Happy Halloween!

The boys had a blast this Halloween, it was definitely Aiden's year! He was the first to every door and was begging to keep going. Owen tuckered out about 45 minutes in while Aiden and Chloe went 2 full hours!! I finished their costumes in the nick of time too...they were two adorable little pirates if I can say so!

Pumpkin Painting

We had The Scotts and {some of} The Mongomerys over to paint pumpkins on Saturday.  The kids, and adults had a great time. 

Brighton Farmer's Market

The boys and I have been spending Sturday mornings with my dad selling produce at the Brighton Farmer's Market.  The boys really enjoying seeing thier Papa, and I know he loves it too. 

Best & Worst

We started a new thing in the McFarland Family, at the end of each day I ask the boys what was the best part of the day and what was the worst part of the day.  It's a short list this week but here it goes...

September 29, 2010

Aiden

Best: Mom bought us squinkies

Worst:  Owen pinched me

Owen

Best: Squinkies

Worst:  I fell down

September 30, 2010

Aiden

Best: I went to school today

Worst:  I couldn't find my toy gun

Owen

Best: Aiden laughing

Worst:  Aiden pinched me {do you see a repeating theme here?}

October 1, 2010

Aiden

Best:  Going to the Halloween store

Worst: Owen screaming

Owen

Best:  Turning the lights on

Worst: Aiden made me sad

October 2, 2010

Aiden

Best: I got to see Papa and a Go Kart Hot Wheel

Worst: Owen screamed

Owen

Best: Aiden made me happy

Worst: Aiden screamed

Little Girl

Little girls must be so much fun. I have the best time with my boys, the mud, the cars, making car noises with everything you play with. But I do enjoy some girlie things every once in a while.

A friend's daughter is having a little girl in October so I made some things for the nursery. The colors of the baby's room are brown, green and pink. I made a flowered mobile to hang over the crib and little pillow to tuck away on a chair. They came out soo cute!!

Cold

This is what happens when a 4 year old has a cold....

First Day of School

There were only a few tears shed on the first day of school. I held it together at drop off until Aiden started to well up. I knew we were heading for a disaster if I stuck around any longer so with a hug and a kiss Gary, Owen and I left. All the way to the car Owen was yelling where is Aiden? Mom, wait for Aiden! Broke my heart and really made me cry. Hoping that Thursday has less tears for everyone.

Hot Air Balloon

While painting at The Scott's a hot air balloon flew over the house. It was close enough that the boys could wave and yell to the people in the basket. All four boys were in the front yard waving and yelling to the balloon....

Painting at The Scott's

Jessica and Tony decided to paint their house so Gary went over with the boys while I worked on Sunday.


Before: White house with black trim



Tony and Gary hard at work


Almost After:
The guys were almost done painting...the garage door and some trim needs to be done. Of course they only got the front of the house finished. Good luck Tony on the other three..lol


The boys had soo much fun hanging with their cousins for the day. When I got home from work I was shocked how dirty they were! Owen was covered in dirt from head to......

toe.....



Both the boys got a bath at Aunt Jessica's before heading home.

Happy Birthday Gary

Gary's birthday is always an extravaganza. He likes to stretch it out as long as possible. During his birthday week (yes I said week, I told you he likes to stretch it out) we went to a BBQ at his boss's house, spent a rainy night at the Armada Fair, he took a trip to the casino with his parents and had a birthday dinner followed by his favorite, Boston Cream Pie.

Happy 35th Birthday Gary!!!

Garden Harvest

We got a late start on our garden this year. We decided to build to above ground garden boxes this year. Gary built them out of stakes and cedar garden fencing. We didn't plant anything until late June but I have finally started getting a good "pickin". Last week I even had enough tomatoes to make homemade spaghetti sauce and picked enough beans to freeze a few quarts. I've already made two patches of spicey pickles from the peppers and pickles in the garden.

Our Day In Pictures....

Goats, Canning, Playing, cousins, Peacocks, baby, chickens, four-wheeler...fun!

The Park

The boys ask to go to the park as much as possible lately. Aiden LOVES the slid, e and you usually can't get Owen off the swing. Most of the time we head downtown to the Mill Pond and play there then go feed the ducks and walk to Dairy Queen. Aiden asked the other day if we could go to the other park. I asked him why he didn't want to go to the Mill Pond. He said Daddy always wants to leave and go feed the ducks and get ice cream and the other park doesn't have ducks or ice cream so Dad won't want to leave and I can play the whole time. He's a smart cookie.

Entry Way

I finally have a real entry way to the house. No more walking in and seeing the washer and dryer, no more piles of dirty clothes and shelves full of junk. There is only two things to finish the room....some base molding and to fix the lights. Seems they may have been wired wrong and the switch doesn't work so I haven't been able to turn them on. I even painted two new pictures to hang.

Nature Center

I took the boys to the Kensington Park Nature Center on Saturday. We packed a picnic lunch and a fun scavenger hunt I made up for them. They each had a clip board with a crayon and paper showing some of the things they might find while we were out hiking. Aiden had a blast looking for our items and circling them as he found them.

Pickle Time

My in-laws planted a ton of pickles in the garden this year so you know what that means....I had to can some. This was the first year doing it by myself, usually I head over to Mom's house and destroy her kitchen for a day but I just had a small batch to do this year and I think Mom still has pickles coming out of her ears from last year. Gary is obsessed with pickles and brings the jar our for every meal. I got up early to get them done before my kitchen got to hot. Aiden decided he was going to help me ( excuse his outfit of just underwear it's been hot lately). We got started cutting and stirring before Owen was awake but it didn't take long until the little one was up and ready to "help". We got 6 quart jars done and ran out of brine for the pickles so I have a bowl full of pickles waiting for round two in the fridge...

What's Our Favorite Place to Visit....

The zoo of course!! It's even more special when we can go with Papa, Papamom and The Scotts.

Crabby No More

It amazes me sometimes how opposite the boys are. Aiden is an early riser and once he's awake he's out of bed and going for the day. Owen on the other hand likes to sleep a bit later in the morning and needs some time to roll around in his bed before even looking at another human. Most mornings he wakes up and is more than crabby. Gary started putting Layla in his crib in the morning and it's improved his mood tremendously. I'm not sure if Layla really likes it but it sure has improved Owen's mood in the morning!

Changes

Well change can be a good thing and I was needing one in my life....so I quit my job. Upon hearing this Aiden starting crying saying "what about my toys?". I told him not worry I had another job lined up. Work was becoming a stressful, toxic place and I was done with that environment and people. So I went back to a good ol favorite of mine......Kutchey's!!! I'm back working the 10 mile stand four days a week and love it.





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Homemade Laundry Soap

Yes I'm nuts, yes I've made my own laundry soap!

I know a few people who have made their own laundry soap and absolutely love it. I thought I would give it a try...

Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Ivory soap
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~
(I doubled the recipe and used a 5 gallon bucket)

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.