Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Groceries are sooooo expensive lately :( Guess it doesn't help that I have three quickly growing little ones! With so many changes going on here in our home, we've had to learn how to seriously save every penny. I've searched Pinterest day after day and found really good recipes. Our Crock Pot has become the biggest life saver lately.

With the help of digital coupons and a few from coupons.com, We made a trip to Kroger (I LOVE this store!) and bought all of this for only $80. I planned: Crock Pot Lasagna, Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken, Crock Pot BBQ Chicken, Crock Pot Beef Roast, Tuna Roll-Ups, Spaghetti, Mexican Chicken, and healthy snacks.

 This was the Mexican Chicken prior to cooking... yummy :)

Our good friends shared a fantastic Sam's Club shopping trip with us, adding 6lbs of Chicken Breasts, 5lbs Ground Beef, and 8lbs of Pork Chops to our freezer! Thankful is an EXTREME understatement to this gift... I added the BBQ marinade and spices to the one bag of chicken, and plan to add sauces, etc. to some of the other bags for super easy "throw-in-the-crock pot" meals.

Healthy, fast to cook, and yummy is what we aim for with our busy schedules. 

Just Pics!

Had to share some pics... 

Makenzie lost another tooth. Well, not just another tooth, but her 10th!!! You can guess how well that went over when the highest lost was 9 lol The Tooth Fairy even brought two shiny quarters :)

 Dannen LOVES his squeaky shark from Zamma :)

 Kaylie enjoys having her hair double french-braided... so thankful for the Mommy/daughter moments we can share doing hair :)

First Day of School 2013

School has begun! Not sure who was happier, me or our kids lol Though we thought homeschooling was in store for us, plans changed for the better and off to school they get to go. Besides the "needs new paint" dresser", we're stocked and ready for the fun ahead.

 

 William did a great job using our new chalkboard spray paint! Lunch bags in one location, ready to be filled each day :)

 Kaylie actually had homework before the first day even arrived... check out her "about me" collage:

 The big day arrived, and smiles were everywhere!

Makenzie

 

 Kaylie

 

 Best buddies in the same school this year!

 

 Looking so grown up... last year before middle school!

 Super happy to be in the "big girl" school!

 With William's new job as a Computer Technician at The Computer Depot, he has a great schedule of 9-5:30 Monday-Friday... so guess who gets to eat breakfast together?! BIG smiles especially for the first day of preschool!

 Even Mittens wanted in on the action lol

 Um, yeah... this was his "hiya" move lol

 Seriously looking too grown up!

 Sticking with our tradition of freshly baked cookies on the first day of school, I tried these little guys... or should I say HUGE MONSTER COOKIES! Ugh... epic fail... they were insanely funky. 

 Round two, only four to the pan, oh and nuts! :)

Our kids have fantastic teachers this year... we can't wait to see what's in store for all of them. Kaylie's teacher Mrs. Crider seems like a perfect fit for Kaylie! Makenzie's teacher Mrs. Davis doesn't believe in homework, so you can bet our little one is beyond happy lol Dannen's teachers are Mrs. Susan and Mrs. Alisha, and boy does he have it made... helps to be teachers pet and such a good friend to his classmates :)

We have HUGE schedule changes this year, some that will be a bit interesting to say the least... praying for great listeners and great teachers!

Splash Pad!

Knoxville has a fantastic Splash Pad area... fun in the sun and water for free, Yes please!

Dannen loved the water...

Both girls had a blast!

So glad our friends joined us for the day!

If you look close, you can see Dannen running in front of the water lol

:)

Thankful to live near such a beautiful city. Fun memories!

Makenzie's 9th Lost Tooth

Tooth #9 made it's way out! Makenzie's tooth was wiggly for about three days. Right before bed, we realized all three kiddos were "working on the tooth" back in Makenzie's room... next thing we see are all three standing in the living room with smirks on their faces and hands behind their backs. Wahlah! Makenzie handed me her freshly brushed tooth :) Dentist Kaylie pulled out yet another one of her little sister's teeth LOL

Staying with our tradition, she labeled her bag, we took the picture, then pinned it to the wall for the Tooth Fairy to grab on the way out of the room.

 Unfortunately, the Tooth Fairy wasn't strong enough to unpin the pin, so Makenzie woke to her quarter AND tooth still on the wall! Silly Tooth Fairy! Thankfully, she remembered the next night :)

Just a fun pic... We were in the middle of rearranging/redecorating each kiddo's room when Makenzie asked to take a break. I walked in to find her wrapped up in a towel (guess she was cold lol), eating chips, and watching a Mermaid movie through Netflix on William's phone! 

Love my sweet Makenzie!