Time For A Vac-ation!

Well, its been almost 2 months since I've posted anything... but I'm back!!

This past week we spent the week with Tom's family in his hometown for our June vacation. Before we made it into PA we stopped for a quick visit with our friends...the Grant's. Its been ages since we've seen them and the girls were so cute getting to know each other again. Of course Winnie was a little shy at first but warmed up when she was able to run free... I miss them so it was a fun reunion!!
We had a jam-packed week and lots of visiting with family, including some members that we haven't seen in quite some time which was so nice. We started off the week with a trip to a childhood favorite amusement park, Kennywood. As we drove to the park I saw sights that brought back so many fun memories of going as a child...and our fun car-ride names (Eben & I were Yohan and Yohana..haha!). The kids (and adults) had a blast at the park riding rides and eating some yummy food.

What sweet cousins....these boys take such good care of Winnie and of course she LOVES all their attention!!

Winnie on her first amusement park ride...the swings...she LOVED it!!
Oh, she LOVED this one too as you can see by her smile!!

The next day we were off to the Pittsburgh Zoo...

On Tuesday we were off to Salisbury to visit my Aunt MaryAnn & cousins... Winnie warmed up to Treyson really quick and absolutely loves him. We had a nice afternoon lunch, then playing at the park and checking out the garden. On the walk Winnie wanted Trey to carry her, only Trey....

We got a little desparate for Winnie to eat meat...haha...she liked the meat stick (and so did the boys)!

Wednesday we shopped till we literally dropped....and found some great deals at Ollie's, Hallmark, and Gabriel Brothers!! Thursday we had a photo scavenger hunt..which was SO much fun. Tom & I were on the same team and in the end tied Jennifer & Virginia...man oh man! This photo is our "movie scene"... "Throw Mama From the Train" which won us a lot of votes....

Thursday was my sweet hubby's birthday (big 3-5!) so we celebrated his special day along with his Uncle Chuckie's coming up soon. Birthday parties cookouts are lots of fun with the Jones/Rohm family....esp when there is more than 1 cake ;-)

The kids had fun playing with bubbles and some even took a dip in the cold swimming pool. Luckily the other kids were done with the bubbles by the time Winnie got her hands on them...ha ha our little bubble horder...

On Friday we were off to our Pittsburgh day....and got a late start, haha. We all had a great plan to meet at Panera at 8:45am but for us with children we didn't quite make it, as the kids slept in (not like we were complaining!). The adult crew went onto their museum and we went to the Children's Museum. This area was the best....a Bob the Builder play area. Winnie totally looks like she could live in this "caravan", hilarious!

After the museum we took a trip on the incline, soooo cool!! The view from the top was awesome too! Winnie was taking a nap in the stroller so Tom stayed at the bottom with her.

And....Saturday we got in some good family time and then headed on our way. FINALLY we were able to get a picture of Mom Jones with all 3 of her grandchildren....

Dance, Dance, Dance....

Our sweet girl is going to be taking dance classes at an early age...she absolutely LOVES to jam when we turn music on! Here she is dancing to the beginning of Jack's Big Music Show on tv...and half way through she does some of her animal sounds....

Bring On The Warm Weather...

Our weekend was filled with fun as the sun beat down on Raleigh. We started the weekend with a dinner date with the Vallecorse's. Every time we get together with our good friends we truly enjoy watching the kiddos play and experience new things together, while we catch up. Both kiddos are walking well now and into everything. After dinner we went for a short walk and spent some time with our neighbors...the kids even had a chance to swing and slide (thank you Stephanie/Matt!!).
(Winnie is teething bad & healing from an ear infection...hence the paci...boy do I hate that thing when she is out and about!!)

Saturday morning we headed to our favorite place...Ollie's Bargain Outlet....YES we finally have one in our backyard!! There are soooo many good deals at Ollie's, from books to toothpaste to sheets to candy....name brand stuff for cheap (1000 times better than Big Lots!!)! When we visit family in PA we make a special trip to splurge so now we can space out our trips and spend less on great items!!

After the trip to Ollie's and putting Winnie to bed, I made my first visit to Logan's...a gardener's dream in downtown Raleigh. After sitting through a step-gardening "class" I purchased all our soil for our veggie garden at 20% off (woohoo!!). Tom worked on staining the deck all day and as soon as he finishes we can get the garden boxes built. It will bring me such joy this summer to go out and pick our veggies from the garden and teach Winnie all about gardening (hopefully she will like playing in dirt, haha).

My high school girls, Megan & Beth, and Winnie and I went to Red Lobster to pig out on Lobsterfest. Megan had never eaten lobster so we waited in anticipation for her first bite...and I think she liked it! Boy was I full after all that food...and the biscuits still taste amazing!! The girls and I had a little sleepover and some heart-to-hearts which I LOVE! What amazing girls!!

Our weekend ended on such a spring-time note.... We met Sunday night for a fellowship/cookout with our small group. Definitely feels like summertime with burgers on the grill!! After we ate the kids went out into the yard for an Easter egg hunt...so sweet. Winnie was a pro from the beginning (thanks for the training Amy!) and loved putting things in and out of her basket.

Last Trip to HT for Triples...

I woke up this morning with excitement....not because Winnie was awake at 7:30am and teething badly....but because I was getting new coupons and going back to HT!! Sad isn't it?!? I finally hit my goal, saved more than I spent!!

Would've spent $68.27 but saved $36.64 in coupons...total damage $31.63!!!!!! Woohoo!! Our small group is set on snacks, we don't need toothpaste for awhile and even have some Panko to give my mom ;-)

So, after 3 trips we've spent $131.69 and saved $116.24...wooohooo!!

Please keep little Winnie in your prayers, her teeth are really hurting her and she won't eat anything. Luckily she is still drinking and does like the V8 Fusion which has lots of veggies and fruits! Tonight I took her temp and its up to 101.9 so we'll be going to the doctors in the morning ;-( Poor thing, hope she sleeps well tonight!!

Triples at Harris Teeter....

I'm getting in the game of Triples at Harris Teeter... I've taken two trips and saved us quite a bit of $$, woohoo!!

First trip...

Would've been $102.43 but I saved $9.83 in VIC savings and $42.57 in coupons...$50.03 damage...not bad, not bad

(everything pictured)

Second trip...
This trip I bought more produce that of course didn't have coupons....would've been $94.53 but I saved $3.48 in VIC savings and $23.72 in coupons...$67.33 damage..

(only coupon saved items pictured...too lazy to put all out)

Now we have some extra lunch snacks, non-stick foil (which ROCKS!!) and treats for Winnie ;-) Yeah, even some baby food for her too, the poor girl is teething and will really only eat her baby food veggies and soft food...guess its something. Two of the coupons I used were left with the product, as if someone decided not to use it and share with others, THANKS!!

Total savings: $79.60!!! Not bad for a first timer...but will take suggestions, haha! Going back Sunday after I clip new coupons....

So Much For Skiing...

Well, MarPatSki didn't happen this year BUT we still got to see the Frederick / Marchetti clan. My Aunt MaryAnn checked out the ski slopes in her area and unfortunately there wasn't snow covering the slopes, so sad!! For the past few years (except last) we've gone skiing at Snowshoe Mtn and this year decided to go somewhere less expensive since we are working to pay off our debt... oh well maybe next year!!

We had a blast in MD though visiting my family. Its been a few months since we've seen Eben & Julia so we were excited to spend some quality time with them on Saturday. We started off the day at Port Discovery (a Children's Museum near Inner Harbour, Baltimore) and have to admit it was pretty funny watching 5 adults watch a 16-month old play. Of course her favorite exhibit was the Royal Farms convenience store...if it has a store-like apperance and lots of bottles/boxes she is in heaven! Seriously, we've started saving boxes and taping them up as toys for her, she will play with those and bowls anyday over toys (but still loves her books). The exhibit even had a gas pump and VW beetle that you could fill the air in the tires or pretend to put gas in.

Saturday evening we celebrated Tony's 50th birthday (its Mar 24th) with family & friends Emily and Gregg. When we go to Baltimore to visit there is one thing that we request...crabs! Emily & Gregg were able to get us 1/2 a bushel of crabs and mussels which totally made our night! We all sat around picking crabs and laughing about old times....there are some classic stories like when we sold our farmhouse and my mom's friend helped her clean out the house, including the bear grease jar that was in the basement ...she keeps everything!! Of course we torchered Tony with old man jokes and had him drinking his beer out of a sippy cup!

Crazy Life...

We've been living the crazy life the last few weeks, between Winnie catching a stomach bug and family visiting. In those 2 weeks though we did get in some great family time though!! I feel horrible that I didn't take many pictures while we had family visiting, argh! Tom did take a few while the kiddos were watching Noggin' together...and I took a few when we took Winnie to Marbles Museum. She had a blast playing in the pretend grocery store (imagine that!) and playing in the "peas". Her all-time favorite though was the red HOT sportscar, we are doomed when she turns 16!!! Will be fun to watch these girls drive together when they are 16!! Winnie will have to let Eden drive first though ;-)

Winnie loved all the quality time she got to spend with her Grandma Jones, and we loved having her travel all the way down to see us!! I promise to be better at taking pics of them together next visit!!