Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

We have started clipping coupons. We are going to make the leap and see how much we can save. Though we are NOT going to the extreme couponing but through stockpiling and weekly sale match ups we are going to save as much as we can. Ultimately we'd like to cut our grocery and household items expenses in half.

Tonight made a trip to Walgreens and got everything in the picture for $1.27.

Not a huge trip but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

The Adventures of the first day of school!

Today is the first day of 2nd Grade!

And our last 1st day of Preschool (ok well he actually moved up yesterday but I thought his first day was today).

We did all the traditional 1st day poses. Each individually. The boys together.

Then with Dad. Then with Mom.

The boys asked for one of all of us together so we got out the tripod and dad remembered how to use the timer. So we got a good one.

Today was a good start, well at least for me. No tears. Next year when t starts Kindergarten, it will be really hard on mom. Ok lets not think about that now! Dad took t to school and a and I ate breakfast and waited for the bus.

When you are 7 its fun to try to catch rain drops on your tongue while you wait.

The busses are so late the first day with everyone (including us) taking pictures, at one point a asked "mom do you think you should just take me, I dont think the busses are coming today!"

But at last it did.

He made it the 2 or 3 blocks to school on the bus (we don't have sidewalks so all kids are bussed to school).

We got to class and realized in all that time...we both forgot his lunch. So I went home and got it and this was the smile I got before I left him.

So starts another school year. Its amazing how time flies. It doesn't seem that long ago that little a was born, started walking or started preschool. Then I look at t and wonder the same things; where has time gone. Is it really possible that my "baby" will be 5 in a few weeks?

The adventure of the 2010-2011 school year have officially begun and we are excited about the possibilities that await us. From this Johnson family have a great start to your school year! We are looking forward to ours!!

Vacation Adventures

July 2nd we headed off for vacation. We spent Saturday July 3rd in Omaha. We visited the Omaha Zoo and the Amazing Pizza Machine. Two of our family favorite spots. Of course one the best parts of the Omaha zoo is the penguins and we all love penguins!!!

This summer Drew and I are reading Flat Stanley. So of course Stanley had to come on vacation with us. Here is Stanley visiting the fish in the aquarium.

We spent most of the day visiting animals and checking out the new Madagascar exhibit at the zoo. The we went to the Amazing Pizza Machine for some good food and fun. It was a busy and exhausting day. A great way to start vacation.

Sunday morning we got up and headed North. Poor Ryan got completely soaked loading up the van to head out. We stopped and had a great brunch with family in Storm Lake. Then we headed north to our vacation destination Okoboji Lake Iowa. We stayed at this great family resort; Fillenwarth Beach. It was wonderful! They have 2 pools (one indoor, one outdoor - both heated), paddle boats, canoes, family and adult cruises, history of the lake boat rides, arts and crafts for the whole family every morning, shuffle board, ping pong and much more. We spent our week, riding boat rides, water skiing, playing ping pong and shuffle board.

Oh and swimming! There was lots and lots of swimming. I think there might be a possibility my kids are part fish.