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Good Friday

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Resurrection Eggs

Good Friday! Yes, it is Good Friday.

Our family will be celebrating this special remembrance by spending some time together with our Resurrections Eggs.

If you are unfamiliar with this tool used to illustrate the new life available in Christ Jesus through His resurrection, then you can use these instructions to read the Easter account and create your own set of eggs.

I have a set for each of my children to touch and open as we read and discuss the Easter events. Then our family will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on Sunday united with our church family.

I trust this Easter is a special celebration of the new life you find in Christ.

Spring Break: Daily Activities

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Jessica Merz)

Are you anticipating spring break? We did! My son’s school has an earlier spring break than most schools in our area. Having the run of places while other children were in school was SO nice! As you prepare for your extra time with your school-age children, I will share how we spent our spring break without breaking the bank on the activities.

Monday: We ran errands all day, but I worked in fun stops along the way. For example: I spaced out the two grocery store trips. We visited one in the morning around 10:00 a.m. which is snack time. The free cookie program took care of the morning snack which is a very nice free option. The second grocery store was visited as the last stop on the way home. We also snagged a free cookie for the kids which held them over until dinner.

We ran our first batch of errands at stores close to home. We then made a stop at home for lunch and to unload before heading out for the afternoon session. In addition to grocery shopping, I had 3 errands to accomplish at a local mall. After lunch, we went to the mall. After accomplishing our errands, I allowed the kids to play at the Kidgits Area, which is an in-door playground. They were climbing, sliding, crawling, and playing for over an hour. They had a great time, and I was able to accomplish a long list of errands.

Tuesday: With the errands completed, we spent the morning at our local library. I was hoping to catch our usual story time class, but the library took their spring break that same week. Though we did not have an official story time with songs and stories, the kids returned their books, chose new ones, and played in the kids area with the puzzles, toys, and computers. After our library visit, we went home for lunch and a restful afternoon.

Wednesday: I scheduled a play date at our house. Our neighbors came down to play for the morning. My kids enjoyed having other children come play with their toys in their house. I enjoyed the visit with my neighbor as our kids played well together. We then rested in the afternoon before heading to church for Kids 4 Truth.

Thursday: We played at home for the morning and allowed the baby to get her morning nap. After an early lunch, we headed for our local Bounce House with inflatables on which the kids jump. We had saved some passes that were given to us, and I brought snacks for them. This all-afternoon activity was a highlight for the week. With their energy exhausted, my kids slept really well that night. 🙂

Friday: After adjusting our schedule due to the baby’s long morning nap, we met up with our friends for the afternoon at the zoo. With our Family Plus Zoo Membership, our family and guests were granted free admission into the zoo. All seven kids enjoyed looking, laughing, and playing together while watching all the animals. At the conclusion of our visit, the kids enjoyed playing on the playground together. This activity was by far THE highlight of our spring break.

With a little advanced planning, I was able to schedule at least one special activity each day. Since all these activities were free, except the cost of gas, we were able to enjoy an activity-slammed week without breaking the bank.

What special activities did you or are you planning to do during spring break? I hope you have a great time with your family as you enjoy each other!

Ben & Jerry’s: Free Cone Day on April 12, 2011

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Photograph Credit: Ben & Jerry's

Are you ready for a free, cool family activity? On Tuesday, April 12, 2011 visit a participating Ben & Jerry’s location to celebrate Free Cone Day! According to the Ben & Jerry’s website:

As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 33 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!

If you are fortunate enough to live near a participating location, then I hope you enjoy your free cone on Tuesday. Eat a little bite for me since all the South Carolina locations are too far away for us to visit. (Don’t feel too sorry for me. There’s another inexpensive ice cream deal coming on April 27.)

$4 Chick-Fil-A Family Lunch with Playtime to Boot

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On the way to pick up my son from school, my daughter kept asking if we could go to Zaxby’s and eat lunch with Daddy. I was surprised by my daughter’s request since we were not close to Zaxby’s when the pleading began. By the time we reached the school, the requesting was subsiding.

Upon entering the car and sitting in his booster seat, my son asked, “Can we go to Chick-Fil-A for lunch?” (I’m guessing that the cool, rainy weather brought on the wish for comfort food like chicken.) Since I needed to make a stop at the credit union which is close to Chick-Fil-A, I responded with, “We’ll see.”

After completing our business at the credit union, I searched my restaurant coupon file from the glove compartment to see if I could put a deal together for under $5. I found 2 coupons for buy a medium sweet tea, and get a 4-count chicken strip entrée. Knowing that I could work a deal for under $5, I announced that our next stop was Chick-Fil-A.

The kids were really excited. The rain had stopped as we pulled into the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. We quickly unloaded and entered the restaurant. Armed with my 2 coupons, we waited in line. At our turn, I handed the cashier my coupons. He confirmed that I wanted 2 sweet teas with each of the 4-piece chicken strips. (When a Chick-Fil-A coupon states a specific beverage (i.e. Sprite), most cashiers allow you to substitute for any comparable beverage.) The cost was 2 orders of chicken strips at $3.99 each for free and 2 teas at $1.49 each. I then ordered 4 buns: 3 toasted and 1 plain at $.15 each. My total with tax came to  . . . $3.87. (If I had purchased 4 chicken sandwiches, I would have spent over $10!)

The kids and I went to a table chosen by my daughter. The cashier brought our food to the table, and I begun to put our meal together.

  • I stopped by the condiment station and picked up a knife, napkins, mayonnaise, ketchup, and placemats.
  • I returned to the table and attached the placemats to each of the kids’ eating area. (I love these placemats. They work great, especially for the baby who is used to eating on the tray of her highchair.)
  • I took out a bun, added requested condiments, and 2 strips of chicken. Next I cut the sandwich in half and placed in front of my daughter. I then made my son’s sandwich, then the baby’s, and finally mine. I was able to make 4 great chicken sandwiches with the food purchased. My son and daughter shared a sweet tea, and the baby and I shared the other one.
  • After completing our meal, I cleaned up, and the kids went to play on the indoor playground.

When I returned home, I checked the receipt of my great restaurant deal. In addition to my purchase, my receipt had a survey invitation in the center section. After taking the survey on-line, I received a validation code which I can now redeem for a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich. I guess we will be planning another visit to Chick-Fil-A soon. Maybe this time Daddy will be able to come with us.

By thinking outside of the box, using some of the options presented in the 10 Ways to Cut the Expense of Eating Out series, and setting a budget, the kids and I gained nourishment and exercise for under $4 on a spontaneous family activity.

What creative ways have you used to save money on a spur-of-the-moment change of plans?

Rita’s: Free Italian Ice on March 20, 2011

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Mark your calendars for a great, free celebration for the first day of spring!

When:                  Sunday, March 20, 2011

What time:            Noon until 9:00 p.m.

Where:                 All open Rita’s Italian Ice locations

What:                   A free regular size Italian ice for each customer

What a nice cool way to enjoy the start of spring! Check out Rita’s website for a participating location near you: http://www.ritasice.com/events-and-promotions/first-day-of-spring.aspx.