spring has sprung!

Exactly a week ago we still had a foot or so of snow and ice covering the yard, but today most of the ground is clear and it was actually tee shirt weather. It has truely been a difficult winter, not snow-wise, but cold-wise. Just really long.

Today i just tried to enjoy it without doing too much. I walked and sat and planned. We have quite a few projects in mind this year and we just may have the time and the money at the same time this time!

I'm still struggling with this tablet, so tomorrow i am going to go check out laptops. I need a computer that i can do lots with!

But first is Lukas' baptism in the morning at east orrington congregational church and then lunch at nanny & poppy cone's house.  Here is the cake i made today

I've been very busy between my job, my hobbies, hubby, and all of my baby boys. I don't spend as much time as i could with all of them, but i'm trying to live a balanced life and not be to self sacrificing ;)  I try to see them all at least once a week, if not twice. My daughter and charlie are always a definite twice a week. 

I am looking forward to easter this year with the little boys. We have also recently joined the church we have been attending for three years and on easter we will be received into membership. Strictly a formality, but it will push us into being more involved and making more friendships.

ahhhhhhh, babies!!!!!!!

This would be the reason i don't blog very often

In other news.........it is still winter here no matter what the calendar says.

diy

Diy deodorant
I've been concerned about the link between all of the chemicals we  put in and on our bodies, so i made my own deodorant. It is not an antiperspirant, so if you sweat a lot, you may want to pass. I have found that it works well for keeping your pits smelling fresh!

This is the recipe i used:

6 tblsp coconut oil
1/4 c.baking soda
1/4 c.cornstarch
Essential oil of your choice ( i used peppermint)

Melt the coconut oil and whisk in the dry ingred. Add as many drops of oil as you want, i added about 15 but could have used more.
I poured mine into a clean jar and i apply using my fingers.
It hardened more than i thought it would, so next time i'm going to line a small round bowl with clear wrap and pour in the slightly cooled mix. Then when it hardens i can take it out, keep it wrapped up and rub it on my armpits.  You could also fill a used deodorant container.
I've been using this for a few weeks now and love it. However it is winter, so in summer we will see if it has to be applied more often .

5-6  inches of snow in the night. We woke to a blue sky and bright sunshine. The temperature was about 25 or so today-a real heatwave! We finally got out the snowshoes and took a mile long trek through the woods out back . I haven't been spendkng nearly enough time outside this winter-its been so frigid and windy!  Tonight we are expecting another round of snow and another sunshiny day tomorrow.
Today was a stay home day, i spent some time rearranging  my kitchen cabinets a bit and jeff and i discussed some kitchen improvements that are in our future. I took care of some other odd jobs but mostly i tried to rest up.

The house always seems extra calm and quiet after taking a precious little boy home. We had ethan overnight and brought him home around 5 pm. He is so funny and sweet. He has become very easy and enjoyable to have stay over. Joe didn't stay the night this week. Meghan is weaning him off his pacifier ( he is 2 1/2) so we decided to wait until this is accomplished. So far, so good!
So far february in maine has been cold and snowy. The past week we've been getting storms every other day it seems.
I've been setting a weekly goal of 10 miles for my walking, but i haven't been hitting it. So far this week i've made it to 5 miles! Weight loss goals are suffering too- my motivation is low :(
I switched to some homemade deodorant a couple weeks ago and so far i like it!  Today i made some shampoo and used it this evening-it smells very pepperminty! We have been trying to cut down on the amount of chemicals we are using.  I'm going to make some air freshener spray next.

update

My laptop died and i bought a kindle fire hd 8.9.  Which partially explains my lack of updates. I'm a typer and need a keyboard!  I will be getting another laptop in a couple months :).
I've also welcomed my fifth grandson last sunday. Calvin jeffrey smith. Beautiful and healthy! I am very busy with all of my boys!
February has still been pretty cold and snowy, but not too bad. The temps are supposed to come up a bit this week to 20s f or lows and high 30s fr highs . I'm looking forward that.
I've been horrible with my walking, and i havent been eating as well as i should
Pretty boring, huh?    Heh heh heh....just the w a y i like it!

winter doldrums ?

so, i'll start this post off with pics of my two younger grandsons.

my little charlie baby.  he is 2 1/2 weeks old and he has just stolen my heart.  he is getting adjusted to life on the outside pretty well.  ben is laid off for the winter so the three of them are enjoying just hanging out and bonding.

this is my #3 grandson, luke.  he is 3 months old now and a happy, happy, happy baby.  meghan has returned to working a few hours a week so jeff and i get to spend a few hours with him and joe (then i take joe home for more bubby time!)

i won't complain about the cold because i know the rest of the country has been cold too. especially in places that don't usually get that cold.  we haven't had any more ice and i guess we've been having a fair amount of snow. but except for a few days this month when it warmed up into the 40's and we thawed a little, its been frigid temperatures for the last 6-7 weeks at least.  i think its been the coldest winter since i've been here in maine (10 years now).

anyway, on the bright side each day is lighter and i find my mood improving and i'm not lighting up every room the way i was in december/early january.   winter has its struggles, but i still wouldn't trade living here for anything.

we've gotten into a pretty good rhythm of working (me 20 hrs & jeff 24 hrs) spending time on home projects and spending time with the kids/babies.  i want to make sure that i am a part of each ones life on a regular basis.  joe and ethan now come and spend the night once a week.  when the weather gets easier i will try to spend more time with them both one on one. i love being bubby!!!

i haven't been crafting anything lately because i am trying to organize my craft supplies.  i need to know what i have and i need to know what i need to properly store them in my new craft room.  its slow and tedious but i am slowly making my way through tote after tote.  once that is done then i have some sewing projects and lots of scrapbooking to do.

now that my daughter doesn't need me cooking meals for them, i've been cooking very little the last week or so.  i'm trying to eat a more "raw" diet so i've still got lots of prep to do, but no big, heavy meals.  i've been juicing more regularly too.  i feel like i have so much more energy when i eat this way.

until next time!