Rice Krispie Treats

Eli loves to help me in the kitchen. Anytime I start the stand mixer he comes running from all corners of the house. Last weekend I needed to make some Marsh mellow fondant and he really wanted to help. I didn't necessarily want him in the kitchen with me at the time, so I made a deal. the deal was if he stayed out until I was done I would let him make a special treat all by himself.

He did stay out and in no time we were making rice krispie treats.








Here's the funny thing. As much as Eli likes to help me measure, pour, stir and bake, He really has no interest in eating the treats. SIGH, mom was left to eat the rice krispie treats.

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

breakfast - This week it will be more of the usual With quick easy on the go breakfasts for the week, Brian making his big breakfast for us on Saturday and my favorite Big Apple French Toast Casserole on Sunday for Kai's birthday.

Lunch - mostly just sandwich's but we have a few days where I still haven't figured out where we will be so there may be a few on the road meals (aka Mickey D's dollar menu)

Dinner

M - Left overs
T - Crock pot Ginger Chicken and stir fry veggies
W - Zucchini boats
TH - Kielbasa slow cooker soup
F - Turkey meat loaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli
S - Dinner out with friends
S - Kai's 2nd birthday party!

So this week I got excited about some sales, and even knowing better I stocked up and spent to much money! The Fred Meyer trip busted my budget. I saw a good price on progresso soup and went wild. I also made a couple stupid moves while at FM. I had 2 coupons for $1.50 off 1qt size coffee mate creamer. FM had 2 for $4 creamer. I saw creamer for $.50 in my mind. except the small print on their sale price was 1pt size! Thankfully they had the QT size on sale but I still could have saved a buck over all if I had purchased them at my normal store Winco. Also for some reason I had it stuck in my head the sale price on yogurt was cheaper than what it would have cost me at Winco. Again, it worked out to costing me $1.20 more at FM than at Winco even after the coupons! So lesson learned.

STOP SHOPPING AT FRED MEYER!

Winco

5.6lbs powdered sugar - 3.86
frozen veggies - 1.58
kielbasa sausage - 2.28
1.25lbs broccoli - .98
butter - 1.98
2 qogurts - 3.96 (.75 off coupon)
onions - .78
3 buttermilk - 1.14
1 red bell - 1.16 (overcharged $.58)
.26lb mushroom - .77
green pepper - .58
Knorr veggi soup - 1.47
Crisco spray - 1.98 (.75 coupon)
4 swanson broth - 2.32
Crisco sticks - 2.82 (.50 coupon)
2 diced tomatoes - 1.16
pinto beans - .58
3 cake mix - 2.64
salad dressing - 1.88
eggbeaters - 2.27(.75 coupon)
2lb carrots - .98

total = $34.42

Costco

peanut butter - 7.99
salad - 3.99
croutons - 5.35
bananas - 1.32
coffee - 9.99
milk - 3.98

total = $32.62

Fred Meyer

2 doz eggs - 1.98
2 creamers - 5.98(3.00 coupons)
10 soups - 10.50 (overcharged .50)
12 yogurts - 7.20 (.80 coupon)
toothpaste - 1.99 (.75 coupon)

total = $23.10 so ashamed :(


Grand total = $90.14 Oye, vey!



few lessons learned. Check your receipts, I hate overcharges. and I will say it again

STOP SHOPPING AT FRED MEYERS!


See how others did (has to be better than me) at Grocery Cart Challenge

Get ready to WIGGLE!

The Wiggles made another visit to Everett this year on their worldwide tour. Since the boys are older now and still Wiggle fans I snatched up tickets as quick as I could when they went on pre-sale. I was shocked however when I found out the same seats we had at our first show were now 100% more than last time. Don't they know that Americans are in a recession? So no floor seats for us this year we sat in the second row balcony. the seats weren't bad but it would have been a little more fun to dance up near the stage. The Wiggles were fantastic, and I am so glad we went. If I have to sit and listen to a kiddie concert at least the boys from Australia make it fun for he grownups too.

Mukilteo Beach

Fall in Washington is one of the things that makes me love it here. Its not to rainy "yet" but its cool and crisp with a sunny sky. Today was one of those days. I just cant get enough and wish fall could go on forever. But winter will be here before we know it so I just make sure to relish in what we have today.

Today we stopped of at Starbucks to get a pumpkin spice latte (HEAVEN) and then I took the boys to Mukilteo Beach. Its so gorgeous there. The ferry boats, train tracks and a beach that goes on forever at low tide keep the boys and mommy happy.



Ahhhh, the good stuff!

Menu plan and weekly shopping trip roundup

Okay so I feel like I have a free pass this week. I don't have to plan! Brian needs his nights to study so the kids are packing up and going to grandma and grandpa's every night this week. That means mommy is off the hook. We have plenty of breakfast and lunch stuff already in the house and I also have leftovers in the freezer so that Brian can thaw, heat and eat. I as usual will take my yummy salad with me for dinners at work.

I thought all this would also mean spending way less this week but alas I used up my money stocking up and getting a treat for myself.

Costco

2 gallons milk - 3.96
3 chai tea mixes - 7.65
salad - 3.99
juice boxes - 8.99
grilled chicken strips - 14.45
24 eggs - 2.99
grape tomato - 6.49
14 dove soap - 12.99 tax

total = 62.63

Fred Meyer

8 pk bounty - 6.99 tax
half gallon nonfat milk - 1.25
3 pk tillamook shredded cheese - 3.00
3 pound apples - 2.30

total = 14.14

Grand Total = 76.77

I somehow feel like I failed, I didn't get a table full of food, nor did I need one. But I did get stuff we will eventually use. I know that I could have done better on the soap but didn't have any coupons anywhere nor did I want to run to another store today. I guess I can chalk today up to a learning experience that no matter how thrifty we get we all can get lazy, and in the end that costs us!



Next week will be better, I promise!

GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL

Jayda's team got their very first goal EVER today! It was awesome. the girls and their parents have waited a long time (4 games) for this moment. The winning goal was shot by Taylor (number 7) and I hope her parents took her out for a big celebration tonight. I know her lucky number 7 made the team moral grow by 10 feet today. Even if the girls didn't win the game, that goal sure made it feel like they did!

WAY TO GO FIRE DRAGONS!





Going in for the scoring shot!


Of course it wouldn't be a My Two Sons blog post without pictures of well....

zoological expedition

Today after a few weeks of Eli asking to see elephants, we decided to go see some elephants! So with coupons (of course!) in hand we headed south to the Woodland Park Zoo. The boys had a great time and ran all over pointing out animals and discovering the hidden trails and pathways. We must have walked for miles but neither boy showed any signs of slowing down. It was a great day of discovery!