- I made pasta. From scratch. And it is yummy. Perfect for chicken noodle soup, or anything else.
- I have tried to plant a larger garden. I have planted more plants, so many that I have no where to put them. And the kids have helped.
- I edited the 365 project, and made it a weekly thing. Then it dropped off the face of this planet in March when we started packing things, showing the house, and preparing to hopefully move some day. Or in a few hundred years or so it seems.
- Jonathan and I are on book 31 of the Magic Treehouse Series, on track to complete the series this year.
- I have not blogged more, but the year is not over yet :)
- Photography business on hold until this twister puts us down somewhere.
- We have been doing great budgeting, paying off debt, and saving this year, Dave Ramsey Style.
- I caught a fish! This weekend! With Jonathan's fishing pole, and I made my sister take it off the hook and toss is back in the water for me. After wioshing him well, he started swimming again. Success!
- Not many date nights yet. But next weekend is our anniversary, and we are committed to going on a date Saturday night, Mike has to work on our anniversary. So I will celebrate it with the kids! Maybe we'll have a romantic dinner or something.
- Lilah uses regular cups not all the time, unless we are on the road, or she cries for a lid. Down to a few plastic plates yet, but they use our normal dishes a lot. They will be gone soon. Promise.
- I still need to write my matron of honor speech, Sarah get's married in less than 3 weeks!! Someone help me!!
- I made toothpaste. It was okay. I don't think I will make it again though. No one else would use it.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Updated Bucket List
I am trying at least. That is what I have to say.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Homemade Laundry Detergent
I have been making our laundry detergent for about 10 months now. I have hesitated sharing the recipe until I was sure that we really liked it. Granted we still have about 6 bottles of All/Tide left, I thought I would make up another batch and share the recipe.
I have made a few batches of powered detergent, and a large 5 gallon batch of liquid detergent, and I think I like that best.
The ingredients you will want to make sure you have on hand before you get started are:
Washing Soda - This is not baking soda. It must be washing soda. I have had the best luck finding it at Kroger or Meijer. Normally under $3 a box, it is almost always on the top shelf in the laundry isle.
Borax - I have been able to find this at Target, Kroger, and Meijer, all in the laundry isle, normally on the top shelf. This normally runs around $4 a box.
Water - I can normally find this in the faucet of my sink :)
Bar of Soap - I have used Ivory, Fels Naptha, and Irish Springs. Depends on what we have in the pantry. For this batch I used a bar of Johnson and Johnson baby soap that needed to be used up, I won't use it on their skin so they need to be used up somehow! I would love to use Dr. Bronners instead but I have so much free stuff so I am going to be frugal until it is gone.
Oxygen Cleaner - I am adding this for the first time. After a few loads with my previous recipes I felt like some of the kids clothes looked a little dingy. I have read that added Oxy Clean or a similar product will take care of that issue. I use SUN brand because it's around $2 a Walmart and this is all that I use it for.
Oxygen Cleaner - I am adding this for the first time. After a few loads with my previous recipes I felt like some of the kids clothes looked a little dingy. I have read that added Oxy Clean or a similar product will take care of that issue. I use SUN brand because it's around $2 a Walmart and this is all that I use it for.
1 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
1/2 Cup Oxygen Cleaner
1 Bar of Soap (grated)
Bring a quart of water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, grate the bard of soap. I use a had grater for this but you could also use a food processor. Once the water is boiling, stir in the soap a little at a time until it is all in and melted. Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of water. Mix in Washing Soda, Borax, and Oxygen Cleaner. Add boiling water/soap mixture and stir. Add in another gallon or two of water and mix together in the bucket.
Don't make the mistake I did of mixing all the ingredients in the boiling water after the soap melted. All was well for about 30 seconds, then I had a big foamy mess that was all over the stove, kitchen floor, and sink. Make sure they go in the 5 gallon bucket.
Cover the bucket and let it sit overnight. Next day the laundry detergent will be done. It will be a silly texture. Somewhere between clumpy slime, jello, and egg drop soup. This is normal. Just stir it all up, or mix with an immersion blender. Now you can put it in smaller buckets, jars, or empty detergent bottles. Just add 1/4-1/2 a cup to a load of laundry.
This saves a ton of money! We go back and forth using homemade detergent, and bottles that I "purchased" near free last year. Once those are gone, we'll be strictly using homemade.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
52 Project - Week 1
I think the 365 project is going to be a 52 project, a picture of each of the kids, every week. That I can do. Every day though, specially in the winter, would be a huge struggle to do a 365 project, and missing a day would give me anxiety. It's hard enough to fit in dinner and a bath before bedtime, let alone a picture. But week 1 was a success, I have photos of each of the kids. Tomorrow starts week 2 . . . You can follow along on my Flickr page as well . . .http://www.flickr.com/photos/moorephotography/?saved=1
One picture, of each child, every week. That I can. Bucket List items can be modified right?
Picture 1 for Jonathan is a photo of him watching Tessa play on the computer with grandma. I think they were playing a Barbie game.
Picture 1 for Lilah I LOVE. She climbed up on grandpa's lap exhausted and within a few minutes fell asleep. Too cute. You can even tell what team grandpa was hoping would win today.
One picture, of each child, every week. That I can. Bucket List items can be modified right?
Picture 1 for Jonathan is a photo of him watching Tessa play on the computer with grandma. I think they were playing a Barbie game.
Picture 1 for Lilah I LOVE. She climbed up on grandpa's lap exhausted and within a few minutes fell asleep. Too cute. You can even tell what team grandpa was hoping would win today.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2011 Bucket List
2011 Bucket List
It's that time of year. Instead of setting new years resolutions, that won't last longer than January, I decided to do a bucket list. Too many things to list for the rest of my life, so I will just start with 2011. I will try to revisit this as items are accomplished, as one item on my list is to blog more :)
It's that time of year. Instead of setting new years resolutions, that won't last longer than January, I decided to do a bucket list. Too many things to list for the rest of my life, so I will just start with 2011. I will try to revisit this as items are accomplished, as one item on my list is to blog more :)
- Make Pasta
- Plant a larger garden, let the kids help
- Complete a 365 photo project on my children
- Make more meals homemade and from scratch
- Use more natural and homeopathic remedies for first aid and minor colds, aches, and pains
- Pack lunches for the kids and myself consistently, and pack breakfast for Jonathan on school days
- Finish reading Magic Treehouse Series with Jonathan
- Share more. Blog more.
- Finish reading "The Jesus Storybook" with the kids, and continue rereading it with them.
- Complete my photography website, and work on marketing materials
- Expand photography business and skills.
- Continue sticking to budgeting Dave Ramsey style, and working on baby steps
- Can more applesauce
- Make more of an effort to recycle consistently
- Catch a fish
- Have a date night with hubby, once a month, we need it!
- Eliminate the kids plastic plates, they are just fine using the small plates
- Move Lilah to using regular cups unless traveling
- Write a good maid of honor speech, because someone is getting married this year!
- Spend as much time at the cabin as we can this year
- Spend more time with friends
- When my backstock of toothpast runs out sometime this year, start making our toothpaste
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lead Me
I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...
“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”
If you are wondering, the song is by Sanctus Real. Love it.
It just amazes me every day how all the little things we do, and the decisions we make, the way that we live our life, it effects the little one's more than we realize. That is their reality, what they hear from us, the values we have, our reactions to every day life, it makes them who they are. Absolutly amazing that I have a hand in who my children become.
It makes me want to be more patient, show the unconditional love that is given to us to share, it makes me want to be a better person.
Both of the kids are doing wonderful right now, here is a little insight in to what has been going on in our four walls.
Jonathan is enjoying school and learning a lot. He is learning to be responsible. He has homework almost every weekend, and each week there is a little project or activity that we do together and initial off on his monthly calendar. We are about to start book 18 in the Magic Treehouse series, he still loves listening to his books at bedtime. We got the top part to Jonathan's bed, he is now sleeping on the top bunk of the same bunk beds that Becky and I shared when we were little. The bottom bunk is currently reserved for Mike or I if we are needed in their room, it's not very comfortable though, but I would take it over our full bed with four people in it. Since moving to the top bunk though, Jonathan has slept all night in his bed all but one night. He has been doing great with his chore chart the past few weeks. Almost every day last week he made his bed, set the table, and cleaned either his bedroom or the living room. He is getting very good at cleaning too, when he cleaned the living room last weekend he even picked up all of Lilah's doll house and set it up nice and neat. He loves quietly playing in his room with his Lego's or Playmobil guys. He'll shut the door and play in there for hours, the trick is keeping Lilah out of there and from ruining what he is building and setting up. I really wish he had his own room with a little more privacy so he could keep some of his toys our safely, but they do need eachother at bedtime! He got a Nintendo DS yesterday. I wanted to get him one for a while, and I totally shoudl have saved it for Christmas, but he has one now. And he loves playing Club Penguin. It's good to help him calm down before bed, or in the car, or when his little mind is running a mile a minute. For the most part, he just loves his sister so much. He wants to marry her, when I explained that he couldn't, he cried and was very upset. For some reason, this is a regular topic of conversation, who he is going to marry. Ideally he would marry Lilah or his cousin Tessa. I know he'll change his mind when he is older, but how do you tell him that now when it breaks his heart. Each week he thinks of someone new he can marry. Last night when he said his bedtime prayers, he prayed that God would take care of Lilah and keep her safe. This little man just makes my heart melt. He may be a little wild and rambunctious, but he has the best heart. I can't wait to see the man that he grows up to be.
Miss Lilah is on to new and exciting things. All of a sudden in the past two weeks she has become potty trained. We'll not all of a sudden, it has taken a lot of hard work and patience, but it has paid off. She still has about one accident at daycare each day, but she is dry at home all day long, even when running errands and leaving the house. I am very excited. We use Pull-Ups at night for her, but 90% of the time they are dry in the morning, they are more of a precaution so I don't have to wash sheets more often! Her digestive issues seem to be finally getting a little better, I am sure it is because we finally have an appointment with a pediatric GI specialist at the end of the month. I am still going to take her though, just feel like something isn't quite right still. I am thinking it is a food intollerance still, just not convinced it is the dairy anymore. She is learning new words and phrases all the time. One of her new favorites is "oh my" (not sure where she gets that from ), and she has called me a "cookoo head", that one comes from her big brother. It's too bad she's calling names because it is almost too cute to stop her from saying it. My favorite Lilah'isms are "my lololololo",which could be cereal or stroller, depending on the conversation. I really need to get a good video of it, she is already starting to say it a little better. She loves singing her preschool songs. She tells me what to sing, and then we sing it together. Both of the kids LOVE Sugarland right now, they request the cd everyy time we are in the car. They looks so cute singing "Stuck Like Glue" in the backseat together, and then following 3 songs they also have memorized. This little girl has more independance in her than I have ever seen. Everything is "me do" or "I do". She has to climb in the van and her carseat herself. If you help her, we have to start all over from the beginning. Very time consuming. After going potty, she has to put her panties, pants, and socks all back on by herself when we are at home. Usually ends up with her looking like a mermaid and me having to help, but she has to decide she needs help, or it is a fight not worth fighting. Rather than every little task turning in to a battle, this is one I have chosen to let her win. Kind of sad she is so independant at some times, but then when she clings to me and I have to carry her around the house, or around my leg, I feel a little more needed. am already dreading the teenage years, if this is a view of things to come, we are in trouble!
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...
“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?
Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”
If you are wondering, the song is by Sanctus Real. Love it.
It just amazes me every day how all the little things we do, and the decisions we make, the way that we live our life, it effects the little one's more than we realize. That is their reality, what they hear from us, the values we have, our reactions to every day life, it makes them who they are. Absolutly amazing that I have a hand in who my children become.
It makes me want to be more patient, show the unconditional love that is given to us to share, it makes me want to be a better person.
Both of the kids are doing wonderful right now, here is a little insight in to what has been going on in our four walls.
Jonathan is enjoying school and learning a lot. He is learning to be responsible. He has homework almost every weekend, and each week there is a little project or activity that we do together and initial off on his monthly calendar. We are about to start book 18 in the Magic Treehouse series, he still loves listening to his books at bedtime. We got the top part to Jonathan's bed, he is now sleeping on the top bunk of the same bunk beds that Becky and I shared when we were little. The bottom bunk is currently reserved for Mike or I if we are needed in their room, it's not very comfortable though, but I would take it over our full bed with four people in it. Since moving to the top bunk though, Jonathan has slept all night in his bed all but one night. He has been doing great with his chore chart the past few weeks. Almost every day last week he made his bed, set the table, and cleaned either his bedroom or the living room. He is getting very good at cleaning too, when he cleaned the living room last weekend he even picked up all of Lilah's doll house and set it up nice and neat. He loves quietly playing in his room with his Lego's or Playmobil guys. He'll shut the door and play in there for hours, the trick is keeping Lilah out of there and from ruining what he is building and setting up. I really wish he had his own room with a little more privacy so he could keep some of his toys our safely, but they do need eachother at bedtime! He got a Nintendo DS yesterday. I wanted to get him one for a while, and I totally shoudl have saved it for Christmas, but he has one now. And he loves playing Club Penguin. It's good to help him calm down before bed, or in the car, or when his little mind is running a mile a minute. For the most part, he just loves his sister so much. He wants to marry her, when I explained that he couldn't, he cried and was very upset. For some reason, this is a regular topic of conversation, who he is going to marry. Ideally he would marry Lilah or his cousin Tessa. I know he'll change his mind when he is older, but how do you tell him that now when it breaks his heart. Each week he thinks of someone new he can marry. Last night when he said his bedtime prayers, he prayed that God would take care of Lilah and keep her safe. This little man just makes my heart melt. He may be a little wild and rambunctious, but he has the best heart. I can't wait to see the man that he grows up to be.
Miss Lilah is on to new and exciting things. All of a sudden in the past two weeks she has become potty trained. We'll not all of a sudden, it has taken a lot of hard work and patience, but it has paid off. She still has about one accident at daycare each day, but she is dry at home all day long, even when running errands and leaving the house. I am very excited. We use Pull-Ups at night for her, but 90% of the time they are dry in the morning, they are more of a precaution so I don't have to wash sheets more often! Her digestive issues seem to be finally getting a little better, I am sure it is because we finally have an appointment with a pediatric GI specialist at the end of the month. I am still going to take her though, just feel like something isn't quite right still. I am thinking it is a food intollerance still, just not convinced it is the dairy anymore. She is learning new words and phrases all the time. One of her new favorites is "oh my" (not sure where she gets that from ), and she has called me a "cookoo head", that one comes from her big brother. It's too bad she's calling names because it is almost too cute to stop her from saying it. My favorite Lilah'isms are "my lololololo",which could be cereal or stroller, depending on the conversation. I really need to get a good video of it, she is already starting to say it a little better. She loves singing her preschool songs. She tells me what to sing, and then we sing it together. Both of the kids LOVE Sugarland right now, they request the cd everyy time we are in the car. They looks so cute singing "Stuck Like Glue" in the backseat together, and then following 3 songs they also have memorized. This little girl has more independance in her than I have ever seen. Everything is "me do" or "I do". She has to climb in the van and her carseat herself. If you help her, we have to start all over from the beginning. Very time consuming. After going potty, she has to put her panties, pants, and socks all back on by herself when we are at home. Usually ends up with her looking like a mermaid and me having to help, but she has to decide she needs help, or it is a fight not worth fighting. Rather than every little task turning in to a battle, this is one I have chosen to let her win. Kind of sad she is so independant at some times, but then when she clings to me and I have to carry her around the house, or around my leg, I feel a little more needed. am already dreading the teenage years, if this is a view of things to come, we are in trouble!
I just love the little people they are becoming, I just wish they weren't growing up so fast.
* I do still need to do another post or two about our vacation. I still haven't even had a chance to go through the photos though yet.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Vacation Part 2
Tuesday morning we woke up early and were out of the house by 6:45 to head to Mackinac. It was about a two hour drive to get there. We stopped through a drive through to pick up a quick breakfast and just a few miles down the road Jonathan started throwing up. Lovely. Tried to determine if it was from riding in the car, a stomach virus, or just some random kid puke. Whatever it was he seemed to be feeling better so we kept going and got on the 9:30 boat ride to the island. The kids loved the boat ride, Jonathan packed binoculars so he was able to look out and see the island, bridge and other random items close up.
Our plans to borrow a backpack carrier fell through and after much searching to buy one before going to Mackinac were unsuccessful, I don't think the sell those things in stores. We ended up picking up an umbrella stroller, I always wanted one. Sounds silly, but we never got one. Well we have one now, and it is hilarious to listen Lilah say "stroller". We used the umbrella stroller around the island for Lilah. It ended up working out just fine, a little hard up the big hills but it was manageable. First we went to the fort. The kids loved it, specially the kids room. Jonathan kept wanting to go back there. We walked around going in all the buildings and saw the gun and cannon demonstration. We hiked to Sugar Loaf, Arch Rock, Skull Cave, and walked through the cemetery. Jonathan hated the horses because he hates horse poop. He would randomly say he could smell the horses coming and he did not like them or their poop. Can't blame him, I like horses, but I also am not a fan of horse poop. I don't know if it was because most kids were in school, or maybe it was senior day, but the island was filled with blue hair. Tons of carriages went by filled with seniors, and they loved the kids, and the kids loved waiving to them all. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Skull Cave, and Mike and Jonathan, and then Jonathan and I walked around the base of Sugar Loaf. He did awesome hiking all day.
We walked down all the streets downtown and went in a few stores, then decided to take the boat back to Mackinaw City. We packed a bag for overnight in case we decided not to drive back to the cabin. And we did. We stayed in a hotel in Mackinaw City. We were exhaused and so were the kids. We ate dinner at a really nice little restaurant called "Pizza Palace", had all the intentions of getting pizza but the rest of the menu looked so delicious. A few bites in to dinner Jonathan started covering his mouth and saying he was going to throw up. He needed some fresh air outside, so we took turns taking him outside for fresh air. If I didn't know any better I woudl say my 4 year old son was pregnant. He never got sick that night, but he did not feel good for sure. We walked around Mackinaw City and let the kids play on a playground we found in the outside mall. After that we decided to go drive around. We drove over the bridge and back. Stopeed to take pictures a few times and look for the best view. Love how my husband is always thinking of me :) After a few meltdowns abotu wanting to stay on cousin Jace's island and drive to see him, we headed back to the hotel. I am sure we all fell alseep before 10. Mike woke around 1 and the lights were all still on and so was the tv. Guess we were a little tired. Bummed I missed Parenthood, I was so excited we had tv for the night, but grateful for a fun day and a somewhat good nights rest.
Our plans to borrow a backpack carrier fell through and after much searching to buy one before going to Mackinac were unsuccessful, I don't think the sell those things in stores. We ended up picking up an umbrella stroller, I always wanted one. Sounds silly, but we never got one. Well we have one now, and it is hilarious to listen Lilah say "stroller". We used the umbrella stroller around the island for Lilah. It ended up working out just fine, a little hard up the big hills but it was manageable. First we went to the fort. The kids loved it, specially the kids room. Jonathan kept wanting to go back there. We walked around going in all the buildings and saw the gun and cannon demonstration. We hiked to Sugar Loaf, Arch Rock, Skull Cave, and walked through the cemetery. Jonathan hated the horses because he hates horse poop. He would randomly say he could smell the horses coming and he did not like them or their poop. Can't blame him, I like horses, but I also am not a fan of horse poop. I don't know if it was because most kids were in school, or maybe it was senior day, but the island was filled with blue hair. Tons of carriages went by filled with seniors, and they loved the kids, and the kids loved waiving to them all. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Skull Cave, and Mike and Jonathan, and then Jonathan and I walked around the base of Sugar Loaf. He did awesome hiking all day.
We walked down all the streets downtown and went in a few stores, then decided to take the boat back to Mackinaw City. We packed a bag for overnight in case we decided not to drive back to the cabin. And we did. We stayed in a hotel in Mackinaw City. We were exhaused and so were the kids. We ate dinner at a really nice little restaurant called "Pizza Palace", had all the intentions of getting pizza but the rest of the menu looked so delicious. A few bites in to dinner Jonathan started covering his mouth and saying he was going to throw up. He needed some fresh air outside, so we took turns taking him outside for fresh air. If I didn't know any better I woudl say my 4 year old son was pregnant. He never got sick that night, but he did not feel good for sure. We walked around Mackinaw City and let the kids play on a playground we found in the outside mall. After that we decided to go drive around. We drove over the bridge and back. Stopeed to take pictures a few times and look for the best view. Love how my husband is always thinking of me :) After a few meltdowns abotu wanting to stay on cousin Jace's island and drive to see him, we headed back to the hotel. I am sure we all fell alseep before 10. Mike woke around 1 and the lights were all still on and so was the tv. Guess we were a little tired. Bummed I missed Parenthood, I was so excited we had tv for the night, but grateful for a fun day and a somewhat good nights rest.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Vacation Part 1
We absolutely love my parents cabin on Horseshoe Lake, and decided to spend a week there for our vacation.
While Mike headed up for his annual (and I mean annual as in it is one day each year, and the remaining 364 days are spent talking about it and planning for next year) golf tournament, the kids and I headed up to the cabin, and met Reema (Grandma Moore), Aunt Lacey, Tessa, and Lili. It was great having them up there with us. It was very cold, but the kids enjoyed walking to the beach, boat dock, going on a nature scavenger hunt, playing playdough, making their own pizzas for dinner, decorating pumpkins, and eating popcorn by the campfire. Mike, papa Moore, and Mr. Gary arrived just in time for an awesome breakfast, and afterwards the kids went fising. Lilah and Lili enjoyed their fishing poles made by Reema with a stick, yarn, and paperclip. She is crafty! Jonathan and Tessa used their "real" fishing poles and attempted to catch fish with corn. I think they liked the popcorn the kids fed them the night before better though. After fishing Reema, Aunt Lacey, and the girls headed home.
The four of us decided to take a much needed family nap, and relaxed at the cabin for the rest of the day. There is no tv at the cabin, so the kids play with the few toys we have up there, read books, do puzzles, and play games. Nice and quiet, however the neighbors may not have the same response.
Monday we spend the day trying to track down a backpack carrier to use at Mackinaw, unsuccessfully. We did got to one of our favorite nearby towns, Tawas, for some awesome ice cream at the Mackinaw Creamery, and walked around downtown.
While Mike headed up for his annual (and I mean annual as in it is one day each year, and the remaining 364 days are spent talking about it and planning for next year) golf tournament, the kids and I headed up to the cabin, and met Reema (Grandma Moore), Aunt Lacey, Tessa, and Lili. It was great having them up there with us. It was very cold, but the kids enjoyed walking to the beach, boat dock, going on a nature scavenger hunt, playing playdough, making their own pizzas for dinner, decorating pumpkins, and eating popcorn by the campfire. Mike, papa Moore, and Mr. Gary arrived just in time for an awesome breakfast, and afterwards the kids went fising. Lilah and Lili enjoyed their fishing poles made by Reema with a stick, yarn, and paperclip. She is crafty! Jonathan and Tessa used their "real" fishing poles and attempted to catch fish with corn. I think they liked the popcorn the kids fed them the night before better though. After fishing Reema, Aunt Lacey, and the girls headed home.
The four of us decided to take a much needed family nap, and relaxed at the cabin for the rest of the day. There is no tv at the cabin, so the kids play with the few toys we have up there, read books, do puzzles, and play games. Nice and quiet, however the neighbors may not have the same response.
Monday we spend the day trying to track down a backpack carrier to use at Mackinaw, unsuccessfully. We did got to one of our favorite nearby towns, Tawas, for some awesome ice cream at the Mackinaw Creamery, and walked around downtown.
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