thanksgiving blessings

This Thanksgiving I took on the task of hosting our family dinner. My sister Erika said I was crazy to even attempt to seat 20 for a formal dinner in my quaint little home. Many of you know that I am not one to back down on a challenge. Well as you can see below I did it.

We may have been a little cramped, but what are family functions for? We gathered, shared stories of our hectic lives, gave thanks and broke bread together. I think it was perfect, almost just like a Walton's Thanksgiving. I didn't have a long enough room for a 18 foot table so we settled for moving my dining room table into the living room and making a 12 foot in the dining room. I do have to thank my sisters for clean up and the brother in laws for helping to move my house back to original placements. I love you all!

I hope you all had a day full of blessings and reflections of the bountiful gifts we are given in this life. I know I did.

hello again...

No I have not been abducted by small children, laundry or aliens. Plain and simple I have bitten off more than I should have in the last 3 weeks. Here is a brief run down.

1. Big changes at Cam's school with one of our very favorite teachers leaving. Mrs. O has been an amazing part of Cameron's continued success in school. I truly feel she is a gift from God and we will miss her at STM but we are lucky enough at Green Acres that we get to still see her. Yep she has definitely been granted family status here. Yes, that goes for her whole family. I have learned that during this transition my child as well as the 37 other kids directly affected by her leaving are truly supported. We had over 100 people at the school board meeting last week and things are going to get turned around.

2. Hit the big 41 on the 10Th. I am 41 and definitely embracing this one!

3. STM Auction, whew let's just say that I am glad it is done! I donated a Perfect Picnic Blanket in Pinks and Greens.

4. Finally I have been focusing a lot on Green Acres Closet and I am proud to announce that I am in the talks with 3 retailers on carrying my line. Healthy Baby Boutique in Newton and Wichita, Kansas will be getting their first shipment by the end of the week. I am continuing to sew and I know the etsy looks a little thin but don't worry the workshop is full of wool and I am constantly sewing. I will have more listed this week.

Thank you all for inspiring me in so many ways to follow my dreams.

loving eco-sprout

 

Part of doing cloth diapers is washing the diapers.  Trust me I don’t love this task but I am used to it.  Plus I like that I am saving money, the earth and protecting my Junior Mint’s bum from harsh chemicals.

So back to laundry, I found a new love in my routine.  Eco-Sprout.  Great laundry product.  I have always battled “stinkies” with my diapers.  For those of you wondering what “stinkies” are, it is when there is a build up of soap product mixed with bacteria and you can get a musty or ammonia smell.  Funky I know.  So I decided to try Eco Sprout.  LOVE IT!  I followed his directions on his web site for getting the “stinkies” out and it worked beautifully.  I am “de-stinking” the rest of the stash now.  We have also tried his bottom balm and it is just as great.

If you use cloth, try this.  We are even using it on the household laundry too.

arnica ~ a must have

A couple of weeks ago at Happybottomus we had our Holistic Moms Meeting, by the way this group meets every 2ND Thursday at Happybottomus at 6pm. Great group of women who share a lot of knowledge. Any ways they had a speaker by the name of Juel Rice, amazing Classical Homeopathic.

She spoke to us about our "must haves" if you will in your medicine cabinet. The one I am going to share about is Arnica. She told us that in any trauma situation from an injury to upsetting news it is a must. Be it orally or in the form of the gel. She said that it had an overwhelming calming and soothing effect.

Last night we put it to the test. On Saturday when I left work I twisted my ankle, slight sprain no big deal. Well last night we were finishing getting current on leaf cleanup, you know that never ending nemesis this time of year, I was working in the back and I stepped wrong off of the pathway. Well lets just say I felt a pull and I knew it wasn't good and of course I kept working through the pain because the rain is coming and we had a mess. I decided also to keep this to myself until I was finished and that part made Mr. Miller quite upset. I just told him that is why I had him to make it better. That part is true because he may be in the "green tractor" industry but that paper on the wall from Washburn University says BA in Athletic Training. He has a lot of experience in taping ankles from his days on the sidelines with the Ichabods. (I must squeeze in "Go Bods" as we are number 3 in the MIAA right now.)

Back to the root of the story, we came in showered and immediately got the ice and put the ankle up. As I was sitting I remembered Juel's list so I had Mr. Miller get the Arnica gel and we rubbed it in. WOW, it really helped in a number of ways. Calming of the situation, soothed the pain and helped the bruising. I really believe in this. I have used it on the boys over the years for different ailments and now it will be a regular in this house.

Juel suggests the Boiron label. That is what we have in the gel form, tonight I am going to get the tablets to have also.

a good time was had…

My hunny pot and clone trooper.  History of the hunny pot is that we bought this costume for my oldest niece who is now 20.  Her brother Nate and sister Makennah wore it also.  6 years ago Cameron wore it and last night it gave its swan song so to speak.  I love this costume.  I think Mama/Aunt Meg will put it away for the next generation of babies.

Before the party…

Our best “trick or treat”.

We went to the Mauer’s last night.  Cathlin and Mitch always have a great Halloween bash.  It was a beautiful night and we enjoyed kids, friends, good food and an evening on the patio watching the Chiefs game via a projection TV.   

 

Our welcoming committee as we entered.

Mitch our host amazing Deputy Fire chief for KC by day and monkey man at night.

Henry always zeros in on the sand table at Hannah’s.

We had an amazing time.  Thank you so much Mauers, Cameron said it best this morning ~ “Mama, that was the best Halloween ever and even the Chiefs won!”.  I love that kid.