A Very Busy Weekend!

Saturday night was the annual Hill Family Christmas Party. 

 Josiah was all about the food!

 Doug & Thomas

 Everyone at our table looked like a Jolly Rancher except for me. All I can say is I didn't get the memo, must be because I don't own a Blackberry or a even a phone that has a qwerty keyboard. :)

Josiah LOVES playing on the piano anytime he sees one and Cousin Amanda was so nice to let Josiah help her play.

Then Sunday Josiah got spoiled rotten!

That little car has gotten a lot of miles on it since yesterday.

Then a group of us went out to lunch together to this neat little restaurant in Celebration. It was so nice to get to visit with some friends who are only here for a short visit. I tried Calamari for the first time, just the small pieces. I'm not sure I could have eaten the whole pieces, I might have had nightmares. But oh. my. I had the best calzone ever! Delicious I tell you!

At Church that night we had a surprise visit from Grandma & Grandpa Traskos!

 Josiah was excited to see more presents.

 Hugs!

I found Josiah sitting here staring at his presents this morning. I don't think he is too excited... do you?

Lollipop, Lollipop

Hahaha! This video cracks me up! Hope you enjoy!
Happy Saturday!
Joy

I'm Finished!

As of today I am officially finished with my Christmas shopping! Everything is wrapped and marked and ready to go. I even wrapped all the stocking stuffers so I could get them up and out of the way and not have to keep an eye on my husband who likes to try to shake everything and see if he can figure out what it is.

This morning Josiah and I went to Winter Haven to go to the Christian book store and pick up some new books for me and my Mom. I love this particular book store because right in the middle of the store is a walled off play area. Josiah had a great time playing and it was so nice not to have to keep his little hands off of everything.

I grabbed a couple authors we've never read before so I am hoping they turn out to be good. It made me laugh that I got a stack of books for us girls and one little measly book for Josiah. He is too young to notice though! :)

After that we went into Wal-Mart to pick up some baking supplies. (Sorry, Michael P. - I've already checked Publix's sale and they didn't have what I needed on sale.) :) As we were leaving the store this van that was parked outside sounded terrible. I thought it was cute because Josiah was staring at it and saying 'Uh-Ohh!'. Future mechanic, maybe?

Last year we decided to start a tradition for Josiah in which we would get him a new ornament each year. This was last years ornament.

This is what I got for him this year.

I wish it had the year on it, so I may keep this one for us and buy one with the year on it after Christmas when they mark everything down unless I come across something before then. I haven't decided yet. Here is what the back of the ornament looks like.

This weekend is jam packed with activities and I am looking forward to it all! The most exciting is I get to see a dear friend get married tomorrow night!

If Josiah looks like he's up to something mischeivious- He was! The little bugger climbed on top of my desk and reached his Nemo dvd then came back to the computer desk and was trying to get the movie in the dvd slot. He is so stinking smart, even if the overalls he wore today were an inch above his ankles. He is growing like a weed! I can't believe he will turn two years old in a couple of weeks.

Merry Week Before Christmas!
Joy

My Shopping Trip

Publix: Spent $13.79   Saved $48.43   Savings of 78%

My favorite items this week were the 4way nose spray (overage of $2.04!), the Covergirl blush (overage of $.91), and the Johnson's Sudzing Bar Soap was free (Thank You Publix Baby Club!)

Walgreens: Spent $3.61   Saved $15.29    Savings of 81%   Received $5 RR's back

CVS:  Spent $9.13   Saved $22.00   Savings of 71%    Received $5 ECB's back

 Sorry the last two pictures are sideways. I just don't want to take time to rotate and reload them. I've got to go pick up my little man who looked like this this morning before we left the house for Nana's.

Thanks for stopping by!
Joy

My Shopping Trip

I ran into Publix with a VERY small list. I paid $5.60 and saved $15.79 (74%). After I left the store I realized that the tape that was supposed to be bogo did not reflect it on my receipt. So that was $2 something that I paid extra. :( I could have driven back to Publix but some things are just not worth it to me. Especially when you have a squirmy child with you, which is why I didn't check my receipt before I left in the first place.

I went into Walgreens next specifically for those bogo training pants, some stocking stuffer things, and some toilet cleaner that was needed. I paid $21.65 and saved $31.28 (59%) So, not that great of a trip but it was all needful.

Then onward to Walmart where I picked up these games for 24 cents EACH!

In case any of you are interested- the Hungry Hippos TRAVEL games are priced at $5.24. In Sunday's Smart Source insert of the paper there is a $5 off coupon. I had NO problems using all five of my coupons. These make great little gifts. A couple of these I am going to hold on to for Jr. Church prizes when we start our Memory Madness program in January.

A few pictures...

 I think my sister could work for Disney, she has that two finger pointing down.

 My (almost) two year old tech head.

Thanks for stopping by!
Joy

My Weekly Shopping Trip

I had a wonderful friend remind me over the weekend one reason why I stockpile. I stockpile so that when life is CrAzY I can take a break and keep myself from having a mental breakdown. Hence, I did not do any CVS black friday shopping. I dislike that I missed a bunch of AWESOME deals but I am thankful that I did not overtax myself. Sometimes taking a break is necessary.

 

Having said that I kept things easy this week as well. I grabbed a few deals from Publix and Walgreens and called it a week.

Spent: $12.14   Saved: $65.44

Savings of 84%

Spent: $13.56 Saved: $27.19

Savings of 67%

Earned $7 Register Rewards for another trip.

Happy first day of December!

Joy