1st Haircut...

Don and I have been saying for a long time now that we need to cut Lincoln's hair. Basically his whole life we've been saying that because he has so much hair and it's so long. I was so sad when we actually cut it though, because now the cute curls are gone and now he looks like a little boy instead of a baby! But he is still such a handsome boy and we think he looks pretty sharp with his new hair cut!

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

He is such a stud! :) I made him a hat because its starting to get chilly...and I think it turned out so cute! It fits him just right!

Don and I took the boys to the library yesterday and to our surprise, we saw some of the flower booths from the farmer's market were still open.  They had all of their flowers on sale! Don said I could pick any bouquet that I wanted.  I picked the one below for only $10...its so beautiful! I've never seen a prettier bouquet...I'm so lucky! Thanks Don! :)

Project for the month...

I got this idea on Pinterest and thought it was amazing...so I decided to do it! Travel Tic Tac Toe for the kids (or adults)! :) It's perfect for the little ones on car rides, plane rides...anywhere really. When Don got into his car accident and he had to empty the car of everything, he found some old Altoid boxes. I told him not to throw it away because I was sure I could use them for something...haha. Pinterest has turned me into a junk collector! :) This project took a little time because I had to put the paper together myself in Photoshop. But I'm so glad I did it! All you need is a Photoshop program, an old Altoid box, Mod Podge, and 1/2" magnets!

First thing I did was paint the bottom of the box...this is optional, I just did it because I thought it looked nicer.

 Then I got the magnets ready...these are used for the markers for each person.

 Then I printed and cut up the playing board and the cover.

 Cover

 Playing board

 Next you round the corners so it can fit in the Altoid box

 Then I just covered everything with Mod Podge for the finish...I'm excited to use these! I think the kids will enjoy them!

Trash to Treasure...

I was going to do another political post...but I'm too tired! Talking about political stuff just wears me out! :) Hopefully next time I'll do it!

I love that it's become popular to repurpose old things! I love the way it looks, I love that you don't really have to spend money on it. I love feeling crafty... turning someone else's trash into my treasure! Here is the scoop on my latest project!

Don and I found this window at a yard sale for $6.50. It needed cleaned desperately! The paint was peeling off, so once I cleaned it I lathered it with one of my most favorite things...Mod Podge! That way all the paint wont peel off, but still has the rustic/old look.

 Don had some extra barn wood he uses for his picture frames...which made for a perfect shelf under the window.

 Add some decorations...and you've got yourself a beautiful window! :)

I'm still debating weather or not to put pictures in it....we will see. It's a nice addition to our front room! I bought another smaller window at the yard sale that I'm planning on fixing up to put a wreath on it.

Washington's Children part 3...

To be quite honest with you, I didn't think we would ever be able to find enough pictures for a Washington's children part 3....but I was dead wrong.  Just when we thought we've seen it all, someone pulls out the big guns! You can find part one here, and part two here!

Washington parents carry their children around in baby packs...

 And so do we... ( I love Lincoln's face in all of the pictures below, he's so stinkin' cute!)

 They burp their children over their shoulders...

 And so do we!

 They protect their children from harmful UV Rays...

And so do we!!! :)

 They pack their children around in bags and baskets for rides...

And so do we...but secretly our children like it more.

 They take their children for wagon rides...

 

 And we would too, if we had a wagon. But we do scoot our children around in coolers from Walmart...

 They dress their kids in tye dye shirts...

Yep...we do that too!

We basically thought we were up to par with the Washington parents, but alas, I think they've got us beat. How can we possibly compete with a parent taking their child Trick or Treating in the middle of August...

What? You don't see it? How about now...

3 Baby Boys!!!

So a couple weekends ago I went garage saleing with a friend of mine and we both scored some pretty sweet stuff! I bought 9 movies for a dollar a piece! You can't even rent movies for that cheap! There wasn't a scratch on any of them, they were practically brand new! I got a willow tree brand new for $10...I love willow trees!  And then I bought a ceiling light for the boys' room! Our house is older so it doesn't have any ceiling light in the bedrooms and front room. The boys' room was so dark with only their lamp, so I was glad I spotted the light. Brand new in the box for only $5. I was trying to talk them down to $3 because I got the ceiling fan for Don and I's room for $5 so I was having a hard time paying the same price for just a ceiling light...oh well I guess $5 is still a good deal! :) Don got it installed the day I bought it...what a stud! 

 BEFORE:

  AFTER:  It really needed that light, and it has made a world of difference!

 The ceiling fan I got at a yard sale for $5....oh man I love garage sales!!!

So for those of you who don't know. A couple weeks ago I started watching our neighbors baby boy while she goes to work. Their baby is a little less than a month and half younger than Lincoln, so they are very close in age.  Some days are disastrous and I wonder if I'm going to survive, other days go pretty smooth and everyone is happy. They usually drop him off around 7:30am and pick him up at 5:30pm so it makes for a long day.  Between the babies, I almost feel like I have an assembly line of babies!! :) haha! I spend my whole day, changing a MILLION diapers, burping the babies, feeding the babies, giving all the boys their bottles, putting babies to sleep...  Basically those boys keep me busy and on my toes all day. But I love being busy, and I love babies so I have the BEST life! :) I only put in happy pictures...not the screaming, tantrum throwing, crying babies, so I dwell on the happy/positive moments...we will see if it works! ;)

 

Jackson loves hanging out with the babies...he has to be there to take care of them.

                                   

What a ham!!

                                    

                              

Jackson is the best brother...he is always looking out for Lincoln. He is always trying to make him laugh. If he starts to cry he gives him his binky, and if he is laying down without a blanket he will always bring him one.  What a sweetheart! Jackson just loves Lincoln and Lincoln loves Jackson, they are already the best of buds. I can't believe Jackson turned 19 months old this week...he's growing up sooo fast!! I wish it would slow down a little!

                               

                               
If you haven't already voted for these two cuties in the Gerber contest don't forget to! :)

Jackson: https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=257807

Lincoln: https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=258047

DIY Laundry Soap...

Well when I first heard about this soap I wasn't quite sold. I thought, the soap I already use goes a long way, it sounds time consuming, it's easier to just buy it ready right off the shelf. But Don's mom gave me some, and after doing just one load I knew I wanted to make it. This soap made my laundry smell sooo good! I washed my sheets with it and I just sat there and smelt it all night! :) The nice thing about this soap is it only takes 2 Tbsp. for one load! After I finished making the soap I put the soap back in the containers they originally came in. The picture of the soap in the Purex container is only about 1/6 of the total amount made!! And of course, this recipe comes from Pinterest! :)

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle ( I put in 2 because it makes the clothes smell oh so good!)

Mix all the soaps together.  Grate the zote bar with a cheese grater and add to other ingredients! EASY!

You know what one of my very favorite things is about being a mom?  The pure joy that comes to my children over such simple little things.  This week I let Jackson have his very first ice cream cone! He loved everything about it....except the clean up part! ;)

 

I wish Lincoln made those faces when I tried feeding him cereal for the first time... but instead we had this....

 "I think I'm going to be sick mom..."

 Gagging...poor guy

 As soon as we finished trying to feed him...he turned back into his sweet self!

 Then after we took Lincoln out of his jumper, Jackson really wanted to give it a try. And let me tell you...it was not easy getting that kid to come out of it! haha, but he was laughing and bouncing like crazy! Man those kids know how to put a smile on my face....moments like this make all the challenging moments worth it! :)

 Sweet little Lincoln...giving us his mischievous grin! :)