one last post...

all my bags are packed...i'm ready to go! (just imagine the rest of the song....). yep...the bags are completely packed (with the exception of the most important, definitely not to be left behind item--elizabeth's tabby blankie...which she is snuggling with as she sleeps right now--dreaming, of course, of the big airplane ride to big bapa and GG in florida! my floors are vacuumed...my last load of laundry is tumbling in the dryer (not to pack...just to have folded and tucked away)...my house is so clean it almost (but not quite) makes me want to stick around and enjoy the "cleaness"--at least it will feel good to come home to!

just thought i would leave you with some pictures of my "deals" this weekend. the girls and i did some garage-saling while mike had to work saturday morning...and then we made a few CVS trips sunday. fortunately CVS is close enough to walk...so not only did we get bargains...we also saved gas and got some exercise and fresh air! :)

we found this really nice train set at a garage sale for $4! yep...just $4...i know it retails for WAY more than that because we have some friends who have the same set! elizabeth has already had TONS of fun with this puppy...i love hearing her "chugga-chugga...whoo whoo!" her way around the track. it was also so fun to watch her fascination as she figured out the magnets that hold the cars together...and daddy is having fun teaching her about how they attract and repel each other. (as you can see...kate loves the choo choo too...mostly trying to eat it....which, of course, doesn't make big sister happy one little bit!)

then we found this great play-table for the kater-gator for $1...yes, you read that correctly....one dollar! and yes, elizabeth is loving this just as much as her sister!

in other deals we scored an almost brand new (only ridden once!) big wheel for $2! my parents will be taking that puppy to the lake. i found 3 pairs of brand new adjustable waist old navy jeans for elizabeth next year for $1 a pair...a spring jacket...some great books...and oh so much more...it was a great morning for garage sale bargains!

CVS was also good to me this week. i don't think i have mentioned it before, but i LOVE john freida's frizz ease line of hair-care...perhaps because i have "big" frizz-prone hair (gotta love my straightener...perhaps my favorite beauty tool EVER!). well, john freida stuff was buy one get one...plus i had seven $3 off 2 coupons from k-mart's beauty in bloom coupon book (they are manufacturers coupons...so good anywhere...not just k-mart). by combining these with other ECB producing products and the good ol' $3 off $15 CVS coupon (thanks CVS!) i was able to score a TON of john freida (14 to be exact) products for less than $1 a piece when it was all averaged out...and, of course, many of those dollars were ECBs instead of out of my pocket cash! the free after ECB freestyle lite diabete meter helped with these deals...and i have a dear friend who works for a ministry that can put these to great use...so off they go....how great to be able to pass these on to others who need them! (as a note, i only bought these diabetes meters to pass along because there were plenty in stock on the shelves...i would not want to buy the last of an item and have someone who really needs it be unable to get one!). i also made one purchase (you CVSers know which one i'm talking about!) that will make my hubs a believer in couponing and CVS-ing forever....just $2 after ECBs and coupons! again, thanks CVS! anyway...here's some pics...i didn't get a shot of my final trip....4 cases of diet coke and my final 2 frizz-ease weather works conditioning sprays. (oh, and i scored some "free" eye-shadow and liner AND sobe life water (which is REALLY good!).

just had to share this pic of kate "helping" daddy fix the vacuum. kudos to my handy husband who successfully made my vacuum "suck" again! and also just finished fixing the dryer....what a great guy!

and finally...here is a picture of the other half of our decorating project in our front room. we finally got everything hung and decorated...and it didn't even take us an entire 3 years! (july will be our 3 year anniversary in our house)