BCA Art Show

These are just a few random pics!
The girls having fun playing dress-up. Of course, Hannah just does whatever her BIG Sissy tells her to do. It will be interesting to see what kind of resistance Hannah will bring in a couple of years to all of Sissy's ideas.
Sarah's school Bethlehem Christian Academy (BCA) had a art show for all of the students for their artwork to be displayed. Sarah colored a picture of a giraffe with a l-o-n-g neck. She must have created this one after our zoo trip.
Sarah's teacher painted her foot with this one! I love hand-prints and footprints! What mommy does not love that!!!??? Not sure what is up with Sarah's hair?? Bad hair day - I guess!!
Oh the kitties!!! Oh, what was I thinking???!!!
If the kitties survive Hannah's toddler years, it will be nothing short of a miracle.

Frugile

So, I have been trying to think of ways to cut back on the necessities of life, so we can have more for the fun things. My friend over at "A Little Piece of Heaven" shared a homemade recipe for laundry detergent. She told me about it probably a year ago, and it has taken me this long to get around to doing it.

Okay - pick yourself up off the floor now. It is true, I made my own batch of homemade laundry detergent. Many of you who know me well - are well - shocked! I am more of a Sandra Lee "Semi-Homemade" kind of woman, so this was quite a stretch for me. However, not in the pocket book.
So, Hannah and I gathered all of the ingredients, Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (Publix), Borax (Target), and Fels-Naptha Soap Bar (Publix), and a 5 gallon bucket (Walmart). Total cost for all of the items: about $8.00. The washing soda and borax will last for multiple batches. I will have to purchase another bar of soap for my next batch.
First thing to do: Grate the bar of soap into a saucepan with water (about a cup+/-).
Stir continually over med-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add the melted soap, washing soda (1 cup), and Borax (1/2 cup). Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to top with more hot tap water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken and gel up.
And wait!!! Good job Hannah!!

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser 3/4 full with soap and then fill the rest of the way with tap water. Shake before each use.

You can also add 10-15 drops of essential oil per gallons. Add once the soap has cooled. Ideas such as: lavendar, rosemary, tea tree oil. I have not tried the essential oils; however, I have heard they make the clothes smell quite fresh. I may try some eventually.

Overall, I can say that I have been pleased with homemade detergent. I do still use a stain stick or Shout for bad stains. You should give it a try. Hey, if I can do it, you can do it!

Think about how much you spend on one container of laundry detergent, and how many times you have to buy detergent each year. Now, think about spending $8 one time, and a couple more dollars a few times a year to buy the bar of soap. I believe that would be a significant savings.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons
Good luck and happy SAVING!!!

The Girlfriends Cupcake Kit

After our morning of being princesses, the girls wanted to make some yummy cupcakes with their Daddy. As if it's not hard enough on Mark having a household full of estrogen, throw in the box of cupcakes titled, "The Girlfriends Cupcake Kit"! I guess Mark is just one of the girls now! We love you Daddy!
Sarah is using her handy little mixer she got for Christmas to mix it up. Hannah is eager to take a turn.

The best part of baking - licking the goodness off of the beaters!!!
Carefully pouring the batter into the cupcake cups.

The fun part - decorating!
Sarah is sporting a little icing in her hair there! They were yummy too! Good job girls and Daddy!

Southern Belles and Beaus

Sarah was invited to her friend Lydia's 5 th birthday party. She was super excited about it and even more so after I told her she could wear her Princess Tangled dress for the Princess dress-up party. I loaded up the girls in the van drove to Watkinsville to a precious little Southern Antebellum home turned into a boutique and party location called, "Southern Bells and Beaus". http://www.shopwatkinsville.com/merchant/show/79
A "real" Cinderella came to see the girls and "frosted" them with make-up on all of the princesses!
Sarah being "frosted"!!
Little Princess Tangled after she had been "frosted"!

The girls were served at a long dining room table with real china and precious little tea cups. I didn't hear anything shatter at this point either!
Hannah having a BLAST dancing with all of the BIG girls and of course her naked baby doll!!
The girls were given the opportunity to try on other dresses. Sarah found this adorable pink chiffon dress.
Cinderella played the music, then when the music stopped the girls had to freeze in a "princess-pose".


Hannah - well - being Hannah! All smiles and giggles!!



The girls had a fabulous time celebrating Lydia's birthday! I must say this was one of the most enjoyable parties I have taken the girls to.

Just A Few Spring Time Pics

We could call these first few pics, the many faces of Hannah.

Sarah was given this adorable little hair accessory for her birthday, and now Sarah is having hard time getting it back from her sister.

Sarah is relaxing in her new dress and with her new Hello Kitty umbrella after her 5th birthday party and all of the guests left. She was wiped out!
I just had to take a photo of the girls before we left for church last Sunday. They were so cute in their denim dresses.
You won't believe me when I say that Mark was the one who suggested Hannah wear a bow to church. Ever since then, she is all about bows. I know you don't believe me, but it's true.
Sarah had a great time painting the new birdhouse from Grammy and Grandpa. Daddy hung it in the backyard so we can watch the beautiful birds.

Hope you have enjoyed the pics!

It's Official

Yes, it's official with our two new kitten additions we are the crazy cat family now. We went to Petsmart to adopt one kitten, and I being the sucker could not leave the brother alone in the cage, so we came home with two.


Boots is being tolerable to Hannah's antics.
The girls kissing their Daddy before he heads off to bring home the bacon!!! He is in heaven now!
Here's the bunch! It took about 2 weeks for the the felines to become cozy. Aren't they cute!
The girls and I took the kittens for their first doctor's appointment. They are dressed in all of their "kitty" garb.
It was quite a circus in the exam room and everyone in the office new our crew was there!
Dr. Samples examining little Boots. He tends to be a little more frisky and playful.
Now it's Mow's turn. He is a little smaller and little more gentle and passive; although, he is quite vocal.

The girls and their kittens having a good time having some reading time with Daddy.

A Marvelous Mayfield Day

The girls and I started out the day with a field trip to the Mayfield Dairy. It's free to take the tour, so the only cost is whatever sweet treat you desire. We arrived a little early, so we decided to enjoy our sweet treat before the milk production tour.
Our sweet friends from church met us there to enjoy the fun.
Sarah and Hannah modeling their beautiful new hats. Yes, everyone had to wear them in order to take the tour. Sorry, no pic of Mommy! ;)
Sarah is giving a try at milking a cow (pretend of course). She said she was squirted in the face - good thing it was just water.
So, the exciting part of the whole day, and remember, it doesn't take much to get this crew excited. A film crew was there who wanted the girls to take part in a training video for new employees, too bad it wasn't a paid commercial debut. Oh well, maybe next time. They had several takes where they had to sip some milk from mugs and then smile at the camera. They were perfect little actresses!
Take 1
Take 2
They decided Hannah was probably not quite old enough to hold a breakable mug without throwing it on the floor - very wise on their part. So, they had me sit in with the girls to do a couple of takes with Hannah included.
Who knows this could be the beginning of a whole new career for our girls! LOL!!
The girls were ecstatic when they were given cute little Mayfield Dairy stuffed animal cows. I was excited about bringing home 3 new mugs. All in all it was a fabulous field trip and very much worth the time. Who knew we would be coming home with free mugs and free stuffed animals???!!!
Then we decided to take in a picnic at a local park. The girls had fun eating pb&j's and could barely sit long enough to eat before they ran off to play.
Yall know I love photos from behind and holding hands - just adorable. Sarah is holding her friend, Aubrey's hand, and Hannah is holding her friend, Addison's hand. It is so comforting to know the girls are making friends.
Of course, we were headed over to an antique store in this pic that was in walking distance from the park. Yall know I am sucker for antique stores, and Braselton has so many cute ones. I look forward to going back just do some window shopping and to get some inspiration.

The day was just perfect. God certainly had it all planned out for us. I am so thankful for days like this and for new friends!