It's a Golden Life

We're on teeth 3 and 4. Two middle bottom. Working on top left and tooth next to it. Teeth are hard work!

This weekend, Donovan and I celebrated 6 years being married. We spent the weekend in Branson and went to Silver Dollar City, a magic show and a king fu show. It was fun to go at our own pace for the weekend without any ties or responsibilities. It's amazing what turns our lives have taken in order to get us where we are today. We've had many jobs, lived in lots of homes and had a few kids. Donovan's graduated with a Bachelors of Psychology degree and I am a few classes away from mine. He has been recognized by the state as an ordained pastor and has been working at the boys and girls club for over a year. I am still doing in home daycare and am very much enjoying it. We have a plan for me to get my teaching degree so that once the kiddos go to school, I can be a teacher. I love our little life and am so thankful for the blessing of family God has provided for us. I'm looking forward to many more years married to this guy.

  Paxton is 9 months old as of yesterday. The time is seriously flying by. I get so excited when he is entering new stages and the days just seem to go by in the blink of an eye. He's quite the busy guy. He spends his days getting into anything he can get his hands on, eating anything-even objects he's not supposed to eat, and sleeping like a champ. According to my calculations (his official check up is on Friday) he is: 19.2 pounds  27 inches wearing size 6-9 month clothes size 3 diaper size 2 shoe (really a 1.5, but who makes those??) Has 2 bottom teeth and his 2 upper middle are breaking through this week. cruising on furniture (he has let go to stand freely a couple times) crawling everywhere (even up and down steps outside) Still eating 8 oz. formula every 3-4 hours. Likes drinking water from a sippy cup. Sleeping 8-7 or 7:30-7:30. Napping from 9-10:30 in the am and 1-3 in the pm. Food (he has tried): Oatmeal, rice and whole wheat cereal. Peas, green beans, carrots...

Well-it's been almost a year now and the recipe is perfected! Not only does it leave our clothes feeling soft and smelling great, but it cleans them very well! (that's the most important!) I thought I would post pics and a step by step process because of how many people have asked! The cost breakdown: 3 bars ivory soap (for a triple batch) $1.18. 1 box of borax (3 cups-triple batch) $2.28 1 box super washing soda (3 cups- triple batch) $2.50 1 bar fels naphtha (whole bar-triple batch) $.98 Total cost= $6.91 This last us 2 months. We do laundry every day! You only use one tablespoon per small load and 2 tablespoons per large/very dirty load. So it goes far. The best part for me (besides the cost) is that there's no cooking. It takes 30 minutes (of uninterrupted time) to grate the soap and measure the powders. For a momma with three kids and an in home daycare-time is precious. You can use a cute glass container with a lid or a gallon sized plastic bag-the ch...