School and autumn!

School started for us 3 weeks ago.  We are starting term 1 week 4.  So glad to have a couple of weeks already under our belts.  We have a super odd schedule here.  We do school Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri.  The children don't know it but they are doing 8 days of school using this 4 day school week  :D   I am loving our new schedule and curriculum.  We are using a blend of Simply Charlotte Mason and Sonlight.  It is going so well.  We have made and are in the process of tweaking our schedule.  I use the Maxwells book,  Managers of their Homes.  We are loving the order it has brought to our homeschool.

We had company coming yesterday and it has chilled off so well here that I brought out all of our autumn decor!!  I love the colors and the pumpkins.  The crisp smells in the air and the leaves changing colors. 

One thing I like to do is have a bowl of colored candy corn on the end tables.  Sadly with the babies it doesn't last long at all.  The other is to make little pumpkin tea light holders.

They are super easy to make and look so sweet!!

Take the tealight candles  ( I pick mine up at the dollar store)  and center it over the stem of the pumpkin.  Draw around it with a pencil.  Use your knife to make shallow marks around the line.  Go around a couple of times.  Going deeper each time.  Cut smaller than you think you will need to go.  You can always cut larger.  Pry the top off and then use a melon baller to scoop out the insides.  Insert the candle.  If the hole is to small just use a vegetable peeler to make it a bit larger.

Light and enjoy.  They look sweet in sets of odd numbers.

remember they will last 3-5 days.  But they are sooooo easy to make.

Enjoy making your home a haven for your family.

Thank God For Dirty Dishes

Thank God For Dirty Dishes

Author Unknown

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.

Thank God For Dirty Dishes

Thank God For Dirty Dishes

Author Unknown

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.

Save money Make your own baby wipes

paper towel-.005 per  You have to use bounty for these to work,  Ask me how I know.~sigh~

baby oil-I am still figuring out the cost of the baby oil. With doing the math it said I would only get 14 uses out of one bottle and that comes to a cost of .05 but looking at the bottle I am going to get more than 14 uses.

Shampoo-I am still using up what was given to us at the hospital so it is free.

 

Container-I bought a really nice one at Wal-mart for 6 dollars. It will last forever as it has a lifetime warranty.

 

Gather up all your stuff. 

paper towels, baby shampoo, baby oil, Tablespoon, measuring cup, cutting board, knife, and container.

 

 

You will need a cutting board and a good knife to cut your paper towel roll in half.

 

Once you are done cutting it it will look all mutilated on the one edge.  Don't worry about that just stuff it down into your container.

 

Then mix up your solution for the wipes.  I put 2 Tablespoons of Baby oil, then 2 Tablespoons of shampoo into the measuring cup.  If you do the oil first the shampoo just slides out of the spoon.

 

If your baby has trouble with rashes add a few drops a tea tree oil.  Start with less than you think you would need.  See how the baby reacts to it first.

 

Then add water till you come to the 2 cup line.  Mix it up and dump it over the roll of paper towels.  It will not look like all of the paper towels have gotten wet.  Don't worry about that.  Let it set for 10 minutes or so.

 

You will notice the cardboard roll looks all icky and soggy.  That is just what you want.  Pull on it and it will come out very easily.

 

 

When you have gotten the cardboard roll out.  Look for the start of the first towel that was put on the roll.  It will come out from the middle. 

 

 

You have just made baby wipes for you sweet little one.

 

 

 

 

 

A quick update

It has been to long.  We are getting used to our new home and life in the country.  We are getting a breeding pair of goats on friday.  The Lord has provided them free of charge.  She has already kidded once with no problem so I am looking forward to having a baby goat this spring and fresh milk for my little ones.  Hopefully we can start making goats milk soap to sell.

We also received a gift of two buck rabbits.  They are so sweet looking.  One will be going into the freezer as soon as he is big enough.  Then someone down the street sells rabbits.  They sell for $5 apiece so I will be picking up 2 females in the next week or two.

This spring we will be getting our chickens.  I am looking into getting 100 and butchering 50, and keeping the rest as layers.

Other than that not much going on.  Here are pictures of the bathroom.   It is the only room near being finished with the decorations.

 

 

 

 

Making a notebook

 

I have been very busy the last few days making my homekeeping journal.  I try to revamp at the begining of the years and this year has proven to be quite a challenge.  I have so many at different ages and different levels of ability.  I have also found some gaps in my training that needs to be worked on.  It has been good for me to look back and see what need to be changed.  When it is done I will post the places that I have found to be most helpful in completing it. 

Working on our home

                                                

Well It is time to start some cleaning chores.  Our home has been under construction and I gave my self permission to allow the home to fall completely apart.  It is time to get it back under control.  I am going to be getting something done in each room except for the auditorium.  Yes, we live in a church building.  It has been quite the adventure.  I am looking forward to the time when my living room is finished so we can settle down to being a family some more. 

The children will be doing the laundry for me today as it looks as if it might rain.  I put it in and my 8 yo son takes it out when it is done being washed.  Rebekah my 4 you puts it in the dryer, along with Ruth Anne our 1 yo.  Rebekah sets the timer and starts the dryer.  Ruth Anne is in charge of throwing away the lint.  It takes a bit more time to have them do it but I am glad that they are learning. 

Well I should get to work.