Today's Deal

I just got back from Walgreens and got some great deals! All of the aboved retailed for $85.86. Granted, I would not want to pay Walgreens retail price very often but after coupons I paid $47.37 and have a rebate of $42.90 on the way. When I submit my rebate online (takes 5 minutes) and choose to have it credited to my Walgreens gift card instead of mailing me a check they will give me an extra 10% ($4.29). I will end up paying $ .18 for this stuff!

Goodbye summer

Labor Day weekend is bittersweet. It means we have survived another summer in the south but also that it is time to play less, travel less, stay home more and get more things done. We have been back at school for a few weeks now and soccer season is in full swing for all three girls. Music lessons and various other activities are being added to the calendar with each passing week. Wade and I are all too aware that our summers with the girls at home will not last forever and we savored this one. Over the next few posts I hope to share some of my favorite photos and memories from summer 2008. These pictures are from a week we spent in Destin, FL. As much as we travel, all our trips tend to be either to visit family or friends, with family or friends, or to accompany Wade to someplace cool that he has to travel to for work (like Montreal last winter). We decided this summer to take a very low key trip for just the five of us so that we could really spend some time connecting with each other and during which Wade would not have to work. We took our first ever beach vacation and it was wonderful. We rented a friends condo, went to the beach just about every day, read books, played cards and tennis, and had a great time. Do you know I don't think the girls argued once- they had the best time together. We cooked in the condo all week except one of the last nights we were there - we went to a great, fun oceanfront restaurant and ordered all the sampler platters so the girls could get a taste of everything. We all loved it and they (especially Madison) have been asking for crab legs ever since. I told Madison when she scores her first soccer goal for the season I will get my hands on some crablegs! Afterwards we had a little photo session on the beach. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Blast from the past

I was going through my attic the other day and found some remnants of my old life. Katie and Celleste thought they were pretty funny and took the opportunity to play "dress-up". I'm not sure why I still have several of my favorite suits and dresses from my accounting days (these are about 17 years old!) because I certainly don't fit into them! Maybe I have saved them for a moment like this- I remember in high school discovering a very cool plaid miniskirt of my moms and wearing it to school. Everyone thought it was so great and asked me where I got it. Hmmm...don't think that'll be happening with these!

Back to School

One of the reasons we chose this house is because it had a perfect place for a "school room" and we absolutely LOVE it! We took some time this summer to paint and decorate and Wade filled the closet with shelves when we moved in. You can't see the computer in the corner but now we have everything we need to work and keep our school stuff in one place. Katie picked out the color (with some help from her sisters) and designed and painted the corkboard squares next to the closet. When I saw a wall decorated with Scrabble boards used as picture frames in a magazine I knew we had to try it (the girls all participate in a Scrabble club). With metal clips holding the 8x10 photos I can change them out easily. I still need to add letter trays to put captions under the pix. The best thing is that I found the Scrabble boards on ebay 10 for $7.95! The plexiglass wipe off board (by the window) has been so useful and the kids love doodling on it. All we need now is a couple of comfy bean bag chairs for reading and some art projects to complete the decor.

Blessed Carbs

I must really love my kids. Wade and I started the South Beach Diet this week and they got waffles for breakfast yesterday (with scrambled eggs and ham) and pancakes and ham today. I think subconsciously I am trying not to starve them while we eat no carbs for the first two weeks. They were especially pumped to see the pancakes weren't of the buckwheat variety I've been making lately. I told them to enjoy them...after the first two weeks it is going to be whole grain all the way. Breakfast is the biggest sacrifice for me -I am BIG into cereal in the morning while Wade is a little more fond of eggs. It will all be worth it in the end ...we aim to be fit and fabulous at 40!

What a peach!

We went peach picking with some friends yesterday and got a little carried away. We filled 3 baskets with 61 lbs of delicious Elberta peaches. It was so much fun and our kitchen smells wonderful. Tonight we will be working to freeze what we haven't eaten or given away for winter smoothies and desserts. We will definitely set some aside to make homemade peach ice cream, hopefully tomorrow. Yummm.

San Antonio

We had a great time in San Antonio visiting close friends that moved away this spring. We visited, laughed, explored, played cards, had a great time at Schlitterbahn water park, and just enjoyed hanging out like old times.

Jonathon, Celleste, Katie, and Jeremy making brownies.

Swim! ... Bike! ... Run!

Madison swimming under the flags

Madison finishing the biking portion

Ellie racing to the finish line

All smiles before the race



We've all been trying to get in better shape this summer and as part of that effort Ellie and Madison recently participated in a Kids' Triathlon. They swam, biked and ran their hearts out. Ellie enjoyed the swimming portion but the biking, well, not so much. Running was "ok". Madison enjoyed everything but the running. In fact, she decided to walk much of the way instead. She was determined to enjoy the event! Wade and Katie ran a 5k while we were on vacation, too. I guess it's my turn to get in the game. I have been running for a couple of months now and while I can't say I enjoy it, I am definitely feeling the benefits! We are hoping to eventually run a 5k as a family. GO TEAM!!

WE DID IT!

The girls asked us a little over a year ago if we would pay them $100 each if they gave up pop for an entire year. They got the idea from their cousins who are on their second year now. We thought it would be money well spent (and probably money saved for us over a year's time!) So...today was the big day. After all three had soccer practice in 100 degree weather we took off for hot wings to celebrate that Katie was home.... as well as their success at completing the "soda challenge"!! Ellie and Madison gave Dad a list yesterday of 20 reasons he should let them get a Wii with their hard earned money. Mom is already sold on the idea:)