Thoughts...

For Today September 8th, 2009

Today's entry is from the Simple Woman's Daybook http://www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window...

is a yellow bus.

I am thinking...

about the errands I will run today.

I am thankful for...

my healthy family.

From the kitchen...

those leftover enchiladas are stuck to the plates! lol!

I am wearing...

a soft yellow peasant top and dark denim capris w/ no shoes.

I am creating...

suitcase storage for the kids play room.

I am going...

to learn the whole book of James, by heart.

I am reading...

the FlyLady book, Sink Reflections I think it's called.

I am hoping...

to get this clothing shop opened in two weeks.

Around the house...

there is silence except for when Baby Bunny hops in his cage.

One of my favorite things...

fresh laundry folded neatly and put into everyone's drawers.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

are my homeopathic study grp. tonight, DH starts college Wed., having dinner w/ a good friend Friday.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing... (at top of page.)

Have a fantastically blessed week!

Simply Sarah

Summer Fun

Oh, that smile! Happy to be in the water all day long.

Best friends splashing and playing together. These two have been best friends I think since the day they met. We're so happy that Baby Love has a good Christian friend to play with. Both the boys have such tender hearts and gently spirits.

The sun and water finally got the best of Chunky Monkey! It takes a lot for this little guy to take a nap anymore. But the elements won out this time! Praise the Lord for nap time! ;)

Baby Love told me shortly before leaving that he was, "getting really pruney."

Summer here is almost ending. It went by so fast this year. We've had trips to the water park, splash pad and my parents' pool. The boys are getting so big. My heart feels sad when I realize how quickly the time goes by. But I am so thankful for my time as a mother. There is not one thing that I could be doing right now that is more important than my job here at home. Enjoying my blessed life and giving God praise for the life I have. What are you feeling blessed about?

Chore Cards

Sorry for the lame-o pics. Talked w/ the gals on our Christian Home Schooling grp and said I would post our Chore Cards. Which, was inspired by Titus 2 ministries. The construction paper is laminated w/ clear contact paper. Baby Love does do his chore cards when asked. When they are completed to satisfaction, he earns 4 gold coins and then can use those to do fun things. -Same idea as Chuck E. Cheese w/out the loud noise or overpriced pizza!

The top pic is the am Chore Cards and is missing #5 which is breakfast.

#1. Go Potty

#2. Wash Hands

#3. Brush Teeth

#4. Get Dressed

#5. Breakfast

#6. Eat Vitamin

#7. Put Dishes Away

#8. Devotional/Time w/ the Lord

Night time Chore Cards are shorter:

#1. Put Away Toys

#2. Go Potty

#3. Wash Hands/Face

#4. Brush Teeth

#5. Put on Jammies

#6. Story/Bible time and Pray

So how do your kids get ready for bed? Is there a routine? We'll be getting on a routine once the school season starts. Sweet Dreams!

Simply Sarah

Rainy, Harry Weekend

It has been a wonderfully rainy day. Our house is filled with the smell of iced cafe latte and french vanilla candles and Harry Connick Jr. is singing to me. I've got almost all of my laundry done and hung on a vintage, very large wooden drying rack. (A great find through Freecycle.)

DH made blueberry pancakes and they were fantastic! There's a pic of what happens when you eat too many blueberries; a stained butt! Poor Chunky Monkey, his heiny is stained purple...
Think I'll have a cup of tea, sit and read a book for a while. Happy Sunday!

Simply Sarah

Blueberry Picking

Blueberry picking was wonderful. The weather was great, somewhere in the 70's and a little overcast. Not sure how long we were there, but the boys loved eating and picking. Chunky Monkey ate more than he picked, so it is blue poo I fear for this evening...

Found an organic farming co-op and am so excited. I really want the boys to appreciate where REAL food comes from and learn how it grows. I'll be getting a working share, so we'll participate in the harvest. Have a happy weekend!

I'm Baaaack!

Sorry I disappeared for so long. I took a long walk off a short cliff and amazingly enough, found my way back again! That's determination for ya.

Summer has been unbelievable busy this year. DH and I built stairs up to our porch and did a fantastic job if I do say so myself. And I am saying so. -Having never attempting anything like it we really surprised ourselves.

Now we need to install the dishwasher and countertop next month. As a once notorious magician said, "busy, busy, busy."

So hope to give some more updates soon. Hope your summer is going wonderfully. I'm thinking of Christmas gift ideas already. Never too early to start, especially for a procrastinator like me! Which reminds me of those Halloween costumes I've gotta find material for...

Frugal

This is a recipe that I don't remember the source but absolutely looooove! Homemade Laundry Soap. It is fantastic for little Chunky Monkey and his super-sensitive-skinned brother Baby Love. And honest-to-goodness it makes your clothes soooo soft. Although it's good for mine and the kid's clothes, I don't use it for DH's work clothes. So try it out for yourself..

*Laundry Soap*

1 c Borax

1c Washing Soda

1 Bar of Fels-Naptha grated

The Washing Soda is made by Arm & Hammer (Meijer), the Fels-Naptha (VG's) and Borax get mixed up. I put mine in a large Rubber Maid cylinder. The orig. recipe calls for 2-3T, but I like to use 4T.

*Fridgerator Cleaner (interior)*

Spray Bottle with White Vinegar and H2O

Vinegar is fantastic at killing mold or anything else grungy.

*Window Cleaner*

1c Alcohol

1c Water

1T Vinegar

I love the fact that this leaves my windows streak-free. I also like using newspaper (black & white, no glossy paper) to wipe the widows down.

*Dry-Erase Board Cleaner*

Any type of tooth "paste." -No gels. Get a paper towel damp, squeeze a little paste on it and voile, a clean, minty smelling board!

*Wheat Bread*

We love whole wheat bread but don't care for the prices. I've found a bread outlet on Hill Rd. that sells Sara Lee bread for only $0.70 a loaf. I usually grab about 10 loaves and throw them in the deep freeze. They thaw wonderfully.

*Food Co-op/Beef*

There are local organic farms who will allow you for a fee, join their working or non-working coop. You purchase shares and then as the harvest comes in, you get your share. I have not joined one yet. It's hard to find a co-op w/ an opening. We buy our beef from a farmer who raises organic cattle. It's the best I have had and the leanest. Since we can't eat a whole cow, we go in on it with friends or family. We buy it at slaughter time, the beginning of fall and keep it in our deep freeze.

*Compost*

Yes, I have been teased about this. I don't like to waste a thing. My compost pile is growing this year. I figure it will make my garden soil richer naturally and I'm keeping biodegradable out of our land fills. So if you have a garden or garden with pots and have a little corner in the back of your yard, composting is a great thing.

*Rain Water*

We have a run-off from the garage and last year I put a large plastic garbage bin there to collect rain water for the garden. You can do the same thing if you have gutter drain thingies. I haven't yet figured out a watering "system" yet, but used the water regularly with my watering can. The key is to keep it covered and dump it if it's getting weird stuff growing or getting bugs in it.

Well I guess that's enough for now. If you have any ideas, please share. I'm sorry I can't give sources for all the ideas. I've learned them over the years and honestly don't know where I picked up all this stuff.

Sick Chunky Monkey

Our Chunky Monkey is sick. He puked around 2 a.m., hence this post at 3:55 a.m. Can't sleep. He just went from being a fat, happy baby to a sad, sad one. He's been struggling with staying "regular" so if any of you has some ideas, shoot me an email. I've tried prunes, Karo syrup and water, juice, applesauce; finally I had to resort to the dreaded suppository. When he puked on me in bed I was thankful that I had the shower curtain down. (I keep a shower curtain under the mattress pad. Great for kids potty training or the surprise up-chucker.) I woke up DH to help me get Baby Love out of bed before he rolled in the mess. My DH is great. He helped me bathe Chunky Monkey and that warm water helped him get cleaned out. Sorry to be so graphic, I figure if you've seen any television in the last 6 years, you've seen and heard a lot worse... So after we got him cleaned up DH prayed over him. I can't imagine being a single parent. Being a parent is a 24 hr. job. There are no paid holidays, sick days. Just 24/7 and overtime. But I love my job and am glad that this is what I get to do for a lot more years to come, Lord willing. So as soon as this "bug" gets outta his system I hope to post again. I'm thinking of a Top Ten Money Saving List. Talk to you later.

DIY

Oh how I love Menards! Even Baby Love knows the Menards song. We have him sing it often.

Here is my brand spankin' new French Door installed a la Mr. Ryan. He's the guy that puts up our doors and he's very good at it. I found him via my BFF, Tracey.

And here is the new vent and we're measuring for baseboards and quarter round. DH and I have been trying to get this stuff done at night when the little munchkins, or as Amber (the little girl I used to nanny for) would say, mukchins.

I love our old little house, despite what some have said, I think it is absolutely perfect. My creaky staircase gives me a nice warm feeling. And our old cast iron tub make me feel like a princess when I am having my royal soak. DH and I have enjoyed spending time together fixing it up. And isn't that what makes a home,

the love that you find there...

Simply Sarah

Funny, not Mean

Just so you know up front, I am not a mean person, well, unless provoked.

Recently we (me, DH, Baby Love, and Chunky Monkey) all went to the local grocery store after church. Since the kids were sleeping, DH went in alone. I parked along the curb away from the door, but close enough that I could see when he came out so as not to have him freeze any longer than necessary. It has been biting cold here! As I'm waiting, I see a young college aged girl pushing a cart heaping; and when I say heaping, I mean HEAPING with beer cans tied in plastic grocery bags. As she's getting near the door, it was like she approached a tornado. The bags of beer cans went swirling up in the air and so did that baseball cap she was wearing! So here she is trying to get her hat back on to look cool, and she's jumping up to catch beer can bags. Then it happened. They started swirling out into the parking lot and then they busted open! That was it, I couldn't take it anymore. I literally hid in between my van seats shirking my shoulders in laughter with tears running down my eyes and making snorting noises! Oh, I couldn't help it. It was so funny! I felt bad for her, but not too bad!

Have you ever had laughing fits in places where you shouldn't?

Murder Mystery Pt. 2

Here's our Hosts, "E.C. and Joe." Tracey (E.C.) did a great job! It really looked like a 50's diner. The whole night was fantabulous! We were served Hamburgers, Conies, French Fries, Onion Rings, Shakes and Rootbeer in real diner trays! Plus she made 3 different yummy desserts!

Here's me and my DH, "Pris and Del" with our own home-grown, Jackson. Jackson came complete with a white t-shirt, rolled up jeans, and a tattoo on his arm that says "Mom" in a heart with an arrow.

This last picture is "Pris, E.C., Dee, and Penny."

I'll post more pictures again.

25 Things

25 Things

Okay, there's this thing with FaceBook people, I don't do Facebook, but I thought it was a pretty good idea. I'll try my best. You're supposed to list 25 things about yourself that most people don't know. So here's a try:

1. I love Little House on the Prairie. -Seriously, love it.

2. I only will use my Index and Thumb when it required my fingers getting dirty, the others get

tucked into my palms.

3. My van must stay spotless -it's the only thing I can always keep clean.

4. I am a picker by nature. It can be anything, like picking glue off the bottle, picking paint off

my fingernails.

5. When we get pictures back from J.C. Penney's, I thoroughly get a kick out of cutting them

out. The scissors are in my glove box!

6. I never had Chinese food until I met my husband because some one told me there was cat

meat in it and I believed them. -Now I crave it regularly. Not cat meat, but Chinese food.

7. I want to learn to make soap.

8. I love cloth diapers.

9. Recycling is a lot of fun for me.

10. Can't wait to have chickens.

11. When I sing Christmas songs, I never know all the words.

12. I want to live in the country so I can have a more kids, a bigger garden and chickens.

13. My feet got bigger after having kids, but then, so did my butt...

14. I love oldies music.

15. My clothesline gives me warm, happy feelings.

16. My friends think I'm an Amish Mexican.

17. I think that gifts are better handmade.

18. "Brown-eyed Girl" was playing when I found my wedding dress and I'll never forget that

moment.

19. We will be debt-free Jan. of 2011. Everything except the house.

20. Regret not being able to finish college.

21. My towels have to be folded a certain way or I get my panties in a bunch!

22. I love doing home improvements, sewing, crafting, crocheting, blogging, reading, gardening,

and thrifting.

23. I love hardwood floors and antiques.

24. Friday movie nights with my family are priceless.

25. I love my dad's ribs and mom's egg salad.

What is your 25 List? I'd love to hear it. Gotta go, I've got two crazy boys jumping and or rolling all over my bed! Talk to you later.

Simply Sarah

P.S. Will post Murder Mystery pics, I promise!

Murder Mystery Night Out

Tonight is a night out for my DH and me. My dearest friend in all the world (she helped to deliver my second child) is having a Murder Mystery Dinner! Yeah, I am so excited to leave the house and do something "grown up." We will have Jackson with us, well, because he would starve without me -or so I tell everyone. So I hope to post tonight with some fabulous pics of us having a great time! See you later!

Happiness

First of all, I have to say that I love pictures of "bedhead" -especially when it's one of my boys. Jackson is happy all of the time, really, ask anyone who knows him. So, bed heads make me happy.

Sewing makes me happy. I finished the curtain for the back door, the kitchen windows, and the living room curtains over the weekend. There's my trusty 1940's old Singer sewing machine. I got it as a Christmas present when I was in the 6th grade. Probably one of the best gifts I've ever received.

But what makes me the happiest? I was listening to an old "mixed CD" tonight and remembering where I was in life when these songs came out. And the very best feeling of happy just washed over me, really. I felt like I wanted to cry, I was so happy. I serve a God who always loves and forgives me. He gives a jazillion chances. Then I thought of my DH, who is so absolutely stellar. What a blessing he is to me. He's one in a million and I'm so glad that I get to be his wife. Loyal. He's loyal to the very end. Then seeing my two little monkeys sleeping. In the still of this night, I thanked my Lord for all of this. My life. Then I thought of His Word. Faith, Hope & Love -and the greatest is Love. I am happiest when I'm soaking up all of my God's Love.

Simply Sarah

Diapers

Ahh, freshly washed diapers. My favorite laundry to wash would have to be towels, but diapers is a very close second. And what says 'I love you' more than a fresh dipe to put on that chunky heiny? I use several types of dipes; the cotton ones w/ pins -although there is a new thing called a "Snappi" that I'm dying to try, it's stretchy plastic and holds the dipe w/out pins. Then there's a Pocket style diaper and the All In One. And then there's the cute patterned Pockets I'm making. Do you use diapers -well not you personally, I hope, but if you do, I'm not judging... Are your children in them? What kind do you or have you used?

This is my usual Monday morning look. Yes, I know it's not Monday, I wasn't able to get this post done Monday, so here it is. Something for you to laugh at.

Those jammies are the most comfortablest (I'm not sure that's a real word, but you get what I'm sayin') ones I've ever owned. The colors make me think I should live in Whoville with Cindy Lou Who.

Yup, that is a real apron. I think every real homemaker should own at least a couple of aprons. I do have a few antique ones but I don't want to ruin them. I love the cherries all over this one.

Is that a tiara she's wearing? Well of course it is! What did you think princesses wore? So this is my usual Monday attire. Monday is chore day. And actually chores are more pleasant when you're wearing a tiara...

Jacob came in my room this morning with that Gilligan hat and tie on, ready to start his day. Did I mention, we don't always get dressed. Yup, one of the perks of being a SAHM/homeschooler. He loves his kitchen he got for Christmas. I figure I'll teach these boys how to live on their own, cooking, cleaning, a little bit of sewing and then their Daddy can do all the guy stuff. You know, make them "well rounded" -I think it's just being prepared for Life. So at this point I'm not sure if he's going to grow up to be stranded on a desserted isle or work on Wall Street???

New Year Investments

Here we are in 2009 and I thought I'd hand out a little investment advice -like you're not gonna hear tons of it already. So bear with me here, I know I've got a great plan.

Investment Tips:

1. Find a great man who believes like you do, then marry him, fast!

2. Have beautiful children.

3. Actually raise them yourself, no nannies/daycare. You'll be amazed how big your "paychecks of the heart" really are.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, 'Oh, if only it were that simple!' And you know what, it's not. But a lot of prayer and commitment to your husband can lead to what I've got. Yes, I know that not everyone can stay home, but I can bet a lot more people can if they'd cut back on their spending. Believe me it can be done. I've lived without cable for over two years and here I am, still alive. Amazing huh? This morning Jacob said to me, "Mom I'm glad I get to be your son." What can make a mother tear up faster than that? These are the things I'm talking about. Nothing can compare when I get compliments from strangers that my children are well behaved. -Not perfect, well behaved. It's because I know them, I spend everyday with them, getting to know their little personalities that God gave them. And you know what, I'm glad that when Jacob wanted to give his heart to the Lord it was his father and I that were there for that, not some babysitter. And when Jackson first rolled over, we were there for that too. Remember there are no do-overs. So if you want to be rich, invest in your family. You'll get rewards bigger than you can imagine...

Happy 2009 and God Bless You and Your Family!

Simply Sarah

Top Ten (currently)

10. Family Movie Night
9. Shaved Legs
8. Polishes Nails w/out a Trace of Chipping
7. Clean Laundry
6. Homemade Laundry Soap (makes clothes soooo soft..)
5. New Fallen Snow
4. Having my Van Interior Detailed
3. A Phone Conversation w/out Interruptions
2. Good Hair Day

Drum roll please.........

1. Getting Back Into a Size 6! (Breastfeeding -It Does a Body Good!)

Simply Sarah

crafting

I've finally begun making cloth diapers for my Chunkiest Monkey. Oh, and I got the cutest material on clearance -even better yet.

The picture of the boys reminds me of the saying "Sometimes love hurts" -and at the moment it looks like one of em' was feelin' the love! They just love each other and it makes a mother gush with happiness.

The hats were Christmas gifts for my nieces. A gift from the heart to keep them warm this winter. Although with today's weather you'd never guess it is winter. We go from having 20 degree weather to having it 55 degrees.

Tonight I made a quick trip to the fabric store and the warm air reminded me of when I was younger taking night time drives with the convertible top down. I turned the music up loud and sang along. Something about the weather and night time turned me into a teenager again. You know when I weighted 100lbs, had gorgeous hair and cool clothes. When the only thing I thought about was what I was going to wear for the next get-together with friends. What brings back that youthful feeling for you?

Heavenly Peace

The Nativity and all that happened that night 2,000 years ago, still changing the world today. Changing my family like many others over the entire globe. Jacob woke us up Monday morning at 6:00 am and told DH and me that he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. This has been my heart's prayer that either my DH or me would be able to be the ones who lead our children in this prayer when they tell us they are ready. I couldn't have asked for a more precious Christmas gift. Christ gave Himself as a gift to us and now my sweet Jacob accepted that Gift. Merry Christmas.

Simply Sarah