More then meets the eye

Finally, my Halloween post! We some fun things to celebrate this year, the Thursday before there was no school so I had a Halloween party and I didn't even take any pictures of it! It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was the cooking for this, it was a lot of fun and I got all of my ideas from here:

OurBestBites

We had mummy dogs, monster apple teeth, witches wands, pumpkin shaped sandwiches and candy corn shaped sugar cookies (those were my favorite no frosting needed or cookie cutters!). We did a simple Halloween craft and then just let the kids play in the backyard, it was a perfect day.

Friday before Halloween there was no school due to Nevada Day so we went into town and did Keller's Hawaiian baby pictures to add to my wall. While we were there we met up with dad, dressed the kidlets in their costumes and went to Springs Preserve. It was fun, everything was decorated with witches, ghouls, ghosts, monsters... black lights and "spider webs" everywhere. There were stations for trick-or-treating. It started at dark so it made for a very late night!

We didn't get around to carving until Saturday night and we had fun with that and surprisingly Bryce did too! He hates carving but now that he found this tool to add onto his drill to get the guts out of the pumpkin he was almost excited!

We had Super Mario bros. this year, a pretty witch (as she called herself) and a cute little Dalmatian puppy.

Bryce's creation, our compromise for Brady he wanted Optimus, uh, no!

Mine on the left, Leilani's on the right

Ready to go!

He hated the hat but he loved the collar

It's a Grand Ole' Flag

Every morning at Brady's school they have flag ceremony. This includes all of the grades, even Leilani gets to attend.
Well, the first graders were asked to lead flag ceremony. Brady came home and was so excited to tell me he held the flag and then on another day he lead the school in their 30 seconds of silence.
It brings a smile upon my face to look at this picture and see how serious he takes holding the flag.

Maybe being a cub scout leader when he was so little had a lasting effect on him? He did know the Cub scout motto when he was 2! We are a little over a year away and he will be a Wolf, it is crazy!
What a good kid I have!

Happy 6 months!

My baby Kel is officially 6 months today. Wow! It has been a crazy ride thus far and I wouldn't trade it for the world, even the sleepless nights and some side-effects from nursing.

He is:

My brown baby from head to toe, which makes him oh so different. I love his brown eyes, hair and skin so much fun!

He is so calm and mild tempered, unless he is hungry, watch out!

I would guess he is probably 18 or 19 pounds idk since he has not gone to the doc for his check-up.

He is tall for his age, since he is a solid 6-12 month in clothes and well on his way to 12-18!

He finally sleeps through the night, since we put him in his own room. Living in a 3 bedroom house this was interesting, we put Carter's crib in with the 2 oldest. That was an adjustment but we have survived!

He loves his veggies! Squash seems to be a fav!

He is a roller from back to front and not quite sure what to do once he gets there.

He does his "crunches" everyday trying to sit up, working on his 6-pack!

He is a babbler and recently really likes to laugh, which is fun.

He is adored by all in the house and the center of attention. We have to make sure they share him with each other before he gets hurt!

Happy half birthday baby boy! I love everything about you!

Giggles

Keller is officially 5 months as of 2 days ago. I recorded this video last week and the sound didn't come through but my sister saved me, thank you!

Here is what he is up too:

He is 17 pounds (about 75%)

27 1/2 inches (95%, so big, he is in 12 month pajamas, because of the feet)

He rolls from back to front

Loves his Bumbo and saucer

He is grabbing things with his hands

Crazy, but he has started to take the pacifier!

He is starting to eat solid foods tried peas the other night and loved them.

He has also decided to start not sleeping through the night it's been about a month since he started this, not a lot of fun for Bryce & I. Especially when he seems to like our bed better than his crib even though I keep trying and trying his crib. I think he feels it is necessary to be able to feel mom all night!
He slept last night for 7 hours in his swing, guess that will be his "crib" for awhile!
Our waking hours are great and he is very smiley and happy.

He loves his sister & brothers and puts up with them wanting to carry him around!
This little guy is such a joy to have in our home. Every time I walk into the room he gives me big smiles. What a blessing to have his spirit in our family.

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for 50% of my children. Brady started first grade and Leilani is a peer model for the Early Childhood Preschool offered at the same school as Brady.

This morning everyone in the house decided to wake up before the sun rose, that was so much fun! 5:30 am, this is just not right! It was either nerves or excitement, probably a mixture of both.

Brady was a little nervous and asked if he could hide his teddy in his "secret pocket" in his backpack. He said, "I won't take him out and I won't tell anyone mom, please?" I told him only for this first day can teddy go to school with you, he seemed okay with that. Once we got to school he found his best friend and off they went, after he gave a hug & kiss to everyone in the family.

Leilani was more excited then nervous. She hugged me and was off to the playground with no looking back. When I picked her up her teacher told me she did great and she told her teacher she would not be returning tomorrow! In the car, she told me that she will go back tomorrow, yeah!

The baby boys and I got absolutely nothing done this morning. We went to the grocery store, came home, fed Keller and went to pick up Leilani. I figure Monday's will be shopping day and the rest of the week should be productive, here's hoping!

Leilani, ready for school

Brady ready for school, he had to have this shirt, cracks me up!

Brady & Leilani ready to go

Monty Four

At 4 1/2 months Kel got his first taste of solid food. After seeing an episode of 19 kids and counting and Anna making her own rice cereal I decided to give it a try, so easy! Cannot believe that I have never done it before and it is so much healthier then the paste of white rice cereal!

I ground up 1/4 cup of brown rice (I have a spice grinder, you could also use a blender) should be a powder texture, added 1 cup of water and simmer on the stove for 10 minutes. Let cool and serve. You can also make up larger batches, pour into into ice trays and freeze for later use.

Here is a great website I found for making homemade baby foods: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/cereals.htm

Here is the finished product.

Kel was a fan, not a lot of spitting out, until Lani fed him! We will try again tomorrow. He is such a big baby that I felt that he needed to be introduced to something more then just milk.

Leilani wanted in on the action, my little helper.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

I have no idea why I was so nervous to melt some soap on the stove and add water, but I was! Ridiculous, I know! After becoming lazy on making the powder soap, I bought some detergent from Costco, fairly inexpensive but after making it for so much cheaper, it killed me every time I used it. I decided to try this recipe and I have no idea what the breakdown of the price is but I am pretty sure it is about 1 cent per load? I have used it for the last 3 months and I still have half of the bucket left.

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Bar of Dial
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate both bars and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel) I didn't do this for the first few batches, it seemed too watery.

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - I have found this at Lin's. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!