Last Minute Adventures

I am a spur of the moment type of person. I just love to say let's get out of town and leave in an hours notice. 

This weekend was no exception. Jason and Whitney arrived home from girls camp on Friday and I said 

"Hey you want to go to the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti tonight?"

I love my honey because of course he said sure. So I hurried and threw some food in the trailer and we headed out. I had heard of people just camping at the local park in Manti and I vaguely remember doing it as a kid. Well we get there and the park is packed with a million tents and trailers. So we took the last available space for our trailer and backed in. For only $5 bucks is was well worth it. We had so much fun. Just a quick overnight but the Pageant was wonderful.

William is fascinated with temples right now so he was thrilled to go and sit and watch a play at the temple. He did get a little restless and ended up falling asleep on the grass. The weather was wonderful and we really enjoyed the show.

The next day we walked to a cute little candy shop for treats and found an awesome park to play at before heading home. We had a great time and I am tempted to do it again next year.

Puddles.....

Puddles are the reason for the rain. 

Help! We are growing webbed feet....

I keep thinking about a song I learned as a kid I think at girls camp

It rained and rained for 40 dayies dayies

Rained and rained for 40 dayies dayies

Drove those animals almost crazy crazy

Children of the Lord!

It has now rained everyday since the kids got out of school. That is over a week. Plus it was raining the week school was still in. I used to love the rain but now I am just going crazy. 

Please let the sun come soon. We are growing webbed feet and it isn't pretty!

Little Red 2009

We did it! 

46.5 miles

Beautiful Cache Valley

A little head wind

And great Friends

The ladies sitting next to us at lunch after it was all over summed it up perfectly,

"I am so glad I met you so we could do this together!"

Photo from left to right:

Julie K., Natalie K., Lori F.(me), Carol N. 

Save Money in the Kitchen

So I promised this list weeks ago. Here it is

How to Save Money in the Kitchen.

My Top Ten List

I don’t claim to know everything. Nor do I want to. This is just how I grew up so try one or a few.

10. Make a menu
• monthly menu
• get everyone’s input
• plan for everyday then when you don’t eat at home one night it can roll over into the next month.
• we don't repeat a meal in a month

9. Shop once a month
•Make a grocery list from your menu

• shop for the month
• except for perishable items
• get friends to pick up milk for you

8. Shop Sales
• Read weekly ads
• Buy generic

7, Don’t go to the store hungry.
• We all know what happens then

6. Buy in bulk
• when it is on sale buy lots.
• your budget will vary from month to month
• Use your freezer, if you don’t have one ask your neighbors if they have an extra. A full freezer is cheaper to run than an empty one.
• We use a lot of oatmeal. I can buy it for $33 for a 50 lb bag. That is only ¢66 a pound. Compared to about 1.50 per pound.

5. Don’t Buy cold cereal
• There are many other foods that are a lot cheaper than cold cereal
• Oatmeal reg. Not quick, add your own flavors.
• pancakes, eggs, waffles, yogurt, berries, and granola


4. Cook from scratch
• Use powdered milk. 3 T. = 1 cup
• Homemade pancakes and waffles are so much cheaper and easier than a mix.
• Freeze homemade waffles for kids for Sat. morning.
• Grind wheat and popcorn at the church.
• Make your own baby food.
• Make your own granola.

3. Use local resourses
• Plant a garden
Or use others gardens
• Learn to can
If you don’t know how to can ask for help. There are plenty of people in our area who would love to help.
• Get jars for free at yard sales or on ksl
Last year I did Salsa, and pears from food going to waste in the area.

2. Don’t eat out.
• Try copying your favorite restaurant foods.
• Tonight’s meal is a Rumbi knock off. Easy and fun and costs only 1.50 per serving compare that to $7 @ Rumbi.
• when traveling and you have to eat out give the kids all their own water bottle. Then buy off the dollar menu. Feed the car full for 6 bucks!

1. Eat Less!
• Save some food from dinner and eat it for lunch the next day.
• We don't need to eat as much as we think.

Sweet, tractor, dreams

Our neighbors are doing a lot of tractor work in their yard. William will spend hours watching the tractor move the dirt all over the yard. The second he hears that engine roar to life he runs to the window. Around nap time it the hardest time to pry him away from the window. This last Saturday in particular he stood at the window falling asleep and asked me for his blanket. I asked him if he wanted to go get in his bed. (he normally says yes. he loves to go to bed.) He laid down on the coach and said in a very sleepy voice, 

"No mom, I'll just listen to the tractor." 

Minutes later he was off to dream land, dreaming about tractors.

Look close at the picture and you will see the tractor out the window.