Homemade Laundry Soap

Today I learned how to make my own laundry soap. It was so easy and inexpensive. This batch makes 5 gallons so make sure you have enough containers to hold it all if you decide to try it:)


1 Bar FelsNaptha Soap
1 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)
1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
5 gallon Bucket

Grate the bar of FelsNaptha. Place grated soap in a saucepan and cover with water (approx. 6-8 cups) Heat on low until dissolved. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup Borax and mix well. Pour mixture into 5 gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with warm water, stop within 3 inches to the top. Stir well. As it cools it will thicken. Use 1/2-1 cup per load. Safe for use in H.E. washers. Yields approx. 75 cups.

Fun Family Night

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Video

My friend, Liz, sent this to me and I thought it was so funny that I would post it on my blog. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESe-AysF9mw

Hope it works*

Working Harder;)

Mike's dad came over and helped him straighten a tree at Best Self Storage that was leaning way over. The boys had fun standing in grandpa's truck while they were setting the tree with fence posts. Thanks for the help dad!

More Fun Photos!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"My Angels"

Last night I got together with my girlfriends, April, Desiree, Lanette, Maribel and Melissa. It was our late Christmas party since the first one got cancelled due to the fierce snow storm in December. It was fun getting together and gabbing about what's been going on in each other's lives since we last got together. Lots of yummy food too so that was an extra bonus!!! Mike was gracious enough to stay home with all the boys and let me have some much needed mommy time. I love my girls-they are awesome and I'm so glad we were able to get together.

Shark Club

Mike had a gig on Saturday at the Shark Club in Kirkland. My sister Desi and a few of her friends, Carla, Kate and her husband Joe, came also which made for a fun night. Mike did a great show as usual despite feeling like hud the whole night. What a trooper!


Me and my sister being goofs!




There's my hunny!




Desi, Joe, Kate and Karla sitting in our "VIP" section



Michael in the spotlight (I don't remember what he was singing)


"Sista's"


More goofy pics




Desi, Joe, Kate and Carla

Just in case anyone was wondering what I've been up to the last month. Taking care of a family and a business is lots of work!

Dallas' 1st school Play

We just got back from seeing Dallas' Gingerbread Man' play at his school. They were suppose to perform this play for the families before Christmas but was postponed because of all the weather conditions before the break. It was cute though...there was lots of singing and Dallas read his line perfectly-although all we got on camera was his backside;) (He never turned around once until it was over) Afterwards we were all given gingerbread cookies and apple juice. The boys had fun visiting their older brother at school as well.

My Boys

I was just going through some old photo folders on the computer and ran across this one. Mike was running in a 5k that day. Look how little Dallas and Cody were. How cute:)!

Simple Inspirations

I just finished reading my Womans Day magazine and in the back were some "simple inspirations" and I liked them so just thought I would share some of my favorites.

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight."-Phyllis Diller

"Love cures people-both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it."-Dr. Karl Menninger

and my favorite:

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."-Mae West

Potty Training

We have been working on potty training the past week and a half and Elijah is doing great! I guess he just got a little too tired this night:)

BreakDancers

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Going Dancin'

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New Teeth!

This was just to funny not to put on here and share with everyone. Brandon cut his two bottom teeth quite a while ago but then this last week he cut two new ones up top. Not his two front teeth mind you-he cut his two eye teeth. He's our little vampire baby:) I hope you can see them good enough in the picture:)

My Elves:)

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And the winner is....

Tonight we had our end of season football party. Dad was the winner this season by a couple weeks with Mike coming in a close second. I think everyone had at least one win this season (yes, even me) so that was fun. Michael went ahead and gave the presentation of the coveted football mug after which dad gave a nice acceptance speech and then proceeded to give the mug to Tam. It was a fun night for all ending with football cupcakes. Can't wait until next season-maybe I'll actually win 2 weeks:)

Good Night Baby Brandon

This was just to cute to not put on-I took all the rest of the totes from Christmas to our storage unit tonight and when I came back upstairs this was waiting. (Mike was on the other end of the couch though so don't worry:) )

Tub Time:)

The boys were in the tub the other night and I caught Dallas and Cody putting their bath foam on Elijah's head. He wasn't complaining and he smelled really good afterwards:)

Go Utah!

What a game! How bout that last half? Mike was nervous at the beginning of the 3rd but that soon faded. 31-17 over Alabama! I never had a doubt. Mike would start screaming when he was excited and then he would say, "Oh my throat." Getting it done with a 21 to nothing leadat the start but Alabama just couldn't get it togetha baby:)

Here's to Another Year:)

I decided to let the boys stay up with me and celebrate the new year since Mike was away playing a wedding for New Years Eve. Then about 10:15 Dallas started to get really cranky (hence the reason there are no photos of him in this post:) ) So we did our little New Years toast a little early and went around the table saying what our New Year Resolutions were going to be...Cody and Elijah said they were going to be good boys which I thought was a really great idea. Hope you all had a great New Years Eve and have a great New Year. Hopefully we will all get over the crazy sickness that Mike and I have had these past few days since Christmas and we can start enjoying the new year ourselves. *By the way....Eli was the my little party animal...he stayed up till about 1:30 a.m.*