Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth day!  Happy Earth Day and hope you do something green!  Earth day is near and dear to my heart, I've always worried about the Earth, for as long as I can remember.  I remember when I was young feeling guilty about styrafoam containers fast food used to come in.  Anyway, I hope to instill a love of the Earth in my children and teach them the importance of taking care of the planet.  Last year we just read a few Earth-related books for Earth day.  The babies were, little babies.  This year we will probably read the same children's books- "The Life of a Plastic Bottle" and "The 3 R's, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" or something close to those.  We will probably do something outside, nature-y.  We'll see.  As they get older I already have some fun activities planned, but for now we are keeping it simple. 
Here are some things our family does to be green-think about simple things your family can do to be green on Earth day & everyday! Even little things do help! 

• Hang clothes to dry.  I LOVE clothes fresh off the line.  They smell wonderful and feel so nice.  I even like the towels this way.  Some people think they feel like sandpaper after line-drying but I really like them.
• Wash clothes in cold water.  We always do this unless someone is sick with flu-like symptoms. 
• Recycle when you can.  Our area doesn't have a recycling program, so it's challenging.  I keep all glass jars and resuse them for other things.  I recycle what I can and pray we get a program soon. 
• Use compact florescent lightbulbs.  We have been using these for a few years and you do notice a difference on the light bill.  Since we moved, we are waiting for some lights to blow-out and we'll replace with CFLs.  They are totally worth the $$$.
• Use natural cleansers.  We rarely use anything to clean anymore unless it's organic or all-natural.  I mostly clean with vinegar or peroxide.  I like using stuff that's safe for my kids.  There are some Shaklee products we use and I like Method and Seventh Generation. 
• Buy organic food when we can.  The kids eat mostly organic.  I would love to switch us completely, but it is a process.  We will get there! 
• Buy organic cotton clothing when it's feasible. 
• Wear & buy secondhand clothes-especially for the kids.  Honestly, I have found many, many name brand clothes at yard sales and the consignment shop and they don't even look worn.  I got a great double stroller at the consignment shop. I always look there first for things we need.  People are wonderful with blessing us with hand-me-downs.  Emilynn gets to wear lots of Alyssa's stuff which I think is neat.  It's fun to try to remember Alyssa being that small, or look at pictures where she's wearing something Emmy can now wear.  Carson gets lots of Hunter's things.  We get stuff from Hunter, Shelby, & Kelsey too.  Friends have given us things.  Sometimes used clothing freaks people out.  I understand this.  But, kids sometimes wear their clothes once.  My kids can ruin something in one wearing.  It's just not practical to buy expensive stuff.  It's kind of the same as someone trying on stuff in the store, you know?  You never know who tried it on before you bought it and might have worn it without even washing it.......something to think about. 
• I also get toys at consignment if we need something.  I've only done that once when we were inbetween baby toys and Christmas/birthday.  I just sanitize and we're good to go.
• Composting.  I love my compost bin.  It was a birthday gift from Dustin a couple of years ago and I thought it was so sweet because he made it.  We put all our kitchen scraps in there. 
• Gardening....stay tuned on this one.  The first year we were married we had a nice garden and it's been hit or miss since then.  We have lots of wildlife here so it might not make it but we're gonna try.  The babies will have fun playing in it regardless.  :-) 
• I try to think about packaging when I can.  I love our milk because it comes in half gallon mason jars.  No packing to have to recycle or throw out.  I try to buy things in bulk so there's less small packaging to throw away. 
• Take re-usable bags to the grocery store.  I try to remember but I do occasionally forget.  You actually get bag credit for bringing them though.  I saved $1 off my total last time just for bringing my bags to Kroger. 

That's all I can think of right now.  There may be more.....and there's more we need to work on.  There's always more we can do! 
Hope you have a good Earth day and do something GREEN! 

Happy B-day Poppy & a new word.

Happy Birthday to Poppy!  (My dad)  We aren't celebrating his b-day till Friday night, but we hope he had a great day anyway!  :-)  Last year he wanted to go to the beach for his b-day......that was a blast.  Hint..hint... LOL.  Poppy is a great Poppy-he's the one crawling through the tunnel with the kids and all over the floor playing with them, having them jump on him.  Lots of fun!!!!!

We have our sandbox up and ready for play!  The kids and I ran errands yesterday and picked up the sand.  I was so excited because I just knew they would love it.  They did love it, but Carson kept throwing sand.  I finally had to put the top on and we went inside for baths.  Maybe he'll do better tomorrow.  Emmy did good with it though.

Carson finally has a new word!  Emilynn talks non-stop, imagine that being a girl.  Carson has had about 3 words he says for the longest time- Momma, Dadda, and Ba-Ba.  All he needed to say I guess.  Now, he has a new love and obsession which has lead to his next word-tractor.  He LOVES the tractor.  It is here most of the time right now and he looks longingly at it all the time, points, and says tractor.  He runs to it outside-the boy is tractor crazy.  Only his tractor sounds like "chaaa-chaah".  It is the same everytime-it's definitely what he's saying.  It's cute.

I finally set up both kids' appointments with their specialists.  I had been putting it off because we were focusing on taking my grandpa for treatments and things were busy and nothing was an emergency (per the dr., not me self-diagnosing-fyi).  Carson goes in 2 weeks to the pediatric urologist and I'm sure we'll have several appointments there.  Emilynn goes at the end of May to the eye specialist.  They told me they might be able to do the procedure that day.....which I thought was strange but we'll see.  Her tear duct is clogged.  The other eye cleared up but her right eye gets gummed up all the time.  I've worked with it but it hasn't cleared on it's own.  :-( 

Patom has one radiation treatment left tomorrow!  Yay!!!!!   He can now focus on his beloved garden for a few months and rest!  :-)  

What I did today.....

I am so mad at myself today.....I had to get ready for church with the kids by myself because Dustin was working.  I got us all three ready, got the kids loaded, got the diaper bag, my purse, and was ready to go.  Until....I realized my keys were sitting on the counter!   Urrrghhh!  I was so mad....didn't know what to do.  Called Dustin but he was working.  Tried my father-in-law to see if I could borrow a car...no answer.  Finally my Dad answered and came to help me.  He's about 20 minutes from me.  So I unloaded the kids, let them play in the yard while we waited.  In their new Easter clothes my grandma had gotten them.  They were supposed to bring in palms at church so we were actually early.....but we missed it.  They only got a little dirty while my Dad tried to get the door open.  Emmy's tights were a bit dirty and her hair was a wreck.  After he finally got us in (as I've said before, he can fix anything!) I grabbed the keys and decided, what the heck, we'd go on to church.  We were about 40 minutes late.  Luckily our church lasts till about 12:20 or 12:30 anyway, so I still got to hear the sermon.  I am glad I went on.  Then we had lunch for my mom's b-day-even though we said we weren't going out to eat anymore.  Happy Birthday Nannie!  The kids were a bit cranky because they didn't get to bed till about 12 last night....(another long story-the short version is Dustin had to work unexpectedly and I was getting groceries and running errands and they had to stay with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law till I could get back).  Anyway, I'm going to rest till time for the b-day supper tonight.  I think I need it!  Oh, and see what happens when I'm trying to be early for something!  I think I'll just stick with being late!  :-) 
P.S. The twins participated in their first Easter egg hunt yesterday for Shelby & Kelsey's birthdays.  Carson finally got the hang of it and put eggs in his basket.  Emmy would pick up eggs and hurl them.  She didn't just throw them, that girl's got an arm!  I guess we need to work on her technique before Sat. & Sun. ! 

Just random stuff..

We have been loving this springtime weather! We've gone outside to play every day.  If I say "let's go bye-bye" which means outside or somewhere....kids come running and waiting for shoes.  I love it because it's so much easier in warm weather to just put on shoes and go versus winter where we do jackets, hats, shoes, then get to the car, take it all off, get in car seats, get to our destination, put it back on, go inside, take it off....you get the idea!  :-)
Today we went to visit my Granny and we had so much fun.  The twins tear the house apart practically but she loves it (or she loves us too much to say otherwise :-) ) We realized Carson is named not only after his grandpa (my dad), but after his great-great grandfather and his great-great-great grandfather.  I didn't know that-I only knew about the great-great grandpa's name. I know that sounds kind of crazy to not know, but if you think about it you don't always know a lot about your family tree.  Maybe just a generation or two.  Or maybe I'm a slacker.   I just thought that was neat, I will have to write that in his baby book.  I have been avoiding the baby books for months now.  I really, REALLY need to update them before I forget everything.  I also keep a journal of cute things they do....need to update that as well. 
I got to go to Abbey's softball game this afternoon, alone.  The babies were still asleep when I left.  It was nice even though they lost.  I had not been anywhere by myself since Friday so I think I was due.  :-)  I wasn't really needing a break though, we've had a great week.  The twins are at an age now where I really enjoy spending extra time with them.  I find myself letting them stay up a few minutes later at night lately just so I can spend more time with them.  Is that nuts?  There are other days (usually when they don't get a nap) that they go to bed right on time.  They are just a joy at this age. They are so funny and learning so much every day.  They do stuff to make us laugh, give kisses, just so sweet.    I've loved each age and stage, but I think naturally some ages and stages are harder than others, especially times two.  We'll talk again when we hit terrible twos.  I hear they start right on the second birthday....something to look forward to !
Tomorrow we take Pa for his treatment.  The countdown is on- I think he has 3 treatments left after tomorrow.  Yay! 

Pampered Chef & a busted hot water heater

We had a Pampered Chef party tonight at the house and my kids thoroughly enjoyed it.  Carson ran in the room every so often and just started cackling loudly for no reason.  He's so darn cute!  :-)   Of course, Emmy being the socialite that she is went from person to person and I hardly saw her it seemed.  Carson is glued to me lately.  I call him my koala bear.  He looks like a koala on my hip.  He'd let me hold him all day if I would.   Well, he let the P.C. consultant hold him for a while right when she arrived.  It was a fun party.  I like having people over-it makes me clean my house LOL.   Today though, the twins woke up an hour early from nap, which never happens.  I really needed that hour.  I had just vacuumed and wasn't sure how I'd keep the house clean another hour.  Then about 3:30, I went in the laundry room for something and the hot water heater was running.  It sounded like a soothing fountain you might have in your house or see in a restaurant or garden.  But, I must say, when that sound is coming from your hot water heater....it's NOT normal.  I knew I had never heard that sound or SEEN the water flowing at the bottom before, so I did what I always do when something breaks.  I called my Dad.  He is Mr. Fix-it.  He can literally fix anything.  He walked me through turning off the valves to the heater and calmed me down.  I explained that I had about 20 ladies coming over in just 2 hours.  His witty reply was, "Well, they aren't going to need to take a shower, right?"  Very funny dad.  Hopefully we'll get it fixed tomorrow.  It might need replacing.  We've bandaged it along a few times now.  I'm off here to research prices now....I'm sure they aren't cheap.  Oh well, I'm not going to fret over it.  The thing I REALLY want hot water for is my favorite appliance-my dishwasher!  I run it at least once a day and I HAVE to have it!  :-)   We always have appliance drama....last spring our stove would spike to extremely high temperatures and catch on fire when you were cooking.  Very interesting to walk by casually and then see it on fire.  I must say picking out a new stove was fun for me because I got to pick what features I wanted...don't know that I'm going to have as much fun with the hot water heater. 

Trying to understand toddlers...

Toddlers...my babies are really toddlers now.  Even though sometimes I say babies.  It's just easier than saying "the toddlers".  Tonight when I was putting them to bed, they both had complete and full meltdowns because I, being the mean mommy that apparently I am.........are you ready for this?............  Took their toothbrushes.  Yes, I brushed their teeth, let them brush their teeth, and brush some more...for a few minutes.  Then I took the brushes.  Then came the major, lay out on the floor kicking and screaming meltdowns.  I know they were tired but I think they knew I was alone and they were double-teaming me.  Those mischeaveous twins.  :-)  I don't understand 'em sometimes.  I'm glad they like brushing....they are very serious about it too.  Cute. 

Emmy gives kisses now too.  So precious.  Well, only to mommy.  Even more precious.  She went up to Carson today and bent down and hugged him from behind, he was playing on the floor.  She is such a sweet, affectionate, happy girl.  Love that girl!  Aunt Amanda got her a jean skirt today and she wore it all evening-so sassy too!  It must be the smallest one they make.  :-) She's funny. 

Internet problems.....

I apologize for not updating sooner.  We had internet & phone issues most of last week.  I am glad we are back up and running!  The company showed up to fix it even though we didn't call them.  It was interesting and a blessing.......If we do call.....they don't come.  If we don't call......they do come.......weird. 

Here's what's been up: 

• I've been taking Patom for treatments when he needs me.  We've started making it more fun by mixing it up a bit....going different routes, he measures mileage to compare routes, sometimes we eat out, sometimes we get to-go food, sometimes we do neither,sometimes we stop different places, one day we went "rooting" on some land they own....hence the red mud on my car if you've seen it lately .  It just depends.  I try to make it fun for the kids by taking fun snacks to eat while Pa's in treatment, bringing new toys for them to play with in the car.  Last week we went by and saw baby Dylan after treatment.  He's so cute!  And so small!  I don't remember the twins being so small and they were 2 lbs smaller than him.  The twins didn't get to see him because they had runny noses.  I didn't want to chance it which turned out to be a good call.......
• Because-Carson got sick by Friday.  Poor baby...he was feeling puny and running a fever.  He also threw up all over me when we got back from taking Pa Friday.  Most of the weekend he just layed around and slept.  I will say, the kids get over their sickness a LOT quicker now.  I am attributing it to all the nutrients and good stuff they are getting from the fresh milk.  I really am....more on that later. 
• I bowled in the Relay For Life bowling tournament Sunday afternoon.  It was a lot of fun!  I am very competitive and all of my team was as well...it was Amanda, Wayne, Nicole, Eric, Me.  I did get 5 strikes in a row one game....not too bad I don't guess since the last time I bowled was in the summer with Alyssa. 
• The twins are loving the warm-ish weather.  We play outside a LOT.  Last night I made them come in at dark and Carson cried.  He loves being outside and today when we were out there....he found a mud puddle.  Are boys born to jump in mud?  They must be....he went right for it.  By the end of the afternoon, they were both very muddy.  I had to strip them right when we got inside.  Lots of fun though.  I love that they love the outdoors because that's what I did when I was a kid.  We had so much fun and I want them to do the same.  I am certainly not the mom who frets over them being dirty, exploring, etc. even if they were in good clothes because we came from taking Patom....even if they were in their good shoes (well, the ones they walk best in).  Yes, I still don't like germs, but that's sickness germs.   Outdoor mud, bugs, dirt, etc. doesn't bother me at all. 
• We have a new (well, new to us, it is from cousins Hunter, Shelby, & Kelsey) toy inside for the colder days.....a 12 foot long tunnel.  The twins LOVE it.  They giggle and giggle and play hide and go seek, chase, etc. with it.  It takes up the whole hallway.  Fun though.  We needed something to do inside other than our latest trick-climbing on the kitchen table.  I spend so much time trying to correct stuff like that sometimes.  I repeat it over and over and over and over.  They test me.....it's funny sometimes because they will go to get up there, I tell them no.  I turn my back.  I turn back around and Carson will put his leg down real quick.  They are so smart!  They are trying to deceive me already. 
• Both Carson and Emmy are becoming very independent now.  I let them feed themselves when I can, with utensils.  Things like applesauce or yogurt have been what we've tried.  They can get very messy, but it's worth it to see how proud they are of themselves.  I usually will try this at dinner when I know baths are coming.  Both like to brush their own teeth.  After I do it first of course.  I don't know how effective they are yet.  :-)  It's cute.  Both undress themselves, try to dress themselves, put shoes on, etc.  Emmy tries to put on her jacket.  She was all ready to go the other day and so proud.  It was over her shoulders like a shawl. 
• We are taking the twins back to church starting next Sunday.  Watch out nursery!  :-)  I'm sure they won't sit through much if any of the service now, but we will see.  They haven't been since November when we decided to quit taking them out for flu season.  I am excited because it is important that we go as a family. 
• We will probably NOT be eating out after church-that is one part of our routine I will miss.  I've done that since I was a kid.  :-(    Dustin has decided we are not eating out anymore with the kids, at least for a while.  I do not know how long that "ban" will be in effect, but it is necessary for now. Maybe till we forget how bad our last experience was!  :-)   Let me just say...we had a bad experience last Thurs.  I had taken the kids to the dress sale to get Emmy a few things.  Luckily my sister-in-law went at the same time, so my nieces and nephew were able to help occupy the twins.  Anyway, on the way home Dustin decided we should grab some dinner.  We picked him up and headed to the Mexican Rest. because I KNEW the kids would eat quesadillas.  They were hungry so I thought they would really be good and just eat.  WRONG.  Boy, was I wrong.  They were bad, embarrassingly bad.  I don't know what was wrong but they had food everywhere, they ended up out of the high chairs because they were screaming.  They didn't eat, Emmy ripped open sweet and low with her mouth and it went everywhere.  Packets of sugar and sweetener were knocked off under the table, salt and pepper shakers-under the table.  Diaper bag-under the table.  Sippy cups-under the table.  Chips-everywhere.  Emmy- under the table.  Shoes-under the table.  Finally Dustin scooped them up and took them to the car.  I decided to relax then and finish my meal.  It was so nice.  I now understand why people might eat alone.  It's peaceful.  Anyway, I then spent about 15 minutes cleaning up the booth, on my hands and knees under the table.  With TWO waitresses helping me.  We had to move the table to clean up.  I guess it is just too much to ask two 15 month olds to sit still sometimes.  It's hit or miss eating out.  Sometimes they are great, sometimes it goes like this time did.  Honestly, it couldn't hurt to just eat at home more.  We'll play it by ear.  I don't think we will give up all together because they do need to learn to behave and eat properly in public.  But, they are still just 15 months.  I don't like to disturb others eating out, I feel like people work hard for their money and should get a nice meal out.  I've always felt this way and I don't like to hear kids misbehaving when I'm trying to enjoy a meal out-especially now when a lot of times we've gotten a sitter for a night out. 
• Softball season has started so we have games, games, games to see....Abbey, Madison, Alyssa, Hunter & Shelby are all playing ball.  I love to watch games so we'll see how the kids do with that.  They did great last year but we'll see how it goes now that we are mobile. 
• Our family has started volleyball on Sundays again-Yay!  Family volleyball is lots of fun.  :-)  Now we have 3 little ones running through the game and I'm sure Morgan will be running through it soon as well!