Random Thoughts From Home!

So here is the amazing and fantabulous picture I promised you! This is the food I purchased from Albertson's at their big ConAgra sale. Let me tell you, it took me three days to recover from this shopping experience. And this picture doesn't show the 54 boxes of Banquet Brown n Serve sausage links that I got on the last day of the sale and the 30 bottles of mustard. And what did it cost me? Absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact they paid me $47.00 to shop their sale. Here's how it works:

I went to Albertson's on Wednesday the first day of the sale at about 9:30am. There I bought 6 cans of Healthy Choice soup and 4 (4 packs) of pudding. The products totalled over $25.00 in shelf price and because of the ConAgra sale the sale amount automatically dropped to $10.00. So I paid $10.00 and got a receipt and wait for it....a $10.00 catalina coupon which is good towards my next purchase. So I bought another 6 cans of soup and 4 pks of pudding and when it dropped to $10.00 I paid with my catalina and then wait for it.....I got another $10.00 catalina! I spent over 5 1/2 hours at Albertson's in between work and then later that evening when a group of Shadle Park Relief Society got together to show others how to do this. As you can see by the picture the sale included Wesson oil, cocoa, margarine, ketchep, mustard (30 bottles), salsa, soup, peanut butter and sausage. It also included canned tomatoes (didn't need because I can my own), and a lot of frozen meals which I don't want to get use to having although I did buy some for dinner that night because I had no time to make dinner! And to top it off, since I was using my Albertson's card it kept ringing up points so that by the end of the day I had received $65.00 worth of receipt rewards which I have already started using to shop for good deals on meat at Albertson's. With some of the products like peanut butter I would have an overage of .76 for each transaction. So although I spent about $29.00 in cash I still have the receipt rewards and a $10.00 catalina for futher shopping! WOW! Albertson's even had a list of the products you could purchase and how to mix them so that many items were free and others had just a little overage. Albertson's is great and the clerks were incredible!

I don't know how ConAgra makes any money but I'm glad they do this sale. The last one was last June and I heard about it too late. But not anymore, I found the blog that announces it so I will be there every time it happens. I've already let Jordan take stuff home and I plan on taking some out to Grandma Joyce and Uncle Mike tomorrow. Anyway, I wanted to share this with all of you and when you come home there will be pudding and cocoa galore!

What a blessing this was for so many families in our ward. When you work on your food storage the Lord provides a way!

Love you,

Mom

Too Much Fun!

We are having way too much fun having Courtney here! And it's great having Maran here as well, but let's face it, Courtney is amazing. She reminds me a lot of Maran when she was little and it's been fun to relive her personality through Courtney!

Just to bring you up to date on everyone. Did you all know that Patrick and Lindsay have a dog now? Yep. And the boys are loving it from what I hear.

Jordan is keeping up at school and Ginanne is also doing well. I'm sure she's tired but as all women know that comes with the pregnancy!

Becky now has her thesis idea and is now working on research. One of the people on her thesis committee is Brad Wilcox. If you don't know who that is, google his name.

Maran and Courtney are here for a bit. Devin is doing great at Boot Camp. Maran got to talk to him for 15 minutes this past Saturday. Yay! She is anxious to be reunited as a family though. Separation is never easy, so keep them in your prayers.

Zach is thinking about going back to school this Spring. He's doing really well at his job at Domino's and we continue to ask for you to keep him in your prayers and put his name on the temple rolls each time you go.

Brady is getting ready to be a cheer boy for Groovy Shoes on Feb. 1st. Go Shadle! I never thought I would say the words, 'my son is at cheer practice', but there you go. Keep this boy in your prayers too.

Dad is starting up doing taxes again. He's using the laptop he got for Christmas to do them on instead of the very, very, very old computer we used to have downstairs. He is always working on something whether it be taxes or projects around the house. He is a regular Charles Ingalls!

I am doing my weight loss group again and hope to lose about 20 more pounds. I feel better and look forward to a very healthy middle age! Life is good.

Love to you all and have a great week!

Love Mom

Random thoughts from Home!

I thought you might like to see a picture of Dad and all his family. Aren't they cute? It was so fun to see all of them visiting and remembering and laughing together. Grandma Jean had so much fun and loved every minute of her 90th birthday celebration!

Random Thoughts from Home

Dad and I had a great time at the reunion/90th birthday party for Grandma Jean. It was held in Bothell, Wa and we stayed at the Quality Inn with many other members of the family. All ten of the Mitchell kids were there and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We got in Friday afternoon and met at the nearby lds chapel for dinner and visiting and five crowns and more visiting. Dad and I both made it into the next round of five crowns where I played a horrible game and went out. Dad made it into the 3rd round but went out. So Dad and I both played in the losers bracket and of course lost there as well! But it was so much fun. On Saturday we met at a nearby park and had lunch and Trinette had a lot of games and we took many photos. It was just so much fun to visit and catch up. Hard to believe but Aunt Connie is now a great grandma which of course makes Grandma Jean a great-great grandma! We went back to the hotel to rest up and then we all met back at the church for a birthday celebration. Uncle Rick and Aunt Lisa had asked their favorite greek restaurant to cater dinner and it was excellent. There was also birthday cake and probably a bazillion photos were taken including the one here. Back at the hotel we met family at the pool and in the lounge for more visiting. I would not have missed this for anything. We left Sunday morning around 9am and on the way home stopped to check out Leavenworth. What a fun place. We picniced along the river and just visited all the shops. They have a great Christmas shop that makes you yearn for the holidays even in 90 degree weather. We plan to return when we can actually buy stuff. We also sat and listened to a polka band and watched a cute little elderly couple polka on the dance floor. We had a blast the whole weekend and hope next time all of you can come to the next Mitchell reunion! We belong to a great family and are truly blessed.

Random Thoughts From Home

So much time has passed since I last posted. Who knew time could fly by so fast! We've been so busy with work, soccer games, a trip to St. Anthony's, hosting Easter dinner, seminary and young men's. Wow! Now we have been called to be a Ma and Pa for the youth Trek this July! We are excited and eager for this new experience. It is going to be a very busy summer. We have the Trek, a trip to Utah, a Mitchell family reunion and the high adventure.
Well it is getting late and I'm tired and it's Sunday tomorrow and we have the missionaries coming to dinner. But we look forward to the best part of Sunday which is the chance to talk to all of you. We love visiting and catching up and hope we chat with all of you.

In case you haven't received my roll recipe that is absolutely the best!
Naomi's Rolls
1/2 c. sugar
1 Tbls shortening
1 egg
1 tsp salt
4 1/2-5 cups flour
1 Tbls yeast softened in 1/2 cup warm water
Beat the sugar and egg. Scald milk, cool. Add yeast to sugar and egg mixture. Stir in shortening, yeast, salt, flour. Let rise about 2-2 1/2 hrs. Shape, cut, rise again about 1/2-1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 16-20 rolls. If you want to see how to shape these rolls perfectly go to http://www.everydayfoodstorage.net and in the search box put in rolls. She has a great video that shows you how to shape them so that they look professional. You will love them and never buy store bought again.
I also want to share a new food storage tip that will come in handy. You have probably all noticed that egg prices have shot up! I read in the newspaper that egg prices have increased 30% this year. Yikes! I read in Better Homes and Gardens that you can freeze eggs. When I find eggs on sale I break the eggs into ice trays that I purchased at D.I. for 50 cents each and freeze them. I separate the whites and the yokes and place them into empty peanut butter containers that go in the freezer. When I need an egg for baking I just pop it into the microwave for a few seconds and use them in my baking.
Love to you all!

Random Thoughts from Home!

I always thought that when the children began to leave the home that life would get slower and less stressful. I'm here to tell each of you that that is a crock. And thank heavens it is. How boring it would be if there wasn't something to do, some project to start, work on, finish, some last minute thing to do for one's calling, some service to perform! I love it.

Right now I'm cutting old jeans up to make small quilts. These jeans are old ones from when each of you were very young. I did not throw them away because I knew I would one day have time to cut and patch them together. They are being cut into 4x4 inch squares. I have already cut about 100 6x6 inch squares for twin sized quilts for whomever is lucky enough to need them. I am also working on a quilt for Emmi. There is also a pattern pinned to material for matching dresses for Maran and Courtney. I have also set up an area for scrapbooking. Not the fancy-shmancy kind, just the 'let's get these pictures on a page before I lose them' kind! I am also reading the Scarlet Pimpernel for bookclub in March and I've watched the movie so I think I'm going to like the book! I'm also involved in a personal progress kind of program for Relief Society. One of my goals is to memorize the Proclamation to the Family. I have the first two paragraphs memorized already! I continue to teach seminary and I hope that I have this calling for many more years. I love it! The students are so great and what I learn from studying is priceless. I am heading up the Activities Committee for the Youth Trek this summer and that's going to be something! I get to spend a lot of time with them as well this summer. When I think about it, I'm one of the fortunate ones who enjoys her life and where it has lead me. Not a lot of people are happy about where life has taken them but I'm not one of them! Lucky, lucky me!!

And the greatest reason for my happiness has to be your Dad. He is truly my special valentine all the year long! I have long believed that if each of our sons could be even half the man their father is then they would be outstanding men. And if our daughters could marry someone who was even half the man their father is, they would be happy. Your dad is the kindest, most tender husband, father and person ever created. He is truly without guile and is truly like Nephi of old who remained steadfast and immovable in his faith no matter what. I have posted in my seminary room two posters. One is for the young men and says, 'strive to always be a Nephi kind of guy' and the one for the girls says, 'settle for nothing less than a Nephi kind of guy.' Well, I was blessed and got a Nephi kind of guy. How many people can say after 30 years of marraige that their spouse still makes them laugh, still brings them joy, still makes them want to pinch themselves to be sure this eternal happiness is real! Life is good, especially when you are married to someone like your Dad!!!

Love you all

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home!

Thought I'd put this picture up of the cutie-patooties in dresses Grandma Mitchell bought. No, I did not make them! But are'nt they adorable? Having these girls in our home was such fun and could only have been improved if they had been joined by Nolan and Gerret! We missed you boys but we know you had a great New York Christmas.

This is our second Christmas where we took all the Christmas money we were given and added Christmas bonuses and any other cash we could come up with and got a big gift. Last year we bought the laptop which has been wonderful to use. This year we bought a 42-inch plasma TV. And yes it's great! Dad and I watched the last Indiana Jones movie Friday night and we loved it. We also watched football playoffs on Saturday and I was overwhelmed with joy. (shedding of tears will commence shortly!) Dad researched plasma vs lcd and size and everything else one should know. So when we were at Costco he was impressed with their models, sizes and the two year warranty. I don't like movie theatres anyway so now I have absolutely no reason to go to one now!

Not much is currently going on at home. I still love teaching seminary, Dad still loves being Young Mens president and Brady loves being a junior. He did drop yearbook and entered a regular AP English class and will be a teacher's assistant for Mr. Schatz. He also got a 32 on his first try of the ACT. He will be taking it again in order to qualify for a full ride scholarship at BYU-Provo. He needs a 34 for that and he also knows that Zach's 35 set the bar high.

We are leaving for church now so have a great Sabbath and week. Love you all.

Mom