December Check In (Breaking Free)

I promised updates on how I am doing to keep myself accountable, and to encourage anyone else who may want to join me in "breaking free" from whatever it is that may be holding you back in life!

You can check out my specific goals here!

Our financial goals, we have a plan all set up and in place starting in January.  We have a budget binder all set up and ready to go.  Filled out with all our monthly bills already filled in, and budgets made for everything else.  We have a plan, and we have goals.  Now we just need January to get here! Good thing it's tomorrow ;) I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish!

I have to say this month has been amazing as far as my goals of being more present with my family(children and hubby!).  We completely rearranged the family room in the basement to make it more inclusive!  This has greatly added to our daily use of this nice room.  A room which, we used to not spend much time in!  I am beyond happy to be able to utilize this space as it was intended, as time together with family! Because of the transformation of our basement I was also able to create a better desk environment.  What does this mean?  It means I can work in peace while the children are napping.  Doing this has provided me a permanent location for my laptop(instead of under the couch, or on the table where it is easily accessible!)  This has given me freedom I cannot explain.  I no longer feel tied to the computer to check facebook, or just surf the web aimlessly(which was eating a way at my family time!)  I now have to THINK about going over to that area, which removes me from the family.  Something I DON'T like.  I LOVE this change most as it has really helped me be able to focus on my family and has cut my time online dramatically, consequently adding hours to the day I didn't know I had!!

I know that is a round about Check In, but it is something so small that has had a HUGE impact on our daily living.  Because of one small room change I am truly able to help myself pay attention to the way that I spend my time(making me a better time manager).  Because I have to remove myself from family to go on the computer it has forced me focus more on my children during the day, and my hubby after they all go to sleep. (I should add-my desk chair is a folding chair, yes this is on purpose.  This makes it really uncomfortable forcing me to not want to spend much time sitting in that seat.  This helps me to get on the computer, get what I need to done, and get right back off because I don't want to be sitting there for very long!)  As the new year approaches I would love to hear about your goals. Feel free to ask me about them, as it helps me stay accountable!
Below are some pictures that represent some of the family time we have had in the past month(with Christmas this month of course we had to make cookies!)

 The boys helping make sugar cookies!

 The kids liked this old wrapping paper tube-they used it to drive cars down and thought this was a great way to spend the morning!  I agreed.  There were lots of giggles and fun learning to see what cars would fit and which ones were too big!

We made lots of yummy cookies this year! The kids had a blast helping roll, cut, shape, and decorate them all.  (I might add they also had a lot of fun sampling them as we went!)

Until Next Time!

Goals for breaking free!

These are my goals, they are long-but I wanted them to be specific and precise.  I want to have a plan so I can attack them with everything that I have.  I would encourage you to make your own goals to get out of the crazy, and into the calm.

1. Break free from debt-now this has been on my list for awhile and will be on there for several years still, but every year we get out of one new debt!  This is huge people and has helped us have a small amount of breathing room!  For 2015 we have TWO get out of debt goals.  They are both huge and will take a lot of time and energy to meet! But I know that we are able to accomplish more than we ever thought possible when we have God on our side.

• First Debt- Medical for Noah.  Although this is the least amount that we have paid on a child because we payed a small amount each month while pregnant to the Dr, we still have a significant hospital bill to tackle. I don't really have a prize for this one, but just knowing we don't owe any medical debt is a huge relief we were without it for a couple months before we had him and it felt so GOOD to not owe any money on our children!  
• Second Debt-Van payment.  This debt is HUGE in comparison to any other one we have ever tried to accomplish in a year.  We are aiming high this year to make sure we can live the life we want and break the chains of living in debt!  To give you an idea of this goal, without disclosing the full amount-we have "owned" our van for a little over 2 years.  We took out a 6 year loan to help us pay for it because we in no way had that kind of money-but we had to increase our vehicle size to accommodate our ever growing family. This means we have just under 4 years left of payments on this vehicle.  We have done some financial planning and have cut a significant amount a month in insurance prices, so we will be throwing all our extra money towards this debt.  We will live more frugal than normal for the next year because there is nothing worse than not meeting our goal :)  Although if we don't meet it, we will just maybe make the goal a bit longer we just won't get the awesome prize we have planned for this one! Our prize/reward-next year(as in 2016) when we get our income tax money we will buy a camper so we can take family trips!  I'm so super excited about this prize/reward so it makes me want to go hard core for this goal.  I am even going to make a chart so we can keep track of how much money we are throwing at it each month! WOO HOO to family vacations!

2. Spend intentional time with my children each day.  Teach them something new.  They are constantly learning, and are so curious.  I want to make sure over the next year I am igniting their curiosity not blowing it out.  I want them to see a zest for life.  I also want to teach them compassion and caring for others.  We are going to come up with some "extra" projects in the next year to help our children learn how wonderful it is to give and help those in need!  I am really looking forward to this goal!

3. Spend intentional time with my husband.  My husband and I talk, but it is not often intentional and we will both feel the need for adult time, but not really have the "time" for it.  For this year, we are scheduling time for it! We are going to try and give ourselves at least 30 minutes everyday to spend with just each other.  That way we can go through our daily events, plan for the future ones, talk about our day, and our dreams.  Make new goals and really connect as a couple.  We are all we have out in KS since our family is all out of state, and we have always relied on each other quite heavily, but I want us to really start having fun together.  I also want us to plan regular date nights.  With crazy work schedules, and four small children we often find it hard to get away and have time to ourselves.  But this coming year we are going to make that a priority.  Because when we are relaxed and connected life just runs smoother.

4. Spend intentional time with GOD.  This one is often missed, something I am not proud of.  Usually I brush it off as well, I have four small children and a husband that all need my attention.  I don't have time to give to God daily.  Maybe a couple times a week, but not daily.  This is the wrong attitude.  When I spend time with HIM, my days go so much better.  Why do I put this off?  I have NO idea.  But it is going to stop.  I am going to be intentional about meeting with HIM daily, and putting him first in my life.

5. I will be a better time manager.  I have a make shift schedule all planned out.  I am an organized person and like an organized life.  But I live a lot of life by the seat of my pants.  The kids have their routine, but I don't really have one.  This has led to a lot of time wasting and it has to stop.  I want to be able to be free from the demands of my house, but I can't do that if I am constantly wasting time and not actually doing anything.  I am going to do the timer trick and set it for 15 minutes each morning and each afternoon(during nap time), and see how much I can get done in that set amount of time.  That may seem like not a lot of time.  But I tried it today just to see what I could get done.  I was AMAZED at all that got done when I knew that was all the "time" I had to get that one specific task done.  There was no time wasted.  What do you do to help you stay focused, and not wasting time?  I love suggestions!

These are my top 5 goals.  I'm sure I will make other ones through out the year, but these are my main ones.  I am going to assign specific tasks to each one of these to make sure I am meeting all of these goals to the best of my ability this will ensure I am staying on task and have a way to measure my progress.  I will keep you posted-I am hoping on at least a monthly basis.  

I found this quote and love it!

 

What are your goals?  Together we can achieve great things.  Let us make this world a better place!

Breaking Free!

You know that moment when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?  I feel like I have had this moment a LOT lately.  And when I say a LOT I mean, it has felt like an overwhelming, exhausting part of my being.  It has been in every aspect of my life and I can't seem to catch a break from me. Do you know what I mean?  Have you been there?

Well, this is me BREAKING FREE!  In the past two days I have suddenly realized that I CAN break free and I WILL!  I would love for you to join me on this journey and struggle.  I am by no means a writer, but I am going to "try" and journal my efforts so I have something to look back on and see what the LORD has done in my life.  

I am tired of the busy life (I LOVE and LIVE to be busy!)  BUT there are moments that I feel I am missing.  I am being too distracted and not focused in the right areas.  

I have some HUGE goals for this next year(I will share those in a later post)...I know, I know it's a little early for New Year's Resolutions, but I am starting mine now because, well I need to act on them NOW.  They are not things that can wait.  They are not things that I am willing to wait for.  I want to start living my life now, and not some time in the future!

I could go on and on about how life has brought me down and about the circumstance in life, and how they just seem to keep getting bigger and more overwhelming.  But that is not the point of this.  The point of this is to see beyond what is out of my control and to place it all with GOD.  Because when HE is in control my life is SO MUCH BETTER!  I will live my life with HIM in control of every area of it. 

I know this post is kind of scrambled all over the place.  My mind these days seems to be all over the place- ever read the poem if you give a mom a muffin?  I don't know who wrote it but it seems to fit my life perfectly!  If you haven't read it you probably should, and you can check it out  here.  I am constantly distracted by what needs done, that I don't end up accomplishing all that much at the end of the day.  Instead I have spent the day spinning in circles and keeping plenty busy, but having nothing to "show" for it.  I know, I know, I have four small children and and they alone can keep me running in circles...why is it that they always want what someone else has but 5 minutes after the fact, so I have to do everything all over again?! Anyway, (like I said distracted!) I am going to get away from this distracted busy life.  I am going to for the first time in my life make goals, and come up with rewards for those goals.  I am going to REALLY spend time with my family. Not just be there in body, but in mind also...I find as I am playing with my children that my mind drifts.  It drifts to everything I should be doing, but what should I really be doing?  I should be spending that time with my children, really with my children.  Helping them, teaching them, and being there for them.  I mean come on when life is this cute-how can you ignore them?

Away with all the distractions. I feel pulled in so many ways that I use the computer as an escape.   A way to get away from the busy...but that isn't right.  That is not how life is to be used.  If I was a better time manager, I wouldn't need to escape because I found I would have a lot more time for that! I am choosing to make this public as a way to hold myself accountable.  And maybe as a way to encourage others to choose to really live!  

Until next time,

Ashley

What is love? (A post about my husband)

Disclaimer: This post is ALL about my husband.  I write about our children a lot, and the activities we do, or the things that I make.  I do not post about my husband a lot and figured it was about time to BRAG on him. (I wish I had a picture to put on here!)

Without chaos in the house, it has really given me time to see my husband as who he is. Who he REALLY is!  I love my husband, and have always appreciated him.  Amongst the chaos of every day life with 3(now 4) children, he often gets lost.  Not is a bad way.  He is still my partner, and the love of my life.  But with everyone needing something from me.  Sometimes he gets lost in that mess.  I am not proud that he gets lost, but life happens, and around here life happens very fast.  Life is often spoken in short sentences as we run off to chase the 1 year old up the stairs to ensure she doesn't fall, or stop mid sentence because there is a fight of a car or a barn animal in the next room.  We have had none of that this week.  We only have a tiny baby who needs snuggles, food, and the occasional diaper change.

So what is love?  I will let my husband tell you, because he says it best-by never saying a thing! These are just a few of the small ways this past week he has shown me that he loves me!

Love is...Coming into the OR with me while they cut out baby #4. (he hates blood, guts, anything like that.) I always feel for him this is him stepping outside of his comfort zone-yes he gets to see his baby-but he also has to sit there knowing his wife is being sliced open on the other side of the curtain, and that freaks him out a bit! BUT he does it! With a huge smile on his face, and holding my hand the whole time.  Softly whispering to me, and encouraging me.
After the surgery I can't move.  So he selflessly, gets up to get me the baby every time he needs to eat.  He changes every diaper, without complaint.  He laughs and jokes with me.  He lets me rest when I look weary, while he stays awake so he can hold and love on the baby! He then tells me at 7pm "man I'm tired and I don't know why? Having a baby is hard work you know? HAHA, I didn't do anything, why am I tired?" Honey you are tired because you just took care of two people all day because I couldn't move!  You have every right to be tired, having a baby is hard work-probably harder work for you, than it was more for me-since I just had to lay there all day! Meanwhile you got up to every little peep either of us made!
He goes back to work the day after baby is born, that way we don't miss out on a paycheck.  That is a hard worker right there! I am proud that he supports our family no matter what, and makes the most of his time!  After work he goes home to shower, have a quick bite to eat, and is back up at the hospital with us.  Making sure our every need is met.  Loving on his new little baby, and always asking what he can do for me! When the Dr. asked when I wanted to go home Wednesday or Thursday.  Greg said Wednesday.  He knows this will mean more work for him-but he wants us home, and he wants to love on us some more!  He is beyond amazing.

Now we are home! What is love?  My husband will show me again what it means to truly love someone no matter what.
Love is...taking us home a night early, knowing it means more work for him! Now there is no one to help us except him, and he does it with a huge smile on his face! Love is helping me into bed, now I'm here and I'm stuck. So what does he do.  He helps me right back out!  He goes and gets the recliner from the other room and single handedly moves it into our room(this is a BIG chair folks). All with a smile, so I can sleep by his side! He puts a blanket over the chair, and gets another to cover me up with, he brings me a pillow and my rice bag to help ease any pain!  He then helps me get settled into it, and then he reclines it for me(I have no abs people, so he literally has to recline the chair for me, while I sit in the seat!). He is doing this at almost midnight-he has to be up for work the next morning.  BUT he wanted to ensure I could sleep well, and that I didn't have to sleep in a separate room.  THAT is LOVE people.  Selfless love! The baby didn't want to sleep in the crib, so he brought him to me(since I can't move) and I snuggled the baby all night in the recliner. Greg THAN wakes up every 2-3 hrs to make sure I get my medicine, and helps me out of the chair so I can get up and pee.  And every time asks, what else can I do? Never mind the fact that his sleep is interrupted, or that he has to work in the morning, he still cares about what else he can do for me, and our new little one! Selfless love!
Morning is here...what is love? Love is getting up extra early, so you can move everything your wife and child need for the day upstairs.  The boppy, the clothes, the baby swing(just in case baby doesn't like the crib), the rice bag, the medicine, the water jug, the computer, and anything else I may need.  He gets the diapers out of the closet and he puts everything next to the couch so if I don't want to move all day long, I don't have to!  My husband is LOVE.
He does it all and there is never a complaint.  He LOVES me, and I have no doubt.  I'm glad that I got the time to truly see all of the sacrifices that he makes for us. And people this is not a list of every little thing he does, this barely scratches the surface.
Thank you so much Greg for loving me!  For showing me what it means to love someone.  To follow the scripture, and to be a leader in our home.  To show your wife and your children by example what it means to selflessly love someone. You are not a man of many words-BUT your ACTIONS are great, and if we take the time to watch you, we will know we are loved! (I know you tell me all the time too, but your ACTIONS speak for you!)  I pray daily that our sons will watch, and learn from you.  So that one day they too will treat their wives as you have treated me! That they will selflessly love their families, as you do for yours.  That they will be great spiritual leaders for their families, as you are for ours.  I pray that our daughter will look up to you, and realize they will not accept anything less than the example you have set forth for them.  That they will hold to that high standard.  I thank you for showing them that men are capable of being great, and for showing them what a man should do when he loves you.  You are a wonderful example for all of our children.  You are a calm, quiet, patient man, who loves us not only in word, but in action!  Thank you for choosing me to be your wife.  God has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined, by saving you for me!  I love you my dear, and thank you for everything you have done not just in the past couple days, but for all you have done in the past 6 years of our marriage.  You are all mine, and are stuck with me forever! I LOVE YOU!
  Ephesians 5: 25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (this is the verse I think of when I think of my husband and his love for me)
Side note: Thank you also to my wonderful in-laws.  I know you raised him up to be a man of Christ, and he wouldn't be where he is today without the wonderful example of Christ and HIS love on your family.  You have raised a wonderful young man, and I am blessed to call him my husband.  I am forever grateful for the training and discipleship that you have given to him, and that you continue to give him. Thank you!

Baby #4

9 short months(yes I said short!) of pregnancy, 19lbs gained, a ton of energy burned, and 1 scheduled C-section later our baby is here! Noah Thomas, 8 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long.

Baby Noah Thomas!  You are PERFECT! Perfect in every way imaginable! How could you not be? You are a wonderful gift from God! A true blessing to our family!

 Psalms 139:13 "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb."

I cannot believe that God would count us so blessed to add you to our ever growing family. Daddy and I are head over heels in love with you.  You have stolen our hearts with your little squeaks and funny faces! Daddy and I have been loving on you every second since you arrived.  This is your week to get truly loved on! For this week only it is just Mommy, Daddy, and you.  We are having amazing quality time getting to know you, and all your little noises(and you do make a lot of noises).

What we have learned about you so far:

• You are much bigger than we expected, we were guessing you were around 7lbs, man did you surprise us!
• You make quite a bit of noise-not bad noise, just little grunts, groans, and squeaks.  ALL of which are adorable beyond belief
• You are content. 
• You love to snuggle up close to mommy and daddy
• You are a good eater!
• You don't cry! You kind of squeak, and grunt when you need something.
• You are a good baby, take that back a GREAT baby!

I know there is much more that could be said about you, and what you have added to our lives in just your short time here! And I'm sure I will write more in the days to come!

We cannot wait for your siblings to be able to meet you in person.  You did get to skype with them(although you slept through it!), and they thought you were sooo tiny, and sweet!  Your big brother is so excited to meet you, and hold you.  He sang songs to you, and played with you every day while you were in my belly.  He couldn't be more excited about having YOU as his little brother!

We should get to go home on Wednesday evening, and then you will get to meet your doggy.  He loves babies, and is sure to shower you in kisses when we walk in the door.  I can't wait to see your reaction to that.  All your siblings love the dog, and loved even those first kisses! You will also get to meet the cats-although to be honest they don't really care about babies too much.  They like them when they can't move-so they will LOVE you. BUT as soon as you are mobile, you can forget about it.  Since that usually means you will try and pull their tails, and chase them around the basement.

We have so much going on in our lives right now, that we are blessed that you arrived safely, and are doing so well.  Mommy and Daddy have really enjoyed the down time we are able to have with you.

We LOVE you sweet boy!

4th of July!

First off, Thank you to anyone who has served in the military to help make this country what it is, and for keeping us FREE!

We had so much fun getting ready for today!  The kids loved every minute, and kept asking what was going on! Easiest way to explain it to a 3, 2, and 1 year old-tell them it is America's Birthday!  They were so excited about a birthday party, and this made for even more fun getting ready for today.

What we did:

Made 4th of July T-shirts! They LOVED playing with paints! They were so excited to watch these dry, and then to get to wear them today!

*These are super easy to do-just remember to put cardboard between the shirt layers-My preggo brain forgot that step at first, but lucky for us remembered before they were totally finished! This idea came off of Pinterest-gotta love that site!

We made all kinds of "special treats" to enjoy:

Marshmallow Pops!

Firework candy!

Dipped Ice Cream Cones!

Fruit Ice Cubes for our Sparkle Water!

Breakfast:

Red/White/Blue yogurt! My children would live off of yogurt if I would let them!

 *Don't forget the Ice Cream Cones that my children decided to eat before we got out of bed!  We knew it was just a little too quiet upstairs. They were ever so kind though, and did share one with Avery.  AND brought us each one as breakfast in bed!  I didn't have my camera or I would have taken a picture of them and their blue and red covered faces.
 Lunch:

Loaded Potato Salad!

Bacon Wrapped Corn

Rodeo Blue Cheese Burgers!

Star Shaped Watermelon!

 

Flag Fruit Salad!

I have no idea what is for dinner. We are still full from lunch! They got to spend the morning outside with their daddy while he got the lawn mowed-it was starting to look like we lived in the wilderness!  We ALL got a good afternoon nap in! And now we are off to have even more fun doing who knows what.  We LOVE when daddy can be home with us all day!

Who knows we may even be able to make it to the fireworks tonight-depending on how the children are acting!

Happy 4th of July from the Turley Clan!!

ONE!

My baby turned ONE!(well about 2 weeks ago she did, I'm a bit slow per usual) I cannot believe it.  The joy that we feel for her and the love that we have for her is so overwhelming.  She is the perfect little addition to our family.

 When she "arrived" a year ago!

 Birthday Cupcakes!

 First Taste-not quite sure

I'd say she LOVED them! The whole time she said "yum"

What is she:

She is our little, chunky pumpkin! The shortest in the bunch-also having her weigh the least at one(who would have thought my heaviest baby would be my tiniest one year old!) 29" and 20.8#

She has always been our serious child-NOT any more.  She is developing such a funny little personality.

She loves to giggle, and make other people giggle at/with her! And oh the faces she will make to get you to laugh at her! HA, I wish I had some pictures, but they change so fast you have to be careful not to miss them!

She loves to dance-oh man does she love to dance.  You turn on the music and her whole body rocks out!

She is opinionated! Yep.so.very.much. She may not be able to "Speak" but she will let you know what she wants, and what she wants she wants NOW!

She loves her siblings, and they love her.  There is nothing like some good sibling lovin' in this family!

She is determined!  She is determined to learn how to walk-currently she cruises around the furniture, the walls, ANYTHING that can help her walk, she will find it and she will use it!

She is starting to talk! Words she can say: mama, dada, dede(Decafe), kitty, yum, we are still working on getting the siblings names down but if you ask her to look for one of them specifically-she will point to the correct one!  She can sign: milk, thank you, eat, and more (we are working hard on please, she loves to just yell!)

She is our baby with the most hair! I love it! I'm not always sure what to do with it, since we have always had bald, blonde babies. BUT we love it!

She LOVES her daddy!  She is the 1st baby in this family to LOVE their daddy SOOO much.  He comes home and she squeals and runs to the door, if she isn't the first one kissed on and picked up oh man watch out-daddy gets a good scolding.  She loves mommy too, but she is the first one to truly be all about daddy!

She makes our lives complete.  I think we would be so lost without this wonderful, chunky, bundle of love! The one who makes us giggle, and sit down to snuggle! Our little pumpkin!

Happy Birthday Pumpkin! We love you soooo much!

Baby Shampoo/Soap-Homemade

1/3 c Dr Bronner's Baby Mild Castile Soap
1 tsp coconut oil(melted)
water
a few drops of your favorite essential oil(if you wish)
Old Shampoo Container(I just like to use what I already have in the house)

Take your old shampoo or soap container and fill it half way up with water.  Melt your coconut oil and add it to the container.  Add the essential oil(if you wish), and the soap(you can buy this soap on Amazon!)! Mix it in, and add enough water to fill the rest of the container up.  This is what I used to fill up my 15oz container-so feel free to add/subtract based on the size of your container. Super quick, super easy, and super cheap to make! Right up my alley!

*We have used this for a month now on our babies and I will never go back to any other soap.  It leaves their skin so silky smooth! My husband and I love to rub their backs and bellies when they get out because they are so smooth! (Confession-I have even used it a couple times myself and my skin felt the same way)

Homemade Baby Wipes

One of the easiest things to make that will save you a little bit of money here and there.  Homemade baby wipes!  I just started making these since having baby #3.  Mainly I started making them because I couldn't keep them in the house.  With 3 kiddos needing diaper changes and bums wiped, we went through a lot of wipes, and I mean a LOT of wipes.  I also feel better knowing their little bums are taken care of with homemade wipes because there is not a lot of chemicals in them!  A great benefit to making things for yourself-you know what is in it. I also want to say that baby #3 has yet to have a diaper rash-since this is the only thing different with this baby, I'm blaming that totally on the wipes!

What you need:
1 Roll Paper Towels(you must you bounty-cheap brands just don't work for these they will shred)
2 c warm water
1 Tbsp Coconut oil(melted)
2 Tbsp Baby soap(my favorite is Dr Bronner's baby mild castile soap)
Container to put it in.  I have use old wipes containers, although it will take a bit longer to do it that way.  I have also used a Tupperware and that goes significantly faster, but use whatever suits your lifestyle better or whatever you happen to have on hand.

Cut your paper towel roll in half, and take the cardboard middle out.  If you are using a Tupperware just pull part of the middle paper towel up a bit and place in the paper towel in the container.  The container does need to be pretty air tight.  If you are using a wipes container see below!  Mix all the wet ingredients together.  Now pour over top of the paper towels.  Close up your container and you are done.  You should be able to use half of this mixture over one half of the paper towels and the other half of the mixture on the other half of paper towels that way you use the whole roll and all of the mix.  If you only have room to do a half roll start with that and only use half the amount of wet supplies!

*Note for using old wipes containers: I am a bit OCD so when doing it this way I wanted to make sure I could pull them out the little hole and the next one would follow, just like the store bought kind.  If you have a couple extra minutes go ahead and do it this way.  I have 3 extra wipes containers that I keep around the house, when I make them I make all 3 containers that way I don't have to make them as often.  So to get them to come out of the container correctly you will need to tear all of the paper towels apart.  Now you stack/layer them.  Put one on the bottom, and then about 2" from the right end place the next paper towel on top. That way they overlap by about 2", now put the next paper towel on top of that one but overlapping on the opposite side.  Then fold it over so they are the same length.  Keep going in this pattern until they are all folded up.  You fold them right after the 2" together, this way when you pull up on one paper towel the next one will follow in line.  It sounds a bit confusing but it does work and isn't as hard as it seems.  Again the container is a faster less confusing way, but I'm a bit OCD and like things in correct containers!

*Update: Since I made this mistake last time I made them-we had bought those select a size paper towels-DON'T cut those ones in half.  Just tear off each piece and make that one wipe! Otherwise you will end up with these little tiny squares.  If you are wiping a newborn hinny than that might work-but on bigger bums not so much!

Good luck!  Have fun saving yourself some money.  This really is a fast project, it smells good, and feels good on baby's bottom ,as coconut oil has healing properties for diaper rash and is very soothing.

Turning 2!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our wild, sweet, little peanut!  You have brought us so much joy and we cannot imagine life without your constant energy and chatter!  Athaiah you are a bundle of energy, constantly on the move!  You speak so well it is unbelievable.  In fact, you have been known to speak for your brother at times, and you know no stranger.  You are a mommy's girl still-but love your daddy and get so excited when he comes home or walks into the room! You LOVE shoes and that is probably an understatement, you walk around all day putting on new shoes, and it doesn't matter who's shoes they are, so long as they are shoes! You are a blessing to our family. We love you to the moon and back!

We were blessed to be able to go home for Athaiah's 2nd birthday and spend it with family and friends! Thank you to every one who came out.  These are just a few pictures from the party!

 Cake Time!

Pretending like she won't make a mess!

 Thankful we removed the shirt! My messy girl!

  This is my favorite picture of the afternoon.  This is our family with all of our grandparents-so the kids great grandparents! They are all still living and we are blessed beyond belief that they have been able to share in our children's lives.  This picture will forever be a treasure around here!  Thank you to all of you for making such an impact on our lives, we are blessed to call you our grandparents!

 The birthday girls! My baby sister's birthday is the day after Athaiah's. Very glad we got to see her that close to her birthday this year! No matter how old you get and how many children I have-Alyssa you will always be my "baby." I can't believe what an incredible woman you have turned into.  I love being able to call you my sister!

This is the birthday girl the next day in one of her new outfits.  She was so excited to get so many wonderful presents.  She spent the next day looking through them all again and playing with them all! Thank you again to everyone that came out.  It was GREAT to see everyone of you and to be able to catch up a little.

Happy Birthday Peanut!

Big Bed-Big Kids

We decided it was finally time to get the 2 older ones a big bed! Athaiah has still been sleeping in the crib and Elijah has been in a toddler bed. After looking through all of our options we decided on a mini loft bed with an extra mattress on the floor, that way they could have a "bunk bed" but we would be able to better reach the child on top!

They are so excited about their new bed they play in it at every opportunity that they can get.  We are beyond pleased with it.  It took some rearranging to make everything fit for 3 kiddos in one room! But I think we finally accomplished it with it not looking too terrible cluttered!

This was them on St. Patty's day(the only recent one I could find of all 3 of them)

The dressers/changing table! They love the set up-Athaiah loves having access to all the shoes. We may need to rethink that option LOL! But it is nice because they can help themselves now when we ask them to find their shoes!

They are looking forward to many fun nights in their new beds.  We still have yet to officially move Avery up-hopefully this weekend we will start with that process!  Then we will have no babies in our room(at least for now!)

Plastic Bags

I have an abundance of plastic bags. Ok, not any more, I tackled this problem and thank goodness! I wish I had a before picture to show you how awful my broom closet looked.  Just try to picture no room for anything, and a ton(about a million) plastic bags all crumpled up everywhere, and you are maybe close to how it looked!

This is what I have after the fact.  I have one big container for the broom closet, a glass jar for under the bathroom counter, and I have an old Lysol wipes container for down in the laundry room.  Looks great right!

Now to show you how I did it! It is super easy.  Remember making paper footballs in high school?  Well that is all we are going to do, just out of plastic bags instead of paper.  This took me quite a while to tackle them all the first time, but since has been so much easier for our busy life and really helps me feel less cluttered.  Way worth it in my opinion!!

 Lay your bag out flat, and push out all the air.

 Now fold it in half. Pushing the air out again.(when you do this by moving from the bottom towards the top, you don't want to pop a hole in your bag). I typically use them for garbage bags, holes make them unusable.

 Tuck the handles in!

 Fold in half once more!

 Start by turning one corner over, to make a triangle, keep going in the pattern until you get to the top of the bag.

 Now that you are almost to the top, you are going to fold the last part into the top of the triangle.  Make sure you stop when one of your triangles bottoms is up that way you have something to tuck the end into!

All done!  Now just put in some wonderful Tupperware containers and you have them all nice and neat for much easier storage!

 I can now enjoy my nice clean broom closet!