Memorial Day 2009

We had a nice, laid back holiday this year. Matt took the kids fishing while I got Eli fed and napped. WE then took all of them to the pool, after which, we had a potluck dinner with Matt's family. The weather was perfect and it was so nice to just sit back and enjoy.

Cutie Patootie

Eli is growing so fast! He's now 4 1/2 months old and is the cutest little boy. He coos and laughs all the time now and it seems like every day, he starts doing something new. My favorite new thing is he'll start kicking both legs in sucession, rapidly, when I come close. His face stays the same, but he kicks like crazy. It makes me laugh. He likes me. :) He's also beginning to abandon the binkie, (yahoo!) for his thumb. (yikes!) So cute! I'm loving having a little baby in the house again and find myself just sitting with him, "talking", playing and making him smile despite all the "to do's" I have. I love it.

HOMEMADE

The last six months I've been experimenting with getting back to "old school" homemaking and I have LOVED it!!!! I started out making my own bread and then that got me into making my own household cleaners...recently adding homemade Laundry Soap that is GREAT!!! Everything is natural, works wonderful, and is VERY inexpensive.

Top 10 reason why I love my Homemade Cleaners:

1) They're healthier for my kids and my asthma spouse! The house is clean and there aren't any harsh chemicals or smells and I don't worry about the kids breathing it, touching it. For example, I walked back into a room I was cleaning windows in, only to find Keith spraying my window cleaner on his face and hair. (he was making his hair "pretty" like I do for the girls) Anywho, no worries! (We did talk about which spray bottle was the hair bottle though, and showed him the sign on the bottle for "Cleaning". Didn't want to freak any one out. :)

2) They clean just as well, if not better than store bought cleaners! And NO, my house doesn't smell like vinegar.

3) I can wash my windows, spray for ants, kill weeds, and clean my counters all with the same bottle of cleaner. Vinegar is AMAZING. (Yes, Bonnie, that is my next T-shirt.)

4)More helping hands! I now am teaching my kids to clean the bathrooms and windows whereas I was planning on waiting until they were a little older. (because of the harsh cleaners). Now they can do it today! Less work for me, more responsible character building for them.

5)SAVING MONEY! A load of laundry ends up costing less than $0.03 cents a load! Woot Woot!

6) I feel so accomplished

7)My year supply is so multi-tasked with it's vinegar and baking soda...it cleans, scrubs, disinfects, deoderizes, as well as being main elements in salads, cookies, breads and more!

8) My veggie spray not only cleans my fruits and veggies, but will also disinfect the counters.

9)I have learned the smell of "nothing". My laundry soap, without the essential oils for scent, cleaned the clothes so well...they were soft, clean and they smelled...like nothing. You must experience it to truly understand. Bonnie knows what I'm talking about. I've concocted my own mix of natural essential oils that I've added, because, although we're clean and smell fresh, I like a little added scent.

10) It fulfills some of my "creation" needs. Creativity with cleaners? Yep - see above number 9. My own concoctions. Good Times!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was WONDERFUL. (Much better than last year where we spent a week at the hospital with Sammi and her broken arm. Sad.) Matt and the kids made my favorite breakfast of waffles and strawberries (I got to eat it in bed and then READ in bed for quite awhile. Ahhh...bliss). I got to take it easy and then, as we were leaving for Church, Matt gave me a corsage to wear. I wore it with the pin Sammi made me last year. After church, Matt and the kids gave me some new garden galoshes...very comfy, and the Josh Groban AWAKE piano songbook! I've wanted it for a long time and was very excited. I was then told to go get into my cozy clothes and relax while Matt made me steak and grilled Asparagus. We watched a fun movie with the kids while we ate, at the end of which, Matt presented me with a slice of PF Chang's Chocolate cake that he ordered and preserved the night before! I was so spoiled and loved and appreciated....thank you honey!

Eli was there - he was just sleeping when we took pictures.

Good Times, Great Talks....General Conference!

Matt was away for Conference weekend this year :( but we had my brothers over for most of the sessions to keep us company since mom and Millie were away too! (Conference in person) Sammi and Maddi both woke me up on Saturday by saying "Happy General Conference!" They make me laugh. We played Conference Bingo, took notes, colored the Authorities ties and snacked on suckers, fruit snacks, 7 layer dip and my Conference Cinnamon Rolls. "Good times, Great Talks...General Conference!" (You know you sang my song, Bonnie!)
Kenny was way into it.

Keith loves his uncles!

Maddi...right before she threw-up (too many cinnamon rolls, fruit snacks, and dip...makes for quite the combo *gag*)