Couponing

As most of those close to me know, I have been super-into this couponing thing for a few months now. Here are a couple of my more noteworthy shopping trips...well, the ones I bothered to photograph.

This was an Albertsons trip under $50! I now have cases of that peanut butter and those Dole manderine oranges that I paid literally pennies for.

This was $6 at Walmart. The whole thing is a bit addicting, but I am slowing down a bit these days. I'm running out of room to store my loot, and have been able to cut my grocery budget by more than half.

Easter with Friends

This year we had another hunt with a few of our friends.

Brinley was very slow and deliberate, so she didn't end up with too many eggs.

Jake had a bit of a rough morning, so he missed the hunt, but when he finally arrived with the biggest frown you have ever seen, all of his friends donated some candy. What a blessing to have such wonderful friends! His countenance soon changed and here he is with all of his pals. There is nothing in the world like good food and great friends.

The boys usually talk much more than the girls when we all get together.

I walked upstairs to find Ella single-handedly entertaining all those boys. Look at that smirk...watch out for her, Clarks!

"Daddy, have you any idea what I have been shoveling into my mouth all day?" Thanks to the Homs for hosting a great party!

Easter Festivities

We started celebrating Easter early this year, so we could do some fun activities with all of our cousins before they had to go home.

Tia helping the kids dye Easter eggs...

Take a look at that technique

Maddy had some great techniques to share, too

He gets that intensity from me...but he did end up with some spectacular eggs this year.

Brinley was much happier coloring

Cami helped them make some stellar sugar cookies

The boys loved it

So did Brinley...I'm not sure if she got more frosting on her cookie or on herself

Eliza really enjoyed helping with Baby Soso

So...we tried again to photograph all of the grandkids together in their darling Easter dresses and shirts from Grandma. All ten of them...HA! I don't think we got a good one of all of them together, but there are some great ones of a few at a time.

Cute boys and the babies with Grandma

Brinley was way more into tormenting the cat than posing for pictures, but I did manage to get this great one...I should be a professional :)

After the torture of pictures was over, we all went back to Grandma's for a great Easter egg hunt. Nobody here looks very excited.

Ben, reading off everyone's colors.

Jake found all of his eggs, even in the trickiest of spots. He's a hard one to fool.

Brinley after a tragic spilling of eggs...she recovered quickly. Easter at Grandma's is always the best. Hopefully we are starting some great traditions there, too.

Conference with the Cousins

General Conference is a great time to get together with Ben's family. We have started some pretty awesome traditions, including M&M bingo, GC scones and some great backyard football!

The cousins love to be together and enjoy slumber parties at grandma's house.

These two have become pretty inseparable during these little get togethers.

These two really like eachother, too!

Removing a tree for Mom while enjoying the Saturday afternoon session by radio.

Even Gracie was a big help on that project...so cute!

Followed by some great Tanner football...the teams were a bit small this year.

A little double coverage on Uncle Ben...but Maddy is wide open!

And of course, swimming at the Y is always a favorite, especially with James.

Back to Dallas in March

In March, I flew down to Texas to help my mom and my aunt pack up my grandmother's china. I took only Jake and Sophie with me, so we could actually get some work done. Brinley stayed in Boise for a little daddy/daughter bonding time. We also spent a little time with my Popito and the rest of my family.

My Popito is so in love with little Soso. He always cheers right up when he sees her.

She mostly loves it when he shares his Popsicle with her.

He loves to pinch her cheeks! Who can blame him...they are very pinchable cheeks!

Everyone loves Popsicles with Poppy!

I have a picture just like this of my Poppy feeding me a bottle at about this age. That bottle, however, happened to be a beer can with a nipple on it. Budweiser, I believe. "No beer for the Soso, Poppy!"

We visited Poppy everyday we were there. Sophie is the only one that can make my grandpa smile like that.

She also enjoyes helping him eat.

Jake entertained all the old men with this little toy Bakugon. They were all so amazed by the way the little toy transforms when it touches metal. Jake was sticking it to all the silverware in the dining room. All of the old people wanted a turn to try it. I love these pictures of my Pops smiling... my mom says he really doesn't do that very often. Leave it to the cutest great-grand kids on the planet (and one cute granddaughter, too)!

This is Sophie's way of helping pack up the china.

I had to include this picture, because I can't even believe how much Sophie looks like my grandma here. It is a striking resemblance. I think my Grandma Trudy would have been proud.

Soso was so cute in this box...that is how I kept her out of the way. My mom and Joyce would fight over who got to take care of her. That way, they didn't have to do too much of the work. They are both wonderful overseers, but not the best workers.

Jake was busy digging through all of grandma's treasures. She had so many treasures, it was hard to narrow it down. My mom helped him find all the best ones.

Look at all that treasure! We almost couldn't get it all home because of the weight limit on the plane.

Soso spending a little quality time with my dad

Jake, of course, conned my dad into taking him to Chuck E' Cheeses, to get even more treasure!

Soso loves those swings!

Calling home..."We miss you, Daddy and Brinley!"

Fun at the park with Pops and Mimi...and ice cream from the little boy peddling from a cart.

My dad teaching Jake how to skip rocks in the river

He was pretty stoked when he finally got it!

Sophie slept through the whole glorious event.

Back to my dad's to see the rest of the fam. "Thanks for the grub, Aunt Kristin"

Jake and Uncle Matt sword fighting the back yard. I guess they never really grow out of that sort of thing.

Pretty in purple!

Jake pretty much schooled Aunt Kristin at connect 4.

Uncle Matt tried his hand, but I'm pretty sure he got beat, too.

That's good practice, Aunt Haley..."try to get some of it into my mouth!"

Jake was pretty smitten when he was invited into the cockpit on the flight home. He even got to push some of the buttons to make his seat move up and down. He was pretty blown away by all of those buttons.

Home at last! The kids were pretty excited to see eachother again. How come we can't love eachother this much everyday? All in all, it was a successful trip. We played with family, and packed alot of china!