Just Messing Around

We went camping this weekend and I had my brother-in-laws camera. I was looking at some of the photos I took and decided to mess around a little bit. The first one is the original picture.

Comparison Shopping

Alright everyone, I promise, this is my one and only "Coupon Shopping Post." I promised a friend I would do this eventually and I think this is the best comparison shop I've had so far.

Back in May I started doing the coupon grocery shopping again. I've done it before and I quit after awhile and now I am up and doing it again. The first picture is from a shopping trip to my local Associated Foods store. I love that store and I felt I had done an awesome job of shopping when I got home from that trip.
The second picture is today's Albertson's trip. If you are interested I did an break down of everything below.

• LEE'S

Total Cost 87.08
Total amt items= 46
Avg cost per item= 1.89

• ALBIES

Total Cost 78.47
Total amt items=63
Avg cost per item=1.24

Now this isn't the best sale I have walked out of Albies for. Usually I can get items for under $1 an item but I liked looking at the larger items that I was able to get using my coupons versus the much smaller items I had bought before clipping coupons. I am still getting started again and I have made a goal of not spending too much time on grocery sales so I am probably not getting all the deals, but that is ok. My food storage is up and my grocery bill is working it's way down. I can't complain.

Thankful Thursday

1. Perseverance-A little over a year ago I decided to start being thankful every week. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to keep going. Thursdays can be the worst day of the week for me sometimes. I know that is the adversary trying to keep me from looking at the positive side of life and I am sure glad that I have made it a goal to keep going. I feel the small change in my self as I look for the good every day. I love the change I can see in myself and in my family.

2. Back to School Night-This is probably one of the craziest nights of the year! All the parents cram themselves into the little gym and listen to us crazy PTA people talk and talk. I actually missed that part this year but back to school night always gets me adrenaline pumping (for lack of a better term) and ready to go. As much as I love having my kids home I get really excited for school. Our house loves learning!

3. Father's Blessings-Yep, it is that time of year again. I love the night before school. Dirk gets to exercise his priesthood and give each of his children a blessing before school starts. I love hearing the things the spirit whispers to him and how each blessing is so individualized for each child. It is proof to me that Heavenly Father really knows each of us and our needs. I am so grateful for the blessings and the comfort they bring.

Family Photos

It isn't easy finding someone to take pictures for a group of 28 people. Especially when 14 of those people are kids! My MIL really wanted a family shot before Jake and Melese headed back to Canada today. (We miss you guys already!) My friend Mandy agreed to do the pictures and I think they turned out great!

Twin Lakes '09

I was waiting to post about our Twin Lakes trip so that I could get some more pictures from everyone else but I am not sure if that is going to happen so here it goes...

We had a wonderful 3 days at Twin Lakes with our friends the Schwartz's. We decided this year that we would go from Sunday to Wednesday instead of Thursday to Sunday. It was a great decision. The second lake was all ours for pretty much the entire 3 days. The weather was great and the beach was perfect. The kids had so much fun. Lexi is starting to learn to swim and wakeboard and she was very brave jumping out of the boat for both. Rayden was a little more shy about jumping out of the boat but we got him out there eventually. Simon was completely opposite. He wanted to be in the water all the time. Thank goodness for life jackets! Simon analyzed everything everyone was doing behind the boat. You could almost see his mind figuring it all out so he could get out there and do it too. Heaven help us when he is a little older! It was a great vacation and we never regret getting out and spending time as a family!

Thankful Thursday

1. 9 years-I am thankful for the early years with Dirk where we started building our marriage and getting to know one another. I am thankful for the joy and emotions when we had our first child and the added joy that was brought to us when the next 2 children were added. I am thankful for the all the blessings we have received as a family. I am thankful all of the hardships that Dirk and I have faced that have only made our bond stronger. I am so thankful that 9 years ago I said yes to the most wonderful blessing in my life. Last night Dirk asked me if he could have the next 9 years of my life as well. How about the next 90 to eternity instead?

2. Big Sky-Dirk and I were sitting on our deck last night enjoying 4 different things. The first was each others company. The other 3 were the full moon to the east of us, the wonderful lightning show to the west of us and sky full of stars to the north of us. How wonderful that we could sit and enjoy and make another memory.

3. Primary Songs-Nothing can lift my spirits like music. I love my calling in the church as the junior singing chorister. I always pray that I can get the message of the songs across to these young children. It warmed my heart the other day when I heard my 4 year old singing Teach Me To Walk in the Light. A year ago he would throw fits through singing time. I am so glad to have this testament that he is feeling the spirit through music. I am so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

1. Alone Time-The best thing after a hard day is a nice hot bubble bath in my soaker tub. I relish the feeling of all my muscles relaxing and the complete silence that belongs all to me. A good book makes it even better. Such a rare treat but so worth it when I am able to pull it off. Aaaaahhh!

2. Mosquito Spray-When these pesky little bugs are flying all around I am so glad that I zap them with this handy spray. Little itchy bumps all over my children's limbs is not my idea of fun so I love this spray and it's very distinct stench! :)

3. Crossword/Sudoku-I love these puzzles. I love the challenge. I feel like I am doing a mental workout that is at my level. They make me feel grownup and smart, what a great release sometimes from the struggle of dealing with young minds all day. I love my children to death but these puzzles are my escape back to adulthood. Almost every night you can find me in my pj's snuggled in a blanket working on my puzzles. Hmmm...maybe I should try this in the hot tub......

Thankful Thursday

1. Family Time-I love time to reconnect with my husband and kids. 3 days and nights of nothing but family time is heaven. We had a blast together and I wish it never would have ended. Seriously, is there any better way to spend your time than with the ones you love the most?

2. Clubs-Lexi and her friends started a club today. It is called the "Best Friends Forever Club." That right there just makes me smile all over but the list of activities makes me smile and warms my heart. They have to go for bike rides together, have a barbecue with their families, color, and have pb&J sandwiches for snacks. They made a list of everyone who is invited to the club and they made sure to include all friends who weren't at the first meeting. I am very proud to say I made the list! Bring on the BBQ! :)

3. Pioneers-This only seems fitting that I mention these amazing people as tomorrow is Pioneer Day. I once talked in church on this subject and I remember panicking because they wanted me to talk about my pioneers. I didn't have ancestors who walked across the plains so I wasn't sure how to take this subject. I ended up doing all sorts of research on my family and learning a lot. I talked about the pioneers in my family and how they found the church and the hardships in their lives. I learned a lot about them and my love and appreciation is very strong. Tomorrow I will definitely be thinking of them and how their sacrifices differ from the pioneers that commonly celebrated but how those sacrifices made all the difference to my life and my family.

Harry Potter Premiere

I am a Harry Potter fan. I love the books and I love the movies. I have a standing "date" with Dirk's cousin for each premiere. The last couple of times though I think Dirk has gotten a little jealous and decided to "chaperone." He got into it though and even decided to dress up.....as a muggle. :) Actually Dirk loves going just to see all the people who really do dress up.
We went with our normal group of buddies.
Dirk wasn't real excited that I wanted to leave at 8:00 for the theater when the movie didn't start until midnight but he dealt with it. We only had to sit outside for about 20 minutes before they let us into the theater. We got some good seats and were even treated to a double feature. They had the 5th Harry Potter playing before midnight. It was a lot of fun. I remembered my camera this year so I took some picture of our favorite costumed people.

Some of the Weasley familly graced us with their presence.
Dumbledore came back from the dead.
And here is my favorite Death Eater costume. There were other ones but this guy's mask was the best. He kind of freaks ya out when you are in a dark theater!
It was an awesome night. I loved the movie! It was really well done and I will probably be back at the theater again for a second go around. I won't say anything about my favorite/least favorite parts for those who haven't seen it yet but I am sure you will all love it too!

She's Got Skills

Last year Dirk started teaching Lexi how to ride her bike. She was doing pretty good by the time it was too cold to ride. I guess all those months of winter thinking about it and not getting to practice scared her. She hadn't gotten on her bike all summer until last week. She wasn't so sure she could ride it anymore no matter what Dirk and I told her so I went for drastic measures. We bribed her. I know it isn't the best solution but it worked this time. She has been dying to get a new zebra Webkinz and I told her she could get it when she proved to me that she wasn't afraid of her bike anymore. So on Sunday Lexi pulled her bike out of the garage and had her Dad help her out. (Both my kids refuse to let me help them. They don't have much confidence in my 'holding upright' abilities.) Dirk never really had to help her. She was off and he just jogged along beside. Lexi told me later that she didn't know Daddy wasn't helping her until she looked sideways and saw him running. Next she said, "I was doing so good, huh, mom?" She's too cute.


I wish this picture wasn't so blurry but you deal with what you get. All of Lexi's friends were on the side of the road cheering her on, literally. They kept shouting, "Rah rah ree, Go Lexi!" I just love it. Lexi has been on her bike everyday this week. She even rides it across the street to her friends' houses. Monday night she even road her bike with Dad down to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Rayden is seeing how much fun she is having and he is now practicing so he can be just as good. You gotta love the sibling rivalry!