Happy Earth Day

A few little things I'm happy about on Earth Day:

I'm happy that reusable bags are all the rage and that grocery stores are starting to give them away for free. Some stores give you cents off for each bag you use....Pretty cool!

I'm happy that I can buy store brand organic products for much less than national brand organics. I'm not so happy when only the wealthy can afford to be green.

I'm happy that my Target brand cereal box has been revamped to include 50% post-consumer recycled content and that they've done away with the inner bag all together. Hooray for store brands taking the lead!

I'm happy that the combination of higher diaper prices and killer diaper deals has meant you can get greener disposables like Seventh Generation for the same price as Cruisers or Huggies Supreme.

I'm happy about all the press cloth diapering has gotten the last couple years and that it's easier and more appealing than ever to make the switch. I love cloth diapering Makenlee and she is quite stylish in her dipes. She is even a model for a CD company and they used her shots for their website and press. Who is cuter the dipe or her? HMM. I am biased.

Tell me that booty is not cute!!!

I'm happy that I use mostly all-natural, biodegradable cleaning products. No more toxins in my home.

I'm happy that I am using more glass storage containers rather then plastic. I am not completely convinced BPA or other harmful chemicals are gone from plastic.

I'm happy my kids have metal drinking cups for when we are out and instead of plastic sippies....

I am excited our family is going to be apart of a community garden so we can get our veggies/fruits free and they are organically grown.

I am happy to shop at local farmers market and try to buy local as much as I can.

I am happy I recycle a lot of household products.

I am happy I use wrap n mats instead of ziploc bags.

I happy I buy most if not all my kids clothes/toys and shoes at consignment sales. I try to buy second hand as much as I can on most anything. I love garage/yard sales for that purpose. We still stay quite fashionable and still have all the cool toys and books.

I resell to book stores so I then in turn buy books, CD's and DVD's for the family thus reducing and reusing.

What are you happy about today?

For the record

I just realized it looks look all my kids do is eat candy, cookies and cupcakes. They really don't but for special occasions. I am not anti-sugar mom. I just try to control it b/c it is HUGE immune suppressor and the reason I believe kids are sick all the time. That is whole nother post but just wanted to state that my kids are not going to end up w/ caps and cavities in their teeth. They really eat pretty healthy and get an occasional treat but when it is b-days or a holiday I am a little more lax. It is a b-day for goodness sake. Anyway..Enjoy looking at our blog.

Presents and Ben and Jerry's

After M's nap today she opened her gifts. Then off to dinner at TGIFriday's W/ coupons and a gift card and Ben Jerry's had a free cone day. My kinda dinner and dessert, HA!

I am ready for all the presents and my treat.

She is so me. It is sickening...

So much fun!!

Give me a cookie!!

Her 1st cabbage patch doll.

Malen Adeline born 4/22. I specifically picked it out b/c it had a birthday closet to her b-day. It was born on her buddy Brody's b-day (a friend from CA)...HA!!

BTW, Happy 2nd b-day Brody!!

Elmo sits on the potty toy.

M is very interested in the potty so we got her that (more like I had kept it in the attic and we wrapped it up as a new gift, HA...It helped E potty train)

and a ladybug/flower potty seat for her b-day.

Cookies I made for her...Got the idea out of magazine and it totally worked...

Her face is so funny here!! Tongue out...

She shared her ice cream w/ Easton

I like how she has her mouth open to demonstrate

Silly girl!

Enjoying some good ice cream

B-day Hat

The dreaded b-day hat!!!

Mommy likes to torment her children by putting a b-day hat on them. M actually does not mind it at all. She wears it and smiles. Easton HATED it. I did it to them for the 1st and 2nd b-days. I remembered the hat right as I was putting M to bed tonight. So right before bed I had to take a few pictures. Remember my new cool camera is not working inside so don't mind the funking lighting....It is being sent off to get repaired real soon. Wahoo!! We had to wait till all the b-day festivities were over. They are officially over!!!

This is just plain funny since here room looks like someone puked pepto. The whole pic looks funny! It is like a pink picture.....sorry I am crackin myself up.

My lil poser!!

Easton 2 years old

Don't do this to me!!!

I hate this!!!!

Maknelee's B-day Party

We had Makenlee's party on Friday afternoon. It was a beautiful day and all the kids had a great time.

My baby is 2!!!!!

Picking Mom a flower

Mickey made an appearance at the party. This was all E. He wanted to dress up in the 80 degree weather as Mickey for his sissie....

Minne Cupcakes

Yum Yum!

Table decor!!!

Some of the kids wanted their pics w/ the mouse...Here is Makenlee's boyfriend Carter.

E, Trevor and Eli enjoying their cupcakes

Messy face. Lesson learned don't give a child a chocolate covered pretzel when it is nearly 80 degrees in the car...It makes quite a mess....

Eating our party favor on the way to tee-ball.

I made red chocolate covered pretzels for the kids as the party favor.

Playing w/ the cool Minnie umbrella she got.

Red Robin comes to Knoxville

We took M to Red Robin yesterday for the opening. E had preschool. We were the first customers in the door. She enjoyed her b-day sundae after lunch.

Goodbye 1 here comes 2!!!

Makenlee Avery is 2 years old today....Our girl is growing up quick.
Happy Birthday sweet girl.
We love you soo much and are blessed having you as a daughter.

Hello 1....a year ago at her b-day party.

Goodbye 1

Here comes 2.

Observations on dates and family dinners

I have had the pleasure of going on dates w/ Jon for 8 years and being a family for 4 years. Ok, I will not allow my kids to play video games/game boys or whatever they are called when we eat at a restaurant. I refuse...The other thing is while I am on a date w/ my hubby I will not be sitting there on my phone talking or worse texting...I have seen this for toooooo long and it is ridiculous do you have nothing to talk about w/ your kids or spouse that you resort to video games and playing with your phone...YIKES!!

When we were in WI in July w/ Jon's family his 2 High School age cousins sat in the same room and texted each other the whole night. Jon and I about died when we figured out what they were doing. Well, we more made fun of them and they said we talk more this way. What!! We could not believe it....I am not a fan of texting. I do not have texting on my phone and if you text me I pay .25 cents every time....

I know texting comes in handy sometimes. But what can be literally dealt w/ in 1 min phone convo instead of 5 texts....Like I planned a baby shower a few weeks ago w/ my friends sister in law. Ok, I can say this b/c she does not read my blog...Anyway she texted me to get some punch. I said, " Ok, what are the ingred's." She texts it back. She said something about fuzzy navel....So I replied what is that? Then she texts back what it is. The I reply where do I get it....8 texts go by and now I just paid $2 for something that could have taken a mere 2 minutes if that to be taken care of....Ok, GRRR. Vent done!

Easter Sunday

We went to church in the morning. Our church rented out the civic coliseum and filled it w/ over 3000 people pretty cool. We even walked in with a famous women's basketball coach...Any guesses who??? I won't name drop til someone gives me the correct answer....

After church we went over to a friend's house which was filled with 50+ people for lunch. Talk about fun!!! After lunch Jon needed an nap since he was up all night and the kids and I went to the park and I did a mini photo shoot with them since it is not a holiday w/o me taking a million pics of the kids...

Before church

Smelling the flowers

The boy!!!

I love these two cutie's

Who knew sticks would be so fun....

She was playing HARD so she looks a little frazzled w/ her hair....We can't be perfect always..HA! Don't let the dress full you. This girl plays her heart out...

Side note...I HATE tights. They kept ridding down and sagging and looked all rumpled down by her shoes...then b/c she was playing so much they snagged and she put a run in them....

My oh my is this boy handsome and loveable.

Strike a pose

This is M's fat girl face