Curtis ... budding photog

I'm so glad I vacuumed just before he started taking pictures.

The Drop Zone

I loved this ride!!! I got so sick on tilt a whirl, but after recovering, we hit the Drop Zone ride. You slowly climb way up, then drop and come off your seat about 5". It rocked!! Karen didn't like it so much.

County Fair

puddle jumpers

We had a great rain/thunder/lightning storm on Friday. Paul even made the kids each a boat to play with.

First Day of Third Grade

Eclipse

I set my alarm for 3:15 so I could go out and watch the eclipse. These are the best shots I could get.

Joke's on me

Today God is playing practical jokes on me. I put the laundry on the line. As soon as I was done, it started to rain. So I brought it all in. I put the light-weight stuff in the dryer and laid the heavier stuff... towels and jeans... out in front of the fan. It got really sunny, so I took the towels and jeans out to the line. Five minutes later it cloudy and some rain. I'd go take them back down, but it'd get sunny. :oS

Video attempt

Accident Girl Strikes Again

Last Friday Karen and I pedaled our bikes to church (1-ish mile) and then back. On my bike, Curtis's seat is in front of me. As we were waiting at a cross walk so we could cross the highway so we could get home, a guy in a car asked if we were going Right or Left (because my bike was pointed right). I lifted my arm to point Left, and dropped the bike. It scraped up my leg bad, tearing up the top layer of skin. That also meant I dropped Curtis. Thankfully he wears his helmet, so when his head bounced, it only scared him. He did get some road rash on his elbow, but that's it. It didn't scare him either to get back on. We ride about 2x a day. But I got bruised up (same leg as pitchfork incident) and have some lumps that are healing. These pix were taken today; 5 days after incident.

My Name is Larisa and I'm Addicted to Bargains.

It's true. In October I began using The Grocery Game to help me shop and save some money. It is now an all-out addiction. I don't even wait for The List on Sundays... I'm scouring the ads on Wednesday and comparing my coupons to see what matches up. I have about 9 envelopes in ABC order, each full of coupons. I buy 2 papers on Sunday to get all the coupons, and some doubles, and the store coupons so I can save some cash.

Case(s) in point(s):

The week of August 12, Albertsons had Kelloggs items on sale. Each item was $2. Also, when you bought 10 items, you got $5 off. So, spend $20, get $5 off. Then I had coupons for each item. Since my receipt doesn't title the coupons, I'm guessing about $5 in coupons. So I'm down to spending $10. I'm sending in a rebate for $10 off the Kelloggs items. Total spent: $0. Shopping trip: (includes a $10 register check, bag refunds, four "buy 3 get $2.50 off" and other coupons.) Total savings: $87.40. Total spent: $36.60.

Today I ran in for their 3-day-only sale. Five more boxes cereal (insert embarassed face here), 8 bottles of juice, 2# of butter, 5# of ground beef, 1# of cheese, 2 boxes of PopTarts and 2 gallons of milk. Oh, and Oreos (they were only $1.50!) I spent $28.49 after a savings of $67.55. I even take my own bags so I get 5c back for each one used.

Pictures were taken on Tuesday.

This is dinner stuff. The veggies are all the way to the back. Libby's was 20/$10 and get $3 off. The dark red canning jars are nectarine jelly/jam Paul made this weekend

Our wardrobe in the back room now holds the cereal. 13 boxes/bags. Average cost each: $1.50

Bathroom/kitchen stuff. About 6 tubes of toothpaste. that many brushes, 4 dish soap, and enough shampoo/conditioner to last the rest of the year. Also 8ish deoderant. What you don't see is what's under my bathroom sink: 5 boxes of hair color, more brushes and paste.

I have about 5 laundry detergents, 4 dishwasher detergents, 2 spray n wash, 50 rolls of TP and 2 dozen paper towel rolls.

The freezer is also full. We won't be going hungry, and "Please Lord, don't let the freezer go belly up!"

If you are curious, go to www.thegrocerygame.com and get a 4-week trial for only $1. If you decide to stick with it, it's $5 every month. They give you a detailed list of what's on sale, clearance items not in the ads, and how to shop for rebates. They also tell you when the coupons came out and from whom (SmartSource or Valassis, e.g.) I usually save 50% each trip. I get Pampers diapers for $.13 each! And, if you do sign up, use larisas @charter .net so I can get referral credit. ;o)

Accident Prone

Yesterday I went to wash my van and when I tried to free some more hose, I hit the pitchfork and it fell and hit my leg. I'm as bad as my mother!

That night we played out on the sidewalk.

Cousins

My aunt Jeanne and her kids Annika and Spencer came up for a visit. We went over to Herm and stayed the night. They borrowed my parents' house while they are in Africa.

Lunch at the park

We met Daddy recently for lunch at a newly constructed play ground. It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun.