Going Green

I watched a documentary not to long ago (sorry, don't remember the name of it).  Some very educated man concluded that multitasking was a delusion, in reality one simply does one thing, switches to another task, then switches back.  HA!  Obviously he isn't a Mother of 4 young children like me.  I have cooked dinner, helped with homework, and breast fed a baby all at the SAME TIME! 

Multitasking is ONE reason I love cleaning green.  My twin girls are now two.  They love their bath time every evening....usually spending 30 minutes in the tub.  I still have to watch them the entire time, but I don't have to be at arms length anymore.  When you make your own non-toxic cleaners you can safely clean the rest of the bathroom without worrying your babies are breathing in harsh chemicals.  See?  Multitasking. 

Here's a few other perks of making your own homemade non-toxic cleaners: 

• You save money.
• Down size your cleaning supplies....seriously, go through your house and count ALL your cleaners....I had 32 in my house.  32 different cleaners...that's a LOT of space I could be saving. 
• It's good for the environment and your families health.
• Safety.  If your child gets into your homemade cleaners it's not that big a deal.  There are over 5 million reported poisoning every year, the #1 cause of child poisoning is household cleaners. 

We all love our children and want what's best for them.  We all baby proof our home with those annoying cabinet and drawer guards.  The problem is both my boys mastered these by age 3.  Not to mention they could push a chair up and climb anything.  I have the cutest video of Zander in the kitchen when he was about 2.  He got into the cabinets, somehow opened the vegetable oil (it was a push down, twist off top!) and poured it all over the kitchen floor.  He was so proud of his mess and had a blast slipping around in it.  But what if that was Drano?!  Drano is the most dangerous thing to have in your home.  Don't take my word for it.  Check with the all knowing google...he'll tell ya.  I'm guilty of buying the liquid poison religiously.  With my long hair you know I've got some clogged drains.  My husband wonders how I have any hair on my head at all because I shed so much! 

I will stop now.  As you can see I have become a little obsessed with learning about this kind of stuff and I feel like I need an outlet.  Hey, maybe I'll do a spin off from this blog.  Hmmm....what should I call it?  Going Green w/ Suburban Hippie Momma?  Or how about "Learning Green" because I definitely don't claim to know it all and am learning everyday.  I sure as heck haven't led a green lifestyle.  I'm embarrassed to say I just started recycling religiously this year.  Yeah.  Shame on me. 

So it's settled.  I'm starting a new blog.  Don't worry faithful followers.  Surviving 4 Kids isn't going anywhere.  I just know that some people are settled in there ways and don't care about this stuff.  I'm not a pushy person, just passionate.  PLUS this is my children's blog.  It's my mommy outlet.  Don't want to weigh it down with startling statistics and non-toxic cleaner recipes. 

I also plan on tackling other issues of concern.  One step at a time.  Like the food I eat and feed my family.  Yikes.  I love me some Taco Bueno.  Not sure if I really want to learn where that food comes from or how it's processed!

I think it will be fun and educational, plus, knowledge is wisdom right?  I talk can talk the talk, but can I walk the walk.  We shall see. 

Any ideas on what to call the new blog?  "Journey to Green" ?? 

And more important, would YOU be willing to take the journey WITH ME??

A Hot Mess

Most of you know that last year we purchased our first home.  It was is definitely a fixer upper.  In fact, it was pretty trashed out.  Last month we replaced the carpet upstairs and in the master bedroom downstairs.  This weekend Ely started to tear up the tile downstairs.  He and my dad are going to lay new tile next month....yeah, that's 2+ weeks living in chaos.

Very thankful to have a handy man husband.  Saving us tons of money. 

I have never pulled up tile before.  No one warned me what it would be like.  Let me enlighten you.

It's LOUD!  Between the compressor and the drill-thingy that breaks up the tile you can't even hear yourself think....not to mention scardy cat Camille is terrified of the vacuum cleaner.  You can imagine what this did to her.

It's DIRTY!  Because it was so load and I didn't want the kids to get in Ely's way, we went to the park for a few hours.  When I came back it was filthy!  You could see the dust in the air.  There is, seriously, an inch of dust throughout my entire house! 

I opened all the doors and windows to try to air out the house...bye-bye air conditioner.  You can bet that this is the hottest weekend of the year (so far). 

If I would have known this tid bit of information I would have cleared off all the counter tops, packed up most of the living room decor and instruments.  I should have covered the furniture with sheets and made sure all the bedroom doors were shut.  But NoOOoo, this is one of those live and learn scenarios.

  I am seriously considering taking a water hose to the inside of my house. 

I promise I'm not being a spoiled brat.  I am very excited about getting new floors....just kicking myself at the same time. 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Summer Time

I am secretly excited about school being out for the summer.  Please remind me of this excitement when it's 110 degrees outside and the kids are running around and destroying the house because it's just to hot to swim in the shade.  Not really sure why I'm so happy....it's not like my kids sleep in or anything!  I do have lots of fun stuff planned....zoo, aquarium, splash pads, sandwiched in at the library, free bowling & $1 movies, story time on riverside, utica square music nights....not to mention all the "down time" at home. 

In other DesJardins news, Camille fell (again) and hit her face on the driveway.  That poor girl always has some horrific accident....at least this time it didn't result in stitches!  Ely has been sing "Camille the red-nose redhead" to her all week (the tune of Rudolph). 

Our garden is doing pretty good this year.  We have 4 raised beds with lots of tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, squash, zucchini, peppers, jalapenos, and more!  Ely built a fence to keep the kids and the dog (and hopefully rabbits!) out of the garden.  We're going to plant grapes along the fence so they will "climb" it. 

Our first bell pepper!

The twins have been fighting so much lately it was super sweet to see them kiss through the fence this evening! 

Summer's almost over...

We had a great summer but I'm really excited for the changing of season. It's been a scorcher! Now that school has started we are changing our schedule....never an easy task. But it's working.

Zander sharing his ice cream with Maya

The twins are now 15 months!! Wow, time flies. While some things are "easier" for me, I am coming across new challenges. For example, I've never had a problem going anywhere with all 4 kids by myself....but now it's tough. The boys are continuously fighting and the twins don't like to be confined to a stroller or a sling anymore. Our park adventures and story time at the library have come to a halt. It is impossible for me to chase after 2 toddlers, trying to keep them safe at a playground....Camille has NO FEAR! And the library, lets just say my kids aren't exactly quiet and I'm not very good at ignoring the glares I receive.

I do like going to parks with NO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, like Woodward Park. I can spread out a blanket, have a picnic and let the kids roam around without the worry of them climbing and falling.

Momma sharing her ice cream with Camille

If anyone has any ideas please share them with me. We're use to being a very active family, but more and more we are becoming homebodies. Is this just how it has to be with multiples at this age? I am only one person, and it's just to physically impossible to watch the 3 little ones at once. Not sure why this is so hard for me to accept....

Backyard Camping

We've been promising the boys FOREVER that we would take them camping. The problem is the twins. We could find a babysitter for the weekend, but Momma's not ready to part yet. Dad says, "Bring them. It will be fun" Yeah right. My babies are schedule babies and do not do well with change. I can't imagine trying to put them down for the night in a tent at 7:00 while it's still light outside....or worse letting them stay up late.

We decided to camp in the backyard. Fun for the boys, and the babies are kept on their routine, fast asleep just a baby monitor away.

The boys had a BLAST (and so did we)! It was nice having a special night just with the boys...I know it will be a happy memory for them.

Helping Dad set up the tent.

Yeah! It's up!

The boys' favorite part, by far, was s'mores. We built a little fire, roasted the marshmallows and quoted The Sandlot. It was their FIRST s'mores and they loved it! After 2 they both were on a sugar high running around the backyard like maniacs. Ely and I were cracking up.

Zander "stuffing" as he called it...nice pinky...

Gavin got SO MESSY!

Enjoying the fire.

Now that's my idea of camping...All the outdoor fun, but Momma still gets to go inside and sleep in her nice comfy bed while the guys get the ground, bugs and heat.

New Home, New Beginning

Here's a shout out to Aunt Duque. We love for you to come over and play (even though there is latex in the carpet and you leave with itchy legs from crawling around and playing with us!) Holla. ;)

It's so nice to live in a home that fits our family's size. Our new home is 2000 sq ft & our old place was just at 1100...that's nearly double the space! (yeah...I'm good at math) I can't wait until we finish the attic and make it a playroom for the twins...maybe in a year or two.

Yesterday I took a well deserved break from unpacking and met some old friends from high school at a park with all of our children. It was so nice catching up.

I can't remember if I posted it already on here, but the twins are officially weaned! I made it almost to 11 months. I assumed that I would have no problem nursing twins, I nursed Zander for a year and Gavin for 15 months, but boy was I wrong. Towards the end it just wasn't enjoyable anymore. I DREADED feeding time. My psoriasis gets worse in times of stress and buying a new house, packing, being a mommy to 4 kids, and the anticipation of the pain of nursing...oh...the thought of it stresses me out. But it's all over know...the babies are taking formula...kinda funny, in a month I'll be weaning them from that to cows milk! They say everything happens for a reason. I think it was hard for me to nurse the twins because I was somewhat of a nursing nazi. I just couldn't understand why any mother who stayed at home wouldn't nurse their baby. Yeah, it hurts at first, but get over it and feed your baby I thought...just ask my sister Rebekkah. I'm sure I got on her nerves because she chose not to nurse. But now it's a different story. I had SO MUCH GUILT because I wanted to stop nursing at 9 months that I nursed for 2 more months in PAIN!! That's just ridiculous. I'm a much better mother when I'm happy and babies aren't sucking the life out of me....now if I could get this engorgement under control.

Is this not the cutest picture?! I'm really proud of my mad photography skills. jk. Maya loves to climb and "wrestle" with her brothers. These girls are gonna be tough!

We are finally all moved into our new home. I am completly EXHAUSTED with the packing, moving, unpacking, PLUS being a mommy to 4 little ones. A big THANK YOU to all my friends and family that helped us move and watch kids. We couldn't have done it without you!

Tonight is our 2nd night in our new place. As we were getting ready for bed, Gavin said he wanted to go home. "This is your new home now." I told him. He started crying and said he didn't like it here and wanted to go home. He's crying himself to sleep as I type. Poor little guy. It's hard being three.

busy, busy!

It's been pretty busy around here...imagine that! We are in the process of buying a foreclosed home. We're getting a fantastic deal, it's just a LOT more work on our part. Today was suppose to be our closing date, but no such luck. It's been pushed back until the 24th. Instead of the seller getting the house ready for us, we are getting the house ready for the inspector. Hopefully everything goes as planned and we are not wasting our time and money on this home. The bank wants us to go ahead and move into the home...there is a lean on the title and we're waiting to get it cleared. This weekend we want to start painting and cleaning. Warning: you will all be getting calls to babysit and or help paint! lol. Here is a link to the home we're buying. Needs a little TLC, but we're up for the challenge. It's actually fun deciding how to refinish the cabinets and finish the attic. I can't wait to paint the outside...I'm not into yellow houses...but we're going to wait until the fall to paint the exterior.

***sorry, took down link***

Maya and Camille are feeding themselves now...and loving it! (this is Maya)
This was at the Tulsa Home & Garden Show. The boys yelled, "The News on 6 helicopter!" when they saw it. So funny...they can't read yet, but knew exactly what it was!