Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Laundry

We've been making our own laundry detergent for awhile now, but I want to make it smell like the Gain I used to use. Any suggestions?

I found a guide for mixing essential oils, but not sure I would like any of those scents.




Sunday, January 27, 2013

Happy Weekend

I still haven't been doing much blogging here, I have been blogging on my private weight loss blog though. That's what my life is consisting of right now. Really focused on losing more weight and exercising.

The girls are well, growing too quickly though. Alexis is at her first birthday party today where I dropped her off and will go back to pick her up at the end of the party. It was cowgirl theme and she had a blast dressing for it. We went to The Family Center last week and both the girls got cowboy boots. They'd been begging for us to get them some ever since Ross and I got new boots back in the fall. We finally caved and decided to get them some. They look so adorable in them!

Life is pretty normal and quiet for now, and I'm loving it that way. If you would like to read my weight loss blog, send me your email address and I will invite you. I prefer to keep it private for now. I've shared some unflattering pictures and even more unflattering scale numbers. But, I'm now sharing after pictures, which look much nicer, and much more acceptable scale numbers as well!

Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday. The weather is yucky, cold and rainy here today, although it's supposed to reach 70 tomorrow, but be back into the teens by the end of the week. Go figure, we do live in Missouri after all. I plan to curl up with my little girls after we pick up Alexis, and watch a good movie.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Nap time

Okay Parents. I have a question about napping. When did your children stop taking naps?

If I remember correctly, Alexis stopped napping between 3 and 4. That's also when she started sleeping much better at night. Going to sleep fast and staying asleep and in her bed all night.

Isabel is getting close to no naps....I think. I sure wish she would just give them up already. Yesterday for example, we managed to keep her awake all day. She only got out of bed once at bedtime, instead of multiple times. She did end up in bed with us, but that's pretty typical. Today, she's already napping right now, her usual nap time isn't until anywhere from 3-5, but I think she fell asleep earlier because of no nap yesterday. She usually wants to be held and then falls asleep. Today she crawled up in one of the recliners and was out in no time.

I'm just wanting some feed back from you all on your children's experience with naps.


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Beach Memories

In September we vacationed in Gulf Shores, AL for a week. The 4 of us, plus Ross' parents and Ross' sister. We had an amazing time! I can't wait to be at the beach again. I thought I'd share a few pictures. I'm sure I'll share more later on as I want to look back and remember our fabulous time!

This was the view from our back deck
 The girls had a blast playing in the waves!

 This was the same day as the two above, but in the first two pictures it was overcast, and then the sun came out!

 Several mornings, when we were sitting on the deck having coffee, we saw dolphins playing out in the water. That's what the splash you can kind of make out in this picture.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Re-Publishing....

A while back, I asked a few of my blogger friends to guest post for me. For some reason, this particular post is being spammed like crazy. I've gotten I don't know how many emails in the last week or two with comment notifications, all spam, grrrrr. So I deleted the original post and am re-publishing it today.


You can find Chrissy's blog here.

God's Perfect Timing

One afternoon, after my husband arrived home from work, I decided to head out and take back a Red Box DVD we rented the day before and grab a Coke from Sonic. While I was out and about, I got a strange whim to get my hair cut. I did not have an appointment; I just walked in and my girl was able to squeeze me in! I arrived back home, hopped in the shower, and then helped my husband get the kids ready for Wednesday night church. He left with our two oldest kiddos, and then it was just me an our baby at home. I put on some make-up and straightened my hair.

I was to arrive early for choir that night, so instead of being at church around 7:30, I moseyed on over there at about 6:45 - still earlier than than the music minister asked, but I figured I'd visit with some of the people who were there for Bible study.

Then, for some weird reason, I realized I forgot to put on deodorant.

Are you wondering what this has to do with God's timing?


I debated with myself if I should go home. I sort of felt self-conscious, but tried to rationalize that I just showered, and it's not like I was going to work out or anything! I could just stay there and not worry about it. But for some reason I felt like I should go home. So I strapped my youngest boy in his car seat, hopped in the van, and went back home.

As I was driving down the street that connects to ours, I looked up ahead. In front of a green duplex, I saw a small, 2-year-old boy wearing just a diaper. He was playing joyfully in a mud puddle right on the road. I slowed down. I stopped. I looked to see if his parents were out watching him play in the puddle, but I thought to myself, "Who would let their 2-year-old child play in the road?"

There were no parents.

My heart started beating fast (like it is now as I recall this story). "I need to take this child to his mom!" I thought to myself. I slowly pulled into the driveway, got out of my van, and gently took the boy up to the door. I guess the mom heard my door shut and noticed a vehicle in her driveway, because she met me at the door.

"He was just playing out here and I was worried," I said to her.

Her eyes got big. Her mouth dropped open as she realized what had happened.

"I was just cooking dinner and I didn't even notice! Thank you so much. Oh, my gosh. I just didn't know..."

I didn't even know what to say. This could happen to anyone.

"My two-year-old could sneak out, too. I'm just glad I was here."

I went back to my van, backed out of the drive, and continued home. I was in so much shock that I barely even remembered why I was heading home in the first place.

Oh yeah. Deodorant.

The cliche that "God works in mysterious ways" is an understatement here. That boy could have wondered off, and to be quite honest, people don't exactly drive slowly down that particular street. I know He put me there at that exact time to take that boy to his front door.

I gave all that detail at the beginning for a few reasons: 1. I have no idea why I decided to get my hair cut that day. If I hadn't gotten it cut, I would not have showered when I got home (because I like to wash it myself when I get it cut); 2. Since I showered, I needed new deodorant! I'm serious when I say I NEVER forget this...it's a part of my routine, and I don't know why I forgot.

But really. I know why I forgot. God used such an odd thing. But He used it. And it was perfect.

Lord, I pray that I will always hear Your voice, even if it's just telling me to go home for deodorant...

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Super Bad Blogger

So, I am horrible at keeping up with this blog. Obviously the only time I can is when I'm not working. Right now I'm on Temporary Lay Off from Walmart, so I'm going to try and squeeze in a few posts. I really shouldn't even be sitting down here doing this right now, but I am.

A lot of time has passed since my last post. I'll try and give an overview of the last 6 months.

In July, Ross and I went on a diet (hCG) and both lost some weight. Ross lost 50 and I lost 35. It felt awesome to get rid of all the baby weight and get back down to what I was when we got married. (I still have more I need to lose and have started another round of the hCG this month.)

Summer was good, busy like always. We spend as much time in the water (pool, creek, river) as possible during the hot months. I got a pretty rocking tan this year as well!

In September we went to Gulf Shores, AL for a week, totally awesome!! I would go to the beach every time we go on vacation, but Ross says that we've been to the beach twice now, we have to pick a different terrain for our next big trip.

Fall rushed in, probably busier than Summer, that's my very favorite time of year! We had another Fall Party at our house and it was great.

Got to spend some quality time with my best friend Amy several times over the past few months. That's one thing that we've promised each other this year, making time to get together. We only live an hour away from one another and we have such kindred spirits, we just need to see one another more often than we were since we rekindled our friendship. Her and Chris are getting married in October, so that's for sure going to be something that will get us together often, wedding planning! We already took a girl weekend in November for shopping and fun and had a total blast! ;)

Getting over losing David has been a strange journey. After the first month or two, I felt pretty okay and like life had returned to normal. I was fine and didn't get weepy or sad like I thought I might. I almost felt guilty that I wasn't sadder. But, around the middle of October, it hit me. I should have been delivering him at anytime and that's when the emptiness and sadness overtook me. Every since the coming and passing of the due date, I have moments when I really miss our baby that should be here with us. It was hard at all the holidays especially. I look forward to later this year when we try again. I have major baby fever and can't wait to hold, smell and love on a sweet newborn again.

The girls have both grown and changed so much over the past few months. Alexis is 5½ and started kindergarten at home this year. She is doing really well. Isabel turned 3 in September and is still as rotten as the day is long, but so sweet at times and still my snugly baby girl. Not sure what she'll do when we actually have a baby at home and she won't be able to be held whenever she wants. Alexis and Isabel are the true definition of sisters, they'll be fighting like crazy one minute and sweet and loving the next. I just hope they remain close as they get older. I remember laying in bed one night, listening to them chatting with each other in their room, hoping that it would be the same 10 years from now when they are 15 and 13(that's a scary thought, 15 and 13 year old daughters!).

Ross is excellent, lawn mowing season wasn't the best this year because of the drought, but the girls and I enjoyed having him at home more. He got to go to day shift in August and has been loving it. He has a great routine now and I look forward to the day when I get to stay at home and be done with my night shift, messed up schedule.  Because of his change, we no longer have to have babysitters, one step closer to getting me home full time.

The holidays were wonderful! We spent Thanksgiving at Ross' grandparents house with lots of yummy food and most of the family there. Christmas was 4 days straight of family and friends. Started off at Amy and Chris', Ross' Grandparents, Ross' parents on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning at home and then my parents. Then one more Christmas at Mom and Dad's again on the 29th and 30th with siblings.

I know a lot more has happened than just that, but that's what I'm covering at this point. I'll try and share some pictures soon, but I think I'm friends with most of you on Facebook, so you probably already know all that I just shared. If you aren't and you want to friend me, please do, it's my favorite way of keeping up with people because it goes with me on my phone and I can squeeze that in a lot easier than writing or reading blog posts. You can find me on Facebook here

Until the next time, blessings to you! :)