And I actually thought I would miss Gospel Doctrine...

This happy looking lady is my estranged sister Judy. I haven't talked to her in a very, very long time (because she detests me and my kind [my kind being the entire rest of my family]). This picture has nothing to do with the rest of my post or anything going on in my life, but thought I would include for posterity's sake. She wrote an e-book and my father found it on amazon.com. This is the photo that went with the book. Literary, eh?

On to happier things....primary!! Every year (well, for the last two primary programs), we have done our version of American Idol. As a presidency we make ourselves look ridiculous and then "judge" the children as they sing us the songs they will be performing in the program. Here are pictures from this year's Primary Idol!...

From left to right, we have Wanda Words (me), the handsome and dapper Victor Volume (Michele) and the always sunny Susan Smiles (Brityn Smith). I think highlights included Michele's British accent which was strongly Eastern European, Brityn's personality fitting her character oh-so-well, and the fact that I spilled a whole bottle of water in that purse before sitting down. That poor little dog was swimming.

Here we are, preparing to be ruthless. (Hey grandparents, that's Abigail in the red/black dress with the silver head band. Thanks for the dress! She thinks now that it's below 100 it's time for christmas dresses).

Oh that Wanda Words! She's vicious...

Next year ladies? I dunno how we're going to top that sweet stash though, Michele!

Other highlights from the week...
- painted my front doors blue (love it! I'll include pictures soon)
- painted my table legs the same blue (not so much. Currently passively looking for new table)
- Had brunch at Layers bakery with some of my lady friends. May I recommend the toast. Sounds boring, but it may be the best thing I had all week.
- Took the cousins (Brinley, Parker and Abby) on a 1 mile run. They did AWESOME. and they actually liked it! Abby ran 1.5 miles and only walked for about 2 minutes of it. I was so proud of her.
- Had a hot date with the husband. We ate Thai food and actually went to see the Bellagio fountains. They were doing a 9/11 tribute and I just had to get my patriotic on.
- I braved a baby shower and survived. Dang! I hate those things. It's a good thing they served fudge or I would never have stayed for the presents.

What kind of mom would I be if I didn't record the first week of school...

Abby had her first week of school last week and I would be very disappointed with myself if I didn't record it (I did take pictures, I just can't find my camera).

Monday- We had bought a special first-day-of-school outfit, but in true Abigail style, she had to switch it up on the way out the door. She wouldn't wear the cardigan because it had polka dots and "only boys wear polka dots." She also wanted to finish her outfit with every piece of costume jewelry she owns. Needless to say, the morning started with us butting heads. But after we reached our compromise, somewhere between tasteful and bedazzled, she had a great first day of school! She made several new friends and has some old friends in her class as well. She has 45 kids in her class!

For FHE that night, we started something new. I wrote down a list of things that I feel like my family did a good job of teaching me and we're going to concentrate on one each week as a family goal. This last week's was BE KIND. We started the week of by taking Sister Doty (a lady in our ward who is dying of cancer) some flowers, treats and a card. It was a nice start to the week.

So you may ask what I do during the 2.5 hours while Abby is in school? Well, I'll tell you. I've been shoveling rock out of my back yard and taking it to the dump. Yep, I...Jamie Leavitt...have been sweating, shoveling, blistering, hauling, hitching, and swearing. I want a back yard pretty darn bad.

Tuesday- We had our favorite Flordians come for a visit. The Hales!!! Abby and I were lucky enough to lunch with Carin Hales herself and to have dinner with John later in the week. This was also the day I tried my hand at canning peaches with my in-laws. I got to tell you, you don't want me on your wagon team if we have to cross the plains. I am a horrible canner, sewer, and have yet to establish any type of food storage.

Wednesday- Abby is still loving school and I am loving the rocks less and less. At this point, I have called a landscaper to just "see how much it would cost...."

Thursday- Landscaper shows up. I see how much they would charge me for removing the rocks and am shocked that anyone would do that crappy job for less than 75k. So my 4 days of rock shoveling came to an end and I signed a landscape contract.

Friday- Abby's school week ends a little rough. She was devastated that another little girl accidentally wrote on her favorite shirt with marker. Oh, and she was ticked at me for being third-to-last to be picked up. As for my landscape project? Becky has given me the brilliant idea of improving my cinder block walls with some art work...I'll let you know how it goes!

Saturday- We hit the lake with our posse. I had my first open water swim and I am pretty sure it was about 5 miles. Wouldn't you say that's about right, Linds? That evening we played water kickball as an extended family.

Sunday- Brandon left us for Fresno early in the morning. For those who don't know (and because I need to write it down or I'll forget) Brandon was in a car accident about 2.5 weeks ago. Our little civic got crushed by an ambulance who failed to stop. The irony of an ambulance hitting an attorney has yet to get old. What necessitated the trip to Fresno was a new car. He bought one private party from a doctor in fresno in order to avoid the sales tax he would pay on a dealer's lot. He is a pretty happy clam in his new car.

Labor Day- Abby was actually itching to go back to school. Maybe because we cleaned the house all morning? Hmm. She did get to go to a family swim/bbq and then go play with her cousins while I hit the movies for a girl's night.

It was a good week. just dropped her off for kindergarten about 20 minutes ago and she was mauled by a bunch of little girls when she got through the gate. I'm so glad she is making friends