Too adorable...

Miss Ashley has new tennis shoes. There is a time and a place for Dora, Barbie and the like but just not on my little girls shoes. I love the simplicity of white.

Does it matter to you?

WARNING!!!

If you care about it then it had better be put away. It is fair game if it is left out. I'm on a simplify my life kick. How much should I tip the garbage man this week? ha We are the world's best collector of all things. My sentimental child went to bed last night with tears in her eyes because I'm getting rid of her favorite dresses (all of which are too small now). David even brought me some things from his closet that he doesn't want and all without me asking him. Now all I need is a few more days to finish up. Oh!!!...I just saw something that has to go...Tata for now.

Cousins

Ashley and Tiffany are made up of giggles. This picture makes me smile. Did you know they have a secret hand shake?

I hope your day is sprinkled with joy and maybe even some giggles.

First day of school

Last Wednesday school started again for our family only this time it included all 3. Cameron is in the 4th grade, Sarah Brooke is in 2nd grade and Miss Ashley started Kindergarten. Our days now start with a wake up time of 6:30 a.m. The kids really like their teachers this year. I'm excited to be able to volunteer in the classrooms and get to know their classmates better. Ashley is in the afternoon class.

First day of school 2009

David and I start back up our college classes the 24th so I think that gives me this week to get things simplified around here. I have sure needed the summer break. We are taking American History the first 8 wks. I enjoy history so I think this will be interesting. It's back in the saddle for me :-)

Our family met up with the Englands for a little R and R

Cameron welcoming you to our campout web album

August 2009

In life, if you are lucky, you are given a few good friends that are like family. That is the case with Danny and Ronda. We have camped out with them as a church group but never just our families. We met up at the Brown County State Park and had a great time and made some wonderful memories. Easy conversation, coffee, camp fire, hiking, picnic lunch are a few of my favorites. The weather was beautiful.

Does it get better than this?

Fresh sliced tomatoes, fried bacon, crisp lettuce and toasted bread

We have a lady at our church that plants a garden every year then shares her produce with us. I wish you all could see her garden. She says it is a hastle free method of doing things but I think it is genius. I love the smell of a garden, do you? I didn't grow up with our family having a garden so I'm not sure why the smell makes me feel so domestic. We would go occasionally to a pick your own produce farm and put up corn and beets. I hope you all get the chance to have home grown produce this summer.

The reveal.....drum roll !!!!!!

It is liquid laundry soap. Thanks for playing along on my guessing game. Some of you were right on.

I have been wanting to do this ever since I saw the recipe on Michele's blog last March. I asked her at camp how she liked it and she gave a positive report.

Here is the recipe she used. It is from the Duggar family website

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water1 Fels-Naptha soap bar1 Cup Washing Soda½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

As you can tell I have extra supply of the powder ingredients so anybody in the Indy area can purchase a cup from me if they are wanting to give this a try.