when the bees sting

I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad:

Washing my face with plain ol' buy at the grocery store SEA salt.

My new trim treads that I wear around the house and feel sore the next day so it's like a version of doing nothing to exercise that actually works....maybe. I have only had them for a week but my calves are killing me!!

The perfectly funny book about momhood called When Did I Get Like This, which is how I feel my blog would be like if I wrote a book and had lots of different experiences.

Thinking about getting dreadlocks again...

Being more green: You probably already know that I don't buy paper-towels, haven't for about 8 years and I always use paper napkins. I've also given up dryer sheets and I am happy to report that I haven't purchased ANY household cleaning products for 2 years. I keep a cutesy spray bottle of vinegar water in each bathroom and use that for all sorts of spills: carpet stains, pee on the floor, juice puddles left in the bathtub, strawberry jam stuck on the couch pillow and found months later, boogers stuck to the wall...you know, all the stuff around the house. For the bathrooms & kitchen I use microfiber cloths.
Recently I gave up wipes, you know like, those little disposable diaper wipes people use on their kids all the time. I bought a set of these cuties and I keep a couple in the car, a few in my purse, they are great for runny noses and I always have water on hand so I can wet them and use them if I have a sticky popsicle to clean up after. I'm never buying wasteful wipes again- this pack of 20 will wash and wear through the next 10 years.
For eco-friendly lunch packaging I bought some silicone cupcake holders for our bento box snacks- zip lock baggies are OUT!
While I'm at it with the linky-love I must say that we've put these popsicle molds to frequent (near daily use) for months and I have never had a broken or stuck popsicle! Juice is so much simpler than individually wrapped, dye filled popsicles and the kids are equally eager for the handmade version of the icy treat.

I must admit I love the cutesieness of things and then I appreciate them more; I think I might use and enjoy things more when they are cute so I make an effort to take a cute path when going green and that makes things not only better for the Earth but also better in my house- which is a plus.


And catching up with Brandye from Okinawa today! She's totally cute.

Please share what you've been loving lately!

braces for billie

I know I haven't been keeping up with our blog. But really, you don't want to be friends with us at the moment. We've had a cranky week...or maybe it's been a month...I'm in a crank-fog and I've lost all track of time. Have my children ever been kind or helpful in the past? I don't recall anything like that. I'll try to think of three good things to write and keep it at that.

1. Cort takes naps. That's good. He's really sweet when he's asleep.
2. We have a roof over our heads and plenty of Kix cereal. That's good.
3. I have nice handwriting. That's good.


So, there. I did it.

Apart from Billie and Jackson's NON-STOP bickering and my constant complaining about said bickering we have a very nice life.

At least there's
free bowling on the horizon.

























And Sloane's new haircut is cute.

Billie is growing up some...she has braces now but still wears her shirt backwards sometimes. I hardly ever wear my shirts backwards these days thankyouverymuch.

These lights will make you feel brand new

We had this really amazing trip to NYC- it was a while ago but what to do when there's not much fun stuff going on around here? Recall good times; A walk in Central Park with Uncle Ted

Cort carried this dagger all over for weeks and weeks. He slept with it every night until he lost it. This worked out well at Disneyworld because all the boys are dressed as pirates, or have a lightsaber on hand...the girls walk around in princess gear...it's magical. But now we're in NYC and visiting relatives with our two year old who just happens to carry a knife with him at all times. It's a little less appropriate in Central Park to run up to strangers pointing your dagger in their face and saying "I A PIRATE!" lots of people are disturbed adn I'm constantly explaining 'heh heh, it's just rubber! it's his favorite toy, he's harmless really, he just likes to threaten people, he never hurts anyone so that's practically acceptable, right? It's just that he's our 4th child...we give him anything he wants and right now he's into knives. Anyway, what kind of person are you? Threatened by someone wearing pink sparkly shoes with light up hearts. Really!'

Billie, Sloane and I got to ride the subway. Sloane was the only person in NYC wearing this hat because I KNIT DAT!

Then we went to a Broadway show. Possibly the best night ever and we are still dancing around on couches at least once a week here to the new version of Practically Perfect and Billie's favorite: Brimstone and Treacle. This spurred Billie to read all the books in the Mary Poppins series and the weekly singalongs have pushed Jackson's tolerance of our performances over the edge. Billie has resorted to headphones on her I-pod. Each time he's out of the house for an outing with friends or family we are staging our own musicals.

Torty

Yesterday was Earth Day and we talked about it throughout the day as we hung with friends at the park (yes, that is the 4th weekday in a row we've spent the ENTIRE day at a park...and I bet you can guess where we're headed today. As of late, our homeschool has turned into more of a parkschool system. Fear not, traditionalists; Jackson is constantly digging up rocks and checks out gems and minerals books from the library to discern which types he's found then sharing/showing/explaining to the rest of us. Certifiable science.) Anyhow, it was Earth day and then as I was laying in bed with Cort while he falls asleep he suddenly remembered something "Hey! Santa not bring us any presents!!?" He knows what happens on holidays! Why hasn't someone incorporated candy as the most essential part of Earth day?

Happy Hunters

On the road again

We went up to Massachusettes to visit Nanna from Kentucky (that is her full name), Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Tom. We had a lovely time, catching up, sleeping over and having homemade doughnuts for breakfast! Jackson hates having his picture taken...have you noticed? Usually I don't force him...but we came all that way to visit Nanna from Kentucky and it would be so nice for her to have a picture with all the kids. You can see how thrilled he was about it. He doesn't know the 'f' word yet but his friend told him that the finger means "I hate you." I think it's directed at me and Nanna from Kentucky didn't even notice...so, that makes it a nice picture.

snowmageddon

We've had some snow here recently...you may have heard. So, it's lots of fun for the first 3 days...kind of a pain after that.

See Seaworld

We even got to touch the dolphins at Seaworld. Thanks for all the fun Nanna Carrie!

Disney, the ugly

Our hotel was supported by gigantic maracas.












Sometimes we all felt like this.













Some days we got soaked.

This photo might be sad if it weren't so hilarious.

Disney, the bad

Dadddy could only come for the weekend and then he didn't get to stay for the remaining seven days of Disney adventures.

Things started to go downhill when Cort picked out a knife from Pirates of the Caribbean and then threatened both characters and tourists alike.

He completed his look with the pirate mickey mouse hat and worried those around him.

Then all the kids joined the green guys army...Cort took it very seriously.

Disney, the good

Then we went to Disneyland with Nanna Carrie and Grampa Les. It was really fun and everyone had so much fun on Space Mountain...even Jackson cracked a smile.

sweetly napping

One day Cort was so tired he fell asleep on Sloane. She gently patted his head while he slept. Another day I found him asleep standing up. He was leaning his head on the couch but had passed out while on his feet- I have a video of it.

Christmas, out of order

So, when we left Turkey we went to Mom and Bobs in Minonk. We played in the snow and went to Walmart and made preprations for Santa.
Cort made cookies...his stirring face looks the same as his angry face.


Then we opened a million presents and apparently didn't get one good picture. It was very fun for everyone but Bob. This is what the house looked like. And this is only a FEW of my Mom's Christmas decorations. You think I'm kidding now...but I'm really not.