Sunday, May 31, 2009

laundry mysteries

It seems with every load of the childrens' laundry there is always some mysterious item that when found I think... "How did that get in here?" Today:


The bandaid was on Rayna's finger earlier in the day. But the cucumber...?

What is the craziest item you've found in your laundry?

Bowling with Daddy and new tricks learned

John took Isaiah and Lydia bowling this week. They had one six pound ball for the kids to use... and even though it took just about all they had to heft and hurl the ball they loved it! Especially having time with Daddy!


Isaiah got a strike!



Children can be very resourceful in obtaining what they want. Rayna has recently become very independent and wants to do just about everything "By myself!" from using the potty, to putting on clothes and shoes. Since she is such a tiny little pumpkin she is not able to reach the faucet to wash hands or brush teeth without help... even standing on the bathroom stool her little legs and little arms just...don't...quite...reach. That is until she figured out to get the "bear chair" from Boppa and stand on tippy toes... then she can reach the sink "by myself!"



And this little stinker!... is standing up and getting into everything! He can now reach the edge of the dining room table and the desk. Drawers and cupboards are no longer safe. My poor spider plant is often the victim of his chubby little hands.



But he is so happy with his new tricks he has learned!


Friday, May 22, 2009

Rhubarb season


Lydia and I baked a cake with some rhubarb from our neighbor. Here's the recipe:

Rhubarb Custard Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
4 C diced rhubarb
1 C sugar
2 C cream (or half and half)

Mix cake mix according to package directions. Pour into greased 13x9" baking pan. Sprinkle rhubarb on top of cake, sprinkle sugar over rhubarb (I used about 3/4 C), then pour cream over top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-50 minutes. Cool for 15 min before serving.



It is a yummy cake with a creamy layer of custard that forms on the bottom that compliments the tangy rhubarb! Enjoy!

simple living

I'm not one for New Years' resolutions, but have decided to try to be as frugal as I can by buying used (or getting free!), recyclying/repurposing, and to also try to make as many products/items as I can. Now I am far from being a tree hugger, but I do believe God gave us this Earth and wants us to be good stewards of it. I have been inspired by Lindsay's blog Passionate Homemaking and her desire to "live simply in order to give generously". As John's desire to help the people of Costa Rica and Nicaragua grows, so does my desire to be the best steward of what we have so we can be generous to those in need. I have had fun searching for ways to cut costs and learn to make do with less. We do cloth diapers and wipes, cloth napkins and rags in place of paper napkins and towels, I have learned to make my own laundry detergent, mayo, ketchup, creamsoup substitute, and even end up coming up with my own ideas... like what to do with a batch of bread dough that I forgot to add yeast too?... make crackers! We will be eating off of these crackers for a very long time (my bread recipe is for four loaves!).

So here is my latest attempt at cutting costs and making my own laundry detergent:


Powdered laundry detergent:
1 bar grated Fels-Naptha soap (can also use Ivory or Zote)
2 C Washing Soda
2 C Borax

mix ingredients together and store in and airtight container. Use 1 Tbs per load (2 Tbs for heavily soiled loads)



It smells great and works great too!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Apple Blossom Time!

This morning we packed a lunch and walked about five blocks to find a seat along the parade route this morning for the Apple Blossom Parade. I was a little concerned about taking four kids to watch a parade... but they did awesome! and they had so much fun! Lydia loved waving at all the princesses. Rayna really enjoyed the dogs from the Humane Society and the horses from the various rodeos. Isaiah loved clapping in time with the marching bands and checking out all the cool cars... "especially the purple one that changes colors!" Tobiah would wiggle and bounce with the bands and float music and got pretty excited when a bright red tractor chugged by. We made it almost to the end of the parade until Rayna said in her tiny little voice "I have to go poopy, Mama!" so we piled the girls into our wagon (our jogger was stolen this past weekend :( ) with the lunch box and all the "extras" I seem to tote around where ever we go and bumped along home. They did really great and I had a fun time with them, waving at princess clapping with the music, and pointing out all the cool floats. So here are our votes for best in show:

Tobiah: anything with loud music or bright flashy colors!
Rayna: Doggies!!!
Lydia: Marysville Strawberry Festival float... the pretty princess dresses
Isaiah: Tacoma Daffodil Festival traveling float... the baseball float!
Mama: The really cute Teddy bear picnic float (with bubbles!) from...? I forgot to look at the sign!

one of the local churches (Calvary Chapel Fellowship) was handing out bottled water along the parade route. They had put labels on saying: Living Water. And had verses about Jesus and the forgiveness He brings. Lydia wanted me to read the verses to her before she took a drink which included "Jesus said 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'" Then when we got home and after our climb up stairs to our third floor apartment Lydia asked for her water bottle. She held it up and proudly said : I have water from Jesus!

Baby news:



Tobiah loves to get around in his birthday suit and is most happy with not a stitch of clothing on!
New skill: climbing in the buff. I'm thinking he may be walking by Lydia's birthday (June) so I'm sure it is only a matter of time till he joins a new sport... streaking! : )

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Ps 107:8,9