Family Pictures

Santa Pictures 2011

December 2011
This was the best we could do with 3 little ones. Anderson has been talking about needing to go talk with Santa about his tractor and Ashlyn has been just as excited. Jaxon wasn't to sure what to think and we got this picture and one other before he just melted down in tears. It's crazy to look at this picture and see how fast they are growing up. (Anderson is 2 yrs old, Jaxon 1 yr and Ashlyn 3 yrs old)

December of 2010
I thought I had it on the computer but I didn't. Soon to come.
December 2009
It's crazy how little they look in this photo. (Anderson 6 months and Ashlyn 18 months)

How to make your own household items.....

So last night was our monthly Relief Society at church and we learned how to make our own Homemade detergent, Non-Abrasive scouring powder for disinfecting and Lemon Spray Cleaner (multi-purpose). So if you are interested here is how you would do it.

Homemade detergent
1 bar grated Fels Naptha Soap
1 1/3 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda Detergent Booster
1 1/3 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
(Mix and store in an airtight container)

Small loads 1 spoonful

Medium loads 1 1/2 spoonful

Heavy loads 2 spoonful

Non-Abrasive scouring powder for disinfecting

4 parts baking soda

1 part borax

(store in a shaker container)

Lemon Spray Cleaner (multi-purpose)

2 cups water

2 TBS lemon juice

1/2 tsp dish soap (like dawn)

1 TBS baking soda

1 tsp Borax

(Pour in spray bottle and mix well before using. You can add vinegar but be careful. Baking soda and vinegar mixed has the volcano effect so add it REAL SLOW!)

Update on Ashlyn & Preschool

OK, so at first Ashlyn was really excited and we talked about Preschool for months before she was going to start. It all seemed fine but now that it is the end of the 2nd week she's not feeling the same that she did months prior to starting. It has been a battle every morning to get her up to go to school. She has even gone to the extreme of I hate school, I don't like my teacher, she is mean and the list goes on and on. Once I finally get her in the car and we are on our way to school the attitude does change and she is always in a good mood when I pick her up. I have discovered that she is her dad made over. She could stay up all night and sleep all morning. I'm hoping it will get better. I discussed this with my sister in law Holly and my nephew Eli who is also in Ashlyn's class is doing the same thing. So I'm hoping this is just a phase they will go through and things will get better.

Ashlyn's 1st Day of Preschool

So this is how the conversation went this morning as I was getting Ashlyn's ready for her first day.

I went into her room and was scratching her back and and said Ashlyn we are going to have to get up in a few minutes so we can get ready to go to school today. She rolls over and says not yet. I said well in a few minutes we will need to put on your clothes. I had picked out a couple of outfits that were skirts because that's all she wants to wear these days. I said Ashlyn which skirt do you want to wear today? She said I'm not wearing a skirt today. I said well do you want to wear shorts today? She said no. I said well you'll have to wear something to school. She said I'll just not go today. I thought OH! No. I hope this isn't going to be a tuff morning because its not starting off the way I thought it would being we have talked about going to school and she has been really excited to go. So then I said well we have to go to school today and so we need to pick out a outfit and get ready so we aren't late. Then the question comes is dad going to school with me? I said no, daddy is at his school today and then he will be going to work afterwards. I'm really glad it didn't lead to anything else since Jared had to leave at 7 am to get to his class this morning. Thankfully she picked out a skirt and we where able to get ready in enough time to leave for school at 8:30.

Here she is all excited to go and wearing her new butterfly backpack.

Then on her way to school.

Then it was time to go into school. I decided not to do carpool since it was her 1st day and with the way the morning had started I wasn't sure how it would end up so I took her in. Well, they all go into this room while everyone is being dropped off between 8:45 and 9 a.m. and once everyone arrives they go with the teacher to their class room. Well here is Ashlyn with her teacher Mrs. Tammy who happens to be helping with carpool this morning. She asked her where she wanted to sit and no reply. She just stood there and looked so lost and not to sure what to do. Her cousin Eli wasn't there or Sara from church so it took a few minutes before she actually sat in the chair and waited. I didn't want to leave her especially this way and I was hoping that as I had to turn and walk out she would be fine. I did worry how she did but when I picked her up at 11:45 a.m. she was happy but looked really tired. When she got into the car she said she had a good day and got to play. I asked if she wanted to go back and she said Yes. Thank goodness.... Will see how tomorrow goes. She will be going to school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.