Happy Thanksgiving!

So we just got home from our Thanksgiving dinner at my moms house with most of my family. We had a great time sitting around the table talking and laughing. We wanted a no fuss Thanksgiving so we each brought a couple side items and had a big buffet. The food was amazing and as usual everyone was so stuffed there wasn't much room for dessert! After dinner, the 49rs game was turned on and I put the Thanksgiving books out for the kids to read that I checked out from the Library. Levon was so excited about his team playing tonight, it was the first time that he could think of that he was able to relax and enjoy football on Thanksgiving! (I personally was glad there was other things to do.) It's not that I don't like football, its just not my favorite pass time activity. Later, I asked the kids if they wanted to make 'Native American' headbands. They were so excited, jumping up and down, saying "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" One of them asked if I had real feathers. My quick response was "Well yeah! Is there any other way?" We spent a good 30 minutes taping feathers to the paper strips and then coloring them. They all wore them for the rest of the night! Even though the 49rs lost, I would say our Thanksgiving was a good one!

This is the meatless turkey I brought for dinner! He's so cutie you could gobble him right up! (Pun intended!)

Here are the kids in their festive headbands! You know the drill, take 50 pictures to get one decent shot!

Here is that lil' guy again! I brought him for our pot luck at work the day before. He is so festive and fun!

Ella was ready for Thanksgiving with her turkey hat and leather moccasin shoes! She walked around all morning saying "gobble gobble". I found her shoes at goodwill the day before! They were so perfect I had to get them even though they were a size to big!

This was Ella last week at the library doing a craft. I absolutely love this picture! Her hair reminds me of an 80s aerobics girl with a sweatband and a fro! Just cracks me up!  

So the holiday season just officially started. It is going to be so much fun now that Ella is old enough to enjoy all the activities of the season! 

Pizza Time

We had Chloe and Jillian over last week for a pizza party! It was so much fun! Luckily there were three of us there to help because it could have gotten out of hand very fast. We prepared the personal pans first by seasoning them and putting the sauce on before we gave them to the girls. We had to watch them pretty close otherwise they would have put all the cheese on pizza. (It almost happened!) Once one was done we would hand them another, then another. We bought two 3 packs of personal pan pizza crust. So that is a lot of pizza.

Notice the assembly line...Someone had to spread out the cheese!

They really enjoyed themselves! And did a great job!



So did we!



Of course you can't prepare pizza without sampling the product! 

With the way Ella's working, there won't be any pepperoni left!

I love how Ella is eating with no hands. 

 Chloe is thinking "Girl, what are you doing?!"

I was Framed II

I have been keeping my out out for something to put inside the frames as a continuation to I was framed. While at a yard sale, I found this doily that has layered green edges. Stuff like this is not normally my thing. I bought it originally so I could re-style a shirt, an idea I saw on Pinterest. Then I had a bright idea to frame it! Or at least keep it there until I find something better.  In the other frames I found coordinating scrapbook paper that I cut to fit. I think it turned out pretty good.

1. Wrap the back board to the frame with fabric. I use the Craft Bond spray adhesive.
2. Spray the adhesive on doily, then put in place.
3. Press it down for a few seconds to make sure it sticks well.
4. It dries super quick so you have to be a little fast. 
5. I wanted to keep the glass to the frame, so when I put it all together I put the glass in the back.

Halloween ReCap

This was Ella's first time to go trick-or-treating! She was the prettiest Minnie Mouse I have ever seen. We had practice saying trick-or-treat all day and finally we were able to put it to use at my moms neighbors house.

She walked up to the house with a smile on her face.

On the other side of the door there was a cat wearing a reflectors vest with a glow stick attached to the collar. 

 

Ella loved trick-or-treating, and got the hang of it real quick!

 After trick-or-treating we went to a church carnival to play games, ride a hay ride, and get lots of candy!

This was one of her favorite games.

Lots of candy to choose from!

This was on the hay ride. I don't think she knew what was going on.

Out of several family pictures this was the best one.

After the Carnival we went to her other grandma's house for the wind down.

Homemade Laundry Detergent!

In my household we go through so much laundry detergent. As a way to save some money I thought we could make our own. I was going to make the liquid detergent because its my personal preference but you have to let cool down for 12-24 hours. And I needed it right now. This took me all of 10 minutes to do. I made two batches and combined them into a pretty jar I already had. It is super cheap and I love it!! I have seen comparison charts that says when everything is totaled up you are spending .06 cents a load! You can't beat that!

Parker House Laundry Detergent

1 Bar of Saop

3/4 Cup of Borax

3/4 Cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Use a cheese grater to grate the bar of soap in a bowl. Mix in the Borax and Washing Soda. Make sure it is mixed well. Pour into an airtight container. Ready to use.

Use 1 Tablespoon for light loads and front load washing machines and 2 Tablespoons for heavy soiled and large loads.

Here is the breakdown.
Borax

• Improves cleaning power of detergent
• Helps remove tough stains
• Natural alternative to color safe bleach
• Deodorizes and freshens

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

• Adds extra cleaning and freshening power for tough household jobs. 
• Works as a laundry detergent booster and as a household cleaner.
• It's not only an effective cleaner, it is an all-natural product.

 Soap

• You can use any type of bar soap
• I use Ivory because of the clean smell.
• Fels Naptha is a soap that is popular in other detergent recipes.
• Some people add essential oils to make the smell more personalized.

Happy November!

Happy November! It is finally here. Soon we will be preparing for Thanksgiving meals and then pulling out our Christmas decorations. Rushing around trying to prepare for the holiday season. I love early November, a sort of calm before the storm. The weather changes and the leaves turn so many beautiful colors. This is the time to recognize all that we are thankful for. I am thankful for my wonderful family, friends, and the ability to watch my little girl grow. I can't wait to see what this month has to bring.

Autumn Day

 Pumpkins in the cornfields,
Gold among the brown,
Leaves of rust and scarlet
Trembling slowly down;
Birds that travel southward,
Lovely time to play;
Nothing is as pleasant
As an autumn day!

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