Decorating

It's that time of year when everything comes down from the attic. A few years ago David & I started taking a hands off approach and letting the kids go for it. 

This year the pranksters decorated. I am loving their creativity. However inappropriate it may be. 

 

Johanna's 2 year old pics

Trent's 5th Grade Graduation

I got a new laptop and it has taken me a couple of months to get everything organized again. I didn't want to get a new computer but my other one met an untimely death with the concrete driveway.
 I hate Windows 8 BTW!!!
Ok, Hate is a strong word....I strongly dislike Windows 8 and may never get another Windows Machine.

Anyhow, Last weekend some of my scrapbook buddies got together for a little impromptu crop day.  I took the new laptop and thought I'd do a little digital scrappin.  After I sat down I realized  I had failed to move an entire folder full of my digital stuff.  So there I sat unable to do a thing.  But really the scrapbooking is more about the friends and catching up with everyone's life. That's my favorite part anyway.
But since then I've had the bug and so yesterday I worked on this cute page for Trent.  The 5th grade Graduation is always a big deal and last year the decorations were just great.  It was such a fun morning.

Pumpkin carving

I think I've been hearing about pumpkin carving since October 1st.

So today we went to the pumpkin patch. (Aka grocery store) and everyone selected their own pumpkin from the patch (cardboard box)

But they were happy. Especially because no one had to share this year.

Out of the 5 we had a spiderweb, batman, cat face, tigger, and scary face.

As the sun went down everyone got closer and closer to the porch light.

Lots of creativity, sensory fun, and another family memory! 

Scrapbook Time

This is Mia. 

Today me and mommy made this scrapbook paper.

Mommy taught me some cool things.

I had a lot of fun today. 

Gotcha Day - One year ago

What a year!  I think it passed by in a mixture of firsts and fog.  Johanna has met so many milestones in the past year.  She has gotten 17 teeth (which means more than one a month!)
She has learned to crawl and then walk.  She has gone from only taking a bottle to eating and feeding herself independently.  She can run and jump.  She knows all the kids names and can identify what clothing or shoes belongs to each person.  She loves the swimming pool and would rather be wearing nothing( hee, hee) Keeping clothes on her is quite a task.
Johanna is a truly remarkable gift from God and we are so blessed to be able to watch her grow and change over the past year. I can't wait to see what will happen next year.

First day of Summer Break!  Yahoo! 

Thanks to the raccoon on the roof (and the dog that thought we all needed protection from it) I've been up since 5:20, 

No sleeping in today.  By 8:00 I had done 3 loads of clothes, cleaned the kitchen and made breakfast.  So, while the kids were waking up I grabbed my laptop and actually got a page made.  Since Johanna's 1 year Gotcha day is fast approaching I thought it might be fun to work on a page for her.  Since I have completed done exactly 0 pages for her book.

Maybe the summer will continue this way (Minus the raccoon)

It doesn't get much better than this for a 2 year old.
A balloon and a cookie!
( plus it was her brother seeing the orthodontist)

Swim Season

It's that time again. Swim Team!!!
We honestly love being a part of our neighborhood swim team. This year Kaylee Trent and Mia are swimming. Kaylee said she wants to teach Johanna to swim for next summer so she can be on the team next summer.

Trent placed 3rd in the Individual Medley. (That's 4 lengths of the pool non-stop doing a different stroke each time.)
Mia's relay team came in 1st and then 2nd. Everyone is getting a little faster each week. Which is the point anyway.

I seem to be raising a bunch of procrastinators

You gotta  love it when at 8:15 the kids inform me they need
A white shirt for Tye-dying,
 a barbie,
a shoebox,
 sugar cubes,
 pictures of as many anscestors as we can find
 a scrapbook and
 2 cartons of blueberries

 - You guessed it all for school in the morning

Baby Dolls

Johanna loves when the kids get home for school. She goes from person to person to see what's going on,
It was fun to walk into the girl's room and see them playing with baby dolls.
Johanna's going to have a fun summer.

Making Washing Detergent

I have always wanted to try making Detergent.  I have seen several recipes for making it but it was always such a large amount. (Not that I don't need a LOT of detergent with 8 people changing clothes every day) But I just didn't have an ample supply of 5 gallon buckets and the room to store them.
So, I stumbled on this recipe and I've been using it almost strictly for about a year now.  I don't have a front loader but I as do have a machine that calls for he detergent. And this detergents works just fine.


Here's the ingredients.   All of these are generally available for purchase on the detergent aisle.  You can buy all three ingredients for about $7.  If you buy 3 bars of the soap you can make about 9 recipes from what you see here.

First start by Boiling 6 cups of water. ( I keep this old pot around just for this chore)  While you're waiting for the water to boil, Grate 1/3 Bar of Zote or Fels Naptha Soap. I grate it on the side with the biggest holes. The soap is soft so it's easy to do.


Next add the grated soap to the water and remove from heat.  Stir until the soap dissolves.
Add 1/2 Cup of Borax and 1/2 Cup of Arm & Hammer
Washing Soda
Stir it all together and make sure everything is dissolved

Then pour the soap mixture into a large bucket that you can measure 2 gallons in.  Fill to the top of the 2 gallon mark with water.

Let the mixture cool for just a bit and then pour into storage containers.  I re-use one store bought detergent container and two other  containers.
You will have to shake the bottle a good bit in the first few loads to loosen up the "gel like clumps" but just consider it a bi-cep work out you wouldn't get otherwise.

This makes about 100 loads.  I've tried to calculate the cost of one recipe but then I start thinking about Downton Abbey or when Red John will be revealed on  the Mentalist and I decide I have better things to think about.
But I would guess it costs about $1.25 for one recipe. Much cheaper than $10 a bottle

Back to the Future

I am LOVING all the 80's stuff in the stores. I think it's been "trying" to come back for quite awhile but the people just weren't "buying" it.
Maybe some women were still trying to come out of the 80's hairspray fog.

BTW- I can still remember the first time Lavaughn Stoddered show me how to use a curling iron and make the 3" bangs, in the band hall no less.

Anyway, I've been out shopping a bit lately and have gotten some really cool things for the girls and they look so cute in neon pink and orange.. It was Johanna's birthday and I even got her a Cabbage Patch doll, it had that authentic CP smell. Just brings me back. Isn't it wonderful smells can do that for you.

I'm continually amazed at how God created us to experience events through all our senses.

Like when I saw this package of PacMan bandages at Target. I instantly wanted to go skating, eat a pickle and then watch Friday night videos.

I know some people want to forget parts of their childhood. But I choose to hang on to it. All of it. Even if it means crimping my girl's hair and playing Centipede any time I can find it.
I saw a sign recently that said "people don't quit playing because they get old . They get old because they quit playing."

Retail therapy

The girls and I had a fun Saturday afternoon doing a little shopping. I don't think buying things made me feel good but spending girl time sure did.

Psyched for 16

16 what a magical age... You can legally drive and oh the excitement!

(And Zane's pretty stoked about it too)

For his birthday we did a little Rock wall climbing. And by we I mean--the kids. I held the rope at the bottom and David with his recent surgery- he held the baby.
I tried to invent a cake I thought he would like. It was a chocolate cake with cookie dough icing. It was really good but really RICH. He liked it and so I say it was a success.

Fro-yo for everyone

If you don't watch "The Middle"
Then
1. You should
2. Sue, the daughter, says Fro-Yo for frozen yogurt
3. I reiterate: You really should watch the Middle

But moving on, it's rare that we all go out for ice cream or yougurt but we got a nice thank you note in the mail from our dentist. He was thanking us for referring at least 3 families to his practice. Inside the card was a gift card loaded with enough cash for all of us and them some.
It was fun not having to be the "weight police" at the yougurt store. Trent alone had 2 lbs of gummy worms. He may or may not have had ice cream in there.
(It did not go unnoticed by the kids that the dentist sent us sugary treats)
I didn't care it was free!
Anyone need a dentist referral? I'm hoping for Texas Land & Cattle next

Practicing

Izzy is perfecting her half pike for the Rio Olympics

We've got some Risky Business around here.....
 

 

The new "do"

Ty's been toying with the idea of a new look. So he decided to go with the no bangs look again. He sported this look about 4 years ago.
It's been a little hard to get accustomed to. Not because I don't like it, but it's almost like I don't recognize him.
But my sweet boy is still just as sweet and even looks a little older now!

Gym meet

This was the largest meet in the world. It was called the HNI (Houston National Invitational). It was a very "grand" event
Ty did very well. He ended up with 3 medals & a participation medal. He received his highest horizontal bar score of 10.2
He medaled in Vault, Floor exercise, and H Bar.
What a fun time.

Manners Luncheon

A long awaited tradition for 5th graders is the Manners Luncheon.  Parents are there to wait on the students and serve them a 4 course meal.  Trent went to great pains to pick out his dress clothes.  

Ty's 7th Birthday

T-shirt Dress

It's hard to believe but it's almost THAT TIME!!!
Potty Training.

Well maybe not tomorrow but I see it all happening this summer.  So, I was inspired to make a few dresses that make that arduous task a little more fun.

I have always liked sewing for the girls but the creation in my head doesn't always translate well to fabric.  But when my friend Tabitha posted this tutorial on her blog I knew I would love these dresses and I was right.  I made two of them in about an hour.  So FUN!

Come to think of it she'll need more than two...Better run to the fabric store!

Happy Mardi Gras

This is how we party! ( in our pajamas on the way to drop kids off at school)