Christmas Day

(below is a post about Walkers birthday)

Christmas Day Walker woke up early becasue Santa came (ha).

Thank you everyone for Walker's Christmas presents. He loves all of them.

Left over ballons from Walkers b-day.

Homemade cinnamon rolls with cream cheese topping and fruit for breakfast

Cepelinai, homemade stuffing and greenbean casserole. I forgot to make the rolls and salad, opps.

The night before I attempted to make a lemon meringue pie, I stayed up till midnight, had it all done and I didn't bake the pie crust, I was so upset. Live and learn, I guess.

Walkers favorite part of dinner!

It was definetly different this year not being around family for the holidays, but with Walker being sick I guess it made it a little different. So thank you everyone for the phone calls, Christmas cards, and gifts, you are all amazing!

Guess who is 1?

I went from this:

To this: (a goof ball)

I can do many things now.

 I can:

Walk

Say mama & dada

Feed myself

Sleep well

Take things out and put them back in

I like to:

Walk, then fall down, then roll over

Be tickled

Have all the attention I can possibly get

Make funny faces

Play rough

Put my face on others and then rub it around

I can't believe that he is already 1! WOW! Yesterday we celebrated his birthday and the day was completely about him, I mean completely. He was sick with the stomach flu, a raw soar throat, and a ear infection poor kid. He didn't really want to eat his pancakes for breakfast, so we cancaled the spaghetti dinner and had coirssant sandwhiches, because I know he likes bread.

Anyways whats a party with out decor and presents:

This is the best picture I could get without him screaming his head off. Thank you everyone for the birthday presents, he really likes them.
***On a side note I made that sign totally free, with paint samples from Wal-Mart! That shirt was super easy to make too.

Don't forget dessert. We'll Walker wasn't able to enjoy them but Eric and I sure did. They were so yummy. It is a version of a dessert pizza, except I made chocolate chip cookies.

16 lbs lighter

So these past two months I was in a biggest loser competition. My goal was just to win my money back, which I did plus more. I am super excited with what I accomplished. I lost a grand total of 16 pounds durning the competion. I lost my weight by following the 17 Day Diet. I wish it was called something else because it has changed the way that I eat and I am more cautious about what I eat. Before the diet I felt sluggish and I was getting headachs. After I feel completely different. If you want more information about the 17 Day Diet let me now.

I don't really have a before picture so this one will have to do:

Here is the after:

I am so glad that I entered the competition. I feel better about my body.

Homemade Laundry Soap

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

A little over a year ago for a Relief Society activity we made homemade laundry soap and I just ran out! It is super easy to make and is way cheaper than buying it from a store. I like it even more because it doesn't really have a smell but if you wanted to add a smell you can just add some essential oil.

My whites have stayed whiter, and it has gotten out blood stains!

Here's the break down for cost (not inculding the 5 gallon bucket):

To buy all the supplies:
Soap bar 1.06
Borax  3.56
Washing soda 2.70
Equals 7.52

What each box equals:Borax 19 uses .20 Each use
Washing soda 6.8 uses .39 each use

Total cost per 5 gallon bucket:Soap bar. 1.06
Borax  .20
Washing soda .39
Equals 1.65 per five gallon bucket

Now that I have your attention here is the recipe:

4 cups-hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
1/2 cup Borax

-Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit over night.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half ful with soap and then fill rest with water. Shake before each use.
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap had cooled.
-Yeild: Liquid soap will make 10 gallons
-Top load machine- 5/8 cup per load ( Approx 180 loads)
- Front load machine-1/4 cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm and Hammer "Super Washing Soda"- in some stores or may be purchased online (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm and Hammer Detergent-It must be sodium carbonate!!

Sick

So we had our first experience with Walker being sick. Seriously this kid is hard to tell if he is sick. We put him down for a nap as usual and then about an hour later I hear a wimppering moan come from his room so I went to check on him, and he had thrown up in his crib, then on me, then in the kitchen sink, and then on the kitchen floor, after that he was playing. (Sound worse than what it was). He had also had diareha. So yesterday Eric took him to the doctor and told them what was going on, and the doctor said he looked fine, that their is a stomach flu going around and that is probably what it was. She prescribed him some butt cream to the help witht he diaper rash from the diareha.

But something good did come from it, he was cuddely. Which I totally loved, because it hardly ever happens.