For the next 2 weeks I want to make a goal of spending only $35 per week on food and household necessities, such as toilet paper, shampoo, etc. I want to make this a goal for the whole month, $35 per week for 4-5 weeks, but I'm starting little and working my way up. I've been reading how other people manage to do this and I'm curious if I can too. So, I'm going to put their strategies to work and see how it goes.
I want this to cover all meals with at least one serving of fruit or vegetables at each meal. It will also include baby food, which I already make myself, so I just need fruits or veggies to keep my stock up. As noted before, this will also include toiletries, and household products.
I'll be using some things that we already have, of course, because I don't need to start from scratch, or waste the good fruits and veggies we already have.
For us there are a few basic items we purchase every week.
Milk $2.75 at Costco, we use 3 gallons per week = $8.25
Bread $3.95 for 2 loafs at Costco, we use almost 2 loafs per week = $3.95
Eggs $3.85 for 2-18 packs at Costco, we use this many over 3-4 weeks = $3.85
This, alone, totals $16.05 leaving me $18.95 for the rest of week 1.
$18.95, that is NOT a lot to go on. Could be worse. I started this goal thinking $25 per week but that's asking for failure with our family of 5.
And so I begin, starting Monday, August 1st, 2011. I already have a coupon trip planned for Monday and don't want to spend more then $10-$15.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Evening Schedule
I'm writing out this "Evening Schedule" in hopes of it lasting longer than 2 weeks. So, this is mostly for us but your welcome to look it over and leave any suggestions you may have.
In our parental opinion, Entegra and Inara both need chores (most children do.) Try not to get the wrong impression. The girls have had specific chores off and on for years now and they always help around the house, even when kicking and screaming ensue. We just want a more structured plan. It's helps Bracken to sleep better, and eventually the girls get used to it and come to expect it. Which means they won't fight as hard to get out of them.
So...our plan
1) Toys put away before dinner
This should also help with the "no toys at the dinner table" rule
2) After our nice family dinner together, either Benjamin or I will do the dishes while the other helps the girls with their chores. Only helping if necessary.
For the specific chores, we have a NEW chore wheel, Ta-Da!
3) Now it's time for everyone to pitch in with the 5 MINUTE SUPER CLEAN. Everyone pitches in and runs around for 5 mins. looking for things to clean up in any room, starting with the front room. Not 5 mins. in every room, just 5 mins. total.
4) If there is time, we can now relax. Watch TV, play a game, go for a walk, etc. Or if it's Monday, this is the perfect time for Family Home Evening.
5) At 7 p.m. my watch is set to go off, telling me it's time for all kids to get ready for bed.
-All kids brush their teeth
-Potty training Inara uses restroom
-Girls get jammies on while Bracken gets diaper change and jammies
-Story time= Entegra and Inara get to choose one story each
-Family prayer
-Tuck girls into bed with goodnight hugs and kisses
Bracken's turn
-Sit in rocking chair and read short story or lift-the-flap book (because of short attention span)
-Sing his lullaby while rocking for a few seconds then get up
-Let him turn off light, continue singing
-Hugs and kisses, lay him down in crib with blankie
Good Night Kiddly Dinks!
It shouldn't be any later then 8 p.m. and I can go about my blogging, couponing, dinner scheduling, TV watching, Xbox playing, School time prep...ME time!!! Oh, and maybe I'll be able to have an uninterrupted conversation with my darling husband :) wouldn't that be somethin'.
Here are a couple of pictures with the girls doing their chores tonight. Only a little kicking and screaming. Really Entegra just complained the whole time, but she did it anyway and Inara threw herself on the floor but got back up and did it anyway. :)
In our parental opinion, Entegra and Inara both need chores (most children do.) Try not to get the wrong impression. The girls have had specific chores off and on for years now and they always help around the house, even when kicking and screaming ensue. We just want a more structured plan. It's helps Bracken to sleep better, and eventually the girls get used to it and come to expect it. Which means they won't fight as hard to get out of them.
So...our plan
1) Toys put away before dinner
This should also help with the "no toys at the dinner table" rule
2) After our nice family dinner together, either Benjamin or I will do the dishes while the other helps the girls with their chores. Only helping if necessary.
For the specific chores, we have a NEW chore wheel, Ta-Da!
 |
3) Now it's time for everyone to pitch in with the 5 MINUTE SUPER CLEAN. Everyone pitches in and runs around for 5 mins. looking for things to clean up in any room, starting with the front room. Not 5 mins. in every room, just 5 mins. total.
4) If there is time, we can now relax. Watch TV, play a game, go for a walk, etc. Or if it's Monday, this is the perfect time for Family Home Evening.
5) At 7 p.m. my watch is set to go off, telling me it's time for all kids to get ready for bed.
-All kids brush their teeth
-Potty training Inara uses restroom
-Girls get jammies on while Bracken gets diaper change and jammies
-Story time= Entegra and Inara get to choose one story each
-Family prayer
-Tuck girls into bed with goodnight hugs and kisses
Bracken's turn
-Sit in rocking chair and read short story or lift-the-flap book (because of short attention span)
-Sing his lullaby while rocking for a few seconds then get up
-Let him turn off light, continue singing
-Hugs and kisses, lay him down in crib with blankie
Good Night Kiddly Dinks!
It shouldn't be any later then 8 p.m. and I can go about my blogging, couponing, dinner scheduling, TV watching, Xbox playing, School time prep...ME time!!! Oh, and maybe I'll be able to have an uninterrupted conversation with my darling husband :) wouldn't that be somethin'.
Here are a couple of pictures with the girls doing their chores tonight. Only a little kicking and screaming. Really Entegra just complained the whole time, but she did it anyway and Inara threw herself on the floor but got back up and did it anyway. :)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
4th of July
We had such a good time on the 4th. We started out the day by scraping the ugly texture off the ceiling in the girls room. Benjamin worked on that for about 3 hours and I managed to assist for maybe 20 minutes.
The kids were all jumping up and down, when the fireworks started, yelling , "YEA YEA YEA!!"
It always amazes me how many people will turn out and stick around for hours (like us) just to watch 15-20 minutes of fireworks. Everyone sat or stood in their spots waiting for the noisy lights to fill the sky. And when they shot up in the sky you could hear the crowd literally ooh and ahh.
After that was finally over, we got ready for the fireworks. I packed a festive dinner for everyone.
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| Sandwiches shaped as the American flag, the United States of America, and a star. (I used food coloring and a small paint brush for the fireworks and flag decorations.) Strawberries dipped in vanilla creme and blue sprinkles (red, white, and blue), red radishes, and then olives and carrots in hopes they would eat something. |
We usually go downtown around 4pm and scope out a great spot for parking and sitting to watch the AMAZING fireworks. The fireworks downtown are the best I've ever seen, just so you know. We were able to get our usual spot and then went to the playground, that few people know about, behind the museum. The girls had a good time and Bracken just chilled out on Daddy.
After playing for a while and walking around downtown we decided we were hungry, but it started raining and our blanket got all wet. So, we ate in the back of the car.
So, we ate and watched a movie. Inara eventually had to go potty so we took her, unenthusiastically, to the port-a-potties they had lined up for all the people that would be there but she wouldn't go much farther then the door. "It YUCKY," and she started crying. I don't blame her. We went to a local shop, bought a soda and waited in line for over 20 minutes so that she could use the restroom. I just had to add this tid bit because it's kind of funny.
It was then time for the fireworks so we grabbed our blanket and found a new spot next to a nice family with kids the girls ages. We shared our glow sticks with them and they shared their spot with us.
Entegra made an instant friend and we were invited to join them at the Christmas parade. It's so nice to make new friends.
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| friend, Entegra, Bracken, Inara, Taryn |
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| friend, Entegra |
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| Bracken's 1st Independence Day |
What an amazing celebration!
Our Baby Blessings
Today, Sunday July 3rd, was the blessing of my last child (as currently planned). Because I'm feeling nostalgic, we're going to do a recap of all our kids blessings, with pictures of course.
ENTEGRA
Entegra is our first child. We blessed her while living in Oregon, about 2 months old. Benjamin graduated that year with two Bachelors degrees and a minor. What does that have to do with baby blessing, well, we blessed her the same weekend that he graduated so that we could enjoy the company of many family members and friends. After her blessing we had a bar-be-Que at a local park. Benjamin did a great job feeding everyone!
ENTEGRA
Entegra is our first child. We blessed her while living in Oregon, about 2 months old. Benjamin graduated that year with two Bachelors degrees and a minor. What does that have to do with baby blessing, well, we blessed her the same weekend that he graduated so that we could enjoy the company of many family members and friends. After her blessing we had a bar-be-Que at a local park. Benjamin did a great job feeding everyone!
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| Entegra- 2 months old |
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| Our little family |
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| Kenneth (great-grandpa), Kurt (grandpa), Erik (friend of family), Benjamin (daddy), Entegra (cute baby), Cody (friend from Singles Ward), Terry (friend of family/pseudo great-uncle) |
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| Enjoying the bar-be-Que |
INARA
Inara, our second child, was blessed in Utah around 5 months old. Benjamin graduated with his Masters degree and so we had Inara blessed the same weekend as the graduation. It just worked out perfectly. We had a lot of family in the area and enjoyed a nice potluck with them afterwards.
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| Our growing family |
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| Ross (great uncle), Charlie (great uncle), Jonathan (uncle), Kurt (grandpa), Kenneth (great-grandpa, in chair), Inara (cute baby), Benjamin (daddy), Trev (great uncle), Trev Ryan (1st cousin once removed), Aaron (first cousin once removed), Kip (great uncle) |
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| Family enjoying potluck time together |
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| One big happy family |
BRACKEN
Bracken is our third (and last planned) baby. He is 8 months old and we blessed him today in Virginia. It was a small get together of just us this time but we still did our bar-be-Que and enjoyed our day as much as possible.
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| Bracken asleep in his shorts suit |
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| After his blessing |
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| Our big family |
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| Bracken (cute baby), Benjamin (Daddy) |
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| So cute I had to add another picture of Daddy and his little boy |
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| We took our bar-be-Que inside, the humidity was horrible! |
These are our adorable babies!
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