2015 Groceries Week 43 - $156.47

I've barely shopped since the baby was born, but this weekend I sure went all out!  We've also been having dinners delivered (Praise the Lord!) so most of what I purchased is for the freezer, pantry, or breakfasts.

I went to Fred Meyer on Friday intending to buy milk, fruit, and whatever else I found on clearance.  Major scores with organic formula at just $5.29, sirloin steak for $3.29/lb, lots of apples and bananas on clearance, and a big can of coffee.  I also picked up bell peppers, sour cream, & cottage cheese which were also on sale and some chocolate rice cake things (not pictured) since my kids were starving.  I also bought a clearance box of chicken that was a couple bucks and said it was from a rotisserie chicken.  But it tasted funny just one day later.  I won't be buying that again.  I spent $63.16.

On Saturday I took a kiddo on a bunch of errands and we stopped at QFC because I've found amazing deals on Saturdays before.  I found major clearance deals: organic milk for $1.99 that I put in the freezer for cooking, more of the organic baby formula ($7.39 each, still a bargain), ground turkey for $2.50 (20 oz.), nitrate free sausage for $2.00/lb, hummus for $2.99, organic baby food jars for $0.49 each, Torani syrup for $2.79, and 5 bags of clearance produce for $1.00 each.  I also bought grapes, pomegranates, and creamer all on sale.  I spent a whopping $74.87!

We went to another QFC just a few blocks away since the deals had been so great at our regular store.  I found a bunch of stuff and everything I purchase was on clearance: Large cans of coffee for $2.49 each, K-cups for $2.99, breakfast sausage links for $0.99/pkg and I had a coupon for one of them making it FREE, chorizo for $0.99/lb, hummus $2.09, 4 apple for $1.00, 5 tomatoes for $1.00, Greek yogurt for $0.49/each and instant biscuits for $0.49.  I spent $18.44 total.

Week 43 Total - $156.47
Total Year to Date 2015 - $4,816.78
Weekly Average: $112.02

Katie

2015 Groceries Week 42 - $54.24

I had shopping trip on Monday for a couple of necessities.  I got organic milk, regular almond milk (for detox starting tomorrow), grapes, oranges, and Tillamook cheese for $2.50/lb.  I also found fresh mozzarella for $2.49.  Yum!  I spent $36.26 on groceries.

I dropped into The Dollar Tree for posterboard and stocked up on pepperoni while I was there for $8.00.

I went once more to Fred Meyer to get the cheese.  I spent $9.98 on white cheddar and yellow cheddar.

Week 42 Total: $54.24
Year-to-date Total: $4,660.31
Weekly Average:  $110.96

2015 Groceries Week 41 - $100.00

I went into the hospital on the first day of week 41 and came home on the last day.  I didn't go to the store even once.  My mom and aunt, however, made some shopping trips so I gave my mom $100 to cover what I would "normally" spend.

Week 41 Total: $100.00
Year-to-Date Total: $4,606.07
Weekly Average: $112.34

Katie

Thankful Thursday - on Saturday

I missed my Thankful Thursday post this week.  As I sit here in the dark of a hospital room, I hear machines beep and whir.  I hear my husband breathing and I look over at the small shape of my son in a hospital baby bed.  I have so much to be thankful for and I want to be sure to record it.  God is faithful.  We sit in the shelter of His hands, a fact which I am acutely aware of it after the events of this week.

I am thankful for:

• a 10th birthday slumber party that was planned for the weekend before DD#1's birthday instead of after
• for fun memories created at the slumber party
• the health of cousin Breanna's baby.  We have been praying as a family and it's lovely to watch the girls experience answered prayer.
• the gift a friend lending a chocolate fountain to the VIP slumber party and how fancy all the girls felt eating special hors d'oevres.
• Dollar Tree's party selecion incuding plastic champagne glasses
• a supportive church family filled with people who love my kids and are prepared for the bumps ahead with a new addition
• DH taking the girls out for 8 hours after church!  I got a lot done at  home.
• a hospital just a few miles from our house
• being home, in bed when Little Brother made it obvious he was coming
• DH being home (not travelling) when we had an emergency

And now another week has passed.  As the details of Asher's birth have been sinking in I realize how blessed we truly are.  I am thankful for life - my own and Asher's,  

• a mom and aunt who came without hesitation even though it meant an all-night drive
• a friend who came immediately even though she was sick
• being surrounded by believers in triage and in the operating room
• amazing nurses, many of whom were also Christians
• that Asher was moved to a private room the day I was discharged allowing DH and I to move into his room and sleep over ie. not having to go home and leave Asher in NICU.
• excellent medical insurance
• friends who have brought meals
• friends who came and canned pears that were overripe before Asher was born
• that my mom has stayed and done so many projects
• that my dad came and worked on some home repairs and that he'll be back next week
• DH's ability to take sick leave to stay at the hospital with us
• DH's willingness to take the kids to their homeschool commitments
• Asher is putting on weight like a boss
• And on another note, our rental property closed this week relieving us of a great burden

Love, Katie

2015 Groceries Week 40 - $59.44

It was a busy week with not a lot of grocery shopping.

I stopped at QFC for a fast run-through on Wednesday night with DD#1.  We found a clearance angel food cake and GF mini cupcakes.  I spent $5.48.

Thursday I finally made it to Fred Meyer for a bigger shopping trip.  I got milk, cereal, tomatoes, bbq sauce, and sliced cheese - all on sale.  I got clearance zucchini 3/$1 and clearance GF pasta for $1.49 each box.  I also decided to try Z-bars for the kids.  I just went to a focus group and learned about them.  They were $0.69 each, but for GF, non-GMO I want to give them a shot. I also got a $6.00 pizza, not pictured.  I spent $48.21

.  

 I dropped in at QFC again today and found clearance organic cottage cheese for $1.00 each and some greek yogurt for just $0.25 each.  I spent $5.75.

Total Week 40 spending: $59.44
Total Year-to-Date: $4,506.07
Weekly Average: $112.65

Katie

Thankful Thursday

I had some good time reflecting on our vacation and felt convicted to write more thankfulness posts.  Sometimes I get too caught up in the bustle and my lack of progress discourages me.  I thought an intentional effort here on the blog would be effective and  thought Thursdays would be a good, alliterative day.  I am finally managing on my third Thursday back in town.

Here we go.  I'm thankful for:

• my husband's job and the flexibility he is allowed
• my husband's job, his salary, and bonus each year
• my husband's willingness to pick up the kids every Monday noon at one of our homeschool programs and work from home that day.
• faithful friends who speak truth
• my kiddo's occupational therapist and her sharing a cursive writing curriculum with us
• resources for private speech therapy to supplement the public speech therapy we get for a kiddo's severe speech delay
• hand-me-downs for my daughters
• hand-me-downs for my son
• friends who wanted to give me a baby shower
• friends who still wanted to come to a baby shower for a 5th kid!
• 2 planned Grandparent visits coming up
• a fancy dress-up date night this weekend
• a great piano teacher who is willing to work with my Sensory kiddo
• friends who share plums, apples, and grapes with me - for free (!) 
• progress on the nursery
• school days/routine getting better
• an American Heritage Girls troop nearby - Hooray! - with a group of girls and women who seem really down to earth and nice.
• Big News today that DH gets 12 paid weeks off with the new baby instead of the anticipated 4 weeks!  

I know there are more, but this is all I can recall today.  So thankful for God's provision and how He blesses our family!

Love, Katie