That Time of Year

Here it is, the end of the school year. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. However, in all honesty I know that after a week or maybe two I am going to be ready to get back to school.

I have all sorts of fun things planned and cannot wait to spend time with my munchkins while we continue to learn and have tons of fun doing it. 

Here's a link to my last post about the summer blues.  

http://culaparker.blogspot.com/2013/05/is-it-over-yet.html

2014 summer fun list

Presenting our 2014 Summer Fun List

1. Welcome Shane home from Afghanistan
2. Jawbreaker Contest
3. Visit family in Utah
4. Have a picnic with Hayden
5. Have a picnic with Grandma
6. Play dates with homeschool friends
7. Read books
8. Go camping
9. Swimming
10. Sleepovers in Mom and Dad's room
11. Go to the Drive-In
12. Kids dollar movie club
13. Have a water fight
14. Go to the dog park a lot
15. Ride bikes

Sleeping Positions

I am constantly finding Robert in funny positions while sleeping or napping.

Lydia Turns 20!

We celebrated with a donut cake for breakfast, presents, cuddles, yummy sugar cookies and a pink camouflage cake with blue raspberry filling.

                      

                             

And no birthday would be complete without a trip to the ER for Lydia with yet another Kidney stone. 

20 for 20!

Lydia Katherine Miiler

April 15, 2014

20 Questions

1. What is your favorite color? Yellow

2. What is your favorite stuffed animal ? Major Cuddles a.k.a SB

3. What is your favorite fruit? Mango

4. Favorite T.V Show? Twisted

5. Favorite food? Egg rolls 

6. Something I can't live without? Music

7. Favorite game? Wipeout for kinect and intense games of UNO

8. Favorite snack? Smoothies and wheat thins

9. Favorite animal? White Tiger

10. Favorite song? She Wouldn't be Gone- Blake Shelton

11. Favorite book? The Me Nobody Knew

12. Best Friend/s/? Dani and Shane

13. Favorite Cereal? Cinnamon Life

14. Favorite thing to do outside? Swimming and Bike Riding

15. Favorite Drink? Milk

16. Favorite Holiday? Halloween

17. Favorite Movie? The Moulin Rouge

18. Favorite Breakfast? Hashbrowns

19. Favorite place to visit? Beach

                          20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Radio-Oncologist

Date Night

Robert and I were in desperate need of a date night so off we went to dinner at The Brigantine and then to Boomer's for a round of mini golf and the batting cages.

I don't remember the last time we had so much fun.

I am so lucky to have a husband who is not afraid to act silly with me.

Pack Meeting

I am beyond proud of Sage and all that he has/is accomplishing in Cub Scouts.

Aurora Turns Seven!!!

We had so much fun celebrating Aurora's 7th birthday. We had a family dinner and opened some presents followed by cake and a piñata.

Lydia and I  made a banner and hung snowflakes from the ceiling for the FROZEN theme. Aurora ended up taking a much needed nap before the festivities.

Piñata's are always a hit!

Best Laundry Soap Ever!

I love making my own laundry soap. Lately I've found myself wanting to try a new recipe so after a few trial and error recipes I have finally found the one that I love, and the best part is you only need 2 tablespoons per load.

I found all of this in the laundry section at Walmart.

You will need:

1- 3lb box of washing soda -  $ 3.24

1- 3lb box of baking soda - $ 2.24

1- 4lb box of Borax - $ 3.97

1- 3lb tub of oxi-clean - $ 7.52

2- bars of Zote or Fels-Naptha soap - $ 1.94

2- bottles of Purex Crystals - $ 7.94

Grand total: $ 26.87 for 20 lbs of laundry soap

             

                                   

 You will need to grate the soap. I used my Kitchen Aid grating attachment. Then pour in half do everything into a 5lb bucket and mix with a large mixing spoon. Pour the rest of the ingredients in and stir again.

                                       

It should look like this when it's all mixed together

        

You can scoop some back into the Purex Crystals bottles and if you pour it to the second line on the lid it equals exactly 2 Tablespoons.

                               

 After filling these two bottles I still have half of the bucket left. This will last forever!!!

20 Questions

Aurora Janell Isabelle Parker

February 23, 2014

20 Questions

1. What is your favorite color? Pink

2. What is your favorite toy? My Little Pony

3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
4. Favorite T.V Show? Ellen
5. Favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chick-fil-a
6. Favorite piece of clothing? My Little Pony shirt
7. Favorite game? UNO
8. Favorite snack? Mozzarella cheese sticks
9. Favorite animal? Zebra
10. Favorite song? Let It Go
11. Favorite Book? Skippy Jon Jones and the Big Bones
12. Best Friend/s/? Casey, Bella, Gabby
13. Favorite Cereal? Cinnamon Life
14. Favorite thing to do outside? Swimming
15. Favorite Drink? Vanilla Bean blended cream from Starbucks
16. Favorite Holiday? Her birthday
17. What does she take to bed with her? Her stuffed dog, Elvira that she got from her Grandma Foti
18. Favorite Breakfast? French Toast or Scrambled Eggs
19. Favorite place to visit? Disneyland
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Mommy

Hayden is 11!!!

Happy 11th Birthday Hayden Andrew!

I cannot believe that it has been 11 years since our sweet Hayden Andrew joined our family. We miss  so much that it hurts. We always send him balloons with messages, one balloon for every year old he is. We can't wait to be with him again.

Three Generations

Lately, I find myself missing these two women everyday. I remember when this picture was taken I thought it was really stupid to be taking a pictures with my Aunt and Grandma but now I am so very glad that I have it to remember these AMAZING women and how much they mean to me.

They helped my Mother raise me and have greatly influenced to woman I have become. Those who knew my Grandma and Aunt will remember that they had little to no tact and always said what she thought, they would do anything for those they loved and had a deep love/hate relationship with Carbohydrates. I am constantly having to remind myself to think before I speak but then I think of them and it makes me happy to be so much like them.

Tap, Tap, Tap.......

In honor of our 12th Anniversary here's a breakdown of our twelve years together.

12 - Years of Marriage
11 - Trip's to Utah to visit Family
10 - Years we've lived in San Diego
9 - Pets we have had/have
8 - Years working for Kaiser
7 - Days a week that we are grateful for each other
6 - Months between our first date and our wedding
5 - AMAZING Children
4 - Different homes we have lived in
3 - Years we've been Homeschooling
2 - States we have lived in / Children in Heaven
1 - One happy couple