What to do when it rains...

So today started a LONG weekend for us.  Big E is off of school today, tomorrow and Monday.  Of course today its windy, cold and rainy!  So what to do with two active, crazy boys on a windy, cold, and rainy day...watch Star Wars movies!  But when mom can't take any more Star Wars, then what do we do?  We break out the games!  My kids are not really big board game kids, but we try!  We did play a rousing game of Slap Jack, but I couldn't really remember all of the rules so we just made some up!  Then I found a puzzle of the United States, that we hadn't done in a long time.  Big E loves to do puzzles, but Little N gets bored easily and finds them difficult.  So while Big E and I worked on the puzzle Little N decided to get the cards out again and play with them.  So wonderful!  When we had finished the puzzle of the United States, we talked about our state, the state we will be visiting for Thanksgiving and then the state that their Nana and Papa live.  That was a great geography lesson.  Even Little N got interested in it.  He was very excited to see where Nana and Papa live on the map.  It was also really fun to talk about the states that we will be driving through to see our cousins (my brother and his family).

Last night we were cleaning out some drawers and found some Highlights magazines.  These are the Highlights that talk about the United States.  There is one book for each state and we have about half of the states at this point (maybe more).  So we decided to take with us on our trip some of the ones of the states that we will be driving through.  I think this will be lots of fun for Big E, to be able to check out some of the facts about these states while we are driving through them. 

Over the past few days I have been doing some research on homemade laundry detergent.  In hopes to save us some much needed cash!  I was amazed at how much information I have found, and how cheap those ingredients are!  I went to Wal-Mart today and spent a little less than $8 and got everything I needed to make my own laundry detergent, cloth diaper detergent, and dishwasher detergent. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to find what I needed at Wal-Mart but I found everything in the same isle and right by each other!!  Score!!   I just did laundry yesterday, so I didn't have any of our clothes to wash, but I did have some cloth diapers to wash.  So ran some through using the homemade detergent.  They seem to have come out clean and smelling fresh!   Now we just have to see if they irritate our skin or if they are ok!  So below I have included the recipes for the detergents that I found, I will also include the links to the websites that I found them at.

Laundry Detergent:
2 Cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated, you could also try Ivory)
1 Cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 Cup Borax

Mix well with a spoon and store in an air tight container.
Use 2 Tbs. per load

Cloth Diaper Detergent:
Same recipe as above
1 Tbs. per load for a light load
2 Tbs. per load for a heavily soiled load

Dishwasher Detergent: I found two different recipes for this one, but I am just trying one this time.
Recipe #1
1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Recipe #2
1 Cup Baking Soda
1 Cup Borax

For the recipes above mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 Tbs. per load. Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue.  You also need to be sure to use the vinegar for every load of dishes.

A tip they gave on the website was to add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the powder compartment when you add the powder.  They also suggested cutting back the amount of soap used, if you are using 2 Tbs., try using 1-1 1/2 Tbs per load. 

**Disclosure-I have only tried the laundry soap on my cloth diapers, I have not tried the dishwasher detergent or the laundry soap on our clothes.  Please do your own research and know that it will take a lot of trial and error to find the right combination for you and your type of water.**

UPDATE: (September 2012)
I have recently stopped using the dishwasher detergent because it left quite a funny taste on our dishes, so I didn't think that was  good thing!

I have also switched to a different laundry soap, this recipe is easier than the other one and makes more.  I am only making it once every month and a half instead of every week or so.  Here is the recipe (which is not my own, but I can't remember where I found it!)

Cloth Diaper/ Clothes Laundry Soap

1 55 oz. box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Mule Team Borax
2 Cups Oxygen Cleaner- Sun is recommended
1/2 cup Simple Green
1/2 cup Calgon Water Softening Powder (I have never been able to find the powder, so I use the liquid and it works just fine)

Dump all ingredients in to a bucket (I use a 5 gallon one) and mix together with your hands (I use a big wooden spoon). You need to let it air dry for about a half hour and come back to stir it and loosen up any clumps that might have formed.  I then let it dry a bit more for about another 15-30 minutes and stir again.  After it is dry and few clumps are left I pour into an air tight container and store in my laundry area.   Use 1 1/2 tablespoons for diapers, 2-3 tablespoons for clothes.

November...REALLY!!!???

Here we are at the beginning of November... REALLY!!!  I can not believe that the last 2 months have gone by so fast!  I have an almost 3 month old and I feel like it was just yesterday that he was born.  Baby Z has grown so much and is changing everyday.  He gives us smiles all the time and he loves his big-est brother tons!  Every time Big E comes near, Baby Z gets a huge smile on his face.  Baby Z's newest game is sticking his tongue out at us, he thinks its the best game ever!!

Big E has lost two teeth now and loves first grade!  He is learning so much!  We got his report card the other day and I was so proud of him.  He got all 3's and 4's (which are basically A's and B's), there was one "needs improvement", can you guess what that was?!  Writting neatly!  Apparently he rushes and doesn't take his time to print neatly.  Go figure!!  They gave us a scale of reading, so we could know where he falls in his reading ability.  We knew he was a good reader but we didn't realize how good!  He is about at a 2nd grade level for his reading!  We are so proud of him!  He loves to learn and read new things!!

Little N has not been faring so well these past few weeks.  The new baby was really cramping his style.  In the past few days though he has gotten a lot better.  We have had to make lots of new adjustments to the way things are done.  Daddy has been more intentional at spending quality time with each of the bigger boys every night, but more with Little N.  I think Little N was feeling really trapped in the middle.  This has given us great improvements and has helped me out during the day.  I have also been able to just "let go" of the pressure of housework so that I can spend time playing with him.  My house has suffered but things get done, its just not done as neatly and at the time I would like it to be done.  BUT I have been given some awesome advice from some "seasoned" moms, they have told me that my kids will not remember whether their house was clean but they will remember whether their mom or dad spent time with them!

In a few short weeks we will be taking a family trip.  This is very nerve racking for me!  Its the first time we have taken the bigger kids any farther than a 3 hour drivve from our house.  Its going to be about a 15 hour (technically) but probably more like 17 or 18 hour drive.  We will be doing most of our traveling while the kids are sleeping over night (hopefully!).  We are also hoping Baby Z is sleeping through the night by then, he does really well now.  We do not have to feed him in the middle of the night so that might help.  We are so excited to take this trip though, we will be going to visit my oldest brother and his family.  This will be the first time we have seen them in over 2 years.  They also just had a new baby that is 5 weeks younger than our Baby Z.  So this is going to be a great time of family and cousins getting to know each other!  What better way to spend the holiday than with family!!

Never leave a mom behind!!

Something recently has been brought to my attention... there are moms all around that are hurting and feeling lonely!  Its not just me!!  I am so comforted to know that I am not the only mom out there that is struggling to find her way.  The life of a mom is so isolating sometimes.  There are someday, more so lately, that I stay in  my pj's and never leave the house!  That can, at times, be a nice change of pace, but more than one of those days can be very lonely.  I know with the winter months fast approaching, there will be a lot of inside days, and a lot of stir crazy children.  My goal is to find ways to combat the crazies before they happen.  

One thing that I feel will make this winter different and fun, is to have lots of mommy-dates, or you could call them play dates.  We all know what play dates are really for the mommies, right!?  I think if I can implement a  routine of weekly or biweekly play dates, that would really help, not just me but other moms as well.  What a great way to get through the tough winter ahead!!  

Back to the lonely and hurting mommies out there...I was brought aware that even the happiest of women could be totally dyeing inside!  I personally do not want that to be any of my friends, because I have been there!  I have been in the place where you are so discouraged and feel like no one cares.  If I can be that one person to come along side another mom and be their encourager what a blessing that could be!  I have been sitting at my house and just waiting for the phone to ring, wishing someone would call and invite me over to visit!  Well I have recently just thought, why am I not that person to call someone up and ask them to come over!  I tend to fall into the rut of just waiting for someone else to do the inviting, I need to be the one to invite and encourage!  

My prayer now is that I could just be that person to encourage another mom, or even a young married woman.  How much I would have loved to have had someone take that interest in me and come along side me when I was newly married, or a new mom.  

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Romans 1:12

...that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith

2 months old!

To save a little bit of money this time around, we opted to do our own photo shoot at home! This is our little Z man
at months old! He is growing so much and we are so happy to have him as part of our family! I can now say that I think our family is complete! I can't wait to see where God takes him in his life.

How I am learning to grow grateful kids...

This semester in my Tuesday morning bible study we are going through the book Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson.  What an eye opening book!!  This weeks reading came from chapter 7 and 8, I was so moved by what I read in chapter 7 that I feel compelled to write a little about it.

Chapter 7 begins with this quote from St. Augustine of Hippo "It was pride that changed the angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."  What a powerful statement!

The title of this chapter is "Live Humbly : God is Great"  I feel so strongly about this statement that I am so excited to start teaching this to my children.  Growing up I do not feel that it is something that was taught very well to me! 

She gives the example of Joseph from the Old Testament in the Bible.  Joseph was the youngest brother of 12, he was the favorite of his father.  His brothers sold him to slavery when he was young.  Joseph was bought by a guard who worked for Pharaoh the King of Egypt.  With all that Joseph went through he could have been bitter or angry at God.  Instead he humbled himself under the mighty had of God and was lifted up and blessed by Him for the whole world to see!  Joseph is the perfect example of being humble.  Samson, another Old Testament man, is an example of someone who trusted in himself and didn't listen to the plans God had for him. Samson was gifted and called by God but instead of listening to his parents he was bullheaded and spoiled.   Samson decided to take matters into his own hands and neglect his vow to God!  The lesson I get from the life of Samson is to earnestly seek God's wisdom and direction, I must also humbly submit to the cleansing seasons of my life that God allows me to endure. 

For this next section I am going to copy this text from the book Growing Grateful Kids.  I have taken this from pages 110 to 112:

What consistent lessons on pride and humility do your kids pick up by watching you?

If our kids see: us shaking our fists at people more than they see us praying for them

They'll learn:  that people shouldn't get in the way of what we want.  That's pride.

If your kids see:  us responding humbly to the rude person in line at the grocery store

They'll learn:  that we are alive to reflect the character of Christ.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us dissecting others' flaws more than they hear us honoring them in their absence

They'll acquire:  and exaggerated view of their own importance and the idea that it's okay to gossip.  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us speaking well of others, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and believing the best about others' motives.

They'll learn:  not to be quick to judge or to assign motives; they'll learn to believe and hope for the best in others.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us striving and straining in our own strength and neglecting to give Jesus the credit He deserves

They'll learn:  that more rests on our shoulders than on His.  They'll come to believe that they are stronger than they really are (and that God is weak in some way).  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us humbly committing each new day to Jesus

They'll learn:  that He truly loves and cares about every detail of our lives.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us disrespecting authority, criticizing our pastor, nitpicking our neighbor

They'll learn:  that it doesn't matter if Jesus told us to respect authority and to love our neighbor, because our opinions matter more than they things He has asked of us.  And that's pride.

If our kids see:  us refusing to forgive, stiffening up in the face of correction, or refusing to admit when we're wrong

They'll have:  a front row seat to watch pride in action; they'll fear correction (rather than embrace it); they'll learn to defend their "right" not to grow into everything God intended them to be.  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us admitting when we're wrong, asking forgiveness, and applying ourselves to the pursuit of holiness

They'll learn: to follow in our footsteps, to admit when they're wrong, to ask for forgiveness, and to apply themselves to the pursuit of holiness.  That's humility.

James 4:6 

...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Lord may I be more humble in my life.  May I look after others before myself and respect those that are in authority over me!  Thank you for all of the examples for me to follow through your Holy Word!  Amen!!

If you are interested in reading Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson, click this link to find it at Christian Book Distributors.

Failure....

Websters definition of failure is this: nonperformance of something due, required, or expected,  lack of success, deterioration or decay, especially of vigor, strength.  Man does that describe me today!  Here is a series of events that took place at my home just about 2 hours ago.

I awake after being able to sleep in a little, my husband had gotten up with the baby at about 5:30, so I could rest.  That was so sweet, and I was so grateful for the extra hour and a half to sleep in!  So I walk out of our bedroom to my little sweet N telling me he needed some milk!  My husband was busy with the baby, he had just finished his bottle and needed to be changed.  So with some asking my little sweet N, how he was supposed to ask for his milk, he finally said "please, may I have some milk".  Sure sweet little N, I would be happy to get it for you!  THEN.... while pouring him a cup of milk, into the cup that he had gotten out, I realized there was still a cup of milk in the refrigerator  so I get that cup out and discover that it just had a little bit left in it.  I decided that rather than waste the milk that was already in the refrigerator I would pour that remaining milk into his cup.  Well that did not sit well with him and he began throwing a fit.   Now here is where the failure on my part took place.  Instead of reacting calmly and rationally to the fit throwing, now hanging on my leg, sweet little N, I blew up!  I was so upset with the attitude he has been having lately, that I lost it!  I threw his milk into the refrigerator, grabbed him up and spanked his little bottom.  You would think that would have been enough for his sweet little heart.  BUT I continued to lose it and I took him down the hall and tossed him onto his bed, and went storming from his room slamming his door (which by the way, they get time outs for!).  Then I proceeded to my bedroom and slammed my door!  Oh boy is this really me!!!  

After spending 5 minutes cooling off in my room, leaving my poor husband (who was changing the baby and had no idea what was going on), to deal with this situation, I emerged!  Still not too calm but feeling like I needed to go and talk to my sweet little N.  Going into his room, where he was now standing in the middle of it, looking a little unsure of what just happened.  I walk up to him and get down to his level and have to apologize for yelling at him and getting upset like I did. Now if you have never had to apologize to your kids, then you have no idea how humble it makes you!  After apologizing and grab him onto my lap and cuddle his little heart out.  BUT I can tell that he is still not sure what to think of this whole situation.  After holding him for a few minutes he decided he's done and gets up to join his brother watching Saturday morning cartoons in the living room.  All this to say that I feel like a total failure today, and I now that only by the grace of my loving Heavenly Father will I be forgiven!!  

This message of a loving Heavenly Father is so important to me that I always feel terrible when I lose my temper with my children, because I am supposed to be the example for them to go by!!  I am supposed to be who they can trust in this world!!  BUT I also know that my Heavenly Father is a powerful, forgiving, and loving God who is more wonderful that I can ever express to my children.  I lay them into his hands daily, for their protection and their faith!!  I am so blessed to know that nothing I can do will bring them to His loving Hands its only by His divine power that any of us are called to HIM!!  Thank you Jesus for bridging that gap for us, so that we can come to God's loving hand and sit with Him in Heaven one day!!  

2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12

...that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then came number three!

Baby Z

Baby Z has arrived!!  He decided to greet us 10 days early!  We are all adjusting well and the older boys are so excited about their new baby brother.  These past 7 weeks have been crazy!!  Baby Z was born, then 12 days later E started school (first grade this year!!), then Tuesday after Labor Day N started preschool!  Then E decided he would like to do Cub Scouts this year, so we are letting him try it for a year and if he likes it he can continue next year.  So far he is really enjoying Cub Scouts, they were able to walk and throw out candy in our towns Homecoming parade, that was a blast!!

In between all of this other activity, E had a birthday, the big number 7 for him!  He has also lost his first tooth, with the second one just about to fall out!  This has certainly been a big month for our oldest child!

Our big Cub Scout!

First day of preschool for N

Our 3 little men!

As a family we are adjusting to this new life we are leading being a family of 5.  This is such a great time in our lives!  Baby Z is fitting really nicely into the new schedule and sleeping really well, despite the wrestling matches that are constant!