It’s official, Lauren is done with high school and on to the next phase.  She was excited.  We had a good weekend of celebrating.  Grandma Knab and Mom even helped out at the all-night graduation party.  I think after 4 days I’m recuperated!  It took awhile.

Cole will now be all alone at the high school.  I think he enjoyed his year with Lauren.

Claire, all dolled-up, for the picture.  Yes, her hair is dyed dark underneath, not my idea…

My mom and dad drove out from AZ.  We only were given 6 tickets, so Cole, Claire and Evan gladly found other things to do.

Grandma and Grandpa McMullin

Picture with the boyfriend.  They walked next to each other.  Awww, cute!

Lauren has made good friends here.  They are cute girls!

Meanwhile, back at the farm (literally), here are our little migrant farm workers.  Claire and Evan with their cousin, Millie go to Bangarters’ each morning and pick vegetables.  They get paid by what they pick.  It’s my dream come true for them.  It’s not their dream come true.  But, so far they are compliant and willing!  The fields are close to Grandma’s house so they can go visit when they are finished (Grandma’s dream come true)!

And last but not least, Shorty got into the graduation also with her school colors bandana!

Stolen from farmersnest.com

The other night I was bathing the Littles and began to look at the ingredients listed on the liquid body wash bottle and started to think about the fact that the majority of it is water, then I looked at the hand wash and same thing.... aqua.  Because most people have turned to liquid soap rather than bar soap I figured there must be a way to convert the cheap bar soap into the expensive liquid soap we all know and love. After I tucked the littles into bed I began my google research and there it was...a wealth of information on the subject. I combined a number of "recipes" into one that works perfect!
Here's what you need:
Cheese grater (from the dollar store)
2 Tablespoons of Liquid Glycerin (found in the band aid section at any drugstore or grocery store)
1 - 8 oz bar of soap
1 gallon of water

Step 1:

Grate the entire bar of soap

Get a cute little girl to help you do the hard work. Don't worry she's not using an actual cheese grater with a blade.

Step 2:
Fill a pot with 1 gallon of water and add the soap shavings.

Step 3:
Add 2 Tablespoons of liquid glycerin and turn the heat to medium/high and stir until the soap dissolves.

Step 4:
This is what it looks like once it's dissolved, basically just soapy water.

Step 5:
Leave it alone to cool for at least 10-12 hours. It begins to cloud up after 3-4 hours.

Step 6:
After it has cooled completely around 12 hours later it will harden and look like liquid soap.

Step 7:
If the soap is harder than it should be you can take some beaters and blend it while adding just a little bit of water until the consistency is more like liquid soap.

Step 8:
There you have it....Liquid Soap!!!

Step 9:
Now you can refill your 12 ounce bottle of liquid soap (that cost $3.99) with your gallon of refill that cost around $4.99. That's some huge savings!!!

This is a fool proof project that results in huge savings. For my favorite Mrs. Meyer's Basil scented soap
1 bar at $4.99 produces over $50 worth of liquid hand soap!!! I'd say that's worth the 20 minutes it will take you to make it yourself. The hardest part about this project might be finding and choosing your favorite bar of soap. Mrs. Meyer's is kind of tricky to find. It can be ordered on their website or your can special order at your local health food store.
*I also made liquid body wash using this same recipe.
* In a cute dispenser this would be a great handmade Christmas gift!
{UPDATE}
I have had many emails regarding runny soap. Because I have had the opposite problem both times I've made it while using different soaps I can't give you a tested remedy. What I have read on the internet is some soaps have extra moisturizer in it making it harder to set firm, Dove being one of them. I read that you can heat the water back up and add more soap shavings and allow it to cool again, once cooled if it still hasn't set you can whip it in a blender. If this still doesn't work then google until you find a solution to your particular situation.
* Texas folks I have found Meyers bar soap at Central Market but not Whole Foods.
* The soap can be a snot-like consistency, gross description I know but it still works.

via Pinterest

It was a year of settling into change for all of us.  A new home in the summer meant unpacking our household and all the familiar possessions helped everyone feel permanent.  Here’s a rundown of our family…

Lauren-0ldest

It’s been quite a year for her.  Being a senior and turning 18 has been a shock for us all.  She’s taken advantage of all she could and her life has been busy.  Her first job, school dances, old and new friends (and a special friend), last year of high school soccer, all A’s on her report card, and applying to colleges filled her year.  She’s had ups and downs, but weathered them well.  We’re excited to see what the new year brings for her (and us)!

Cole-tallest

Cole has probably changed the most physically this past year.  He grew taller than Kirk and is hoping to keep going.  Cole spent the past year very focused on his development in football.  As parents, we spent the last year trying to get him focused on everything else in his life.  It’s been a little bit harrowing, but we are determined!  He loves his friends here and loves to hang out with them.  A sure fire way to get Cole to talk to you is to ask him about his weight training.  There’s lots of numbers involved without too many feelings, perfect discussion for a just-turned-sixteen year old.  We look forward to an “interesting” year ahead with Cole.

Claire-Professional Teenager

Ah…our Claire, she’s 13 going on 17.  Her sweet personality continues to be her saving grace!  She was relieved to cross the threshold of officially being a teenager, finally, being able to embrace her essence.  Thank goodness, she gives us reprieves along the way. Claire’s year has been occupied with friends, dancing, and more friends.  Oh, and there’s school, which incidentally has a lot of friends also.  We try to keep her busy afterschool with plenty of dance classes, which she loves. 

Evan-funniest!

Evan spent the year making plans with his friends and then fitting in everything else all around that.  With the help of his mobile phone, he maintains a full social schedule and we try and help him leave time for family and school.  Evan shares his dad’s ability of “laser-like” focus and keeps us hopping with his intended activities.  Evan loves football like his brother (I think it’s genetic, I have theories).  Evan will turn 12 in a few months and we are excited for his year.  I can’t believe my baby is that old!

Speaking of old…

Kirk-oldest (sorry, couldn’t resist)

In spite of our energetic children, Kirk gets the “Most patient and calmest parent Award” this year.  Apparently, after his 15-year tenure at Sprint, teenagers are a cake-walk.  Kirk’s also the appointed (by me), stay-up-until-the-kids-get-home-at-night parent.  With the kids, he is a master at “let’s go into the office and talk” (while closing the door behind him).  I love my new relaxed and available husband.  He was glad to get us settled into a house this summer. 

Carol-current status, oh, that’s hard, it changes from minute to minute!

.  My year literally flew by.  I spent most of it looking for a house and then moving into it.  I’ve been unpacking, organizing, painting, arranging, and re-arranging.  The pictures are mostly up and I feel settled.

I am constantly reminding myself to enjoy each day with whatever comes my way and cherish this time with my children.  They grow and change so quickly.  Sometimes it’s fun and exciting and other times it’s heartbreaking.  But overall, life is good and we’ll hang in there and keep moving forward!

Merry Christmas from our family and we wish the best for all our dear family and friends in the coming year!

That’s how we’re approaching Cole’s season-ending ankle injury last week.  Tackled and twisted, he ruptured a ligament in his ankle in his game.  There’s only 3 games left, but one of them happens to be the Bountiful game.  That’s torture for a Woods Cross boy!  So, he will get to watch from the sidelines and contribute in a different way (that’s the positive spin we’re going with).  Yesterday was the surgery and he came through it like a champ and, boy, was he funny on drugs!  Here’s his post-op pic:

Without drugs, there’s no way I’d get a thumbs up and a smiling picture.  Here’s a picture from the surgery:

The clamp pushed the bones back together and then the high tech “stringy” zip tie thing is inserted through the drilled holes (above the clamp) and tightened.  The device stays in his ankle (forever) and then scar tissue forms over the ligament and strengthens it.  That’s my very own description.  It sounded different from the doctor!  But he’ll be good as new after 6 weeks on crutches and some physical therapy. 

And, while he’s been knocked out on drugs flat on his back these past 2 days, look what I did:

Carolyn came over and taught me and then today I did it on my own!  From our very own peach tree.  I feel so domestic!  I can’t wait to put them on my shelves in my food storage room.  By the way, this is my kitchen, and although it is a bit dated and “old,” it is totally functional with lots of storage room.  I really love it!  It is bright and sunny and looks out over the backyard.

In about a week and a half Lauren will turn 18.  How is that possible?  This past year has been a tough one for Lauren.  To put it mildly, she’s had a few ups and downs.  But, I’m glad to say that she has become very good at ending up on top following her downs!  And, isn’t that what we all have to learn to do?  She sort of had a head start on what I think many girls go through after high school.  She’s heading into this year with a great attitude and is excited for all that’s before her.  I’m really proud of her for her determination to push through discouragement.  As a freshman, her soccer coach described her as a tenacious player, and she has remained that on the field and in her life.  She is having a great Senior year, beginning with her soccer experience.

She was excited to get her number 20 back this year.  It was a good omen.  She’s playing as well as she ever has.  She does not plan to play in college and we’ll see how long that lasts.  Maybe intramurals will be enough…

This guy might be another reason for a good Senior year.  This is Erik and he is a nice boy who knows the fine art of sucking up to his girlfriend’s mom.  We like Erik.  (don’t blow it Erik!)

Lauren and Claire have been bonding over make-up and clothing.  That is, either bonding or fighting.  I had to put a stop on the sneaking between rooms that was going on.  Claire was very flattered to be asked to help with Lauren’s make-up for homecoming.  I thought it was too dark but Lauren thought it was perfect (of course).

Since we’re close to family, we get to spend time with them at our family’s “farm” house in Idaho.  Lauren loves hanging out with her cute cousins and her very cool aunts.  I’ve found Aunts to be a very useful tool with teenage girls.  I highly recommend using them.  They tell your teenagers everything you do, except the teenagers actually listen to them and think their ideas are cool.  How did I ever survive without them close by?  To the right of Lauren is Kirk’s youngest sister Nannette and 2 of my cutest baby nieces ever.  The cute brunette is Chloe.  She is Claire’s age.

I think Lauren likes having Cole at the high school with her.  The football players now know she is, “Cole’s sister.”  They have their games on the same day so they get to dress up in their Woods Cross gear on the same days and don’t they look so cute.  Lauren’s really breathing out threats to me while I am taking this picture. 

Lauren’s room was also painted purple.  But, she would want you to know that she chose purple first and Claire copied.  Her room is in the basement far away down a long hallway.  She likes it down there.  I will have to take some “after” pictures because it turned out really cute (if I do say so).  Claire helped us paint that day.  This was a good bonding day with no fighting!

And so, Lauren has one more time to take the ACT and then she will apply to all the Utah schools and see where she gets accepted.  Lots of big decisions ahead.  Of course, we might have tried to sway her towards our preferred school…

But, Lauren’s in the driver’s seat on this one.  We can’t wait to see where her road of life takes her!

An excerpt from a speaking assignment I gave in church last Sunday.  The assigned topic was from Elder Robert D. Hales General Conference talk in April of 2010 entitled:  “Our Duty to God:  The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation.”  A great talk you can review here.

Anytime I think about leading by example, I think of an experience I had with my children when they were very young.  It was a school holiday, and our children wanted to do something fun.  They decided that since everyone could ride a 2-wheeled bicycle we would go for a longer ride to a different park than we normally went to.  I was a little apprehensive, since this would be my first “solo” ride with everyone, without Kirk along to help.  But, because I wanted to be a “fun and spontaneous” mom and “fun moms do things like this,” I talked myself into it. 

So, I carefully worked out my plan to be able to make it past the busy intersections taking advantage of all the sidewalks and trails available.  When it was time to go, I arranged the kids in the order that I thought would be best. 

This picture taken about the same time as the experience!

I had Lauren, our oldest at age 9 be in the front.  She was my responsible, rule follower who I knew would be able to listen and obey my directions.  Then followed the second oldest, Cole at age 7, thinking that he would follow his sister and she would keep him in check.  Next came the youngest children.  Claire, age 5, who had just recently learned to ride a 2-wheeler and might need a little help, and then Evan, who in spite of being just 3, decided to learn to ride at the same time as Claire so he wouldn’t be left out of anything fun.

I had put myself at the end of this little train, thinking that I would be in the best position to help the youngest ones stay the course.  Well, we set off and for the first few minutes we were having our memorable, spontaneous, fun bike ride.  I can’t remember the details of when and how it transitioned from fun to chaos.  There were unexpected physical obstacles like curbs, broken sidewalks, traffic, intersections without cross-walks, slight inclines and declines in grade.  For an experienced adult biker these would hardly be noticed.  However, for our group, these were grave impediments to our progress.  I was one minute helping Claire back on her bike, and the next, trying to keep Evan from veering completely off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic. 

Then there were, what I like to call, personality-induced obstacles.  It turned out that Cole, my second-oldest didn’t like to be led by his older, slower-peddling sister.  At any opportunity to overtake her, he would.  For Lauren, who had been charged with being the leader, and took her role very seriously, this was a grave infraction and required yelling at him and then back at me.  Cole just wanted to be able to go faster and be the first one to the park.  Claire was trying so hard to keep going and would get frustrated with herself when she needed help.  Evan couldn’t understand why staying on the sidewalk was such a big deal.  In his mind, the cars streaming past him made it much more exciting.  There certainly couldn’t be anything to worry about. 

Then followed the frantic mother.  One minute I was consoling a crying Claire with loving, encouraging words and the next I was screaming at the top of my lungs, threatening Cole with anything I could think of.  I tried to explain to an upset Lauren that it was okay for Cole to be in front, in spite of my earlier instructions.   I had thought I had put everyone in the correct order to insure our safe and timely arrival at the park, but I quickly realized that trying to lead this group from the back of the line was about the worst idea ever.  Well, we made it to that park and I’m sure the children had a fun day.  I doubt the children now even remember that ride, but as a parent, I will never forget it.

I will never forget it because I learned an important lesson that day.  You can’t lead from behind.  You can’t lead a bike ride, a Primary class, a Priesthood Quorum, and you certainly can’t lead a family.

Elder Hales said that we lead “by example—consistently and diligently living gospel principles at home.”  He states, “this takes determination and diligence.”  He continues, “for youth, there is no substitute for seeing the gospel lived in our daily lives.”

End of my excerpt.

I think about that experience every now and then.  It helps me recommit  to living gospel principles more fully so that I am a good example for my family.  Another quote I used in my talk was from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“What you do speaks so loud

that I cannot hear what you say.”

Yes, that’s the challenge as parents, isn’t it!  Good thing we can repent and keep trying.  I’m hoping that if I just keep starting over my children will at least know that it was important enough to keep trying!