coupons/catalinas.  They sent me home with my militia for savings and a list of blogs/websites that give buying tips/specials on multiple Sunday papers/ more online coupons.  They've created a monster!  Just kidding.  But I'm having fun.

I spent a lot of time at first reading blogs and watching You Tube couponing videos.  I kind of had to hear it all several times to finally remember it all.  I hunted for web sties that offered online coupons.  I signed up for rebate progams with local grocery stores. I joined e-mail groups for discounts and specials.  I finally felt ready to use some coupons!

I got in my car, drove down the road with a mission... and then I chickened out.  I just went to Walmart and used the coupons from all the other stores' ads (Our Walmart accepts coupons from other stores that are just a percentage off or a sale price- no BOGO's or 3 for 1.00, etc.).   I saved $20.00 on my very ordinary shopping trip.  Which was nice compared to never saving anything at all!  But not much considering I spent $120.00....  I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone of always just going to Walmart where they are never OUT of anything and have everything I ever need all in one store. And are the closest store to my house.

I got my Sunday paper subscriptions, 10 of them, actually.  5 from one paper, 4 from another, and the small local paper with our local one-of-a-kind grocery store ads.  Originally, I planned to purchase just ONE paper from each to see which I liked most.  But two weeks in a row, when I went to buy the Sunday paper, they were out of papers on Sunday in the outdoor stands and then out of papers inside stores too by Monday morning.  So I used the coupon discount subscription available through a local savings blog to try out all 3 papers which gives you so many Sunday papers for less.  I meant to "fire" one subscription but I can't seem to decide which one to lose and I kind of like having so many coupons for each item with the great food storage sales that come on. 

Last week I spent $49.00 at Albertsons on $69.00 worth of things.  Still only $20.00 off, but this time, a discount of 33%.  But I also got a $15.00 off-next-purchase coupon at the register for buying enough of certain promotional items.  I used that coupon today when I went and hit more sales with more coupons and spent $18.00 on $82.00 worth of groceries.  That's 78% off!  And they were out of all their best deals which I got rainchecks for.  Had those things been there today, I would have spent another $7.14 on another $56.83 worth of groceries!   Which would bring my savings to 82% off!  Then I hit Rite Aid and bought diapers so there went my savings =(  OK not all my savings.  But dang, diapers are expensive!  Although these were on sale, had a rebate, and I had a coupon.   Last, I went to Walgreens and got 66% off a few toiletries like deoderant.  These stores are fortunately not too far apart in my small town, otherwise, I'd be less adventurous.  And, sorry, no pictures.  Maybe if this was a couponing blog or if I wasn't so tired from the shopping.  I was not bread to be a shopper, my feet and back don't last more than an hour.

For anyone that does not do this, if you're like me, you've heard it can take tons of time.  I think it certainly CAN.  Especially for me, because I had to take the time to keep re-reading all the info. about it at first.  For some reason my mind just could not fathom savings like that being real and just couldn't grasp it, even though it's very simple.  Now I only spend an hour a week cutting coupons, plus the time to shop at which ever stores I go to. Which is usually just Albertsons and maybe Walgreens too.

I think I also cut less coupons than many couponers do because I refuse to buy anything I don't currently use.  I see a lot of couponing women at the store with carts full of things I don't ever eat.  I might go for a brand I don't normally use if I can buy it cheaper, but I'm not going to buy a dozen desserts or a bunch of processed foods on killer deals because we don't normally eat that way and I'm not willing to take things home just to waste them.  I can afford to buy healthier groceries without sales and coupons so I'm not willing to let saving money hurt my family's diet.  In my opinion, the majority of coupons are for highly processed garbage fad food.  So I don't cut NEAR as many coupons as someone who might feed their family ONLY from what comes on sale and has a coupon with it.  However, if I did eat that way, my regular savings would be even higher.

Brielle went with me today and we had a lot of fun.  She's helping me cut coupons out and she's quite the little straight-line cutting perfectionist.  Every bright colored tag she sees on groceries at the store, she has to shout, "Mom, this is on SSSAAALLLLEEEE!!!!!"

So there it is, I'm having much more fun building up my food storage.  Thank you, Cortney for introducing me to this!  Todd thinks it's super cool.  And I'm excited to be the world's newest thrifty mom.

We're A Couple

The more reasons to dwell on my husband, the better the day!  So here's a little questionnaire for any married people out there.  

1. When is your "engagement" anniversary:
The week before Thanksgiving.  I actually have no clue what day, though.

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary:
March 28th.  This was also the anniversary of a day I do remember, the day we met (3 years earlier).

3. How long have you known your spouse?
10 years

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged:
 3 years

5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
He got in the car I was in on my first date with his mutual friend.  He tagged along on the date to get a ride to devotional and we clicked immediately.  Just as friends, but it was a thrilling connection.  He was instantly my very best friend and we wrote and talk over the phone about anything and everything.  No reservations.  He left for a mission and he became the only person in my life I've ever been able to write consistently. (About once every other week.  The next closest record was 2 letters in 2 years).

6. What is your spouse's full name:
Todd Austin Stice

7. Do you have any children:
Three

8. How many boys/girls?
2 girls- Brielle and Lainey, 1 boy- Ashton

9. Do you have any house pets:
Two kittens named Max and Ruby.

10. Do you own a house or rent:
Own.

11. Do you live in the country or town/city:
We live close to town- a small country town, on a small cul-de-sac road.

12. What is one of your favorite activities together:
Cycling is our new favorite date.  But we've always loved going to the movies.  And bowling, an evening at the mall with Orange Julius' in hand, reading and sharing what we read, and most of all, traveling.

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot:
We love the Washington/Oregon coast.  Our favorite family trips have been there.

14. When did you first kiss?
 Sheesh, all these hard to remember dates!  October 13th, 2002 :)

15. What church do you attend?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

16. Is this the church you were married in:
 Not in the church, but in the LDS Temple in Boise

17. What town is your current address at:
Fruitland, ID

18. Do you work or stay at home:
 Stay at home with my 3 kiddos.

19. Where did you go on your honeymoon:
Anniversary Inn

20.What was the funniest gift you gave when dating?
 Can't think of any FUNNY gifts.

21.How long have you been together?
The last time I dated anyone else was 9 years ago.

22. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
 A day.

23. Who asked who out?
He did.

24. How old are each of you?
 We're both 29- 11 days apart.

26. Did you go to the same school?
I was attending Ricks College, he was living there between trips for his job based in Rexburg.

28. Are you from the same home town?
No, far from it.  Our home towns are 3000 miles apart.

29. Who is smarter?
We're both smart!  But he has an icredible ability to see WAY more perspectives in every situation than I could dream of seeing.

30. Who is more sensitive?
I am. :/

31.Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Good Wood, Matsys (local restaurant), Panda Express.

32. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
As a couple alone?  Education Week in Provo, UT.

33.Who has the craziest exes?
I don't know his exes, but from what I've heard, I'd say he does.  My exes weren't Mr. Right, but they were great people.

34. Who has the worst temper?
He doesn't have a temper.  My lucky kids see mine from time to time, but Todd is always pretty calm.

35. Who does the cooking?
I cook, he grills and makes a great variety of breakfasts.

36. Who is more social?
We're both pretty social, but he's usually the last one still talking forever in social situations and I have to pry him away.

37. Who is the neat-freak?
He's more of a neat freak on a regular basis, but I have a lot of OCD moments and like a tidy house.  I'm thankfully phasing out of that stage where the kids are high in number and all still too young to clean the massive messes they make.  Brielle's my new-found helper!  And it shows in my house.

38. Who is more stubborn?
We both used to be, but neither of us are much anymore.

39. Who hogs the bed?
I hog the covers, but at his request because he is always HOT.

40. Who wakes up earlier?
He does.  He swims, reads and starts the shower before I get up with the kids. 

41. Where was your first date?
Dairy Queen.

42.Who had more boyfriends/girlfriends?
I did, yet he kissed more people.  A LOT more.  Interesting....

43. Do you get flowers often?
Yes.

44. How do you spend the holidays?
With our family!

45. Who is more jealous?
Neither of us.

46. How long did it take to get serious? 2.5 years, but I always wanted to marry him.  Everyone I know probably got sick of hearing me say that all the time.

47. Who eats more?
About the same.

48. Who does the laundry?
Me.

49. Who’s better with the computer?
Todd.

50. Leave a piece of advice for the other couples.
The best advice given me at a bridal shower was to save room for humor.  We don't get mad much anymore because each others' flaws just seem funny and endearing now.  And if we do get mad, it doesn't last long because one of us will stop and smile and say we're being stupid and soon after we're laughing about it.

And also, never assume the worst.  Assume the best possible intention for something done that might initially offend.  They love you, trust that instinct.

I love you, Todd!

Christmas Tradition

Our family has a tradition of collecting snowmen for Christmas.  Every year we buy a new snowman decoration to add to the collection.  I was so excited about the one we got this year that he's ending up on the blog!  He's special because he's a nesting cup snowman!  Great for decoration AND developmental skill building toys.  Is this cheating on the tradition?  Because he's actually 7 snowmen in 1.  But he's a handsome little guy and I'm excited to have him around.  I loved these as a kid.  And apparently my kids love it too because they are ALREADY on time-out for fighting over it and we just pulled him out of the shipping box.  Hence, the brake to take his pic and post him!  Off to relieve some kids from time-out...

Cancun or bust? BUST.

Well, the plan was to be in Cancun this week with Todd's family for a big family trip.  I was the trip planner and had been planning it since August.  Well, it didn't happen!

Friday morning Todd and I slept through the alarm long enough that when we woke up we had to RACE to the airport.  Which still baffles me because I don't know a lighter sleeper in all the world than MYSELF.  But en route to the airport, we got a call from Todd's brother saying none of the passports they all got for their kids were being accepted.  That they weren't real passports.  They could NOT get on the plane.  So we slowed down and assumed no one could get on the plane, even ourselves.  We were shocked, but somehow, not entirely disappointed because, for anyone who's kept up with me on how insanely out of this world the opposition has been to just PLAN this trip, it seriously just felt meant to be.

We didn't even bother parking the car in the parking garage or bringing our bags in.  I waited in the car at the drop off area while Todd went into the airport to find his mom bawling and leaving for the security area with her husband and her two kids that still live at home with them.  It turned out those two kids' passports "worked".  And in the moment's time they had to make a decision, they chose to still go. The rest of the group there (2 families, a total of 9 people) was standing at the entry with all their luggage, a shaking, crying wreck, unable to go. 

Todd and I suggested we all go to breakfast and talk about making a plan.  Should we try to haul our luggage back into the cars and go somewhere less exotic?  The kids had days off of school making it a perfect week to be gone and no one was expected at work.  While at Denny's for breakfast, I pulled out my passports to see what was wrong with them and we saw that my kids' passports would have worked.  It turned out the post office told the other two families to get the new kind of passport that only works for travel to Canada and Mexico.  But what no one knew was that it only works for land and sea travel, NOT air.

We didn't regret not trying to catch our flight and had no desire to go try standby or try to reserve seats for the next day or two.  We didn't want to leave our group behind.  That was all the kids' cousins and buddies they were excited to be with, our best friends.  My kids are too young to care where they were going.  It wasn't about Cancun or not wasting the money that had been put out on it.  We had already recently had a family vacation so it wasn't that we needed another one.  For us, it was soley about being with the other families.  So, that left us with no real decision to make, we just stayed behind with them.  We all decided to go home and take a nap, then look into other possible trip ideas and meet up at our house at 1:00 to discuss them.

At home I called a travel agent who, upon hearing our story, told me to immediately call the airlines and cancel our tickets so we'd still have the airfare credit for later.  Which I did, and to my surprise, they allowed all tickets to be credited back- even though our planes had already left by then.  She also gathered up ideas for possible trips that ranged from a very discounted last minute Disney cruise to a very discounted Hawaii condo trip.  All still way more than our group meant to have to pay. 

At 1:00, we met up and everyone else had been researching ways to still get to Cancun.  They had contacted passport offices in Texas near the border to see about possibly flying there and fixing their passports the next business day (after the weekend) and then flying to Cancun to finish what was left of our resort reservation.  The offices said it COULD be done, but could not be gauranteed.   We looked at last minute airfare and it cost too much, even with our old ticket credits.  We wondered if we could fly a little later and have cheaper flights.  Which we checked with the travel agent, and sure enough it was MUCH cheaper and this way our trip would even slightly overlap with their mom already being there.  We called the resort to see if they would let us come just a little later and also leave later to use our full reservation and they said YES.  So we called the travel agent back to book those flights, and in just that hour of time, the tickets had doubled in price.  A connecting flight had been canceled and other passengers were buying up the tickets to the flight we all needed.  It was suddenly a massive price.  So we FINALLY gave up.  It was a very strange relief to finally surrender that pandora's box of a trip.

By this point, the day was over and we were all too emotionally drained to think about going anywhere else for vacation.  We went to dinner and then home to bed.  The resort had gratiously agreed to hold our room reservations for up to 14 months.  So we haven't really lost anything other than a ticket change fee for when we use our airfare, but we won't be able to to go as the whole oiriganl group because the one group already went.  But it's nice to know no one's trip was wasted.

The next morning was a hard reality to face that we were not going to be able to go anywhere with our extended family.  And our little family was ready to go somewhere!  The bags were still packed and lying in the entryway.  We had an empty calendar for the week.  Cancun was still possible for us since we didn't need to fly to Texas first, but we just refused to go there without our group as depressed as they were to not be able to be there.  Their kids were devestated.  Some of them were waiting for their recent birthday's presents there- activities we were going to do there like swimming with the dolphins.  They'd watched home videos of Cancun from when their parents went there last time without them and built up all this crazy excitement!

BUT sitting at home all day with NOTHING to do (granted our imaginations were limited with lack of sleep and emotional exhaustion) was more than we could handle.  So Todd and I put the bags back in the car and drove to Boise.   We got a hotel room there and played hard all day.  We got some Christmas shopping done. We swam in the hotel pool, we watched movies in bed, we went to an indoor padded playground that was the BOMB, and went to dinner with Todd's brother, Billy who lives in Boise.  He was not part of the Cancun group because he's still in college and couldn't miss that much school.  It was nice to spend time with him.  We came home two nights later, glad to have had a blast with our kids, blown the cash we set aside for Cancun, and taken our minds off the events of Friday.

They didn't even know what they were missing!

My hottie husband!

Uncle Billy!

 

These playground things filled a large gymnasium.  It just went on forever! The kids LOVED it.  I think I know where to celebrate Ashton's birthday...

I still can not look at all the mind boggling events that stifled that trip- time and time again over the last 3 months without thinking it was more than coincidence.  We were NOT meant to go.  The original planning was very hard.  18 people are hard to accommodate.  Trying to find a time that everyone could go together with a farmer's schedule, a pregnancy's time table, Todd and I's travels for weddings and such, and just that many people was ALMOST impossible.  I had to change my girls weekend and pay change fees for flights to open up that small window of time for us all to go to Cancun.  Flights were hard, the tickets upped in price half way through booking them like they always do on big groups, but more than normal.

After the reservations were made I found out that my travel agent had put all the wrong children with wrong parents and because they said we were on the same flight it was no problem.

A month before we were supposed to leave our flights got canceled by the airlines.  With such a large group we had to then be divided on two other planes from other airlines.  Families all mixed up suddenly became a PROBLEM.  Days on the phone day and night and migraines later, practically every individual had their own stinking reservation number because they had such a hard time splitting up wrong family reservations.  I still don't get why that has to be so "difficult".

Then, days before departure, I called to re-confirm those flights and found that 2 people's reservations never transferred to the new airlines taking us from the old one that canceled on us.  Even though when I called the original carrier moments before, they said the reservations were all good  and set.  I was so glad I went out of my way to get a second opinion!  So, flights being full yet again, we had to divide up and put some people on a THIRD flight there.  Then there was the possible hurricane threat, then the sleeping in on the day of departure (we were supposed to leave at 4:00am, it wasn't that we were sleeping late in the morning), then the passport issue, then the instant doubling in price of tickets we'd have loved to buy- in the very hour we deicide to buy them.  It's just too much.  I feel stupid for still trying to make it happen after even half of those events had happened to us.  All in all, I spent a total of WEEKS on the phone, most of the time on hold, trying to sort out random kinks in the trip that the airlines, themselves, couldn't explain.  We even looked to see if any of the 3 planes crashed before arriving in Cancun because the opposition seemed so completely orchestrated that we wondered if our lives were SPARED or something.  Glad no one died, but no plane crashes.  At least not the ones going TO Cancun.

I can think of lots of little reasons why I'm glad to be here this week, though.  Starting with a blast with my family for 3 days in Boise.  My sweetheart and 3 favorite little souls on Earth were so fun to enjoy for a weekend.  Though I think the kids still would have preferred their cousins and grandma over their parents for a getaway...  And we still mourn that lost oportunity ourselves.

There's also the reason that I didn't have to be cause for more pain for the rest of the family that did not go. Just hearing the details of how my mother in law's group is doing there has been hard for them to hear.  I'm glad they are enjoying it, because I think they really needed it.  It just stinks for so many others that it worked out the way it did.

I just feel sick for the other people who didn't go because no one did anything different from anyone else.  We all went to the same post office.  We were all helped by the same post man.  He told my mother in law's group to get passports and told the other two groups to get passport cards.  I chose passports because I didn't know if we'd maybe want to visit Todd's mission in Peru or some place other than Mexico or Canada in the next five years.  But everyone just did what they were told and didn't know any better.  And no, the post office won't do anything about it.  We asked.  It's just a lot easier to not be in Mexico because you CHOSE to stay than to be told you can't choose.  My neices and nephew are old enough to be in school and everywhere they go all their friends and teachers are constantly asking why they didn't go on their trip and they just can't talk about it anymore, they're having too hard a time holding back the tears.

Another reason I'm grateful to be here is that we got a call from Todd's mission president's daughter yesterday.  She called the house to tell Todd that his mission president has had kidney failure and has been receiving dialysis 3 times a week while waiting for a kidney.  53 friends and family members have been tested so far and none are compatible.  She called Todd to ask him to head up a prayer request with all the missionaries from his mission.  He spent hours last night finding people on facebook and a good thing is happening there.  Todd was in tears saying how his mission president has done a lot more for him than donating a kidney.  This was the mission president who took him under his wing when Todd's parents announced their divorce.  What would scar anyone else for life turned into an incredible series of spiritual experiences and strenthening moments with the counsel and fatherly guidance of a loving president who Todd spent lots of time with as his first assistant.  They've been really close ever since.  Our heart goes out to him and his family.  Dialisis is something you do about 3 times a week and are normally down for two days each time.  He's the temple president in San Antonio and is still trying to do his duties there in so much pain.  Todd wants to get his blood tested just in case.  It's so sad to hear that no one else so far has worked for him.

My sister in law found out this morning that her one of her extended family members found a 14 cm growth in his adrenal gland and is going to have lots of tests and a surgery that the family needs her support and help with the kids for.  She's really grateful she's here to help with that.

I think the reason I'm grateful to be here most for is because of that feeling that keeps telling me that there IS a reason.  Maybe several.  And I feel blessed to be watched over.  I'm glad we're where we should be.  And that we can still go another time.   But what a whirl wind to go through to be sitting here saying that right now!

Well, enough rambling.  I procrastinated writing this blog long enough from the emotional baggage that came with it all.  But there it is.  No Cancun.  Maybe next year.  But bring on the holidays because there is some fun to be had!  We're going home for Devan and Maura's wedding reception which happens to be over Thanksgiving weekend! Yippee!

Halloween

Halloween was fun!  We had our Trunk or Treat really early because this weekend is Stake Conference and our adult session was still scheduled for tonight.  A little irritating, but they did move it back to 8:00 to allow for most of the evening for trick or treating.  We hit the trunk or treat a little late on purpose because I'm a mean mom and didn't want my kids to have very much candy.  And it worked perfect.  We got there and only about 10 cars had candy left, if that.

Ashton and Brielle were a Boise State cheerleader/football player duo.

Lainey was a wiggly worm.

I bought her costume on clearance a little late in the game and it arrived a few days ago in the wrong size (0-3 months!).  Her hat barely squeezes onto the top of her head!  I couldn't even get the straps to snap together under her chin.  But we somehow squished her into the main costume!

I took Brielle and Ashton down our cul-de-sac road to trick or treat our neighbors.  Then we took the kids to Todd's mom's house to be babysat while we went to the adult session of Stake Conference.  I was torn about going because I don't like supporting a church event that takes time from a family holiday.  I just think that's ridiculous.  But it was late enough that my kids would soon be in bed and I don't get much out of the family session of Stake Conference on Sunday with Lainey and Ashton taking me out of the chapel so much.  So we went ahead tonight.

I actually called 5 girls in my ward to see if anyone could babysit on Halloween... if anyone happened to be bored and have no plans and maybe no family activities either if their parents were attending the adult session.  Even the Stake President's two babysitter-aged daughters were busy with holiday fun with their friends.  Some said they just wanted to be home with their family and their parents weren't attending.  After 5 rejections I just felt too ashamed to even be asking anyone to miss out on Halloween and I quit calling.  So when Todd's mom volunteered to take our kids, I took her up on it.  It WAS a great meeting.

Time to steal from my kids' candy buckets!

Pumpkin Patch and Jack O Lanterns

For Family Home Evening tonight, we visited the Purdums Pumpkin Patch here in town.  We rode the tractor-led hay ride out to pick our future jack o lanterns.   

My neice and nephew, Jordan and Jayden, and my sister-in law, Taylor came along with us.

 

 

 

 

Once we picked out our pumpkins, we headed to Todd's mom's house where she had invited us all for yummy soups and a pumpkin carving party!

 

Ashton's idea of carving a Jack O Lantern was stabbing every tool into it like injecting it with monter creating potions!  He had a good time helping in that way! 

 

 

 

Adam and Katrina were there with Baby Camden and he and Lainey had some good conversation over dinner.

 

Murder Mystery Dinner Party

We had our annual  murder mystery party yesterday!  The year Todd and I were married we started a tradition for siblings to have a little fun every Halloween season.  We all dress up and act in character for a murder mystery game.  This year we did a pirate game and were able to tailor it to our group- Todd's brothers and their wives, and his single brothers, and my brother Devan, and his wife, Maura.  Last year was my first year NOT doing the game so far.  I was too pregnant and too tired.  But this year Devan asked if I'd do it again so he could come.   And I was happy to have them visit!  I recommend the site I got the game from if anyone ever wants to do one of their own.  It's http://mystery.host-party.com.  They have lots of games that you can tailor to your size of group/genders and you print out all the materials at home so there is no time waiting for shipping! 

Todd and I look like pilgrims, not pirates!  Actually he's a map maker/artist and I'm the inn keeper.

 

Kris and Amber were fierce captains of two diff. ships.

Maura was the ship's cook and Devan was a law abiding ship's captain.

Katrina was a tavern wench and Adam was a sailor.

Billy was a gold dealer/treasure hunter.

And Travis was a dread pirate/captain with a wooden leg that he made himself!  It was awesome!

Girls Weekend

Thursday evening I flew in to Spokane with Lainey to spend the weekend with Steph, Sara, and Cortney!  On the flight there, I was seated next to a gentleman who said I was in luck for being assigned to sit by him because he loved babies and I had Lainey there.  He broke out his phone and showed me a picture of his baby back home and began to tell me no one loves babies more than him.  Just then, the stewartess announces that the plane is only half full and therefore, everyone can move around the plane and have a row to themselves.  I thought the guy would move (I was pinned in by the window), but he sat there quietly as the other passengers moved around.  I wanted to get up so bad because Lainey is super wiggly and was constantly going for the guy's phone or book or sleeve, etc.  But I didn't want him to think I "disagreed" that I had sat next to the absolute best person for Lainey and I to be stuck with.  And appearantly he didn't want to do anything that would retract his statement either because he didn't move.  So we were not only the only row with two people in it on the entire flight, but the only row with THREE.  I had to laugh at my chances.  But, of course, since that's how it usually is when we fly anyway, we were fine.

Thursday night, we four friends and Lainey went to dinner, then Cortney started her evening shift at work at the airport while the rest of us went home to Sara's where we were staying for the weekend.  Her boys were at their dad's house and she had changed out all the boys' bedding with pretty quilts and Cortney had baskets she had made with treats and hotel-like samplers of not just lotion and shampoo but LOTS of fun things there for us.  They super spoiled Steph and I.

Friday, we all got pedicures and did some shopping. 

At home, that evening, we ate yummy home made sweet popcorn mix and artichoke dip while watching a movie.  Would have been 2 movies but we decided to take some pictures and it took us 45 minutes to get a good one because we kept laughing or messing up!

 

Saturday we went to their ward's Super Saturday, had the tasty soups both Sara and Cortney had made for it, and made some fun crafts.

 

 

 

 Then we took Lainey to a babysitter for 4 hours while we went to an amusement park!  We rode all the rides we usually never ride because we usalluy have kids with us.  Several times on the roller coasters and twice on the one that slowly slides up a giant pillar, then DROPS you to your death!  After the second time, Cortney asks if we're done riding that ride because that's the one a girl got her legs amputated on by a snapped cable a while back.... AH!  So we were done with that one.  It was really fun.  And my neck survived all the jerky roller-coasters going back and forth and upside down. 

 

 

 

That evening I got to meet up with Rachele!  She lives in Lewiston, less than 2 hours away and she and John drove to Spokane to do some shopping for the day so we met up at Chile's for dinner.  It was great to get to see them again!

Sunday we had a lazy morning.  Sara's mom came over to say hi.  I hadn't seen her in years since they moved from Alaska back in high school.  It was great to catch up while making and eating breakfast.  We also worked in the kitchen to get dinner started- Cafe Rio's pulled pork burritos and fruit pizza.  We attended their 1:00 church.  Then we had our dinner at Cortney's house with her family.  Her husband, Jeff, is Sara's older brother.  We were all friends when we were kids.  They have a beautiful family!  Jeff is a great photographer and he took pictures for us.

And then we all messed with the pictures a bit on a photoshop type of program.  Too much fun. 

That night we did a bunch of coupon clipping in each of our Sunday papers we got.  Cortney is a couponing queen and she taught us the ropes! 

And while we clipped, we ate caramel apples!

Monday we went shopping again.  We used a few coupons and hit some awesome sales.  Maybe a little too much shopping because I almost couldn't zip shut my extra suit case that was empty when I came! 

While we were at the stores we bought coupon binders and fillers for Sara, Steph and I to use Cortney's coupon system and really get good at it.  It was all so much fun and so relaxing!  I have such amazing friends. We lost contact for a few years after high school and several moves, and I feel so blessed to have them back in my life again.  They mean so much to me and I'm grateful for Todd for not only being willing to take the kids for me to go once a year to see them, but for encouraging me to do so. 

I'm also grateful for Lainey, who was an angle on our trip.

Heart 'N Home's Meridian Office Open House

On Tuesday I drove down to Meridian to take pictures of Todd's new office at its open house.  Heart 'N Home now has 5 offices!  I guess they did a ribbon cutting before I got there.  So I don't have pictures of that, but it's a really pretty office.  I hadn't seen it before- which is why I wanted to go.  My friend, Beth took the older two kids for me so I wouldn't have to bark at them to keep away from the refreshments table the whole time.  I should have known I'd be the one who couldn't keep away from it.  I felt like a pig, but the food was great and I was starving!

 

While on the Heart 'N Home topic, I keep forgetting to put on here that one of their CNA's, Consuelo Vargas, received a state award as the 2009 Idaho Dream Team Hospice Aide back in July.  Todd and I attended the awards night to represent Heart 'N Home and this picture was in the local paper.  It was a fun evening.  We sat at a table with a nationally renowned hospice representative and Todd was super excited to get to talk to him all evening.  Even though they didn't put Lainey's name under the picture, she's in it!  Not even 4 months old yet and already in the paper!  Haha.

Heart 'N Home really does have awesome employees.  I enjoy going to their events to mingle with them.  Tonight I'll be missing their annual Celebration Of Life event.  Everyone lights a candle and the names of those who have passed away that year are read.  There is music and a speaker.  It's a reverent sort of night to honor their past patients and a lot of community members come to celebrate loved ones passed on as well.  I'm sad to miss it, but I'll be on a plane to Spokanne to spend the weekend with old friends for our ladies weekend.  And I'm excited to see them!