Catching Up

A compilation of all the things I would have blogged about over the last few weeks if I had more time....just more concise.

Yesterday, the kids decided to shower outside.......

 

We had corn on the cob a couple nights ago, so yesterday we made corn husk dolls

 

We should have made clothes too but everyone got tired and we ran out of good husks. 

Maybe we'll try next time we have corn,

 We spent a few hours at a local wildlife park.

A few years ago, we had an annual pass and came here all the time. 

          Last year, one of the tigers escaped, prompting me to declare that I would never go back....... 

In reality, all it took was a free day (and a higher fence) to get me to change my mind.

 

It's hard to see, but this orangutan was covering itself with this blanket 

because it started raining. It was really very cute.

It was blazing hot, insanely crowded and very loud, but the kids had fun 

and no one was eaten by a tiger.

My husband read that they were filming the movie version of the musical "Rock of Ages" close by, so we stopped by the set to check it out. My oldest daughter loves filming and making movies so she was especially fascinated.

 It was interesting how fake the set seemed surrounded by the real world

No matter how many times we've been to the beach, or bay, it's always fascinating to watch the marine life.

 pointing out a small shark (we think).

We took a walk around our "lake", a small body of water nearby that was probably quite picturesque in the 50s when this neighborhood was a quiet suburb. It is now littered with garbage, drug paraphernalia and junky cars. While it is depressingly littered and unkempt, it's also home to iguanas, ducks, fish, tadpoles and turtles and a pretty cool place to observe nature. My middle daughter and her friends brought their notebooks to record what they saw.

 

This was hers.
(Disclaimer: I, personally, do not recall seeing jellyfish or an octopus in the lake)

 We also made a trip to the History and Art museums where they made a tornado in a jar and a rain sticks.   We took a walk through the woods at a local park and fed some horses. The kids helped a group of volunteers paint and do some more work at our church. My youngest performed in a dance that my oldest choreographed and spent most of the summer teaching to a group of  little girls. My son started playing drums at our church again. My oldest daughter led worship while my husband played the guitar and my son played drums. And, I have been blissfully content feeding an angelic baby, reading Les Miserables and watching movies with my family.

There. 

Now I feel like I'm all caught up.

Things I love

For what it's worth, after almost 14 years of Motherhood and 4 babies, these are the things I would hate to do without

My Jogging Stroller

We probably have the cheapest jogging stroller available but I still love it! I had a traditional stroller with my first baby and then a heavy, cumbersome double stroller that was a nightmare to push when my second came along. My jogging stroller is so much easier to push and maneuver.  I actually don't run very often but we roller-blade, take walks and spend a lot of time outdoors. The jogger is perfect for that. I can push it easily with one hand and it works great on rocks, roots, sand and yes, even the mall.

My Baby Ktan

I had a sling carrier with my last baby that I used often and loved but I wanted something better this time. I saw a woman with a Baby Ktan shortly after I found out I was pregnant and it appeared to be what I was looking for. After researching all the different carriers out there, I decided this was definitely the one. My wonderful mother got me one and I've been unbelievably happy with It! It's comfortable, easy to use, and the baby loves it. I use it ALL the time, anytime we go anywhere, or if I want to get things done around the house. I can even breastfeed in it. It might be my most useful baby item.

Co-sleeping

This might be the single most useful thing I've learned over the years. I was so unbelievably sleep deprived with my first baby that I practically had to have my mother raise her. I started falling asleep at night while feeding my second baby just because I was so tired. Because of this, I decided to make sure the bed was safe for him and give in to my body's desire for rest. By my third baby co-sleeping and breastfeeding were second nature and rest was never a significant problem.  Since then, I've read various articles about the benefits and safety of co-sleeping and feel safer with my little one in my arms than alone in her bassinet. She never cries and I get to sleep. It's a perfect arrangement. Now, at night, when she starts wiggling around and I look down at that adorable, warm, snugly body in my arms, there is nowhere I would rather she be.

links about safe co-sleeping:

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/sids-latest-research-how-sleeping-your-baby-safe

http://nd.edu/~jmckenn1/lab/pamphlets/BSlpSafeEnglish.pdf

Homemade Diaper Wipes

half a roll of Bounty paper towels, 

baby bath, 

baby oil, 

water 

a plastic container to keep them in

Someone told me about them when I had my oldest. I didn't intend to make them until I found I didn't like any of the diaper wipes out there. I tried them and not only were they a lot cheaper than buying wipes, but I liked them so much more than the ones I could buy. I will admit that the wipes they sell in stores have gotten better over the years but I still prefer my own. 

Here are some alternative recipes:  http://www.mainstreetmom.com/budg/wipes.htm