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.

Huge Savings

I just put my groceries away and remembered I was going to take a picture like Lisa did of all the fun deals. Anyway...I've spent ALL of our money this month stocking up for the year with all of the food sales and thought I'd share my excitement with all of you. Last week was the 'BIG' Quaker sale. I found myself with two friends collecting a couple of coupons from Lee's and Macey's so we could hit the sale at Albertson's. Crazy I know...but I have friends who drive to Ogden and Salt Lake for the coupons. I bought 60 boxes of oatmeal, granola bars, granola bites, pancake mix, syrup...and a few other things for about $50. Yipee!!!
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

Last Wednesday, Braxton was in the newspaper for winning 2nd place in the summer library program. I found out about it two weeks into the program and he still did a fantastic job. Braxton loves books and has always been really good...and gentle...with them. We read every day before nap time and bedtime. I figured this was the only way for me to establish the habit early on...or I'd find myself too busy to read to him. He won some FUN prizes throughout the month and I still don't think he really understands why. He's just excited to go to the library every week.

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.