The Trip West

We just got back from a trip to Utah which means there's going to be a lot of bloggage and pictures the next few days! Ready? Here we go!

I don't know why,

but I love seeing these windmills as we drive across the country.

I think they would have given Willa Cather a heart attack,

but to me they are soothing.

It was a 31 hour drive from Ohio to Wyoming then on to Utah.

My favorite part of the trip?

When the kids were asleep!

(We had to get innovative to keep the sun out of Porter's eyes.)

Gabe had no problem turning the hotels into playgrounds.

At the Zoo

Monday we took a much needed break from all the car craziness to enjoy Labor Day at the zoo with our kids.

A Car Story

We've had quite the week with our cars. Here's the long story short.

Let's start with the truck. Monday we took the truck to Toyota to have the frame inspected. Frame is beyond repair (rusting through) & covered by warranty, so Toyota is buying John's truck from us. John wanted a new truck, but after lots and lots of looking he decided to go a more practical route.

So we said goodbye to one of these . . .

and said hello to one of these . . .

In the midst of all that we were driving around in one of these with no A/C.

Took the van to Midas and paid $60 to have them tell us the wrong thing was broken! After special ordering the "Midas part" from Honda, John watched enough YouTube to figure out what was really broken and he fixed the A/C. Yeah for super awesome husbands! Thankfully Honda refunded our money for the special order part and life will soon be back to normal. We still have to return the rental car and pick up our check from Toyota. Hopefully now I can catch up on all the sleep I lost this week worrying about our cars!

Holy Moly Guacamole Cow

This is Gabe's latest saying. I love it! Makes me laugh every time. Here's just a few odds and ends from the past couple of weeks.

My kids love playing with laundry baskets!

Apparently, laundry baskets also make a great place to watch cartoons.

Gabe's first day of school

This is what happens when you think it's funny to run away from your mommy.

And yes, the faster mommy chases you, the faster you run, until you face plant in the street.

Porter and his friend Abby were born only 3 days apart.
Aren't they cute?!

I told you my kids love laundry baskets.

They love it even more when they have daddy and a laundry basket!

Dear Pinkie,

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my car and had the thought that I needed to write you a letter. This was before you went to the hospital for the last time. I never wrote you the letter. Part of me thought you wouldn't know who it was from. Part of me thought I still had time. All of me wishes I had listened to that prompting.

Maybe you wouldn't have known who it was from, but you would have known that someone in Ohio loves you. I would have told you that when Porter frowns I think he looks just like Grandpa Cornell. I can't wait to tell my kids the stories Grandpa would tell us about driving a team of horses out to the construction jobs when he was just 12 years old. Or how he used to throw quarters into the pool for us to dive for. Or how Circus Peanuts remind me of Springville Days in your backyard. I would have told you how when I see roses, Madame Alexander, Lladro, or simply the color pink I think of you. I would have told you how much I admire your spunky, yet elegant personality. Not many women could pull off a punk rocker, Michael Jackson, or funky chicken costume and still be called classy and elegant, but you did. I would have told you how Christmas Eve hasn't been the same since I got married. I miss your parties. I miss sitting on Santa's lap. I miss the Sizzler. I would have told you that I made your Popcorn Ball recipe last Christmas and it tasted just like I remember.

I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you all these things, but I hope you know them now. I'm sad you are gone, but I'm happy you are no longer suffering. I am so happy you are with grandpa again. I'm also a little curious to know if we'll be able to hear you cheering for the Cougars from the other side this fall. Pinkie, you were loved, you are loved, and you will be missed.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

For those of you who follow my blog (ha, as if I have followers) you may remember my post about home made laundry detergent. I love that recipe for liquid laundry detergent, but this summer I tried making a powder detergent and I love it too. And, the best part is it's soooo easy! Here's how to do it.

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent

Finely grate one bar Ivory soap into an empty bucket. I use an old Oxiclean bucket. In the liquid recipe I use Fels-Naptha soap. I love the smell of Fels-Naptha, but it is a really hard soap and takes FOREVER to grate. So go ahead and use it if you like, but Ivory soap is a much softer soap and you can grate an entire bar in minutes. Easy peesy!

Next add 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup Washing Soda. Be sure to buy Washing Soda, not baking soda. Buzz Lightyear action figure is helpful when making laundry detergent, but not necessary.

Mix well. Finished product should look like this.

I usually double or triple this recipe. Use 2-3 Tablespoons per load and remember to pretreat tough stains. One cool thing about this detergent is it's incredibly soft and I have stopped using fabric softener on our clothes. Cool huh?

Oh and when you are cleaning up get all of the soap off your cheese grater before putting it in the dishwasher. Remember in the movies when you see all the suds coming out of the dishwasher or washing machine when someone has put in too much soap? Yes, your kitchen will look like that if you don't thoroughly rinse off the cheese grater. Don't ask how I know this . . . it's embarrassing!

Powder Laundry Detergent Recipe

1 bar Ivory soap, finely grated

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Washing Soda

Use 2-3 Tablespoons per load.

Greene County Fair

Friday night we took the kids to the County Fair to watch the Demolition Derby. This was our first time seeing a demolition derby. I can't believe that after living next to the fairgrounds in Logan and hearing them every weekend that John and I never went to see one. It ended up being fun and the kids loved seeing the cars crash. Afterwards I told John I felt like white trash. He agreed with me. It was weird. Anyway, here's our pictures from the fair.

Breakfast

Friday morning John and I were laying in bed when we smelled something really weird. John went downstairs to investigate and found Gabe cooking his own breakfast.

In case you were wondering this used to be a hot dog before it was obliterated in the microwave. The thing was hard as a rock and flaked like chalk. And I can't even begin to describe the horrid smell! When John pulled it out of the microwave there was still five minutes left on the timer. What an independent child we have!

Cedar Cliff Falls

Sunday afternoon we took a little excursion to Xenia to see Cedar Cliff Falls and an Indian mound that is nearby. While we were hiking I told Gabe to look at all the beautiful wild flowers growing along side the trail. Later he asked me why they were called crazy flowers. Ha! We ended up hiking further than we had planned. Which meant we ended up carrying the kids. Which meant we were really hot and sweaty. Which meant the mosquitoes couldn't resist us. Despite those things, we really enjoyed seeing the beautiful falls and the Indian mound was interesting. In fact, for family night tonight we are going to go to the library and find a book about Ohio Indians so we can learn more about them.

Little Moments

It's cute moments like these that make me love being a mom. Yes, I have to document it, because when the little beasts are driving me crazy it's sometimes hard to remember that I really do love my job!

Making cookies for family night.

One morning I left my cup on the floor.

Porter picked it up,

dropped his sippy cup in,

and proceeded to drink his milk.

Gabe wanted to play with water balloons.

I was taking a nap with Porter.

I have no idea why Gabe wasn't asleep.

He filled the balloons with water.

Ran into trouble because he couldn't tie knots.

Used chip clips to keep the water in.

Pretty clever if you ask me!

Hey good lookin'!