Well…..

haha… did you think I was going to announce I was pregnant again?  haha HA HA HA HAHA
nope… maybe one day..maybe… MAYBE…Not sure… but not today!

Big things are coming… Here are some hints… 

#1. She will be involved.

#2.  Numbers will be included.

#3. Challenges lay ahead.

And now, I’m going to go finish reading my Jodi Picoult novel… anyone else like her?  She is riveting.

Peace and chicken grease (that is dedicated to my husband)~
ML

One way we save money is making our own wipes.  Here’s my how-to…

Need:

1 – tupperware container like this one (you may have to “eye” it to see if a half roll of paper towels would fit in it):

1- roll of paper towel (bounty or viva work best & are softest on little hienies)
1 & 1/2 -2 cups of water
2 Tbsp. Baby Oil
2 Tbsp. Baby Shampoo

How to:

#1 – cut the paper towel roll in half.  You can get a lot of aggression out with this!  ha!  Tip: use a bread knife & think of how many calories you are burning!  I try to sit down & cut a whole package in half at one time.  Then, I store them in a closet upstairs so they are ready to be made ahead of time.

 This is what it should look like – not very pretty (this side will go down)

#2 – Make your solution:
Mix the water, soap, & oil together in the container.  You can use whatever baby shampoo you want.  I love how the lavender bedtime soap smells! 

#3 – put paper towels in the container that already contains the solution.  fuzzy side down.

#4 – Put lid on container & turn container upside down & let sit for about 10-15 minutes.  Now, if when you go to check your wipes, and they are still kind of dry on top, go ahead & add another 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup water on top.  I’ve only had to do this with the super thick paper towels, though.

#5 – Pull out the cardboard part of the paper towels & pull the wipes from the center!

**Tip:  It helps to get the paper towels that are cut into smaller sheets already.  Makes it much more manageable.

**Tip: If you know that there is a messy messy diaper, you may want to pre-pull your wipes b/c it can get kind of frustrating trying to tear the wipe while successfully holding a tiny poopy hiney up in the air!

Enjoy & think of all the money you are saving (i’m working to figure this out).  Also, you know EXACTLY what is being used in the wipes!  This wipe switch completely eliminated two of my boys’ diaper rash!!!  Did you know that there is citric acid in wipes (even sensitive ones)?  It was burning their already broken skin.  This cleared it right up!  Plus, I think the baby oil helps get the mess off, too!

Have fun making those wipes!
ML

I don’t really do these that much, but I thought I would jump on the blog carnival over at Kelly’s Korner.  Kelly is an awesome southern girl who loves Jesus & happens to have a little Harper of her own!  

This weeks topic:  Cleaning Tips

Well, my house stays pretty clean, although I know it is only because my boys are not mobile yet!  My whole plan may have to change, or I may just have to wave a little white flag for a year (…or ten).  We’ll see…Harper does her own destruction at 2 years old, but I know MORE destruction is on it’s way!  So, this is how I stay clean for now.

I have these signs posted on my fridge.  I originally posted it after the boys were born so if I ever had any helpers from church coming over, they could jump in and help out -with out me wracking my brain of what could be done.  They are laminated and I have a wet-erase marker in a drawer right beside our fridge.  Once all (or some are checked off through out the day) I wipe it down at the end of every day – it is very rewarding!

So, this is the best way I know how to stay on top of things…. make a plan! 

#1.  I have a daily schedule.  This has changed as the boy’s schedules have changed, but I split my day up into 3 sections of what needs to get done.  That way, I do a little through my day & I’m not spending my evening cleaning up.

#2.  I do at least 3 loads of laundry a day.  It never piles up & never gets overwhelming – as it would be VERY easy to do with a family of 6.

#3. I run the dishwasher 2 times a day – afternoon & evening.  I put all sorts of things in the dishwasher to wash ’em up.  (I even heard you could cook salmon in your dish wahser, but that is crossing the line! yuck!  Did you know you can wash flip flops in the dishwasher??! Not with dishes of course, but it can be done!)

#4.  I split up my chores into days… as you can see to the right…  Once again, not as overwhelming!  I keep Sunday as a day of rest – since the Lord does command that.  I try to keep things straight during that day, but mainly focus on rest & family.

#5.  Have you been to FlyLady?  She is quite helpful & *extremely* organized!  Can be a little obsessive! 

#6. I use these 2 products… I think they really are all I need to clean my home…  Pledge Multi Surface & Soft Scrub Total… they are the COMPLETE package! 

#7.  And, just for an added tip… I keep my grocery list laminated on the fridge, so I can circle what is needed!  It is in the order of the way our Walmart is set up… however, I’m going to have to re-do it b/c I don’t shop at WalMart as much since it is further away.

#8.  I have a Bekah  (at least for a few more months)!  She rocks & is a cleaning genius when the babes are sleeping!  

The one other item that I think would change my life would be a Shark Steam Mop… Will have to put it on my wish list!  For now, it will be the swiffer jet mop rigged up & my Oreck Vacuum that I got for Christmas (best Christmast present ever!  thanks mom!)

So, do you have any cleaning tips I should know about? 

Have a good night.. will be back later to blog about the fam!

The last 2 weeks have been filled with broken sleep, and today it seemed to have added up to be too much. Thankfully, my mom was here and she helped comfort fussy babies (C & W have 2 teeth & M has 0).  As well as a cranky toddler (who is getting all 4- 2yr molars at once!). Yay teeth.

Anyway, I am having some still time before going to bed. I’ve been reading & skimming through J.R. Miller’s book Homemaking, and it has so much wisdom in it. The quote from my previous post is from it. Tonight I read this, and this is what I need after today…

There is an old picture which represents a woman who has fallen asleep at her wheel, in very weariness, as she toils to fulfill her household duties, and the angels have come and are softly finishing her task while she sleeps. Let parents be faithful; let them do their best. The work may seem too great for them, and they may faint under its burdens and seem to fail. But what they cannot do the angels will come and finish while they sleep. Night by night they will come and correct the day’s mistakes, and if need be do all the poor, faulty work over again. 

 Jesus, thank you for rest.  Thank you for your love and comfort and new mercies in the morning.  And thank you for Cafe Verona coffee from Starbucks.  I look forward to tomorrow morning.  For now… may sleep bring the angels to come and finish your work that I left undone today.

Amen

Oh, Mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your life is sweet and clean.

-JR Miller