Here we are.

Taylor and Katie at the zoo. She has been and continues to be a major "daddy's girl." Sometimes I feel left-out, but mostly I just enjoy watching their relationship. Taylor is so calm and patient with her. They have tons of silly games and routines together too. I get in trouble with Katie for not doing things "right" with her. For example: it is necessary to suck water off your toothbrush after you are done brushing your teeth. If this does not occur it is a major traumatic event around here. How could I not know that! Levi chilling at the zoo. We didn't get there until it was naptime, but both kids did really well. He sat like this the whole time we were there.

Bathtime. Hard to believe he is already 9 months old! At his doctor appt. He was in the 36th percentile for weight and 76th for height. Quite a change from the 80 and 90's we have been seeing. With him starting to crawl he has really dropped some weight.

Katie loves rasperries. Thank you Grandma Walker for teaching her this new trick. And for sneaking her a bottle the other day...She is still asking for one!

Levi's head was really dry so I rubbed some lotion in after baths. It made it really easy to spike it all over. I think this could be Senior yearbook material.

I saved $94.86!

As some of you know, I have embarked on a crazy grocery-budget-slashing adventure. My goal most weeks is to save more than 50% on my total bill. Though my budget hasn't gone down that much yet, I have been able to buy significantly more food for the same amount of money. I am building up a stock-pile right now which accounts for my spending the same amount. I hope to within the next few months drastically reduce my spending! This trip to Albertson's was my biggest savings yet!
Groceries
4 - Betty Crocker Cookie Mix 2 for $5 buy 8 and they are $1.49 + $1 off coupon = $.49 each
2 - Betty Crocker Muffin Mix was $3.59 buy 8 and they are $1.99 + $1 off coupon = $.99 each
5 - Del Monte Fruit Cocktail was $1.99 on sale for $.99 + $1 off 5 = $.80 each
1 - Charmin Bath Tissue 16 count was $10.79 on sale for $7.99 + $1 off = $6.99
2 - Sun Dish Soap on sale 10 for $10 + $1 off coupon = FREE!
2 - Pillsbury Pie Crust was $3.49 on sale for 2.49 + $1 off coupon = $1.49 each
4 - Pillsbury Simply Cookie Dough was $3.99 buy 8 and they are $2.49 + $1 off coupon = $1.49
1 - Whole Milk was 1.59 on sale for $1 = $1
1 - 2% Milk = $2.29
2 -4 packs of Fiber One Yoplait Yogurt was $3.39 buy 8 they are $2.49 with $1 coupon = $1.49
8 - Green Giant Veggie Steamers was on sale 2/$3 with $1 off 2 coupon = $1
4 - Yoplait Frozen Yogurt Smoothies was $3.39 buy 8 they are $1.99 with $1 coupon = $.99
1 bunch bananas was $1.77/lb on sale for $.50/lb = $.89
4 - Raspberries was $3.99 each = $1.25 each
2 - Feta cheese was $3.49 on sale 2/$5 with 2 $1 off coupons = $1.50 each
1 - Trident Layers gum was $1.49 on sale 10 for $10 with $1 off = FREE!
Total Bill = $39.89
Total Coupons = $28.75
Total Savings Coupons and Sales = $94.86.

Now tell me clipping coupons is a waste of time:)

SWAGGER WAGON

Oh man I can't express how badly I want one of these!

New GEICO Commercial - Piggy

Taylor and I were laughing so hard at this one:)

sick

Katie and the cousins at the Pine Creek football game. Katie and Daddy at the game. She was so excited to see the band and the cheerleaders who did the"high-flying-twisters." Another Daddy name for flipping in the air.

I love watching her sleep. She is so cute!

We have all been sick. For like 2 weeks now. Runny noses, coughs, sore throats. I have been a human kleenex. I can handle a lot of gross stuff but boogers really do me in. Friday, Katie started throwing up. I had just remade her bed which is a real pain. Saturday, she did it again. I feel bad for her...and bad for me. Hopefully we will have no more barfing in this house!

The End of September

Katie LOVES spending time with her older cousins. She gets super excited running around and making weird noises. Notice blanket and little lambie in the picture. It would be a calamity if anything ever happened to blanket and or little lambie. And yes, we are all about creative naming in this family. Mommy letting Katie make a huge mud-pit in the sandbox. I was getting lunch for Levi and looked out and she was just getting ready to play in the nude. Considering the amount of roofing people in our neighborhood at the moment I compromised and told her she needed to wear panties. We have all been fighting colds the past week or so and I am ok with whatever it takes to get us through!

Drinking out of the hose. How is it still in the 80's here!!! Yuck. Bring on the cool.

Doing Nana's hair.

I didn't get great pics of our hike at Mueller...but the color was awesome.

My new favorite trick of Levi's. Whenever he feels shy he snuggles up on me. I love it. I love him! Please stop growing up Levi! Please start taking naps too:)

Day to Day

We took a trip to the apple orchard. They have a pumpkin patch too and the kids loved playing with them. It was a kind of crazy trip juggling kids, trying to pick raspberries and dealing with tantrums. The weather was great and Katie was happy that for lunch she had a powdered doughnut and pudding. I think I would try to go with Taylor or Grandma on the next trip. Trying to get a cute picture. Levi started eating rocks and Katie was throwing them. Then the tractor pulled hay-ride showed up. Who knew how terrifying that would be:)

Playing at the park. I can't believe how good Katie is getting at climbing. Brave too. She can get around on most of the equipment now. I remember last summer she was just starting to go down slides by herself.

Who doesn't love swings!

We stay on the swings for most of the time at the park. Katie has been riding her scooter to park which turns our 5 minute walk into 30. She gets worn out though which I love!

Mommy blinding Levi with the camera flash. He is always sucking that lower lip.

He is crawling everywhere. I had forgotten how many things need to be baby proofed. He also is way more into things and putting them in his mouth than Katie was. Door stoppers are addictive to him. He loves pulling the end cap off and trying to get it in his mouth before I can get to him.

A new dress for Katie. Mini-Boden style copy again.

Making sugar cookies with Grandma. I ran out of white sugar and had to sub in powdered as well as butter and had to use shortening. They actually came out really good. Which is normally not what happens when I make cookies. They tasted like Lofthouse cookies which are my favorite! Katie had to change into her bathing suit to make these cookies. She also ate more dough than we cooked:) A girl after my own heart...about the cookie dough, not the bathing suit.

Another mini-Boden knock-off.