Caleb Memories

This is how Caleb sleeps.  Always.  You put him down, he rolls over.  He's done this since he's been able to roll!  Don't let that binkie fool you- it's only for playing with after he wakes up.  He still has NO crutch. 

Caleb's Ginger Thin face :-)  What?  You love those little cookies too?  They are a treat here- one package doesn't last long at all!

Who is behind that camera anyway?

 

So, the overwhelming answer to my last post was a no.  The only thought that generated any interest was our eggs, so I guess we need to go buy more chickens! 

 

I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions for fostering that enterpreneurial spirit?  My girls are always making things and wanting to sell them.  From hair bands, to toy horse bridles, to headbands, to scarves... I don't exactly want to tell them that these items are not really needed, because for kids they are great fun.  But both girls are adamant about wanting to do a booth at the Farmer's Market, and constantly asking about making an online store, or having a yard sale.  How do I encourage their creativity but not allow them to exist in la-la land about making millions on fingerknitting at the same time?  (Who am I kidding?  Aren't we all wishing we'd come up with a million-dollar business?  -that is, pre-Obama-taxes.  I don't suppose I want that dream anymore! LOL!)

Input Requested...

If I were to make an online store, how many of you would like to support the entrepreneurial endeavors of the Smith family?  We are talking about kid-made, Denaye-made, and Gabe-made items, along with possibly farm fresh eggs and berries?  The kids have been begging to be able to sell things... to the point of Kiera and Isaac setting up a "lemonade" type stand in the front yard and yelling that their store was open!  :-)

 

Let me know! 

Our Homeschool Is....

Taking advantage of whatever learning opportunities present themselves...

 

However odd or random they may be!

 

 

These were in a bag, in a bucket, left outside all winter.  Apparently, we will be growing walnut trees!  Anybody want one?



Purge...

Last night I blew- with frustration.  This whole housework thing?  What a joke!  I feel as if I'm running in circles, with no end in sight and no ability to catch up or sit down or feel like I've accomplished anything. 

I know I've said it before, and Gabe and I have no problem admitting to anyone:  We are pack rats!  And we are Horrible about putting anything away!  I'm not even sure it's a learned thing- I've tried and tried and tried... all I know is that I cannot blame my children for being easily distracted- that IS genetic! 

So today, my goal is to fill at least two boxes to go to Salvation Army or Goodwill.  I will drop them off before Kiera's gymnastics class. 

Tomorrow- I aim to show you proof in pictures of the purge. 

Maybe.

In the meantime, here's a little Isaac love to keep you comin' back for more...

"Where all the guys go..."

I promised to take Melia and Kiera on a "girls' day out" once Hobby Lobby opens here in town.  They are super excited to go, although since they opened yesterday I keep putting the girls off because I'm sure it is complete chaos there for a few days!  The parking lot was packed when I passed it on my way to work yesterday!  We'll make a go at it sometime in the next week- I need some paint anyway for our garden stones.

In all the excitement, Isaac was telling me that he and Daddy are going to go "where all the guys go."

 Curiously, I had to ask... "Where is it that all the guys go?"

"HOBBY WOBBY!"

Lotion Bars

I've been wanting to try making my own bath and body products for awhile. I finally got around to ordering some shea butter from Amazon and immediately set out to try some recipes from Pinterest! 

 I purchased the coconut oil from Costco (GREAT deal!) and the beeswax from Craft Warehouse. 

I had to grate the beeswax...

 

My cheesegrater and I never get along. It's a love-hate thing.

I melted the oil, wax, and butter in a mason jar, then added Young Living Lavender essential oil after.

Using my handy silicon cupcake molds, we made some pretty cute flowery lotion bars!  I did learn that one MUST put the mold on the cookie sheet BEFORE pouring if one wants to be able to move the bars somewhere *safe* to cool.  Just sayin'- so you can learn from my mistakes :-)

 

Of course, the kidlings couldn't keep their hands off the cooling bars, so I ended up melting them down again and re-pouring.  Nobody wants lotion bars with fingerprints in them!  It's like the traditional fingerprints in every wedding cake! 

 

Lotion Bar Recipe:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup shea butter

2/3 cup grated beeswax or pastilles

approx 20 drops essential oil (optional)

 

Coming soon... Homemade vaporub!  And just a note, I think I will add more beeswax next time... these are a little soft for little hands to use (or adult hands who don't pay attention to what they are doing... like me!)

Funnies

Isaac:  "Mom!  I did ONE HUNDRED chores.  Now I NEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS!"
*******************************

Kiera:  "Mom, do Indian people have arms?" 
She saw a stick person drawn by an African individual... it didn't have arms.

Not a bad place to get stuck!

Glad I get to be the one to correct these...

I love finding evidence of how the brains of my children work.  Kiera is perfectly bright, but she expends quite of bit of energy towards being lazy :-)  For example:

Her assignment was to write A-Z from memory.  She brought me this paper... I looked at her and said "You didn't just do this."  Nope, she actually traced over the letters of the last two lines....

 On her second try, she flipped the paper over and worked on writing them again... Notice anything fishy??  :-)

When she had to start over (again) she wrote all the letters minus V, with only the J backwards.  She knows it- she just doesn't want to work :-)

 

 These are just funny examples of her doing her own thing, writing what she thinks it is without considering how she's supposed to figure it out...  Silly girl.



Homemade Kettle Corn

I just can't get over how cute Caleb is.  I am completely biased, yes, but those eyes!

 

Our New Favorite Popcorn Recipe:  For use with a Whirleypop Popcorn Popper (found ours at a yard sale!!)
**** from Miss Vicki (VCC, Schweitzer trip 2012)****
1/4 c oil
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c popping corn

Heat oil in pot, add sugar and popcorn.  Then stir until all popped! YUM!