Growl...from below

I heard Z. growling, so I thought I'd catch a few seconds of it. We were about to go get L. at preschool (which is why she's in her carseat), but isn't that always when things like that happen. My girl had some force to that dirty (cloth) diaper. A bath was in order before we could leave the house. *sigh*
Wait for my Southern twang, then turn up the volume.

Sweet & thoughtful parent email from a pal

This pic was taken (the night I trimmed L's bangs...poor guy) of my kiddos both (Zora only got a min. of this...while I got laundry from downstairs) watching a video by Scholastic. They are doing as they see B. & I do...chilling for a video. ;)
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING


A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'


I really liked this, but I also feel it's important to "explain" things to our kiddos. For example...When Langston recently asked if he could have something big, I said "No, that's an expensive gift. It costs a lot of money. You may ask for that for Christmas or birthday." He then asked, "If I got it, would we have no more money?" (My thirty-year-old-three-year-old was a little worried.) I told him that we do this thing called "budget" so that we'll always have enough money. We also give money to people who need things, save for when mom & dad are "retiring," or not working & being paid, and save for college for both of our kiddies.
When we got home (we were on a walk), I showed him our "budget notebook" with all its divisions. I explained how the money from WIU to daddy goes into the account at the bank every month & then gets divided up into these sections. Then we subtract when we spend money on toothpaste or food or whatever. He really seemed to understand & enjoy learning it. Then he showed me a budget that he & Rocky did when they got their "allowance." ;)

Hey...what's in my soap?

Not a hair or a toy, but really what's in there? Jessie & I chatted for a minute today & I was reminded that I needed to do this post. Someone special sent me this link of an awesome data base called Skin Deep (by Enviromental Working Group, or EWG) a long time ago & it has become an important one to look at when I need to purchase sunscreen, make-up, soap, shampoo, baby wash, etc.
If you want to know how "safe" your products are (or what you are really lathering your baby up in), type in a product name on the "search." This data base (along with a few articles) has helped me narrow the products I use down considerably.
In our shower right now: Dr. Bronner's soap in lavender & baby (which can even clean wood floors!), Jason Organics shampoo & conditioner in lavender, baby Avalon Organics shampoo & wash, & the random bar of Ivory or Dove sensitive skin for when I run out of my on-line products during low budget times. Now, the Ivory & Dove soaps still have the evil "sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate," but no fragrance or anything else, so the hazard is still a 3. EWG's rankings are based on all kinds of things: chemicals, irritants, whether or not the company tests on animals, etc. And you can check boxes to show what's most important, to you, in a product. They have these products ranked according to "safety" with numbers 0-10. Safest win a 0-2 ranking; 3-6 gets moderate; 7-10 means "time to switch," in my opinion!
I purchase some things from our local health food store, by it's just a small, 1-vitamin-lady deal, so it's impossible for her to fill our needs. I also order from Omni Supplements & Drugstore.com mostly. I think that Target & some other chain stores (which are not located in Macomb) sell some of these things.
Other awesome brands to look for are: California Baby, Burt's Bees (makes wonderful baby wash & chemical free sunscreen) Tom's of Maine (check out the barsoap, d.o. & toothpaste), Avalon (shampoo with yummy, essential oil scents). *I also started using all Bare Escentuals (Bare Minerals) or Larenim makeup...when I use makeup. :)
Oh! And while I'm thinking of essential oils in shampoos...let me say that if your loved one contracts head lice while at school or preschool this year DO NOT USE RID or any other dangerous chemical! There are a few combos of essential oils that will kill the little boogers without putting more pesticide on your baby's head than you'd use in your yard. I have loaned out my books on that topic right now (I'll post it later), but I know that lemon & ylang-ylang are two of the preventative oils in the mix (so I'm pretty sure they'll kill 'em, too). I also know that Avalon makes shampoos & conditioners with these oils in them. These items are on my shopping list for October. If I can just shampoo lemon-scented-prevention into Langston's scalp & not have to worry so much about bugs in his lovely locks...amen!

Langston "the crafter" Key

Um, yes, that would be Sharpie all over my kid in the top picture. (He's on the potty bc he's about to get a soak...an attempt to scrub...with baking soda & dove soap...all this marker off!) This event took place as I was cleaning up, holding Zora, & on the horn with my funny pal, Bekki, who had just mentioned that she had a funny thought, "the only way I can get out of working this job is to have a kid." Seriously, Bekki!! Ahhhh! Has being my friend taught you nothing?! I won't rant here b'c her love, Ryan, is gone & I'm sure she's lonely, but trust me, unless you feel like you are about to burst if you don't have a child...like you are thirsting for a baby like a stranded person in a desert thirsts for water...don't give it another thought! (This goes for you, too, Cassie, & all my other childless girlfriends! Kids are the best, most time & life-consuming "things" ever. You'll love them so much it hurts, but sometimes it also hurts in other places: your wallet, your watch, your love life, your sleep schedule, & have I mentioned your figure?) When you are "dying" for a baby, they are the sweetest gift from God, but if you aren't "there" in life, don't do just because you are "sick" or "bored" with work. They are work!
And now, on to my L-town. He's a hoot. Here he is with his snails. Yes, snails. He loves any insect, slimey thing, etc. They are learning about insects in school right now, so he's having a blast. I also must post this thought that I shared with Bekki about L.
He loves to sing, dance, act, draw, read, & craft, among other things. I might have made a mistake by doing SO much of this with him daily before Zora, because now he goes into "craft withdrawls" sometimes. I really think he's addicted to crafting. (Yes, Debi, laugh at me now! :) He will beg to do "just one cwaft" some days. When he gets to do one, he tapes in somewhere in the house, or waits till Barclay comes home (& sometimes tells B. to take it to his office, which he does.:) When he actually works up tears if I cannot craft with him I sometimes think...
"This is my kid. This is my kid on craft. Any questions?"

Langston's preschool pirate song

This is what my big boy learned today in preschool. Bear with him. He gets excited...and sister wants to join in, which distracts him. :) I love fun little songs. Yea, Langston!

We miss you already, DeWitts!

Langston & Preston at Jen's house...a boyband in the making! The hair dos are the best!!
Just another day of chalk, balloons, & not wanting to go inside. :)


I've gotta' give a shout out to my pal, Jennifer. We were neighbors, buddies, & moms who found each other waaaaaay too late. (We lived only a couple of houses down from one another, but didn't even know it for the better part of a year!) Once we met, we called & hung out within less than a week (pretty fast movin' after a first date!). Sometimes, it's tough to find a great mommy friend. I feel like society sets us up to hate on one another through all the "stay-at-home vs. work outside the home" mommy battles. The truth is we are all doing the same things...above all loving our children. I am thankful for all the different type mom friends I have. We all have our own way of doing things. I glean wisdom from one mom as I disagree with another, but that's life.
My friendship with Jen is one of the most fun kind bc we shared a lot in common, so we could tease each other about our over-protective ways, joke about never getting to scrapbook again, feel mutual remorse with the extra baby weight still hanging (all) around, all while watching our boys hop around (& sometimes hug & kiss...they were alike, too). We hope you will be blessed in Indiana. We'll miss y'all, Jen, Preston, & Chase!! We love you!

My name is Zora, hear me growl

Zora's new thing is "growling." She does it all the time. (During communion, at the "Y" nursery while I work out, if I don't feed her cereal fast enough, ...) I turned on the camera & said, "make her growl" & this is what we got. :)
**I kept wondering, "where is she getting that?" until one night recently when my eldest growled at me for not doing what he wanted when he wanted (he was punished for it), but I then realized from whence the growl emerged.