Saturday Hikes

Most Saturday mornings we go for a family hike. Hiking may not sound like something you can do with a 3 year old and 3 month old but then what we do probably wouldn’t be considered hiking to most people :). Aaron has found several short trails in the canyons close to our house that are stroller accessible and we just enjoy the beautiful scenery at Braden’s pace. When we started it was just fun to look at the streams, trees and rocks. Now with the fall colors there are countless other families getting pictures taken so we usually stop to watch and get some pointers. A few weekends ago Aaron and Braden even ran into the Roosendaal Family - some of Aaron's relatives that we hadn't seen for a while. I had no idea that hiking could be so relaxing, educational and social all at the same time!

Aaron and Braden climbing rocks at Temple Quarry Trail.

Cornbelly's with Sarah and Tyler

On September 26th we nephew-napped Tyler and went to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point. Tyler and Braden had great fun covering eachother in the corn pit, follwing eachother thru the kids corn maze and jumping on the huge bouncing pillows. (By the way, I thought those would be fun to own so I checked them out when I got home - the cheapest, smallest one is over $12k! OUCH!) When Sarah could break free she met us there. With her we all shot pumpkin cannons, rode a very uncomfortable train and drank slushy drinks in the shade of a tent. We were so glad she could make it! The next time Braden goes he wants to take Auntie Sarah again so that they can use her phone to light up the dark hay bale maze. We love you Auntie Sarah!

Aaron, Tyler and Braden jumping on the medium sized pillow

Braden watching Sarah and Tyler demolishing a pumpkin

Jason Turns 25 Again!

Many of you know that my father has turned 39 over and over again. The fact that I am 38 makes this very interesting :). But is Jason now trying to hang onto his youth, too? No. I just got it wrong last year. Evidently he is really 25 this time. And of course I didn't get a photo. Early New Year's resolution - I am going to remember to get the camera out when we spend wtime with the Christensen and Parker sides of the family! (I often forget because we see them both so regularly).

Toyfest with the Nelsons

We had the Nelson family over for dinner a few Saturdays ago. We ate bacon-wrapped turkey kabobs and Aaron and I talked to Rene and CoreyEllen while the boys (Braden, Elijah, Enoch and Noah) played with toys. It was a really nice evening and we enjoyed their company so much that none of us noticed what was going on. When the Nelsons decided it was time to go we found the boys surrounded by an explosion of toys. There was toy debrtis all over the house. No photo could do it justice but I took one anyway because I thought it was hillarious.

Noah, Elijah, Braden and Enoch - don't try this at home - they are professionals!

Grocery Smarts

Sometime in August I attended a homemaking meeting geared to help everyone save money. Erin Ruy taught us about the grocery smart method. Her husband has been out of work for 6 months and they are still solvent because of savings and pinching their pennies. I asked her how much she spends on groceries each week - $50 maximum - one week she only spent $3!

I love a good challenge so I decided to try to match her. I haven't succeeded even once but I come really close most weeks and am adding to my food storage as I go. I only buy the foods I normally buy (except when a new food is a screaming deal - then we try it) and between the few stores that are close I find most items on sale. (Erin only shops at one store per week.)

What kind of deals have I gotten? Canned beans and corn for 26 cents each (compared to 78 cents each at Sams). $20 of free Kraft foods (though I couldn't find exactly what I wanted and just ended up with a year's supply of Mac 'n Cheese). And on Thursday I got 3 lbs of chicken free at Smiths.

If anyone is interested in know more, please contact me. I would be happy to give you any tips I have found. Or you can go to www.grocerysmarts.com and enter the code g84cer. The website is free. They do recommend that you subscribe to the paper to collect coupons but I have found that if you shop at Smiths the only coupons provided by Grocery Smarts are usually just as good. (Smiths is the only one I have found to consistenly accept the, though. You can also check out deals on www.pinchingyourpennies.com

Happy Saving!

Cailin's Blessing

Cailin was blessed on Sunday, September 13th at our ward. My father performed the lessing with Aaron, Ben and several of our ward friends in the circle. The word that kept coming up for her was joy. She will find joy in her life and be a joy to those around her - and of course she already is!

Our happy family

Cousin Abby holding Cailin

Bubble Camp

During the entire summer, Braden attended bubble camp at Gymboree once a week for a 3 hour class. When we switched him from Thursdays to Wednesdays (from music to art day) the art projects started flooding in. Braden also started asking to stay for aports class afterward since all of the other kids in Wednesday class did. So, by the end, he was gone for over 4 hours at a time and even then didn’t really want to come home. Something tells me that there will be no tears when he starts Kindergarten in a few years!

A life size scuba-braden with his other oart projects.