We leave to camp at the beach tomorrow. Not ON the beach. That's what my kids have envisioned as I refer to camping AT the beach. They thought we were on the sand in a tent. Though I would have no problem at all doing this I don't think its legal. Not in Delaware anyway. We are staying in cabins at a campground called Holly Lake. I am not a fan of camping (except on the beach) so my expectations (and excitement levels) are low. I'm heading into this already itching from bug bites, stinking like camp fire, and being grouchy from not getting a good night sleep.

I bought Benadryl so my kids can perhaps get a good night sleep. Yes, I am drugging them. Cara saw the box on the counter and read aloud the "uses". Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing. "Do you think we are going to get sick?" she asks. "No,I bought it so you can go to sleep." She accepted my answer..or so I thought. THEN she read the warnings. "Do not use to make a child go to sleep." Hahahaha. She refuses to take it, thinking maybe I am trying to poison her. "Oh, you'll be fine." I reassured her. "but it says here..."

Today I washed 5 loads of laundry so I could pack clean clothes. Baked chicken breast and cut up lettuce for salads, this is what I will be eating while camping. I assembled 12 ham and cheese sandwiches for the lunches for 2 days. Shopped at Target for Smore ingredients and paper products. Flipped 36 pancakes for breakfasts for 2 days. I scrubbed the bathroom grout. This had absolutely nothing to do with preparing to leave. I felt the need to clean it...in a bathroom that no one uses. At least I'll know its clean IF someone ever goes in it.

During my baking, flipping, cutting time I was feeding Matthew pretzels. When he turned his head this is what I found in his hair. Darn curls! But funny.

MudManX CONQUERED!!

Yea, baby! Zach participated in MudManX yesterday. I was his cheerleader and the team photographer. I did not participate in the race but had a blast watching.

IronBirds Baseball game

updates gallore

To begin, my homemade dish washing detergent doesn't work. Totally besides the fact that I could potentially be poisoning my family (only on ugly days). Back to my trusted store bought brand.

And only the most important news EVER...no, not pregnant...Matthew walks. I am unimpressed by this accomplishment. In all reality I have seen this occur 5 other times so its no big deal. The other day Matthew was taking a few steps. Every time the children cheered, clapped, or got super excited yelling "good job!" I just sat there. Cara asks me why I wasn't excited? Oops. I didn't mean to LOOK like I could care less. I actually don't want a walker yet. This means he won't want to sit ever again! I do clap and praise when he walks I just don't do it every single time. Zach asked me if I blogged about him walking. No. Well, why NOT? It is only the most important thing ever! I'm thinking we all need a definition for important.

Matthew turned 11 months on the 22nd. He weighs 22 lbs which no puts him over his infant car seat weight. Besides the fact that he was about a foot too long for it. We bought him an upgraded child seat and he LOVES it. Now he knows where we are going and enjoys taking in all in. Each of the children argue every time about WHO is sitting next to him. I don't understand why. Its just a new seat. Same baby brother. He's almost one year. Unbelievable.

Michael passed the swim test at the pool. He can now jump off the diving board and go down the slide. This also permits him to swim in the deep end. Michael lost both his front teeth within 5 minutes. Amazing. I love the freckles dotting his sun kissed face and his smile. Adorable.

Olivia has turned into a monkey. She can flip, whip, and turn on just about anything. She swings across monkey bars back and forth effortlessly. Climbs to the top of playground equipment and hangs upside down. Zach sees a future Olympic gymnast so in September she will be taking lessons to perfect all those skills.

Sam has been in cub scout day camp for three days. They have done some pretty fun activities. Ashland Nature center, Blue Rocks Game, Bellevue park for fishing and BBQ, swimming, water rockets, sports, puzzles, and skits. He came home yesterday and told me how much he missed his family. So sweet!

Isaac was called as the Deacon Class President. He has grown up so much recently. There are definitely challenges as he gets older but it has been fun watching him grow. He cut his Beiber hair. His wave is back to remind me of what he looked like before he cared what he looked like. I loved his little wave (calick).

Zach is super busy all the time. He has been training to compete in the MudManX. A 5 mile obstacle filled race. I was repeatedly pressured into signing up but knew I was no where near the athletic ability needed to compete and finish such a race. It would be a disaster for me. Did I ever mention I was AFRAID to snowboard down a mountain and sat there until ski patrol picked me up on the ski mobile to drive me down? This race would have the same turn out just not on a ski mobile. Dirt bike perhaps? 4 wheeler? NOT for Zach though. He's amazing at anything he does. He had discipline and motivation.

I've been in project ADD. I have a few details (lights, doors, ceiling touch ups) to finish in the basement. Instead of finishing those I moved on to finishing the dining room. I always planned on adding metallic to the top half of the room but with 12' ceilings I procrastinated in getting that scaffolding back out. Plus, the room "looked" done. I decided I needed to just finish it and be done AND that's what I did. I can say the dining room is DONE. Isaac wanted to earn $ so I told him to rip down all the 80's wallpaper in the main bathroom. He worked on it for 3 days and now it needs my attention. Well, worth my 20$. Oh, did I mention the foyer floor that I never finished? My plan is to finish all projects before school starts...which is in 1 month!

I exclaimed this to the children. "School starts in 1 month! Aren't you excited!!?" They are not. WHAT have I done? Brainwashed them? They are suppose to be excited because I am. I need to start making a list of all the things I want to do on that first day of freedom.

I'm still going strong with my Paleo eating. Its been 7 weeks and I'm stuck at 13 lbs. I have been here for 4 weeks. I'm a bit discouraged I must say. I can see progress fitness wise. My favorite machine at the Y is the stair climber (not to be compared with the stepper-HUGE difference). It has rotating stairs and is heck of a workout. I have worked my way to running consistently for 6 minutes. I only can laugh while writing this because it seems so minimal BUT its an accomplishment for me. One day I will run a 5K without stopping. That's my goal.

So there it is.

another trip to the zoo

We woke up bright and early to head to the Zoo. I figure I need to make this membership useful. It was a beautiful day. The weather was perfect! The animals were active and fun to watch. The Zoo wasn't overly crowded. The kids were great! We started at the beginning and made it to the end. We even stopped at the Avian Center. I never knew there was a bird sanctuary but there IS and inside was some pretty & unique birds.

 Cara was assigned camera duty. She was occupied the entire time and she took some good pictures.

the good, the bad, the UGLY

That is how I am classifying my day from now on. I think it is perfect. A few days ago it was definitely an UGLY day. Today was a good day. So many factors play into the outcome that I really can't foresee how each day will end. When Zach leaves in the morning I am usually still in bed (shhh, don't tell anyone!). He says I don't want the day to begin. While this statement is TRUE, most of the time, honestly I just like my bed.

Today I went to the gym, the pool, the Delaware Children's Museum and finished off this GOOD day with dinner at Klondike Kate's.

As we were walking in I overheard a gentleman say, "It's kid's eat free. I guess they are taking advantage of that." I chuckled in my mind. Let's put this "Kid's Eat Free" thing in perspective, shall we. I had 7 kids with me (Isaac's friend and my 6) plus Zach and I. That's 9 eaters. Our bill was ....get ready...wait....$25.50. Hilarious! and frankly unbelievable. Kate's always has good food. It's loudish so the kids enjoy themselves and I don't feel the need to be constantly correcting their lack of manners. I have high hopes that tomorrow will be another GOOD day.

My big news for today...

actually I don't have any big news BUT I did research making homemade laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent and hand soap. I have no "real" reason for wanting to do this besides that fact that I can plus it's saving $, and it's a great storage item in case there is ever an earthquake or hurricane or tornado (oh wait, there was...in the same week). ANYWAY...here is the recipe I used for dishwasher detergent:

1 1/2 cups Borax
1 1/2 cups baking soda

1/4 cup lemon shine

I mixed everything in a large pot then transferred the mix to a mason jar with a 1 TBSP spoon in the jar. I have no results as to the outcome of the dishes but all reviews said it worked great OR better. Nor do I have the actual cost (or savings) because my brain can not figure that amount of math out. It cost me about $1.00 to make 3 cups of detergent. 1TBSP is all I need for each load so how many TBSPs are in 3 cups??? It LOOKS cheap....

I confess...

I was a couponer. Not an EXTREME couponer but close to it. It was exciting to bring home my treasures (that's what I liked to call them) and spread them all out on the table and look at them. I would add up all my savings and pretend to tell someone (actually I would tell Zach, but he never seemed to listen). I even dreamed in sales and coupons. Those days are long gone. The days of going to 5 different stores, with or without children, is no longer enjoyable. The time involved is too much and some of those cashiers are just plain out angry old women who have nothing better to do them bust the dreams of couponers. Like it was THEIR shampoo I wanted!

Well, I decided to start couponing again. Definitely not to the extreme I did years ago. I really just want to save a few bucks on the stuff I already need and buy.

I wasn't out to get products for only a few bucks. I needed more night moisturizing creme and there was no way I scoring that for free. After my shopping trip I felt pretty good about what I saved.

2 Coppertone Sunblock - $19.98
5 Garnier Hair products - $15.66
2 Almonds $7.38
Olay creme $22.99
2 CoverGirl Eye shadows $6.78
Eggs $1.69
Total = $74.48

I spent $41.60 so after coupons and UP rewards which I turned around and used immediately I saved $32.88! Not too bad and I can actually say I got my face creme for free, right?

My next money saving adventure is homemade laundry detergent...

I am going to be admitting myself into a mental institution soon.

Really, I am.

Somedays I think I am already in one with all the crying, yelling, small beings walking into walls, throwing food across the room. I know WHAT happens in those places. Everyone sitting in a circle discussing what we can do to change our behaviour, attitude, or actions.

Been there. 

My life is not filled only with reptiles hiding in the laundry room or giant jumping spiders waiting patiently (which by the way I found dead yesterday). Each day brings new challenges, as if the ones I already have aren't enough. I am blessed with new ones everyday. I have asked myself why didn't ANYONE tell me how hard raising children would be. WHY??? Would I have listened. No, probably not. But show me a video of me TODAY and I may of changed my mind.

12 weeks of Summer vacation. 7 weeks to go.

Yes, I AM counting. Every day is one less day. I will not be receiving Mom of the Year Award EVER! By afternoon I have lost all patience and compassion.

You got stung by a bee? Your ok. Go play.

I ask myself WHY do I have more? Really, WHY? I will answer that question later when I don't have the urge to drop one...or more off at a undisclosed location.

 the Boxcar children.



a little of this...a little of that

Not much happening in the way of exciting news ...

Isaac went to Scout Camp this week. This is his first year attending and he was SO excited. He needed to be at the church building at 4:45 am (yes, THAT early in the morning!), I heard him stirring at 4:00 with camp excitement.

Olivia and Michael are taking swim lessons afterwards we spend hours at the pool. Matthew LOVES the water.

On the 4th of July we went for a family hike through Brandywine Creek State Park. I mentioned to Zach I wanted to do something else so I could get a more "strenuous" workout in. He reassured me I would sweat on the trails. I reluctantly went and am reluctantly admitting I had a good time. I did sweat. I also swallowed a bug and almost choke to death. Olivia told me I should walk with my mouth shut. I took her advice.

We went to a bbq/picnic in the afternoon. The kids had a blast. The house was right on the Red Clay Creek where they spent majority of the time swimming.