Playing with my Christmas present

So I just couldn't wait and Jason just couldn't make me wait, he gave in pretty easily and got me a camera for Thanksgiving, err, Christmas. I've taken at least 600 photos in the past day and a half. I need to read further into the manual though and figure out the manual settings so I can take some really good shots. Here are a couple random shots along with some of our fun from today, we cut down our Christmas tree today.

look, Reagan's smiling for the camera
giving kisses

Kyle, Konner and Piper

"this one looks good Mom"

the kids ran and ran down rows of trees, they had a lot of fun

"hey Mom, how do I walk in boots?" Reagan wasn't walking last year so she's never worn boots, she finally gave it a shot after we kept setting her down and walking away

how cute is she?

group shot - us and the Salmos family, it's hard to believe but Geof and I have been friends for oh, at least 20 years - eeek, we are getting older.

good work Dad!

Reagan was so curious, what was he doing with the tree?

"yep, just like that Daddy"

after our adventures today we went to dinner at Robin and Lonny's

Piper took some helicopter rides on Nemo

Reagan with her Uncle Clay

Piper the unicorn

waiting for lunch

crazy coupon lady at it again!

Ok, so this doesn't look like much but it ads up - I bought all of this stuff from CVS and Walgreens this morning for $21.46 total out of pocket. I have $18.95 worth of CVS's Extra Care Bucks (basically store coupons good on anything in the store - store credit if you will). So it's really like spending $2.51. I love collecting free stuff!

Adding up my store receipts, I saved a grand total of $152.94, so by that logic, going in and buying this stuff from CVS and Walgreens when it is not on sale and without coupons the retail price would be $174.40. Unreal!

Breakdown - just because it's so darn exciting for me!

Toothpaste - all free

Shampoo/Conditioner - free and free

lipglosses - free

Johnson's lotion - free

Clear nail polish - free

shaving cream - 1@$.99, 2 @ $.45

chapsticks were $1.29 each - my most expensive items

Razors - 4 for free or negative .01, 6 @ $.99

That Yes To stuff - some kind of lotion - $.99

the remainder - tax - gotta pay tax on full retail price

Yep, I am the crazy lady at the store running multiple transactions just to get the best deal - and it is so fun!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We had a great day at Mom and Tim's house, Mom made up a delicious feast and I'm still pretty full the next day.

Mom had a well thought out oiled machine, she had crafts planned out for Piper, they made chains for Grandma's tree, painted glitter on cut out snowflakes and attempted to paint pine cones but settled with hanging them on the tree without the glitter.

these pictures are out of order but here is Reagan enjoying her dessert, I made chocolate layer cake with whipped cream and strawberries - very festive - ha ha

our dinner, I only set the camera up to take one shot and we were all excited to eat

the girls loving their Grandma

Reagan's art project, she didn't complete enough to enter the contest

admiring Piper's decorations, wondering how she was going to reach them to pull them off

A Day in the life of an Elf

Mom, the girls and I took a little field trip today to Macy's downtown to visit their Holiday display along with Alicia, Konner and Kaeden. Konner and Piper go to school together but Piper doesn't talk to Konner very often at school because he's a "boy" and she doesn't "like" boys.

she's still being a little shy

trying to capture Nanny's pigtails

she's just growing up too quickly

what a cutie! those eyes and that little pucker!

after the tour we had to have a little snack. Piper chose a cupcake with a heaping of green frosting, yep, her teeth turned green.

Alicia and Kaeden

A fun few days and an early Christmas present

Piper decided to dress herself on this day. You can't tell but she's wearing 5 shirts. Yes, 5 shirts.

Holly came over on Wednesday for a visit, the girls love their Holly.

Mom stopped over for lunch on Friday and after lunch her and Piper made rice krispie bars, Reagan loved marshmallows, I don't think she had ever tasted one before that day. She liked the bars but wasn't fond of them sticking to her hands.

Piper gobbled them up, we added chocolate chips to make them even tastier.

Piper taking pictures of Daddy, she's pretty good!



And......here is her early Christmas gift - a new bed. She was starting to get a little big for the old one. I was worried that she wouldn't like the change so Jason set it up while she was out and hid the old one, she jumped right in and is a very happy little bug.

Reagan loved jumping and running across the bed as well. She helped her big sister set up her stuffed animals.

oh - here is her shirts, a couple of them.

Potpourri

Here's a mix of things.

Afternoon painting, Piper's been bugging me for days to paint and I finally brought them out. Reagan's showing me her dirty hands, she does not like them dirty at all.

Piper's a pro, her picture was really pretty

Here they are actually sitting together nicely - whoa!

My WONDERFUL Brother! These pictures are backwards but my awesome brother and Ryan came over on election day to tear apart my bathroom and by the time they left it looked like this above. This lower bathroom hasn't had a toilet or sink or walls for that matter since I was pregnant with Reagan - so 2 years now. The walls are ready for me to finish taping and mudding them, I haven't gotten past the first coat yet and the stupid toilet is making me so angry. I have purchased 2 or 3 different plugs for the tank and I can't get one to fit. The thing is so darn old I think I'm going to have to replace it. If you need something done, call Bill (612) 221-6984. Did I mention he's awesome!

And finally - warning, here is the screaming and fighting between the girls, I know Grandma and Grandpa's, they never do this. With Reagan getting 4 molars in at once and having a cold, she is not a happy camper and Piper doesn't even try to make it easier. I've had a rough week, I can't wait until things settle down a bit. Arggg!