Neighborhood Break-ins!

Due to the economy we have heard about a significant increase of breakins in our neighborhood. While we were on vacation, there was damage done to our backyard. It took us a while to figure out what happened. As you will discover from the slide show, they don't even care about coming under the cover of darkness. They will do their destruction in broad daylight. This time, I caught them and I got the pictures to prove they are the culprits!

While we were gone they stripped the broccoli down to what looked like green sticks. Very pathetic looking. Lettuce was just gone, didn't think it would come back it was so bad. Now the potatoes, they will be another wait and see.
We haven't gardened in years. This year, the kids were interested and they have done well to take over. Container gardening has made it easy. They actually weed without my asking the onion and potato beds. Though the onions have been pretty neglected. I do need to work on their botany. They keep calling the onions garlic, can't figure that one out. Out thieves don't care for onions or the weeds that grow around them. Next year, we just might have to create a border of onions around what we grow. We normally end up with wild melons, but our resident thiefs might destroy those plants as well. Only time will tell. For now, I got some really neat photos.

Legos at Crowne Center Plaza

While we were in Kansas City we dried off long enough to go to the Crowne Center Plaza. The boys weren't thrilled until we made this discovery.... Lego exhibit. So way cool, it deserves it's own slide show!

Laundry Soap Directions

Hmmm, maybe someone will want to know how.
So here are my dear friend's laundry soap directions !

*1/2 bar of Fels Naptha soap (or 1 whole bar of Ivory soap)
*1 cup Borax
*1 cup Washing Soda
*1 TBS. GlycerinGrate the soap.

Heat on stove in 8 cups of water until melted. Simmer a few minutes to make sure the soap is thoroughly melted. Stir in remaining ingredients until all are dissolved. Add enough cold water to make 2 gallons. (I use a 3 gallon bucket to add the hot and cold mixture and then use a funnel to pour final product into a 2 gallon laundry jug).You will need to shake the jug before each use.

Laundry and more Laundry and Laundry Soap !!

On my summer to-do list, attempt to make my own laundry soap.

Dear friend of mine has been doing so for months.
I wouldn't dare take it on during the school year. Afraid of what I might get myself into it.
It was a PIECE OF CAKE !!
A few bumps and spills along the way, but so easy.
A late night trip to Wal-mart to get supplies, and a desperate phone call to friend..did I mention LATE... But she was sweet and told me where everything was and described the boxes.

Not about to attempt this with all the children around, I tucked them into bed.
Dear husband is not too keen on me doing this.
He was willing to let me try it out as an experiment though.
He thinks I have enough to do. Which I do, but as I discovered this evening. I was able to putz around in the kitchen cleaning. Measure out stuff, talk to daughter all while the pot did its thing on the stove. Doesn't need a whole lot of babysitting. My kind of project.

So I spent roughly $10-12 on supplies. I don't know for sure, cause I picked up a TON of fruit for the family. I can't just buy 7 peaches or 7 apples. That is only one for each of us and then I would be back at the store. Sooo, I have to guesstimate.

I have been saving my detergent bottles since I decided I would try this. I filled up what would have been about 2 months of laundry bottles. I calculated what I spent for each bottle of detergent at the store and that was $25. I am already ahead of the game here. I have enough supplies for 2 more batches. I will only have to buy more Ivory soap ($1/3bars at Wal-mart) to continue making more soap with the remaining ingredients. Oh the savings.

The Fun Mom did some math in her head and was like WOW !! at the savings. She also got excited about the recycling part. That made me want to chuckle. She told me, "you're saving on oil too, cause you are reusing the bottles." What a smart, eco-cookie she is. I am just glad she didn't start calculating how I could spend the savings on more clothes for her, for me to wash.

It didn't take more than half an hour. Clean up took half an hour. That's cause I didn't pay close enough to the instructions. It says STIR in the remaining ingredients. Umm, I dumped.
It foamed. Foamed some more, and I just stood there and watched like a dummy.
Fun Mom was quick to say, "The stove's never been cleaner." She is such a comedian.

She got to clean the pots. Why me? Cause there is dirty dishes in the sink and you can use the soap on the pots to wash them. Hee hee, one more eco-friendly aspect of our adventure. The other reason, cause I had more laundry to do. Have I mentioned, I do a lot of laundry. Flutter Nutter and Daddy's Buddy change clothes 2-3 or more times a day. I find clothes everywhere.
At least 15 loads a week, that doesn't include bed linens. So I am looking forward to the savings on detergent.

Earlier in the year, after my stash of liquid fabric softner ran out, I began using a tip from my sister in law. I use Vinegar now as fabric softner. Works pretty well. A lot cheaper as well. Clothes don't smell like vinegar. Just fresh and clean. I do occassionally need to use a dryer sheet, but not at all like I used to.
Off I go to get another load out of the dryer!!

Not one but TWO in one day!

D got to go to the doctor twice today!
Isn't he a lucky boy.
Really not so bad.
Dr. Scott is a favorite of ours.
3 weeks ago we had D's blood drawn.
Today was his annual appointment and we got the test results....
Big Drum Roll here..


His peanut allergy levels went up and we received the instructions "STAY AWAY from them"
Nothing new
His milk and egg went way down ! !
They are in the borderline and low positive range.
Which indicates he is outgrowing them.
We are now allowed to do food trials.
Big sis treated him to some chocolate, minus the processed in a facility with nuts.
He played outside.
Had fresh corn on the cob with real butter/margarine (not the soy only stuff).
Doing first aid on his toey and looked at his face..
covered in dots !! (hives...they were in early stage, they looked like thirty little mosquito bites.)
Gave the benadryl, spots went away.
We are going to wait about two weeks to start food trials.
Let his foot heal, get him off the antibiotics for his foot.
Maybe do the food trials in doctor's office. We have that option.
They can only do one food trial at a time and a week apart.
Doc did say he might end up being lactose intolerant. So we will be praying that is not the case.

For now we are all praising the Lord for healing his body this far.
Dear oldest daughter gave me the what for, for forgetting to thank God again during our evening meal prayers. She is very excited and can't wait to shower him with all the yummies he has been missing out on.

This little piggy went to the....

Went to the doctor
This little piggy went owwww owwww owwww all the way there!

(little side note -- aren't these the cutest little piggies ever?)

So I was to get to sleep in. I did, but I woke up to
"Oh my gosh!!!
Son, what did you do????"

Not a good thing to wake up to.

We have child safety door knob thingy magigers on the garage door and pantry door--
Can you guess why??
This time someone left the garage door open --
Not me, cause me was in bed !
And D decided to get into the garage fridge and see what he could sneak.

He found the super yummy Santa Cruz lemonade that comes in glass jars.
He dropped not one but 2 !!

Of course concrete meeting glass did its thing and D got caught in the middle.

Could have been much worse.

Moral of this story:

See what happens when you disobey!

I think the kids will have that carved on my tombstone one day.

Lazy summer day continued,

Mom, take a picture to show dad.....
N's creation:

Daniel: Mine too, Mine too, Show dad...

No tv, no movies...
They got creative! !

Gotta love facial waxing !

Who knew facial waxing could be so beneficial.
Dear N is wailing cause the older kids get to stay up later than him.
He wants to stay up.
Sooooo, I respond.
Noone is staying up except for (child to remain unnamed so friends won't know) ???? to get eyebrows waxed.
If you stay up, you are getting the hair on your head pulled out.
Do you want to get waxed?
No, I want to stay up. Well if you stay up, you get waxed. Your choice!
Guess what? ! ?
He went to bed.
Smart boy.
If only waxing had to be done every night.
Wonder what kind of torture will be on the agenda for tomorrow night.

Loving Lazy Summer Days

After a busy morning of errands and doctor appointments, this afternoon has been mostly quiet and lazy. 3 kids in front of dad's laptop playing webkinz. One reading. One napping.
The oldest made brownies. Laundry is being done. Earlier there were more than one reading. I am getting some projects done. Dad had his nap. No tv!!
Maybe a trip to the sprinkler park tonight?? Maybe not, depends on how everyone continues to like this do-nothing but hang day!

Guitar Hero Lessons!

I had to be quick, so I did not get the sound set-up. But they were a~groovin' to the music.

Guitar Hero and Friends

Little Miss is teaching Young Man how to guitar!

Summer Nights and The Drive-in ! !

Watching the movie intently !

Quit taking my picture! !

Trying to convince Mom, "I'm not tired."
"I didn't fall asleep during the movie."