Happy Birthday to my hubby!!!A man's age is something impressive, it sums up his life:
3 Comments
If you need a warm place to sit...obviously the ground was tooo cold for brown dog.. this happens almost every day. Poor black dog has nobody to sit on only gets sat on. They are getting to big, to fastNote to self watch the junk when putting a little boy into the bumbo naked in the bath. Sorry du I started this post quite some time ago, I still have a few pieces to try to get crayon out of. Pretty sure that the kids don't fit in them anymore so the motivation is NOT there. But here is how I did it! A little back story. I've been trying to find snow suits for the kids so when the weather starts turning warmer (not 18* with 20mph winds) we can take them outside. I've searched the facebook for sale groups. Searched clearance racks but they are still $40+ each, unless I wanted to get them fleece ones. SO I went to ebay. Found one for Kaitlin and ordered it. It showed up in the mail Saturday. My wash routine for the kids clothes is kind of maticulous. I am trying my hardest to keep their clothes stain free. When I have dirty kids clothes I drop them in a basket right next to the washer. Then once a day or every other day I pre-treat everything examine each piece of clothing and it gets put in a larger laundry basket just for the kids clothes. EVERYTHING gets inspected. Saturday I completly cleaned the laundry room. Took me all day but IT IS SO CLEAN and organized again. :) Sunday I pre-treated the small pile of clothes I had of the kids, put that small pile in the washmachine and dumped the large basket of already pre-treated/inspected clothes into the wash. Grabbed the snowsuit and threw it in too. I don't remember what I was doing but I asked Ben to grab the load of laundry from the washmachine and take it to the dryer. He asked "you want to hang out the snowsuit or dry it in the dryer" I had plans of washing other clothes that NEEDED to be hung out today so I said dry it and if it isn't dry when the rest of the load is then we'll just hang it out....... BIG MISTAKE! Again I don't rememeber what I was doing, probably feeding a baby (this seems to take up a good chunk of my day) but he was on his way outside so I asked if he could grab the clothes out of the dryer and bring them in so I could fold them quick and get them put away..... "Don't shoot the mesanger" he says "but there was a crayon in this load". I literally started bawling. A WHOLE LOAD OF MY CHILDRENS CLOTHES FULL OF BLUE CRAYON! Everything in this basket (plus a few that aren't in the pic because I'd already started scrubbing) have blue crayon. VERY. VISABLE. BLUE. CRAYON. Oy vey! What on earth were we going to do. Googling it gave me so many not fun options including WD-40. (wanna get high anyone???) All sounded like "you can try this but don't be suprised if it doesn't work." Ben kept his cool. Drove to town and got WD-40 (in bulk). So I had to hunt down a spray bottle. To bad I had just pitched a bunch that I had consolidated when I cleaned out the laundry room! Best I could fined was my bathroom soap scum cleaner bottle that was almost empty. I dumped the remainder in a brand new bottle. "SOAP SCUM CLEANER" why did that sound like it would MAYBE work on crayon? It may make you high, but not even as close to WD-40, which I had used to clean out my dryer. BUUZZZZZ My almost fool proof procedure for almost removing all blue crayons from clothes dryed in the dryer:What you'll need: Tooth Brush (old one will do, We needed to switch out our toothbrushes anyways right?) LOTS of hot water (you may want to turn your water heater up for this, but remember to turn it back down!) *Scrub Free Bathroom Cleaner plus OxiClean (shower cleaner) * FELS-NAPTHA laundry bar soap (I found mine at HyVee in the laundry section. I use it for a LOT of touch stains) *OxiClean LOTS of elbow greese and patience. 1st I'd like to say if you don't want to get discuraged if you have any fleecy or loose knit fabrics that have crayon on them, start with those. They seem to clean the easiest and most thouroughly. 2nd. prioratize what you want cleaned first because this will take a LONG time if its a whole entire load of laundry. I picked out my favorite and new pieces first. Leaving the clothes that were garage sale purchase for last. Now if you google it, the websites will tell you to "test a spot in an inconspicuous spot". My feelings on this are, just jump right in. Whats the difference if its ruined because you cant get the blue crayon out or discolored from some sort of cleaning agent. 3rd Now get the garment wet, preferably in HOT water, this will theoretically help loosen up the crayon wax. You may want dish washing rubber glove for this it will help protect your hands from the hot water. 4th If there is obvious waxy cayon residue spray with the shower cleaner and scrub. Rinse with hot/warm water. Then use the Fels-Naptha bar soap. You may have to repeat this a few times. 5th. Once you have it either gone or in some cases at least lightened up. Rinse out and wash in hot water with OxiClean. I am lacking pictures of before and after stuff. But I can tell you that it does work. It isn't 100% On everything. Kids have burp rags that I could have cared less about that still have blue on them. A few shirts just got pitched because 1. i wasn't a fan and 2 way to much crayone for me to care about since I didn't really like them anyways. BUUUT THey have all their baby legs again. Brand new khaki pants only have very light staining on the leg, a brand new sweater that Tank only wore once (he got for Christmas from Aunt B). Some things came out with no sign of crayon at all. Once this got washed in OxiClean you can't even tell there was blue crayon on it. Score one for mom! The kids and I were playing on the floor today. We were talking and one thing led to another. I started telling them that they had to stop growing up so fast. Tank can sit up unassisted, I even let him sit in the bath tub and play. KAITERPILLER! has perfected the army crawl and pretty sure she'd kick some army ass if they had a competition! This kid has GOT to slow down! I'm officially screwed. Yup I said it. When I was done lecturing them on how they were supposed to stay little forever they started making their birthday wish list. Yup they told me what they wanted. NO influences from mom or dad. Honestly. I don't lie. PenelopeKait said she wanted a Penelope doll. 18" tall. JUST. LIKE. THIS.ONE. http://www.etsy.com/listing/118835550/penelope-18-cloth-doll-rag-doll? And of course a cute vintage buggy to push her in right? http://www.etsy.com/listing/117127172/vintage-doll-buggy?ref=sr_gallery_35&ga_search_query=stroller&ga_view_&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_ Stuffed Fox- to match his fox pillowI purchased pillows for the kids (on clearance of course) at Target last weekend. Josiahs is orange on one side with the outline of a fox stitched on it with gray plaid backing. He now would like a stuffie that is a fox. (kaits has an owl on white with a black back) http://www.etsy.com/listing/122618531/fox-foxy-rag-doll-soft-toy-stuffed-toy?ref=sr_gallery_35&ga_search_query=stuffed+fox&ga_view_&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=1&ga_search_ Paint/Art SuppliesWe maybe have 3 markers in this house and thats about it. No crayons, no childrens paint nothing. The only paper we have is printer paper! Metal Tractors- ANYTHING BUT GREEN (says dad, not Tank)http://www.etsy.com/listing/113017567/vintage-allis-chalmers-orange-farm?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=toy+tractor&ga_view_&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=4&ga_search_ Things for their play yardMy dear hubby has no idea what he is getting into when he said YES we can fence in part of the yard off of the kitchen. I want this so the kids can still be outside while I'm in the kitchen making lunch/supper whatever and not have to worry as much. The creek is WAY to close for my comfort. SOOO Besides the fence I plan on building a kitchen garden for cherry tomatoes, lettuce, peas, just a little of a lot. AND then I plan on building them a sandbox at that same time. :) AND THEN I plan on building them TEEPEES out of large sticks/small trees from the woods. Wrap them in grapevine (which we have TONS of around this place) and then either find a really nice vining perenial or plant peas, squash, SOMETHING like that around them to climb up the teepee. (i'm leaning towards flowers, ben towards food) I want to get small pebbles to line the floors of the teepees with. Its going to be freaking cute. (in my head at least). So the kids request fun things for the back yard For example this super sweet vintage wheel barrow. Tank says "I can haul sooooo much dirt with this mommy" and Kaiterpiller says "My dollies will LOVE getting rides in it!" http://www.etsy.com/listing/119562885/vintage-metal-toy-wheel-barrow-24?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=wheel+barrow&ga_view_&ga_ship_to=US&ga_vintage_rewrite=vintage+wheel+barrow&ga_original_query=2&ga_search_ But seriouslyBut seriously I did this post to get the kids off my back about their wish list. I've reminded them time and again that they are TO STOP GROWING UP AND THERE IS TO NOT BE A 1ST BIRTHDAY. EVER!
I talk about my, i mean the kids's cloth diapers a lot. For my fellow CDing friends. Here is my "stash" (ben hates that in the cding world cloth diapers are refered to this way its like I have a pile of weed somewhere in the house -STASH) and what I like/dislike about them. I have a total of 42 pocket Diapers.
I'm going to work my way from the ones I like the least to my favorites. China Cheepies I group the Baby City, Oh Baby Ka, and Baby Lands all into one group because essentially they are exactly the same diaper. I think if I didn't have my Charlies I'd maybe almost like/tolerate these CHEEP (EEK) Chinese diapers. But I hate them. When I say CHEEP I mean <4 each. Its not that they don't work, its that they are a pain to use. The snap configuration on the "flaps" make it hard to get them snapped. The way they have the alternating snaps so you can get a tighter fit for overlapping the flaps is not easy (although the concept of overlapping is great). They don't hold up nearly as well. (The red one is already starting to de-laminate). the two piles in the back are the china cheepies. the two in front are alvas I purchased these cheep diapers on ebay. 1 had a slice from sissors on the inside of the pocket and another has runs on the front of the cover and discolorations on the inside pocket. I got refunded for these two but they both still work just fine. (Bonus for cheep diapers being cheeper! {Less than 3 each}). Update: I got refunded for all of them since I recieved 2 "Damaged" and one is already delaminating. (I am still using them all though) I really got these becaues with summer coming up I don't want the kids destroying my really good expensive Charlie's outside in the dirt and mud. And by "Mine" I really mean THEIR diapers. :S. I have come to the conclusin that we are going to get our money out of these and they they will be sold, or most likely thrown away :( (but i'm bound and determined to get my $$ out of them by USING THEM. Besides the fact that I don't like using them, they run small. I already have them on the largest rise setting. I don't even know if the kids will fit in them by the end of summer they are supposed to fit from 10-35lbs. LESSON LEARNED! 5 Sunbabies These are only ranked above the "cheep chineses" diapers (even though these too are made in china and are cheep {<5 each}) because the snap configuration on the flaps is way easier to use (even though you can't overlap them), and they seem to be larger than the others so they will work longer for the kids. I purchased these on EBAY also. I think I will keep these even though I'd love to have a whole stash of Charlie Bananas. With some REALLY CUTE even more expensive WAHM diapers that can be found on etsy.com or hyenacart.com 2 Alvas: these rank just above the Sunbababies (and still a LONG WAYS behind Charlie Banana) because 1. they have cuter prints (lame reason I know) and 2. Their snap configuration is a little better. There is less wing drooping on them. Overall I can get a better fit on the kids with them If I buy more inexpensive diapers these may be the way I go. 24 Charlie Bananas My stash started out with me purchasing 12 Charlie Bananas online (amazon.com and diapers.com). I got both at about a 20% discount from list. And the kids got 12 more for Christmas (Best Christmas gift a 6m old could get right?!?!) I was in love with these from the moment I opened them. SOOO soft. Very trim between the legs. Awesome offset snaps on the flaps for good fit and hardly any wing droopage. I do like that the rise is adjusted by the leg elastic and not snaps. IMHO it makes the diaper look nicer (again lame reason I know). Disadvantages: Their prints aren't overly awesome in anyway. And if/when we have more kids if J and K are still in diapers they aren't conveniant to go from small baby to big baby. For liners I have 48 microfiber that came with the Charlie Bananas 12 (I think) Bumgenious microfiber liners (Won't fit in the Charlie Bananas) 2 hemp liners (won't fit in the CBs) and a bunch of "Made by me" prefold diapers that I use as inserts. (Bonus if/when we have more kids I have a start on my newborn stash) 4 storebought prefolds that my sister gave to me to use as burp cloths (sorry C!) 4 microfiber towels that I was gifted and never used as towels some random microfiber inserts also that are cheep and i don't use often. (won't fit in my CBs) 6 zorb flats that I use as trifold inserts doubled with a microfiber (zorb is supposed to be super absorbant and wick away moisture faster, I have not officially tested this but they work in my diapers I can't complain) If I invest in more liners they will be natural fiber as I think i have enough Microfiber So many of the liners don't fit in the CBs because they are to wide. CBs are nice and narrow between the legs which I LOVE. I love their fluff, without it they'd have no butts! Sad, I know, but it is true they are another month older. I haven't gotten pictures done yet. BUT I WILL I PROMISE! Till then here is an update on each kiddo. They are getting so big.
Kaitlin: She now has 2 teeth. I think she rather enjoys them. Scraping off bits of pear, pepper, apple etc keeps her entertained. She has started eating chunky food. She was just gagging at the softest chunks before. They both LOVE pancakes and rye toast (thanks Jon for leaving that here). They may make a HUGE mess but its totally worth it. She is still a "dainty" eater but she is getting better at opening her mouth wide enough for the spoon. Some meals she doesn't "suck" the food off the spoon at all. We are, however, working on the "no thumb" when eating. She'll take a handful of food up to her mouth but then her thumb gets stuck there and the food just ends up smashed in her fist. Silly girl will starve this way! Kait is a mover! She has perfected the army crawl. I think she'd be actually CRAWLING if we had carpeted floors. The hard wood is just a bit slippery. She can move fast now. Things are getting real on the "baby proofing" front. Computer isn't in the living room while kids are awake anymore. Cups, magazines, books nothing is safe! Just wait till they are pulling themselves up and we can't leave things on the side table anymore... ahhh my kids are getting to big to fast! Josiah: He has 1 tooth and 1 coming in. They seem to be coming in really really slowly. He is a bit grumpier about teething than Kait, but still could be worse. This does make him drool ALL. THE. TIME. Several shirt changes a day are sometimes necessary. He can SIT on his own. Well, if I set him up. Don't stand up and walk away though. The kid will tip right over. It's funny, he watches you stand up and falls over. Practice Practice. Josiah still eats like a champ. I haven't found anything he WON'T eat. Just things that he doesn't really WANT to eat. He is a mover but hasn't quite figured out the army crawl. He mostly moves sideways or backwards. A lot of the time he look s like he is about ready to take off ape style. Hands and feet on the floor. Kid is crazy. Sleep: We have night weened the kids. Kait usually sleeps from 6pm-630am. This morning she was awake at 5:30 but I made her stay in her crib till a little after 6. Josiah has been waking 1 or 2 times a night but will go back to sleep and up for the day at 6:30ish too. I've gotten enough sleep in a row that I actually had a dream! I had forgotten about those :S. Dogs: We've been kicking around the idea of getting a puppy in the spring. Our dogs could care less that the kids exist. They are getting OLD. Yesterday I brought them in the house. Thinking I was treating them. The kids made a HUGE mess with Pancakes at breakfast and toast a lunch so I figured what better way to treat the dogs then to let them clean up the floor right? Ok so maybe it was because I was to lazy to go find the broom. The dogs looked at the mess and looked at me with a look that said "forget it, clean it up yourself" and they went and layed their lazy a$$es on the rug!!! 3rd dog would have at least eaten SOMETHING had I let her in but she isn't house trained so NO chance of that happening. Sad thing is I won't have more than 2 dogs here. I accept our responsiblity of dog ownership. we have 2 old dogs. Nothing I can do about it :(. No puppy for us anytime soon. Sorry kids. |
Archives
December 2019
Categories
All
|