Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Holiday Hello!
I also had to show off one of my favorite pictures I took today with my new Christmas present. Braxton sends his love with a holiday hello wave. James gave my camera to me early so I could learn how to work things. I'll probably never know all that it can do, but I'm excited to learn lots of new stuff.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Busy Times
Every year since we've been married (James proposed the night of this production), we've gone to the 'Forgotten Carols'. This year it was Friday night...so we took Braxton to Nana's and Papa's to spend the night. We went to dinner and on to see the show. We've loved watching how it's changed over the years. I like that he adds something new to make it just a little different each year.
Saturday morning we were up and running again. We picked James' mom up and headed to SLC temple to see some friends get sealed. It was amazing...they lost their little boy a couple days after he was born and were able to be sealed to him and their daughter (who was one of my young women a couple years ago). We were happy to be there for them. After this, we jumped in the truck and headed down to IKEA. This was our first time there. It was a long day...a long weekend...but I have to say Braxton was an angel all weekend. He loved temple square and I can't wait to take him back so we can see the lights.
We had these little turkeys for a treat after YW the week of Thanksgiving. They were so cute we made them for everyone in my family. They turned out cute, but next time I'll use double stuffed Oreo's. Braxton had eaten three of them before I decided 'no more'.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Going Private
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Halloween Night
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween
For Family Home Evening a couple of weeks ago, we took Braxton to the Pumpkin Walk. He was fascinated with the lit up jack-o-lanterns. He would walk up to each one and examine it, and then he figured out he could blow the candles out. James had to stop him, but we thought it was very cute and funny.
I took a couple of pictures, but I loved the one of Brent...for any of you that know him. He's the one on his bike all the time honking and waving to everyone. When I looked to see who had created this master piece, 2 of the 3 families used to live in our ward. Very creative bunch. His arm really waved.
The next week, I took Braxton back during the day with some friends. We had enough holes in Clifford for all the kids we had with us. He ran up to the entrance, turned around and said "Mom, take my picture!" People were laughing at us...do you think he knows Mom will be taking a picture of his every move. I think overall, he liked it better during the day because he could see more colors. But that night at bedtime, he had a very interesting conversation with his dad. He told his dad he was sad because someone had blown all the candles out in the pumpkins. I had watched him looking in the pumpkins during the day, but we really didn't talk about it afterward...and that never even crossed my mind. Oh how a little mind works.
Sorry for all the pics...I should have done a slide show. For Family Home Evening this week, Braxton carved his first pumpkin. We videoed him trying to get the seeds out and he would shutter and tell us he didn't like it...and it was cold...and slimy. He wanted to wash his hands.
Hope you all have a Safe and Happy Halloween. I can't wait to see all the costumes and stories to go with your Spooky night.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Lucky SevensTag
One of my friends tagged me. So I'm going to do my best to get all of these answered...this is a lot harder than it looks. Thanks Cindy...for making me use my brain to think about me. I don't do that much anymore.
Seven Things I Plan To Do Before I Die.
1. Put a book together about my Grandmother's life.
2. Go on a mission.
3. Run a 5K.
4. Catch up on scrapbooking...I'm not 'terribly' behind.
5. Be a Grandma...don't know why...always something I've looked forward to.
6. Have family pictures taken on a train engine.
7. Travel...
Seven Things I Can Do.
1. Scrapbook/Digital Scrapbooking
2. Organize anything
3. Talk your ear off
4. Make good dessert
5. Crosstitch
6. plan a party
7. Make my husband mad
Seven Things I Can't Do.
1. Sew a straight line
2. Jump out of an airplane...don't like anything with heights
3. Draw very well
4. Grow a garden...but I'm not stopping until I get it down.
5. Change my brakes. However, James had me help while he did it. :-)I have pictures to prove it.
6. James also informed me I can't change the oil either.
7. I don't like to fly airplanes either...not that I couldn't learn...it just scares me when James tells me "your controls". YIKES!!!
Seven Things That Attract Me To James.
1. He knows how to make me laugh.
2. He is a VERY hard worker...most of the time too hard.
3. He has great eye lashes.
4. He stands up for himself and VERY independent.
5. How he plays with Braxton.
6. The way he looks at me.
7. His loyalty.
Seven Things I Say Most Often.
1. Seriously!
2. You amaze me. (sarcastically)
3. Go potty! Run...Run...Run...
4. Good job!
5. Do you know your Mommy loves you?
6. What time are you going to be home?
7. Braxton??? What are you doing???
Seven Celebrity Admirations
1. President/Sister
2. Oprah
3. Angelina Jolee
4. Brad Pitt
(These two are very service oriented and I admire the fact they try to stay out of the public eye.)
This is about all I can come up with. I'm not into the celebrity thing much. The only ones I can think of are the ones that are always in trouble.
Seven Favorite Foods
1. Mexican
2. Pretty much any bread
3. Velveeta Rotel w/chips
4. Chips and Salsa
5. Mom’s Chicken Noodle Soup
6. Dutch oven potatoes with
7. Anything I don’t have to fix
Seven People I Think Should Do This.
I think here are only about 7 of you on my list that would do this. Whoever is up for the challenge. Good Luck!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Through the eyes of a 2 year old
When it gets really quiet at our house, we know Braxton is up to something and start our frantic search. Often times, he won't even answer us when he knows his newly found treasure will be snatched away. As I just went through the pictures on our camera, I found numerous videos of my kitchen counter...excuse the mess...but this one was the best by far. Braxton has a love for the camera...thanks to Papa Leavitt, who lets him play with his. As James would say, no wonder we can't have nice things. He'll be 'REAL' happy when he discovers this post...and I'll be in the 'dog house' for leaving the camera out.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Huge Savings
I went into Albertson's today for the soup sale and a few other things. If you bought Powerade, then you got a catalina coupon for free cereal. I ended up with 8 bags of free cereal and 1 free apple juice. The 'good' soup was only .63 or cheaper and my lysol was only $1.50.
I spent 27.80 and saved 74.27. One other trip was 43.97 and I saved 60.17...if I don't save more than 1/2 on my groceries...I usually wait for the next sale. I still try to see what Walmart has...but the sales usually beat their prices with the coupons for the name brand.
Does anyone know if Smith's in Brigham is still doubling coupons?
2nd Place
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Little Homemaker
Hey everyone...it's been busy! On top of life, I've been learning to can a little more. I've helped people, but when I only do it once a year...I forget. My goal this year was to learn to can beans, but my beans didn't do well at all. I have a wonderful friend who tried to teach me how to can pickles a couple of years ago, but I was pregnant and wasn't going there. I was too sick! She called a couple of weeks ago and I canned pickles. Yey!
I helped my step-mom last week get all the stuff ready for salsa, but had to leave before we could bottle it...so she finished...thanks Mary. And...I got a 1/2 bushel of peaches this year. I bottled this load all on my own. Everyone of them sealed, I was pretty excited. I wasn't going for the blue ribbon at the fair...I just packed as many bite sized pieces in the bottle as I could. I told James 'there's no reason to cut them twice' for Braxton.
This tomato is the first one this year to turn red. It is the ONLY red tomato I have. All the others are GREEN...GREEN...GREEN! We plan to use the tomato on hamburgers this Sunday.
Some of you may laugh, but I got my wheat grinder out today and started grinding wheat. I told my mom I got a bigger workout (burning calories) grinding the wheat than I will eating the calories from whatever I make from it. I'm going to start baking bread...so if any of you have a great recipe, let me know. I think I'm crazy, but I'm having fun trying some new things.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Pool Party
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
My month to shine...
During this time, James was having a super hard time being with Braxton, which made it hard for me to be away. He decided to regress a little in potty training. James typically only has to entertain Braxton for very short periods of time...all you mom's know...the fun play time. James was very happy to have 'mom' home again.
After coming home I helped get things together for my second calling, the ward camp out. I'm really sad we missed this. The ward learned how to retire a flag and the scouts did an amazing job in helping. We also had the vets from our ward recognized. We were at Cherry Hill camping with my family. It was a quick trip, but we had a great time. A big thank you to Nana and Papa. They took Braxton for about an hour so James and I could go down the water slides.
It must be my month to shine... I still have a lesson to teach, a sacrament talk to prepare, AND yes one more camp out...oh and that darn visiting teaching that always creeps up on us...sorry Melissa. I'm also on Enrichment committee. I'm really excited about our get-a-way this year. Our theme is Faith, Hope, Charity...it's going to be awesome. I can't wait!
I'm SO grateful to have the church in my life, without it there really is no purpose to life. I love my ward family and the support they are to me and my family. Our neighborhood really takes care of each other. I have a testimony of service and believe that when we do service for those around us we are serving the Lord. My service in the church has blessed my life and family in amazing ways and I've learned so much. It really has made me the person I am today. Thank you to all of you who have allowed me to serve you.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Elmo Live
Monday, August 4, 2008
New Grill
Bear Lake
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Potty Time
Later that day, I wondered what I had done to myself. I changed my clothes 3 times and I'm not sure how many times I changed his...I lost count. We probably made it to the potty 50% this day. Friday, we only had 2 accidents. This I can handle. Saturday, 3 accidents...we were wondering if we were starting to go back down hill. Good thing is, he will tell me every time if he is wet.
Sunday, I was terrified to go to church. I had made sure Braxton was in bed on time so he would be well rested. This didn't work so well. My wonderful son wakes me up in the middle of the night to go potty, and it was a lot this night. I complain now, but I'll appreciate it later. I'm thinking he's my little over achiever. We went to church early to see the potty. I think I was more traumatized by the size of the potty than he was. He would tell me "Mommy, fall in" but he still was alright with the whole concept even though he never did go potty at church. We had 'NO' accidents Sunday.
Monday was our first venture out of the house to start adding distractions. We took him to the park with some friends. First, it rained on us, which made everything wet. His pants were wet from sitting on the playground stuff. Second, there was a water wall that he just loved. This is where the accident took place. We won't tell you which park. :-) I really haven't counted this venture as a true accident.
Tuesday was wonderful, he had no accidents again. Wednesday, our only accident was...well ummmm...poop. What a wonderful experience this is. This is something that truly makes you admire your mother for all that they have put up with for you.
He's been doing absolutely wonderful. I can't believe it really only took him one day...with a whole bunch of reminders still from mom and dad. I can handle one accident a day.
This last Saturday-Sunday night was a crazy one for me. Braxton started at 2 am waking up to go potty. We did this 6-7 times until 6 am. This just about killed me. I had called my pediatrician's office to see what the nurse thought about this, because he's been getting up a couple times at night. She told me to put him back in diapers. That WAS NOT the answer I wanted. He was going potty...isn't this a sign of being potty trained. Not one person I've talked to has had their children, or known of other children, who get up in the middle of the night to go potty. They either wet or stay dry. Oh, the different challenges each of us are given with our children. For now, I'm just getting up with him and cutting back on fluids before bed time. Maybe it'll last, maybe it won't. Time will only tell.
Pioneer Day
These two were so cute, giving each other hugs and kisses, until we got the camera out. Then we were trying to get them to do it again...so here's a little bit of a forced shot. Braxton is our little ham always ready for his picture to be taken. Kambry is very strong willed and does what she wants when she wants...just like her mom.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Memory Game
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Too much fun...
We've been busy!!! Lots of fun things we've been doing this summer. The picture is of Braxton at the annual 'Cruise In' parade. We always meet my parents at Carl's Jr. for the parade and then get something to eat afterward. This year I ran across the street for slurpees. This is Braxton's first slurpee...and he loved it. Mom had the big debate as I stood in line...red...or blue slurpee. Which one will come out of he clothes easier. In the end, I think he ended up spilling on grandma but nothing on him. Go figure...
Our internet has been acting funny on this computer so I haven't posted for a little bit. I'll be better. We've also been on a couple of camping trips the last two weeks and are planning another one for the end of the month at Bear Lake.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Camping
James and my Dad were our lifesavers. They kept our firewood stocked and the fire blazing in the evenings so we didn't get cold. This is my favorite part of the day...just hanging out and telling stories around the fire. Please notice the white Ashley is wearing. We always get numerous comments on the white pants. She wears these every time we go camping...I can't believe they are still this white. This last time it was Braxton that kept spilling things on her.
S'more night!! Here is Braxton with a big marshmallow in his mouth. Here comes the sugar high.
Curious George has managed to make himself more of a permanent fixture in our little family. There is not a lot we don't do without him and 'elephant' (I'll introduce him to you soon). George really enjoyed this trip and followed Braxton everywhere.
City Celebration
Me and Braxton are at the Sidewalk Chalk Contest. He was hot and only wanted mom to keep drawing triangles for him. The theme this year was "Round Up". I found this cute hat and he loves wearing it around the house.
We had a family swim night for the city. This year Dad was able to come play in the water with us. The last week Braxton keeps talking about going bye-bye in the car to the pool with daddy.
There was a dinner with entertainment. One of James' co-workers was our singer. He is an amazing country singer. We thought we'd make Braxton the star for a minute and take a couple of pictures. He's our photogenic poser.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
New Bike Trailer
We bought the trailer a couple of weeks ago, but just got it out to take for a trial run last night when dad got home. I need something to get me a little exercise.
This morning I told Braxton we were 'going for a ride' he got so excited he grabbed Curious George and headed for the garage.
I love how excited our children get over the smallest things. It makes me grateful to be a mom. I'm so happy to have Braxton to help me put things into perspective...and take time to smell the flowers. Which is exactly what we did when we got to the end of the neighborhood...mom had to catch her breath.
Lunch
Trista and Samantha came to visit last week. My friend, Lauretta, took a walk to our house and we let the kids play for a bit. Before we knew it...the kids let us know it was lunch time. So, we had sandwiches with grapes and cheetos. We put sunscreen on all the kids, but mom got a little crispy.
Why is it, we as moms tend to neglect ourselves. We should be taking better care of ourselves so we can serve our families better.
Memorial Day Weekend
Braxton loves to help his daddy with EVERYTHING! Sometimes dad doesn't think it's so helpful. Dad just needs to be thankful that someone thinks he's SO cool. One day that coolness may wear off. :-)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
New Haircut
Yeah!! Braxton finally got a haircut. We took him in for his new summer look and he did great. Mom has been cutting his hair since he was born, and she really doesn't know what she's doing. Now his friends won't make fun of him.
Ride Daddy...Please!
Wow! What a crazy week! We have been attempting to get some yard work done. I thought I would share with you what all this entails at our house. It's all about the 'ride' for a little two year old in a wheel barrow...and doing it in style. It's been pretty cold and rainy the last couple of days, but come rain or shine James has limited time to help us out at home...as he typically works 12-14 hour days. Doesn't matter the season, if you need yard work done, James is your man.