Random Pictures

I have been so busy this week I haven't had much time to post anything, so before I have to start getting ready for my weekend ladies retreat I thought I'd post some random pictures from the last two weeks.

Bella in her usual state of being.

Connor after coming home from a walk with grandpa.  He was so tired he thought he'd sleep in the entryway.

Sophia with blanket.

 

The boys helping me pin my material while I'm sewing Aunt Lindsey's scarf - which I totally messed up on because I tried to hurry and sew it, but it's that kind of material if you rush it doesn't turn out, so I've got to rip and re-sew!

Michael Jr. acting goofy... 

 

I must say that I'm having a heck of a time with this post, writing between the pictures, the formating is all messed up and I don't know why.

The below picture is of Connor watching TV. 

 

Christian playing.

 

Boys at the fire station...

Michael Jr's Birthday Shirt

The 23rd is Jr's 4th Birthday, and we're celebrating with family and friends this Friday, the 19th. Michael is so into 'number' shirts that I thought I would make him a #4 shirt for him to wear to his birthday party...

I made two shirts, not knowing which one I'd like better, but both the boys want a shirt anyway, so which ever Michael Jr. doesn't want to wear tomorrow, Connor will gladly wear.  As they both covet 'number' shirts and 'fire fighter' shirts!

Honk if you love Jesus...

I couldn't resist posting this picture my girlfriend (thank you Maureen!) sent me via email.  Just Love It!

stuff, stuff, stuff

Why is it that I get so stressed out by STUFF?  

Why is it when I try to clean things up and de-clutter, I make more of a mess than if I would have let things alone?

 But I can't - can't let this STUFF sit there?

I look at it and it stresses me out, I clean it and it stresses me out, some days I want to start fresh and throw it all out (that is until I start going thru things and tell myself I need it for this reason or that).

It's amazing how stuff acumulates (does anyone know what happened to the blog spell check? - I can't spell this word!)

OK, so I was saying... It's amazing how things pile up, this here, that there...and it's clutter turned into a big messy pile of "I don't know what to do...let's buy some plastic storage bins, label it and hide it in the closet (or cabinet or under the bed)." - you know what I'm saying!

I don't know how it happens, it creeps up on me, and I still manage to donate items, give things away on freecycle and have garage sales and the stuff still doesn't go away.  Do you ever feel like me?

So this weekend I have begun purging and I'll give you an update later next week...

Yes, and some of this is due to me being inspired to participate in...

Frugal Friday

This is my first post to Frugal Friday on Life As Mom 

I've been wanting to participate in this for sometime now, but I've forgotten or have been too busy.

Today I'll keep it simple...

I try to save my plastic baggies, tin foil and plastic wrap - wash and reuse!  I purchased (several years ago) a hanging baggie dryer and I love it!  I actually need two, since sometimes I don't get around to washing my baggies everyday.  I will save them up for a week or two weeks sometimes and have a baggie washing marathon day!  Then I have to hang some by clothes pins because I've run out of room.

if you want a laugh...

You have got to check this out - I have been laughing since I stumbled upon this site...

http://thereifixedit.com/

Positive Parenting 3-6-5

I just stumbled upon this site:

http://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/

It is a fabulous Christian parenting resource.  I highly recommend you checking it out!

It includes articles on a multitude of child rearing topics including:

• tying heartstrings
• character training
• preventive parenting

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not work hard this weekend at getting my daycare reopened and spent $ grocery shopping only to not have my parent drop their kid off (or call) today, and I most certainly did not wake up at 5:30am in anticipating and feel super tired today!

I certainly did not decide to give in to my almost 4 year old and sew numbers on his t-shirts so that he'd wear more than 2 articles of clothing hanging in his closet.

I would never feed my kids fruit, cheese sticks and mini pretzels with peanut butter for lunch, no I would never feed snacky food to my kids for a lunch time meal!

I absolutely did not go off my budget this week and buy 3, YES - 3, coffees this week.  Seriously, I couldn't have purchased 2 bags of coffee for the same price!

I am not seriously considering purchasing a package of disposable diapers so I can attend a women's retreat (and bring my twins with)...

And lastly...

Peanut Butter on a spoon and Chocolate Chips were not my evening snack, nope.

All Generation Class Today

Today was our all generation class at Church.  It is always enjoyable, and the children get to participate, we are usually split into groups with a mix of adults and children.  Today Bill had our table discuss the following passage and then draw it out on paper for illustrational purposes.  I really enjoyed today's passage (and enjoy reading it in the New Living Translation):

Psalm 1

¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
      follow the advice of the wicked,
      or stand around with sinners,
      or join in with mockers.
 ² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
      meditating on it day and night.
 ³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
      bearing fruit each season.
   Their leaves never wither,
      and they prosper in all they do. ⁴ But not the wicked!
      They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
 ⁵ They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
      Sinners will have no place among the godly.
 ⁶ For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
      but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Polluted Babies and Genetically Engineered Crops

Things that are of most importance to me are my children and what they eat.

What parent wants their child to be born with pollution in their bodies?

What parent wants their child to be eating genetically engineered foods?

I want what is best for our children, the best start in life and the best life they can live as they grow into adults and be stewards of this Earth.

The Environmental Working Group is working on our behalf to make this world a better place.  

They have a petition that I recommend signing.  Please read below (I copied this from their website):

BABIES ARE BORN PRE-POLLUTED WITH 100’s OF TOXIC CHEMICALS.

OUR BROKEN TOXICS LAW IS FAILING THEM.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CHANGE THAT.

EWG tested the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies and found nearly 300 chemicals, including BPA, fire retardants, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides that were banned more than 30 years ago.
Speak up for change. Our kids deserve it.
The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act would require that all chemicals be proven safe for children before they can be sold. But lawmakers in Washington need to know that you want them to reform our broken toxics law.
Please sign this petition to demand that Congress take action to make chemicals in consumer products kid-safe.

ALSO... Please read this I recieved in an email from Organic Valley Family of Farms regarding information from The True Food Network on genetically engineered crops.

Stop Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Protect Organic Food!


Speak Out on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa


In 2006, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) sued the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its illegal approval of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. USDA failed to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) before deregulating the crop. An EIS is a rigorous analysis of the potential significant impacts of a federal decision. The federal courts sided with CFS and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA fully analyzed the impacts of the GE plant on the environment, farmers, and the public in an EIS. They released a draft EIS on December 14, 2009. Draft EIS
Supplemental documents



It appears USDA again intends to deregulate GE alfalfa without any limitations or protections for farmers, consumers or the environment. In the new EIS, the USDA has completely dismissed the fact that GE contamination will threaten export and domestic markets and organic meat and dairy products. And, incredibly, USDA is claiming that there is no evidence that consumers care about GE contamination of organic. We know that's not true.



Your Participation is Critical! Take Action by February 16


A 60-day comment period is now open until February 16, 2010. This is the first time the USDA has done this analysis for any GE crop, so the final decision will have broad implications for all GE crops. The failure of the agency to address the impacts of GE alfalfa will have far-reaching consequences for farmers and organic consumers. Let's not be Monsanto's guinea pigs!


Learn more and get talking points on our website. Then take action at the Center for Food Safety, or submit comments online to the USDA directly.




After you write, let us know at rootstock@organicvalley.coop.



Where to Take Action:

Submit comments via the Center for Food Safety Action Center tool. If you have time to write an original response, you can also submit your comments directly to the USDA.



By Mail: A written letter is very powerful. Mail your comments to:



Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044

Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8

4700 River Road Unit 118

Riverdale, MD 20737-1238

Learn more and get talking points on our website. Then take action at the Center for Food Safety, or submit comments online to the USDA directly. After you write, let us know at rootstock@organicvalley.coop.

My Confession - My Kiddos Are Not Angels!

Tonight when I told my boys it was time for bed, I was looking into the eyes of my oldest boy who was glaring at me with the darndest hard core look you'd ever seen.  You've got to be kidding!  MY LITTLE ANGEL? Some days are awesome with hugs and kisses and "mom, I love you" and "mom, you're my friend" then I get the "h*ll no, I'm not doing what you ask me to do!" look and I'm thinking "where am I going wrong?" 

Seriously!?%$#

I really do pray every night and morning for God's guidance to raise these charming children of mine, and then when something like tonight goes on - I litterally feel like my child is possessed and I need to perform an exercism.

I do notice some trends in behavior and so I really try to avoid certain things that set off bad behavior or attitudes in my children such as watching TV and avoiding being on the phone or internet.  And I try really hard to bond with my children and train them up.  It just breaks my heart to see my children act in such a way, and in my mind I immediately flash forward to the teen years and think "I'd better get these boys under control now!"

I hope I'm not the only mom out there that's having these days, nights, mornings, etc.

Please, please, leave me a comment and pray for a better tomorrow!

Here are some comforting scriptures I try to remind myself of as I reflect on my job as a mother.

Deut 6:5-7

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Prov 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Prov 13:24

"He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."

Prov 22:15

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him."

Prov 23:13

"Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die."

Prov 29:15

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother."

Eph 6:4

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Homemade Laundry Detergent

So here's the recipe that I use to make my own Laundry Detergent. 

I've been meaning to post this for months now, but just found time this morning. 

I first was introduced to this idea by watching one of my favorite shows on TLC: 

The Duggar Family's 18 Kids and Counting. 

They have it posted here:  Duggar's Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Fels Naptha soap bar, grated

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

I use the old laudry detergent containers to put the mix in. 

I also wrote the recipe on the container so I wouldn't loose it.

I had to divide the recipe because the Duggars use so much,

and I didn't have enough storage in my home for a 5 gallon bucket!

Grate the soap bar into a small saucepan. Cover with hot water.

Cook over medium-low heat, stirring continually, until the soap completely dissolves.

Put washing soda and borax in a 5-gallon bucket. Pour in the hot, melted soap mixture. Stir well, until all the powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to the top with more hot tap water. Stir, cover securely, and let set overnight. The next morning, stir the mixture. Mix equal amounts of soap concentrate and water in a smaller laundry-detergent dispenser or container. Shake before using.

For top-loading machines: Use 1 cup of the soap mixture per load.

For front-loading machines: Use 1/2 cup per load.

Monday's Multiple Posts...

Well, today I had multiple posts...  You can keep scrolling down or you can click below:

Winner of Breast Pump Giveaway

One Small Change Challenge for Feburary

28 Days of Organizing Challenge

28 Day Organizing Challenge

I have decided to participate in the 28 Day Organizing Challenge hosted by I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Here's some of my (gulp, embarasing) before pictures... So that you too can be inspired to do something about your space!

A lot of you know that we have an arctic entryway and then you enter into our livingroom, diningroom, kitchen area.  There is a lot of stuff that our family has and it seems that the arctic entryway is a dumping ground as well as where we enter into the house from the arctic entryway.  Plus, I am storing things under my dining room benches and above my fridge which drives me nuts!  I really do prefer having NO clutter but with 4 kids I've let things go and it's a big stresser for me, so this is for me so I can feel less stress by the end of the month...

I'll be posting preview pictures of some re-organizing we've started later this week...  Thanks for stoping by!

One Small Change Challenge for Feburary

One Small Change is hosted by Hip Mountain Mama. 

It is a monthly challenge thru April 22nd.

For the month of January my 'One Small Change' that I chose was to hang a load of laundry each day.  See post here.  And I am reporting that although I did not accomplish to do this EVERY day, I did manage to EVERY OTHER DAY, except for a three-day stint when our water was turned off during the day from 8am to 5pm each day, so I was forced to play catch-up with my laundry because of someone's pipes freezing in the park!  However, with that being said, I certainly did learn how to gather water and use water sparingly for 3 days straight!  And this spring I will have Mike install a rain barrel so that I'm not stressed about having enough water when it gets turned off for the day...


OK, so, for February's Challenge...I will continue to work on my DAILY laundry hanging challenge from January.  PLUS I will now start using cloth only in the kitchen AND cloth wipes for my twins' diaper changes!  I already use cloth diapers, so you'd think this would be a no-brainer, but it's taken a lot for me to get to the point of using washable wipes...Lots of prayers needed on this one!  I have on and off tried to limit the amount of paper towels used in the kitchen and the amount of commercial diaper wipes by making my own, but will now forgo paper all together!  I will remove what paper I do have in the kitchen and in the diaper basket and use cloth only!

Breast Pump Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is... Ruth

A lot of thanks to Ruth and Rachel

for participating in my first giveaway. 

It was very difficult for me to choose a winner!

I hope to post another giveaway soon!

Ruth - please email me at orsbornfamily@gmail.com !