Baptism, birthday, and some Boo!

October is always one of my favorite months.  I love all things Halloween, I love fall, and I love the sports season here (football and soccer).  This October has been jam packed full of stuff (what's new right?).  Levi was baptized on the 9th.  My sister and her family came, and my dad was able to make it too.  It was a really sweet baptism.  His friends gave the opening and closing prayers, and Jordan and her friend Emma gave the talks.  After Mike took him into the water and baptized him, Levi told his dad that it was so "cool" to know that he was clean from sin and that he could now take the sacrament and be clean again every week.  It was very sincere and not prompted at all.  He's such a loving kid. 

cousins!

brothers and sisters

Later in the week, I took the kids and Taylor's friend Stephanie to Apple Annie's for our yearly pumpkin picking.  We toured through the corn maze, ate shaved ice and kettle corn, picked our own pumpkins, and then went to the local restaurant that is built in and around a train car.  It was so fun.

kids at the Depot

I was lucky enough to take a short leave of the family and head to Phoenix for Time Out For Women.  I try to go every year.  I think this year had the best speakers to date.  My two friends were there with me and we ate so much good food!  Best part of all was NO CLEAN UP!! 

Saturday was the stake fall fun festival.  I got to help head the thing up, and it was so much fun.  I didn't actually end up doing much, but I was proud to be a part of the fun.  The kids loved it and didn't want to leave.

Monday we celebrated Jaxson's 2nd birthday.  Tristan said "I can't believe Jax is only 2.  It seems like he's been around forever!"  I am really bad at planning birthday parties.  I don't mind doing them, but this time of year is just way too busy (and nearly all the kids have birthdays one right after the other!).  So, we got his favorite food for dinner (pizza), and an ice cream cake for his birthday.  He was shy when we sang happy birthday.  Man, I love that little boy!

Today, the kids had a costume parade at school, so last night we finished costumes and hopefully we will find time to carve pumpkins some time today or tomorrow.  

Things won't slow down here at all!  Tomorrow is Levi's last football game of the season so I hope to get a few pictures.  We will trunk or treat, and maybe attend a Halloween party.  Monday Taylor turns 16, and we are going to plan a trip to Tucson to celebrate that with her.  Ahh, I need a nap just thinking about it all! 

It's magic!

Taylor is on the keyboard.  You can call her "Red Ross" if you like, I do.

All suited up

Taylor had a concert that was a "magic show".  They had magicians, a ventriloquist, and singing.  I took the kids to see it, and they loved it!  The show band sounded great although Taylor thought they were horrible.  She is very picky and a perfectionist about music.  I'm excited to hear them play again. 

Tristan on stage to help with a trick.

 Levi is now in scouts, and his first scouting experience was going to the county fair.  He had fun looking at the animals and the exhibits.  We stayed after to let him and Tris go on some rides with their friends.  I thought the bubbles in the pool was really cool!  They did too.

Tris on a ride.

Halloween is fast approaching us and I love it!  I have posted before about how I love fall, and how it makes me feel all nostalgic and happy.  The kids like putting on all the masks at the store.  

Taylor wants to be this for Halloween, and likes to freak out her baby brother.

 

 

 

 

 

Jax likes to dress up with his friends too.

 This last weekend was homecoming.  It is a crazy time of year for us.  We always have a bunch of places to be at once.  Jordan marched in the band for the parade.  I got to see her march by before I had to throw the boys in the car and hustle to the chapel for our ward activity.  Mike then had to leave Levi's football practice early to make it to the homecoming game to see Jordan march in the pregame show.  Whew, life just doesn't slow down at all!

Buena band

Jordan's band.  She's in front behind the sign.

 Taylor went to the homecoming dance with a group of friends last night.  I didn't get to see her all dressed up so I insisted she take pictures.  My camera stinks, and this is the only picture that turned out nice.  She had a great time and was pooped out all day today!

Taylor all dressed up for the dance.

Happenings

I am not a great blogger.  I love to read others blogs, but I rarely seem to get around to updating mine.  I'm not good at writing letters or calling friends either (sorry friends!).  I get so wrapped up in what is going on with my family that I just let time slip by so fast.  I am also really bad at taking photos of events, journaling, and planning birthday stuff for my kids.  It's just the way I am.  BUT, lest you think I don't do ANY of these things ever, here is a smidgeon of the happenings at the Leavitts!

Levi just turned 8!  I didn't have time to plan anything for him, but Mike and I took him out to his favorite place to eat.  Hana Tokyo!  We had the whole hibachi to ourselves, and Levi had fun.  We are planning a party around his baptism October 9th. 

Levi at his birthday dinner

Levi started TACKLE football.  He is the smallest one on the team (by a long shot!).  But he really likes it, and he can take a hit so I'm going with it.  Tristan started soccer (I did too since I'm the coach).  It is fun to watch those little kids try to figure out the game. 

Mike and I finally had a chance to go to the Gila Valley temple together.  It was so beautiful.  We talked about how we first met at the exact location of the new temple.  That makes it special for us to go together.  Then we went to eat at Casa Manana.  It was a favorite of ours there in Safford.  After that we met up with the kicker on the EAC football team.  Mike coached him for 4 years and now he is playing at EAC.  We went to the game that night and sat with our old friend Lance Layton.  We had a great time visiting him.  I also got to chat for a few minutes with Brother Palmer who was my old Institute teacher/director.  He looks just the same and is just as awesome as always. 

Jordan picking a good one.

Mike helped the boys get pears

Kids melting in front of Apple Annie store

A few weekends ago, we took the kids to Apple Annie's in Willcox to pick apples and eat yummy home made apple ice cream, and apple bread.  It was hot, dusty, and awesome.  I hope we get a chance to go back to get pumpkins and fresh veggies, but with our crazy schedules, who knows.  Afterward, we went to my folks house and raided their freezer for beef.  They just had a calf slaughtered and I got to fill a cooler full of meat. 

This is how Jax travels!

Taylor is getting ready for homecoming which means I'm going to be mending a NEW dress to make it modest enough to wear.  She is also getting ready for a lot of band performances which means a lot of piano practicing and lessons.  Learning jazz theory has really helped her in her musical abilities.  I'm anxious to hear her playing with a jazz band!

Oh yeah, I also have a ton of stuff to do for PTSO.  I got voted in as the VP, and I am trying to keep up with it all.  I was also called to assist in the Fall festival for our stake which is coming up at the end of October.  I am one busy momma right now!

I'll try to do better at posting though since I love to read other's blogs so much. 

Yes, it's that time of year again. . . so soon!

Taylor not too old to take a Buzz Lightyear lunchbox to school.

Levi ready to go get chased by girls.

The kids started school already!  Last week the kids all had to get up and get ready for school.  I am sure none of us were prepared for it.  It felt too early, too soon, and too hot to be sending them off.  But, we made it through the first few days just fine.  I can't believe that Taylor is a Junior this year.  Next year will be so hard for me!  Jordan is in 8th grade, and will go to high school next year.  Levi started 2nd grade, and Tristan started Kindergarten.  Whew, just reading through that has me exhausted.  It's nice to have them on a schedule again though.  That's what I really love about school. 

Jordan wondering why I still take her picture.

 

Tris a bit nervous, but really excited to finally be going to school.

 

 

boys at the bus stop on the 2nd day (the bus forgot to pick them up!)

Jax in his pajamas at the bus stop to send the boys off to school.

Since the kids are gone for school each day, and I'm at home with Jax, I figured I needed a project to keep me busy.  But, since it is so hot right now, I am putting off my sewing table paint job.  I headed over to the thrift store and found this little jem.  It looked gross and dusty, but the basket was in really great shape.  I figured that for $3 I could attempt to fix it up a bit.  I cut out all the nasty yarn, took off the straps, and re-covered it all.  Then I made some fabric rosettes that I have been meaning to try for a while now.  It turned out okay.  I'm not 100% happy with the handles, but it will do for now.  So, now I think I will make some more rosettes for other projects that involve me sitting on my rear end and not moving much since it is even ridiculously hot in my house. 

Isn't it gorgeous?  It even said Mexico on the top!

Here it is a few hours later.

Flying by!

Summer is flying by.  It has gone too fast for me to keep up with this blog!  Last month was a whirl.  To start things off, we went on vacation!  It was the most interesting trip we've ever had as a family.  We let the girls each bring a friend with them so we had our hands full with kids.  We flew to San Antonio on father's day for several days.  We spent the first few days at Sea World (which is really just a water park with some sea animals!) and we all got sun burned.  The next few days were spent at Schlitterbahn.  It is an amazing water park.  I had fun watching the boys over come some fears and go on pretty big water slides.  Levi finally got enough confidence to start swimming for the first time which was awesome.  We also spent a day at the riverwalk and the Alamo.  It was a good trip, but Mike and I decided we weren't taking a trip of that magnitude again until Jaxson is a bit older.  He was a PILL!
Here are some pics of our trip: (my camera died so I didn't get many)

Jax melted in the humidity and heat!

cooling off with a . . . turkey leg?

The back of our hotel at Schlitterbahn reminded me of the cabins on Dirty Dancing.

Jordan and Emma right outside our rooms.

riverwalk tour

cannons at the Alamo

I also took the kids to my brother's and sister's houses for a few days and did some early school shopping.  It's a good thing because school starts next week and we are running out of time!

I have been busy getting my house cleaned and organized, and finishing projects around here.  We had an appraiser come out and do an appraisal yesterday so we were a bit frantic to get things done before then.  Here are some of the things I finished this month:

I put the last door on the armoir that i refinished and repurposed.

I finally finished the frame on the mirror.

made a new towel rack for the bathroom.  It still looks rough, I am planning on taking it when we move so I didn't fill the holes all the way on the wall since I need to put a towel rack back on.

and finally, I painted and filled the jewelry box.

17 Years!

Saturday was Mike and my 17th anniversary.  It is hard to believe that I'm old enough we have been married for 17 years already.  I woke up early because Mike had to help out with an eagle project, and I had to clean up the house a bit for the bug guy to come spray.  While I was doing domestic boring work, I had time to remember the day I was married.  We got up early that day too.  We needed to be at the temple before it got too hot to take pictures.  It was still too hot at 7:30 a.m. in Phoenix AZ! 

Mike and I knew we were meant to be together, and there were no nerves or jitters about our decision to be married.  It was a really fun day.  We were sealed in the Mesa temple, then we took my brother, his fiance Vel, and my best friend Staci to lunch before we headed back to Chino Valley for our reception.  I love those memories.
This year for our anniversary, we decided NOT to get gifts for each other.  We are going on vacation this weekend, and want to save money for this trip.  We went to a movie and dinner instead.  We saw A-team.  We both really liked it, but, then again, we both watched every episode as kids.  Then, we drove into Bisbee for dinner.  We went to cafe Roka.

  Neither of us had ever been there, but it has been recommended to us many times.  Bisbee is such a fun place.  The ceilings had such beautiful tin ceilings!
  There are so many weird interesting people who live and visit there.  The city is built on a mountainside so everything is off kilter.  The buildings and homes are all shabby old and quaint. 

I love the atmosphere.  Cafe Roca is a swanky upscale who knows what Italian place.  The food was excellent.  We had seats at the top of a balcony and people watched all through dinner.  Then after dinner, we held hands and walked up and down the main street in town.  We walked through a few of the art and jewelry galleries and enjoyed the 67 degree temps!  It was an awesome date.  I love Mike!  He is fun to be with and my eternal best friend.  

This summer has been a whirlwind so far.  Taylor got her permit and is now driving me crazy all the time. 

Our hummingbird let us take a few pictures of her.  It is the first time I have ever seen a hummingbird STILL in my life.  She usually flies away when we open the front door.  I think the babies will be hatched soon.  

The boys were so cute on Sunday, I had to get a few pics of them too.

We are getting ready for a vacation to San Antonio which will be so much fun.  I look forward to all of our "activities" this summer and hope to post lots of pics.