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.

Pool Party

Friday, my cousin, Amber came down from Idaho to visit. We used to work together at the school district and both of us quit when we had our babies. Amber just had her second little baby this spring. We set up the pool in the back yard and let Braxton and Maddison play for a while. Both of them walked through the water, played with toys, and dumped water out, but didn't want much more to do with it. I don't think either of them was even towel worthy when they were finished. We fixed lunch and the two of them scarfed everything down and I even had to get them more. We couldn't believe how well they ate. Thanks Amber for a fun day and some adult conversation.

My month to shine...

What a crazy month it has been. I'm currently in Young Women as the Beehive Advisor and had the opportunity to go to girl's camp in Heber. This is a picture of my friend Carma on the ropes course. You climb the tree and then walk along the rope. When you get to the other side, you repel down. Did I do it...NOPE! OR there would be pictures to prove it. I hate heights! They made every girl at least try. It literally made me cry to watch some of those girls so scared up there. It was really cool to see some of them accomplish such a scary task. There are so many applications to life from this experience that I plan to continue to use.
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.