Going Old School

I'm not sure where the idea came from to make our own laundry soap, but I have been thinking about it for the last few weeks.  I've heard that it makes a ton, you use way less and is better for your clothes.  Since I haven't figured out a good soap:laundry ratio, I decided to give it a go.  My friend Maria sent this site to me and off I went to gather my ingredients.

At our local Wal-mart, they so sweetly had all the ingredients together in the laundry aisle. I appreciated this very much.  They had a different laundry bar soap, but I was searching for the pink Zote bar.  Apparently, this is located somewhere else in the aisle and I had a hard time finding it.  

The site acted like grating the soap would be a huge drag, but it honestly took me maybe 20 minutes for both bars.  It took a little bit of time, but went faster than I thought.

Then I poured the rest of the ingredients into a 5 gallon bucket...

And instead of layering like she suggested, I just threw it all in and used my hands to really mix it up.  My hands smell so clean now!  I loved putting the Purex Crystals in the mix since they smell SOOO good, but the color makes me think of cat liter.  Glad it's not the same.

I am so excited about this.  I put some in an old OxyClean bucket and can use the little scoop too for the perfect amount suggested.  The rest I'll just keep in the 5 gallon bucket that will hopefully last me for a looonnnngggg time.

We'll see how this goes.  I'm nervous we won't like it and I'll have so much extra, but if it doesn't work out, I know a few people who won't mind taking it off my hands!

VBS: MRCC Style

Whew, did that last week fly by fast. VBS came and went at our church and boy, did my little girl LOVE it. So much, that she is asking for more!  I'm going to enroll her at another local church just so she can get her VBS fill.  She is already okay with not knowing any other kids...which surprises me.  

But back to our VBS.  Cousin Evie came with her and they had a great time!  The theme was Know Grow Show (John 3:16) and we talked about The Prodigal Son, The Seed Sower and The Good Samaritan.  If you want to watch an awesome video for the Seed Sower, click HERE.  Our ministers have way too much fun.

I signed up to be a Tour Guide with her group so I got to enjoy herding 10-12 three year olds around.  Luckily I had three other adults with me but it was still quite a challenge!

Jace got to enjoy VBS too, just in the nursery. He supposedly had good days, but by his picture, I'm not so sure about that.  Grumpy pants.

I'm sad VBS is over - it was really a lot of fun and I especially enjoyed watching Haylie love it.  We are both counting down the days til next year!

Haylie's Garden: Update!

I keep forgetting to post pictures of Haylie's garden!! She is doing such a good job with it (sarcasm).  If it were left up to her, everything would be dead, so let's give credit where credit is due.  Thank you Justin for keeping our daughter's garden alive. 

The white cross looks like something might have died and that's where we gave it a proper burial, but Justin made that for her the eve of Easter to signify Jesus on the cross.  Our cat is still alive and well.

Funnies

I had just given Haylie some grape juice when she said, "Mom, Jesus died on the cross and then he bleed grape juice."  I'm guessing she and daddy had a conversation about communion one Sunday and that's the connection she made because otherwise, I have no idea where this came from!

We were driving the other day and Haylie said, "Mom, when I get old enough to drive, I'm going to sit in your seat and you can sit in my carseat, ok Mom?"  Oh honey.  Mom definitely won't fit in that! And wait, why are you fast forwarding 13 years?!

Speaking of driving, Haylie is obsessed with traffic lights.  She wants to know if we are going to have an arrow or a circle, which lane we are in and what color will be next.  She gets out of sorts if we are in "the wrong lane" according to her and whichever light she chose in that moment.  It's exhausting to drive with her.

If you do something for her - like get her some water - she'll say, No Mom! It's MY day!!

Can't forget about Jace-Jace.  He is better with pictures.

All I can say is he is a MESS!!!  But in so many good ways.  He loves to climb on Haylie.  Literally.   Yesterday she was sitting in a laundry basket and he just wanted to sit on her lap and lounge back on her.  It was hysterical - to me.  Not to her.  Or sitting in this pink chair, he has to be on her or beside her.  Just somewhere in close proximity...bothering her...because he's the little brother and he can.

Haircut!

I had been debating about getting Haylie's hair cut for awhile now. It was SUPER long and although it was really pretty (IMHO), I felt like it was also getting out of control.  We were a few inches short of being able to donate, but I guess I wasn't ready for Haylie to have that short of hair yet.  

So, I called my sister up who dabbles in cutting hair and let her have at it one night after church!  These photos aren't great quality and she's wearing a brown shirt so it blends in.  Clearly, I wasn't thinking about the before and after photos!

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I don't feel like she aged 5 years with this haircut, which I'm glad about. I think if we did a bob it would have and I'm not ready for that yet!  If you ask Haylie, she will tell you her hair is already growing back but that she got it cut for SUMMER TIME!!  (She might yell that last part, too.)

I think she likes it!

Pool days

It was actually a TRUE SUMMER day in Oklahoma - no storms in sight, no cold temperatures and sunshine all day.  It was beautiful.  My kids decided to power nap today and not give me much of a break.  So it was a great pool afternoon.  I got this for $10 and I'm going to say it was worth every.single.penny. Even if I almost passed out blowing it up by myself.  (The foot pump wasn't working!) 

 These kids were happy for hours!!  

By the way, we cut Haylie's hair.  My sister did it for us and cut about 5-6" off!!

It's a win win when my kids actually play together. No screaming, pulling of hair or getting upset for no reason.

I do love this picture because it looks like he is punching her in the face.  He is not.

And of course we have to end the day by face planting in the mud. I love this chunky muddy boy.

So thankful for summer time, sunshine and baby pools to keep everyone happy!