Blog Absence

There hasn't been much love for my blog these past couple months...

Things have been crazy as usual and our days have been filled with kid activity.  Both the kiddos started school a few weeks ago and they are loving it!  Suki is in PreK and goes half day/five days a week (does that make sense?) and Max is in a 2's program that meets on Tuesday and Thursday for two and a half hours.  This preschool is pretty similar to Suki's school in Chicago in that parent participation is high.  I am assisting in the classroom once a week and serving on the parent committee.  I will be heading up our fundraising auction in a couple months (more on that to come I'm sure).  We are thankful that we have found this school!

Some other reasons for the lack of blog love are...

At the end of July, while we were enjoying a last minute family trip to California(yay), our house was broken into(boo) and my computer was stolen :(  I was devastated!  It felt like my whole life was on that computer...It was the same one I had since the kids were born and every picture that ever mattered was stored there.  I'm sure you're thinking "what's the big deal just transfer the data from your back-up"....right?  well, wrong!  I didn't have a back-up...wah wah wah.  Soooooo, one of our good friends was nice enough to give me one of his old laptops to use.  I am so extremely grateful and will be backing up soon. LESSON DEFINITELY LEARNED!

Also, my camera is broken AGAIN!  I have been using my Holga as a back-up but after getting my last roll developed and only having ONE picture turn out from the whole roll, I am determined to either get my Canon fixed ASAP or get a new camera soon.  Then I will have some pics to share.  I have been missing some serious "Kodak moments" with the kids.

Now on to something I have been loving lately...

Pioneer Woman's Perfect Iced Coffee  - If you love coffee you have to make this - it's amazing!

Max lately

He seems to be growing so fast these days and it makes me a little sad. 

He still calls his sister "honey" most of the time.
He loves karate.
He speaks in full sentences.
He can count to twelve (higher on a good day).
He loves to cuddle when he first wakes up and says "mama, i love you so much".
He is still pretty small in size at a mere 27lbs.
He loves to wear hats, especially his new trucker hat.
He loves to swim.
He hates to wear clothes and always puts his underwear on backwards.

I just want to stop time and enjoy these things for a little while longer.

Laundry Detergent - Part 2

So I have been making my own laundry detergent for a few years now tweaking it every now and then to make it better.  My previous recipe came from a friend of mine and works really well, but the process of making it was sometimes a little tedious.  I have now simplified the process and love the results!  It works even better than my old recipe and is quite a bit easier. 

1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
2 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
2 cups Borax
Essential Oils (optional)

Grate the bar of soap, mix with the other ingredients and stir.  You may add 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil too scent it up a bit but I really like the smell of the Fels-Naptha soap on its own.  Store in an airtight tupperware container and use 2-3 tablespoons per load.  No need for melting or a 5 gallon bucket!

Friends

These two cuties were born just five days apart.  Their mommies are good friends so they have no choice but to be good friends too! 


Max and Delilah, two and a half

and a look back...



Delilah and Max, one year

Delilah and Max, newborn