Let's go to the Library!

Asher loves books!!  He looks at them all the time at home and asks us to read to him constantly. Funny enough though, his attention span is still super short, so he rarely makes it through a whole book before moving on to something else. Regardless, we want to encourage and instill a love of reading in him and have regular library visits.
We took some time last week while Brandon was on fall break (perk of working for a school system) and explored the library!! He loved it!!  (And as you can see from the videos, he doesn't stop long to pay attention to the books- LOL!)

A funny side note is that we decided to leave after not too long as Asher was super noisy! We are working on what an "inside voice" is, but let's be honest, he's 1. He was just having so much fun and his way of expressing that is verbal. Great at times, but not in a fairly quiet library. Haha!! Love our noisy little boy!!

So much fun!  Until the next library day!!

Fall Decor

I have so much fun decorating for holidays!  Here are just a few ideas for fall decor that I'm using this year.
I try to use something natural from each season in my decorating.  For fall, that means pumpkins and gourds!  (Does anyone else think gourd is a strange word??)

I used a shallow wood basket, put raffia in the bottom and filled the rest with pumpkins and gourds.  I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have to look farther than my local Fry's grocery store to find unique ones.  Also, I have re-discovered raffia!!  This stuff is awesome!  It looks like straw, which is great for fall, and it's super cheap!  I got mine years ago at Michael's.  It can be re-used each year, so it can last forever!!

This next idea is all about repurposing items I had.  I used a planter and what I believe are called "finger" towels.

I think we all have certain things in our home that we don't want to get rid of, but we aren't always sure what to do with them.  It's more of a girl thing I think.  I drive my hubby crazy.  :-)
I know what to do with a planter, but I didn't need to have a live plant in the bathroom (where I needed a decoration.)  I also have been given a TON of finger towels for every holiday that exists.  I'm not sure what the deal is with these towels.  I guess it's that they are only large enough to dry my fingers before the whole thing is wet- ha!!  Anyway, I just rolled up 3 of them and filled the bottom of the planter with, you guessed it, raffia.  I placed the towels on top and I've created a decoration from things I already owned.  Now that's good stewardship!!

This last little project was super easy.  I got the idea from my friend Christina.  We went to JoAnn's and she showed me the starter piece, which was just a natural wood pumpkin with chicken wire filling the middle.  I chose to paint it black for a specific Halloween decoration.  I then wove Halloween fabric through the chicken wire and fabric glued it on the back.  JoAnn and Hobby Lobby both sell these great fabric packs based on a theme or color scheme.  With a coupon, they are way cheaper than buying sections off of a bolt of fabric.  Christina and I then had a craft Saturday together.  So much fun!!

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween!!

Splash Pad Fun!

Here in AZ the splash pad is a normal part of summertime fun.  (Remember that "summer" for us is 8+ months of the year.)  I've learned that they can help to keep moms sane and keep us all cool.
Within the last month Asher has gotten mobile enough and really started to love playing at a splash pad.
Last month we went to one at Altadena Park in Phoenix.  It was great as it wasn't crowded at all and even had park play equipment for ages 2-5.  Still a little big for Ash but he'll get there.  He had so much fun!!

What a face!!

I really enjoy the splash pad at Scottsdale Quarter as well and we were able to go last week.  The way it's set up it rarely feels crowded and it's also really shaded.  

Where are you Brock??

He loved just being able to walk around and check everything out.

So fun spending time with my friends and their kiddos!!

Apple Picking

I know I've mentioned, but I love fall!  And to me, apple picking is just one of those quintessential fall activities.  "Can you pick apples in Arizona?" you ask.  Why yes, you can.
We chose Date Creek Ranch which is just past Wickenburg. I appreciate their opposition to skepticism that many may not believe that you can pick your own apples in AZ, so as you drive in their signs read, "Yes, there is an orchard in the middle of the desert."
I felt a little like we were getting away; yet it was still hot so I knew I wasn't far from home.  But the atmosphere is super cute and the prices for organic apples are great!  (You pay by the pound- no entrance fees or anything like that.)  You actually go out into the orchard with wheelbarrow and apple picker and pick until your heart's content.  And the best part, as the apples are organic (and they gave us permission), we could eat as many as we wanted while we worked.  The kids especially loved this.

Such a fun experience!

 We chose to put the little ones in the wagon- which I would highly recommend.  

I would also say cool, comfy clothing and closed-toed shoes are good.

They also raise pigs and cows on the ranch, and you can get some good meat prices- if you are in to that sort of thing.  We chose to go on the Apple Festival weekend.  This meant they had a BBQ going on as well.  This year they made Brats- can I say super yummy!!

After the big adventure comes the fun part- making apple treats!!  So far I've made apple bread, 2 apple cobblers (they are more like a cake and so good- check out The Pioneer Woman and her blackberry cobbler #1 recipe and substitute apples) and applesauce.  We have loved them all and I think our waist size can prove it. LOL!!

Overall it was great and we plan to go back next year. :-)

Rain!

Arizona rain- many times an oxymoron here.  I think I have a love/dislike relationship with the rain.  If I can stay home it's great.  I love the smell and the way the outside always seems fresh and new after a good rain.  And, I think I'll stay positive and stop there.
Having a child really does make me see so many things in a fun, new, and more positive light.

Asher is an outdoor boy through and through.  Which Brandon and I laugh about since he didn't inherit a love for being in nature from us.  Don't get me wrong, we appreciate God's creation, but I think Asher really LOVES the outdoors.  So far anyway. :-)
Every day he presses his little hands and face on the back door longing to be on the other side.  Now while we do take him out sometimes, let's be reasonable- it's been stinking hot and the bugs are out in droves lately!!  Still Asher doesn't care.
These latest storms are the first time Asher noticed the rain.  And after seeing his little face and hands on the back door one afternoon, I said why not and ventured out with him.  What's a little rain going to hurt anyway?!  His sheer JOY was more than enough reassurance for me that we should have fun in the rain!!

God's sense of humor.

Yes, I do believe God has a sense of humor. A good one, too.  After all, he invented the idea.

It had been a rough week.  Brandon had lost a dear friend-the father of his best friend.  Elmer passed away too soon for anyone’s liking. 

Steve asked Brandon to sing at Elmer’s Memorial Service, which he felt honored to do.  He was at home practicing the two requested songs the day of the service. 

On another note, Asher seems to love music.  Doesn’t seem to matter what it is.  Like many small kids, he hears it and starts to move.  Nothing hinders him- he hasn’t learned that anything should.  He hears daddy singing and he just starts moving.  He also adds his own version of baby talk lyrics.  The song is Amazing Grace.  He does the same with I Will Rise (both Chris Tomlin versions).  I just lose it- it’s all so hilarious and adorable at the same time.  Maybe it was because the day was expected to be somber, but it just struck me as so funny.  It didn’t matter that they were reflective songs about death and Jesus’s sacrifice, and then waiting for us when it was our time to go.  Our kid was just jamming out, unashamed.  And I think that’s just how God wanted it.  Jamming out in appreciation for all He has done for us.  Come to think of it, I think that’s just how Elmer would have wanted it, too.

Safe cleaners

So I’ve been on this kick to find safer house cleaners.  With Asher now getting in to everything, this has rapidly become super important to me.  (And yes, we do have latches on the cabinets.)

I’ve always been a fan of white vinegar and read some uses for hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner as well, so added that to my repertoire.  My sister-in-law turned me on to Better Life products, which are all natural.  So far I really like them.  They seem to have a sense of humor- which I totally appreciate.  The bottle says something to the effect that while you can drink the products, they recommend you don’t.  I’ve tried the Oak-y Dokey (I am addicted to the lavender smell).

I also got the What-EVER! all-purpose cleaner. It’s a sage and citrus scent- which is also super yummy smelling.  It says it’s good on grease and grime, so my big test was my stove.  I have a gas stove.  I love the concept and I’m getting better at cooking on it, but it gets so messy!! It’s probably no different than a flat top stove, except that I feel this one is a major project to clean.  How did it do?  It did ok- not “oh my gosh” great.  Pretty much the same results as when I clean it with vinegar or peroxide.  I think I have pretty high standards though, as I’m hoping for a miracle to get some of the junk off that seems to have taken up permanent residence.  Overall, I’m still very happy with the What-EVER! cleaner, and I’m looking to buy more of their products.

My unresolved issue is glass cleaner.  I'm a huge fan of Windex, but all-natural it is not.  I just can't stand streaks on mirrors or glass.  I haven't tried the Better Life glass cleaner yet, so that is probably my next option.

If anyone else has recommendations of all natural cleaning products, I’d love to hear about them.