Bry's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Homemade Laundry Soap

This is my favorite detergent! I've tried the liquid recipes but they are clumpy and messy. This one also works great in place of stain removing spray. Just wet the spot with water (I use a water/vinegar mixture in a spray bottle) and rub into the stain before tossing it in the washer.  Donyea came home from helping Taylor coach soccer last night with a big yucky mud/grass stain and was worried it wouldn't come out.  I showed her what to do and sure enough they looked brand new forty minutes later!

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

1 4 lb 12 oz box of Borax
1 4 lb box of Arm And Hammer Baking Soda
1 3 lb 7 oz box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 3 lb container Oxy Clean
4 bars Fels Naptha Soap, grated
2 13.2 oz containers Downy Unstoppables (or 1 55 oz Purex Complete Crystals)

Mix all the ingredients in a large heavy duty garbage bag. Just close the bag securely and juggle back and forth until completely mixed. Scoop out into containers.

Use 2 Tbs for a small load, 3 Tbs for regular/big.  If you have a HE front loader just put the soap directly in the wash.

12/29/12 ~ Update with price breakdown
Still loving this detergent!  Am making a new batch with Purex Complete Crystals in place of the Untoppables.

Price Breakdown:

Washing Soda $3.24

Baking Soda $2.34

Borax $3.38

3lb Oxy Clean $7.52

Fels Naptha $7.16

Purex Crystals 55 oz $8.96 

Total $32.60

* Everything is purchased from Walmart except for the Fels Naptha.  I purchased that in bulk from Ace hardware, 24 bars for $42.96 (free shipping to store).

* Total Cost increases to $37.58 if you are using Unstoppables: $6.97 for one (13.2oz)
$13.94 for two (equals 26.4oz)

Breakfast in Bed for Baby Brother

Keegs made brekkie again but couldn't wake up Bry so he brought it to him. :)

Apple Picking & Canning

We spent our Saturday morning picking the last of the apples for applesauce.

Donyea & Chanchito working as a team. :)

Bobbing for apples!  Haha!

Washing and washing and washing!

The amazing crew!

This is the final product for today (21 Pints and 2 quarts).  We only got to 1/3 of the apples...oh boy I know what I'll be busy doing this week!

Wayne made us super delicious apple pie with homemade whipped cream! =)

*Update: After four long days of hard work, we now have 55 jars of delicious homemade applesauce (11 quarts and 44 pints)! The boys have been loving it in their lunches! Kegan was so excited to share it that he already brought a jar to school for his teacher...said he couldn't wait until Christmas, he wanted to give it to her now. :)

I've found LunchBots makes the perfect to-go applesauce container - stainless steel, leakproof with a screw top ($20 for 2) ~ http://lunchbots.com/rounds-stainless-steel-food-container-blue.html

Breakfast of Champs

I came downstairs to this beautiful sight this morning. Kegan woke up early and made everyone scrambled eggs and toast (thanks to Uncle Wayne for teaching him yesterday)! And I overheard Kegan talking to Trenton, "Now if you and BryBry ever get hungry, just come wake me up, I'll go pick four eggs and cook you breakfast." Such a sweet boy! He also has been reading to Bry at bedtime and it just "melts my heart" I say to him. :)

Summer Memories

This Summer we...

Took off for camping the first weekend school let out.

Made a few changes to the pig pen to accommodate his new roomies.

Finished the Pig/Chook Pen

Met the one and only ZANIAK

Got a new porch swing :)

Had some Fourth of July family love!

Rode the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle

Took the family to Tay's fav burger joint, Red Mill.

Toured the historical base, Fort Lawton, that Taylor used to work at.  We got to walk around and peek in at the old abandoned housing and ring this huge bell.

Splashed in the shores of Fort Lawton

Played  on the train in Elbe on the way to Mount Rainier

Walking down to the falls at Mt. Rainier

Learned how to ride a motorcycle and only dropped it once. :)

Doin what boys do best! :)

Last day with the Anthony/Hassna crew

Went camping for the weekend with our church.

Got to relive Hume Lake years...

Started teaching Keegs to ride bareback.

Met some of the X-Games guys after the show.

Went to Family Fun Day with our church!

Got to dunk the chicken!

Created our new favorite tradition ~ Wednesday night s'mores around the campfire

Drank fresh squeezed lemonade!

Went to our little hometown carnival...

Braved the Ring of Fire!

Lost a first tooth!

Cooled off at the quarry pool

Got a Flemish Giant Baby.  We all chipped in on the name, "Princess Fiona Funny Bunny the First".

A little soap and water...

Started lots of projects.

Went to the Northwest Adventure Trek for our first time.

Picked lots of berries for pie and jam.

Did lots of gardening with my new potting table.

Learned how to compost!

Harvested our first Zucchini Squash.

Taught the boys how to dig a hole "Bear Creek Stables" style with a post hole digger and the heavy rod.

Had fun planting our cute little shrub, Potentilla Fruticosa Sunset.

Grew some delicious tomatoes...Trenton very happily snacked on them all summer long. :)

Propagated some more of my shrubs.

Canned some delicious home-grown tomato soup!

Started next year's garlic.

Learned how to save tomato plants before the first frost!

Hawk Eye

Planted lettuce from seed for the first time...and it worked!

Became Best Friends :)

Had a family campout on the trampoline.  Next Summer we'll have it on the night of the Perseid Meteor Shower!

Had a summer full of soccer!

Lots of beautiful sunsets at the games!

Summer 2012 <3