Candy Party for Clark's 5th and Levi's 1st

To make life simple, we decided to combine Clark's 5th and Levi's 1st birthday parties!  It was a hit.  Clark loved sharing, and I was able to put a little more energy into one big party rather than two small ones.  Clark picked the theme in December after seeing a picture of another candy party.  I got to work creating our home into a candy lovers' paradise.

Here's the boys' Candyland cake.  With a chocolate swamp, ice cream cone mountains, and lollipop forrest, I copied the traditional game board.  The top of the cake is covered with a thick layer of whipped cream.  The sides are frosted with butter cream.  YUM!!

One night when Michael was out of town, I decided to make game boards to show the boys' lives.  Clark and I painted it together.  He did a really good job painting all the colored rectangles.

I also got a refrigerator box, and I made it into a Sweet Shop Photo Stop booth. 

All my guest were able to pose for a sweet shot while the camera took pics on auto!

We had carnival type games at the party to keep our little sweeties busy.  Here's one of our games: Gumdrop Toss.  Others were Skittles Toss (water balloon throw game), Chocolate Swamp, Jelly Bean Race where you use water guns to shoot plastic eggs across a table, and Candy Bingo.  During each game, the kids earned tickets to buy candy later.

After the kids played the games, they took their tickets and their baskets to the candy store and bought candy.  I hit up the stores after Valentines' Day and got all the loot for 50% off!  Each child was supposed to go home with their basket full of candy and a new toothbrush.  However many of my peeps did not want to take the sweet stuff home with them. 

Here's some of our candy decorations: colored plates in cellophane and tons and tons of balloons.

Joel is having fun digging in the Chocolate Swamp for prizes.

Here's my three big boys posing at the Sweet Shop Photo Stop.  I love my boys!!!

Here's Clark digging into his main birthday gift: 3DS (thank you Craigslist!)

He loves videos games! And he is obsessed with Mario Brothers and Lego Star Wars.

Thanks to all our friends and family for making it an extra special SWEET day!

We love you all.

Here's some of our very special guests.

What's Cooking Today? Laundry Soap!

 Yes, I cooked laundry soap today.  I decided to try it out a few months ago, and so far SO GOOD!
The benefits to making my own soap are:

• It is dirt cheap.   All the supplies to make multiple batches cost way less than one small bottle of premade detergent.  I estimate the cost is just pennies a load!
• It takes less time to make the soap than to drive to the store to buy it.
• With simple ingredients that are more natural, the soap is better for our skin and the environment.  (or at least I hope)

Four simple ingredients: washing soda, borax, bar of soap, and water!!  Even a one year old can do it!!!

Here's my dirty boys wearing CLEAN clothes!!  That big jar behind them is one full batch.  It cost about a dollar to make and last us months!

Here's the link to the recipe I use below. 

Happy laundry day, everyone!

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

My Big Babies

The other day, the boys were playing in Levi's room, and it got strangely quiet.  I peeked in to find Clark and Joel inside Levi's crib with pacifiers in their mouths!  They were playing like they were babies.  As I smiled back at them to assure them I understood and approved of their play, tears started pooling in my eyes. 

Wasn't it yesterday that I would sneak in and watch Clark sleep in this very crib with his bottom poking up and  his blanket held tight in his tiny hand?  Wasn't it just moments ago, that I would rock Joel asleep and lay him down milk drunk?  Just for a minute, I sat down and watched my boys act like babies and remembered that just yesterday they were my babies.   

How Hot Is Your Water?

I have to admit that we don't follow football, but we did the American thing last Sunday and turned on the television to watch the Superbowl.  It was the first time that our five year old and three year old had seen commericals and mainstream tv.  They had no clue what to expect, but we got them excited about the game during dinner. 

As we watch with excitement, the first commericals begin to run.  In no time, our children had been exposed to numerous alcohol ads, vampires, bars, nudity references, greed, foolishness, and various other influences that I would never let my children be around in real life.  Michael and I both reached for the remote at the same time.  With sadness but holding true to our convictions, we turned it off. 

Why did we turn it off you might wonder.  It was a great game, or at least I'm told.  We did miss it all, but I feel we gained more.  We maintained innocence and blissful ignorance today.  Yes our children will be exposed to this one day, but why should they be today?  I have to wonder if I would  never allow them to be around that in real life, why is it okay on t.v.?  My children don't have the tools they need to decipher all the media and influences.  It's my job as a parent to guard them until I feel they are ready. 

It reminded me of the frog and hot water analogy.  You know the one where if you drop a frog in a pot of hot water, he hops out.  But if you slowly increase the temperature, he'll just stay in and get boiled.  I guess we are all frogs.  We are all in pots of water with the temperature rising.  It's our job to keep our eye on the thermometer, or we will get boiled.  Not only we will get burned, but our babies will too right along side us.

Disclaimer:  These views are just  my convictions.  I don't think anyone else needs to agree with me or like what I say.  I do not in anyway think badly for those who do not think the same way.  God's grace is sufficient with all of our parenting struggles and questions.  We are all trying to do our best with what we know.  Living is a very hard job.  I hope this post will encourage you to think about where there are areas in your life that might be getting too hot.  Don't be afraid to jump out of the pot, my friend!

Boom, Boom and VaRoom, VaRoom

 We have had two LOUD firsts lately.  The first one was the boys experienced firecrackers for the first time.  It was an exciting experience with Joel and Levi crying and scared to death.  Clark on the other hand LOVED it.  He held the Roman Candles as they boomed in the sky and popped other fire crackers.

Yes, they are crying so loud that I can hear them over the popping of the firecrackers.



He was so into this!!

By the last one, Joel decided not to be scared anymore.  He did a couple of sparklers!!  But I didn't get a picture of him.  I was frozen and ready to go in.

 Then our 2nd new and loud thing was MONSTER TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daddy took the big boys to the Monster Truck show, and they LOVED it.  With hearing protection, they managed to have a blast. 

Teething, Stomach Flu, and Mycoplasma Can't Stop Us From Smiling

We have been under the gun lately with illnesses.  Last week we suffered from an awful stomach flu that was accompanied by body aches, head ache, and the other stuff.   All five of us had it at the same time.  Clark threw up every 20 minutes for 13 hours.  Poor Levi has not eaten much in nine days, and he still has a very messed up stomach.

  Then this week, we have had a horrible cold that I believe is mycoplasma which is a bacterial based cold that often leads to pneumonia. Itchy irritated eyes are also a sign of this illness. 

And little mister has cut his first two teeth on the bottom. 

There is nothing like getting really sick to make you thankful for good health.  I thank God for my healthy kids and husband.  I know this may not always be, but today I rejoice in the gift of health.

Stay at Home Moms Are Lazy



My little boy who keeps me busy.

 Did that get your attention?
I know it got mine.  The other day I overheard a panel of working moms discussing why they thought stay at home moms were lazy.  I was flipping channels looking for PBS for the kids.  In their minds, the stay at home mom had less work to do.  It made me chuckle, then laugh out loud, then almost fall on the floor while holding my shaking, "saggy after three babies in a row" belly.

I am a stay at home mom who has to wholeheartedly disagree.    Both working and staying at home moms can be lazy or hard working.  You have to decide how to use your time as a mom.

I have been both a working mom and stay at home mom.  Both are tough. Both are harder than the average human woman can handle.  Both have pressures and stress that can drive you insane.

Being a stay at home mom, I will say that I seldom get to sit down in my day.  Writing on my blog is my only self indulgent activity, and I do not keep up with it like I would enjoy.    What keeps me so busy?  Well for starters, after waking up four to five times a night (6-7 hours in bed max) to take care of kids during the night, I hit the floor running.  I cook breakfast for the family, clean up their mess, brush teeth, brush hair, put on 10 socks on 10 feet with 10 shoes.  Dress everyone.  Play.  Teach.  Do loads of laundry.   Meal plan healthy kid friendly meals.  Buy groceries at five different stores to find the cheapest deal.  Budget carefully.  Grow a garden and can fruits and veggies.  Cook lunch and dinner every day.  Run errands.  Go the doctor's appointments. Pick up toys.  Read books.  Model servanthood through community service. Wash a load of dishes a day at least.  Sweep and mop the floor a couple times a day (having a baby is messy folks).  Change diapers.   Take stinky trash outside. Give the kids a bath.  And the list goes on. 

However, this is NOT what I consider important.
The job that keeps me most busy and the one those working moms might have forgotten is the full time job of guarding my children's hearts.

My most important mission each day is standing guard against pride, selfishness, greed, anger, self-pity, fear, permissiveness, laziness, self entitlement, and other enemies of my children's hearts.  As I make sure that I am staying close to my Father in Heaven,  He guides me and strengthens me be the parent I need to be for my kids.  My day then is filled with redirection, loving discipline, and encouraging words as I keep tight watch over my kids' hearts.

I start with modeling respect and love and EXPECTING it back in return.  I keep my ears tuned in to every word out of my children's mouths while looking for opportunities to teach, praise, and discipline.  I watch their actions while deciphering their motives and intentions. I try to head off fights and arguments by sensing when my children switch into selfish mode and pull them to the side to check  their hearts.   I create opportunities for them to serve each other and the family.  I foster intentional team work and relationship building.  I show my children the need for a Savior at each time of discipline by talking to them about their sinful hearts.

That my "Dr. Phil friends" keeps me busy.  Each night when I finally lay my head on the pillow, my body aches with the day's work, but I know it was a day well spent on my home, my children, and the Kingdom.

Lazy....No way. Not even a little.

Family Tree Rag Quilt with Photo

Many years ago, I dreamed up a family tree quilt to give my mother and father (inlaws).  I began working on it and then something happened that stopped me dead in my quilting tracks... I had three children.  This Christmas I am excited to say I finally finished it!!  It does not look like I envisioned, but it's done.   And that's got to count for something. 

Each piece of the green and brown parts of the tree represents some piece of the family legacy.  There is a piece with horses to remember the days when Mom and Dad where dating and Mom out rode Dad.  A monster truck represents their active grandsons and great grand son.  Watermelons remind us of how we Loftons love to eat watermelon on a hot summer day. 

In the center is our most recent family photo with all four generations represented.  My hope is when the quilt is used all the memories, joys, and love surround the person.

Merry Christmas 2011

On Christmas Eve, the boys went to bed to discover a present on every one's bed.  After opening the gifts, the boys found new pajamas, a bell, and a golden ticket for the Mini Van Express.  We hopped into the car and drove around to see our favorite Christmas lights spots. 

With the help of a power converter, the minivan was a glow with Christmas lights.  It was quite a magical but easy touch.

The next morning, we came downstairs and thanked God for His good gifts especially His Son.  Then we spent the rest of the day playing and eating and enjoying each other.

Levi loved his little train and eating all the wrapping paper.

The boys got monster trucks  and tracks from Santa and three gifts each from mommy and daddy.  We actually forgot to mention Santa at all that morning.  Clark around 4 pm asked if Santa had come or was he still on the way. 

Joel has the right idea.  Forget all the presents, let's just eat all the chocolate!!!

 The best gift of all was the Legos!!!  The boys have played with them constantly!!  Michael bought a box of Legos at a garage sale when I was pregnant with Clark five years ago.  We forgot that they were in the attic until recently.  When we opened them we realized the box was full of 30 figures and tons of already assembled structures plus tons of bricks!!  So the best present of all cost $10!!  I love it!

No interruptions, no cleaning, no work, no responsibility...just playing, loving, worshipping, eating, and enjoying each other.  That's my favorite part of Christmas.

I've Been Busy Like an Ant

I love hard work and old fashioned life.  I was born that way. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning to do something things this year.

My mother-in-law taught me how to knit. This is my first baby blanket dedicated to baby Hannah.

I canned lots and lots of plum, strawberry, and handpicked blackberry jelly!

I also canned home grown tomatoes, applesauce from the apple orchard, and fresh Georgia peaches from my "neighbors".

I put back a lot of my extra garden produce in my deep freeze.

I planted these gardens right after my c-section with a simple prayer.  "God feed my family. "

And God did provide more than enough.

Here's one of my backyard gardens--peppers in the lower section and tomatoes in the upper. 

Looking back at 2011, I have to say it was productive.  I had my third son and learned how to knit, garden, and can this year!!

I hope to inspire you to learn something new too in 2012.