What have I done?

I look at my last post and I am amazed that it has been sooooo long. What have I done? Cooked, cleaned, transported, gardened, prepped the gardens for winter, cleaned up constantly after the 2 year old, and nursed the baby non stop for 2 weeks, I mean seriously for 2 weeks every 1.5 hours when I am with him. I began exercising at the YMCA for 2 hours 3 days a week, and I must admit this is wonderful but my home has taken a hit. I continue to attempt to knit a hat for my daughter, which I have ripped it our not once but 3 times and have finally decided that I must not follow cast on directions for patterns, because I have for stitches in every inch, not as tight as others do.

Diapers

Disposable no way. Cloth all the way. When Sidney was born I was introduced to the prefold kind by my mother, used them for a small time period and they were just not for me. Then I was introduced to the new cloth by a friend. I was directed to the webside Montana Diaper Store and fell in love. Cloth diapers are not only good for the environment but also good for your babies butt's. You life does include 2-3 extra loads of laundry each week, but it is worth it in my mind.

We use a large wet bag that after emptying the solids into the toilet, pulling the liners out and velcoring the entired diaper around itself, we then unvelcor and throw them into the large wet bag and empty into the washer, while using the bag as a glove so you don't have to touch the diapers.

We stuff and fold after washing and store them in the bathroom cabinet until ready to use. For wipes we use reuseable ones as well. We wash with the diapers and then fold and store in cabinet. We use a LionHeart wipe warmer with the solution of 2 cups water, 2-3 squirts of Tea Tree oil Dr. Bronners Soap and 2 drops of Lavender oil. The wipes are wonderful for wiping the butt and get everything off, just like receiving a sponge bath.

I always educate on cloth diapers and have convinced a few friends to change over, but like I say cloth is not for everyone, so if it is not for you, I am doing it for you......

So Easy Lasagna

1 box of Lasagna Noodles
1 can of marinara sauce
1 pound of hamburger meat. (I cook my meat in large volumes and freeze in 1 pound sizes, so they are ready to go. )
1 large container of cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
Salt/Pepper
9x13 pan

Cook Noodles
Combine mozzarella cheese and cottage cheese, salt and pepper. Combine your meat and marinara sauce. Drain cooked noodles. Pour a small amount of sauce on bottom of pan, line with noodles, layer of cottage cheese mixture and then marinara sauce, noodles again, cottage cheese and marinara, then noodles and top with cheddar cheese. Bake in over 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until warmed through and cheese has melted.

KNIT, PURL, Throw

Oh boy oh boy. I have completed my very first Knitted item, a scarf.

Pattern:

Cast on 24 stitches
Rows 1-4: Knit
Row 5-as many as you want: Knit 4, purl 16, knit 4.
Last 3 rows: Knit

and there you have it. It took me a few hours every couple of day to do this. So after my first completed knitted item at a snails pace, off to crocheting I went. I have only crocheted baby blankets and probably have not done each stitch the techniqual way, I have still been able to have a beautiful, my way pattern that has turned out.

So after looking for a pattern for crocheting a poncho for Sidney I stumbled upon this one at LionBrand. The body, and neck no problem, but after the first row of the edging I was lost and confused. So I made up my own pattern. Partically dissapointed in the finis hed product, I have taken on crocheting another ponscho, only in white this time.

Ok, so it is sideways, sorry.

How we feed our babies

Baby food in the jar, no way... We tried this with our first child, oh totally gross. Have you tried the baby food in the jar? So after a few jars of baby food, we decided there has got to be something better. What do you get with a miniature food chopper and adult food? Pureed baby food. This way the babies get a wide variety of food and you know exactly what they are eating. We add rice and oatmeal cereal to thicken up the runny pureed food and the babies have alot of variety. I must admit, it is so much cheaper that infant food, but maybe not as convenient for some, but it has not affected our daily routine. What has Soren consumed in the past month: cantaloupe, peas, green beans, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, nectarines, peaches, pears, apple sauce, and rice and oatmeal cereal.

How to: chop the food into small pieces to fit into mini food processor, then puree until thin and pour into bowel, thicken with infant cereal and there you have it. The mini processor is a snap to clean, the blade the bowe and the lid.

Dog Days of Summer

I look out into the garden and wonder, should I pull the plants that are let or continue to harvest what is remaining? Tomatos, peppers, beans, squash, okra, herbs, oh and I guess there is more.

Kitchen motivation. I have motivation at 6 am but it seems to be that preparing lunch and supper are a far cry from exciting. I am sitting here thinking that I must go to the kitchen soon and prepare dough for pita pockets for tomorrows lunch.

I need to go to the fabric store and get stuffing for my Toad stools that are a work in progress. Cut up an old towel and make new big boy bibs. Finish my daughters new knitted scraf, I must add my first knitting project. I have enough yarn I believe to make her a hat as well. If anyone has a great hat pattern that is easier for a beginner, it would be much appreciated.

Well since I have made a now made a make shift list, off I go to the kitchen and then to the store.

Oh How our Children Grow.

I am so sad that today is my kids last day of summer till next year. My daughter is off to 2nd grade and on Friday my first born son, is off the preschool then kindergarden, next year. Everyday I wish I could freeze time and enjoy them a little longer, because when we go to bed and wake up in the morning they have changed, over night. When I look my kids in the eyes, I see time that has past, I still see the baby in them and cherish that but wish it took longer for them to grow, then just over night. You know what I mean?





I believe I have mentioned in the past that at the end of the month, my husband and I sit down and fill out a index card of what each child did each month that is speacial to them. Funny sayings, growth and development, teeth, visits, friends they meet, ect. We started this over 2 1/2 years ago, because time was flying by to quickly that I felt I was losing these precious memories, well I guess not all are capture, but rereading them every so often I am reenlightened with their personal growth...

When my babies out grow the kitchen sink, they have moved beyond my bust and out on their own, so I keep them in the kitchen sink as long as I can............