laundry detergent

we've been making our own laundry detergent for the past few months now, and we just love it! the kids help out, we save tons of money, it's better for our sensitive skin, and it's so easy!!

i told my mom about this and she said "oh, you remind me of aunt june". i was a bit caught off guard by this statement, because in my mind aunt june is nothing like me...she would be at my grandmas', playing cards, smoking cigs, drinking a cocktail (or was she the one that always ate prunes....can't remember, and i was little), but i never saw myself similar to my aunt june. then my mother told me about how she rendered deer fat (we come from a whole lineage of true hunters), and would make all her cleaning supplies from it....she would use up that entire deer, nothing got wasted. after hearing that story i felt a couple different things, 1)holy shit, aunt june was a super cool chic, and totally my kind of homemaker 2)i really wish i could have gotten to know her better!

valentine crafts

we were all so very crafty for this special holiday.....so here are a few things that we created! i loved how the chalkboard paint heart turned out, so cute!! and the pillow heart (on the right) was for quinn's classroom, it hung from a beam. first time sewing onto paper....LOVED IT!! and then heart on the left is for me, from my loving husband, jesse. although he totally procrastinated (which is so his style), he is luckily talented enough, to make someone (me) feel really special, and really loved!!

i "heart" you!

these kids make me do such crazy things.....just so i can see them smile! i decorated the house, made everyone homemade valentines, made the kids a special valentine's garment (second year doing that....so much fun!!), and we even ate heart shaped ravioli for dinner....ha ha!!!

quinny and her homemade valentine skirt. she wore that thing 3 days in a row...mission accomplished:)

kids before school on valentines. chocolate roses, and valentine shirt and skirt. sweeet!!!

twister with my sister

friday night-game night:)

our first music video "thank you"

after dragging my feet with a traditional "thank you", i felt obligated to come up with something quite spectacular....because it's important to be thankful:) a new tradition, you ask.....i'm thinking so!!

waiting

quinn fell asleep while waiting for ryder to come home from school

c-o-h-e-n

we went up to minneapolis last weekend to watch cohen wrestle, the kids LOVE watching him! cohen did a super job, and has such an amazing sense of true sportsmanship....we were all extremely proud of him!

after the tournament we headed into uptown minneapolis for the mangerson tradition of finding a sweet coffee shop, playing at the walker, and the newest addition to our uptown tradition, burgers at burger janes.....such a fun day!!!

on the car ride to mn we worked on a few signs for cohen....and cheers:)

"c-o-h-e-n, cohen, cohen, get the pin"

ryder trying out a few of his moves....ha ha:)

quinn coming in for some love:)

the weekend flew by, and was way too short. both the boys were in tears when we had to leave, wishing we lived closer to eachother. here's to having awesome cousins!!!