Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Oh My!  Time sure has gotton away from this momma!  Hard to believe my lil Karson isn't this little guy anymore.

He's the BIG 12 today.

Loveing life and Living Big,

Such a ham!

My lil Water Ninja!

Today I've thought about how wonderful you and your brother are and what a joy you are to me and your dad.  Wondering why I didn't choose to have more babies just like you.
Happy 12th Birthday Karson Nathaniel!!!

Karson's 12th Birthday Party

Whats the big deal about turning 12 to an 11 year old?  Nothing....not really.  But to mom, its just a big reminder that there are no more babies in the house.  This is the last year before I have another teenager.  I look at my kids and wonder how it happened so fast.  But I'm happy they are growing and developing into fine young men, I'm sure they'll always be my babies, just Super Sized.

Karson wanted to have a few friends over to swim and grill hot dogs.  No party stuff, no games.  So I went simple, we had a hot dog bar, chips, drinks, and cupcakes.  

This is my younger brother with his dogs.

The cupcakes.

The Boys.

The Girls.

Some swimming.

Some goofing off.

Shooting some hoops.

The Birthday Boy.

And it wouldn't be a Maddox event if we didn't shot guns.

My Niece Isabella and Nephew Payton.

Birthday Boy opening up Birthday Cards.

Aunt Sammy & Mamaw Tater.

Too precious for words.

The Friends.

Shooting some more Hoops.

And a little more "too precious for words".

Birthday Parties.....fun for the whole family.  A time to celebrate what we mean to each other and the importance of just being you.

Busy Week

My niece Isabella has been enjoying her preschool days.  I had to post these pictures off of her moms facebook page because I thought they were just too cute.  Her mom has been taking her to the park after school and letting her play in the water, I think she likes it!

Last Thursday I met up with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law while they were getting their hair cut.  We all decided to get hair feathers. Here's mine, kinda hidden, so look closely.  I like them but wanted them to be hidden a bit, I kinda feel like I'm probably too old for them but I can take them out whenever I feel like it.

Friday night was the Coal Bowl so we met up with some of our coal family to watch the game.

I went by my mother-in-laws to visit for a few minutes before picking up the kids from school and guess who was there to my surprise......Miss Isabella.

Here in her playhouse.

On her swing set.

Saturday my sister-in-law took the boys out for an Aunt/Nephew Day.  She took them to the gun store, mini golf and out to eat.

Oh that Nay-Nay, my boys sure love her!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Ever get tired of paying for "stuff" that you can make yourself???   I do! And now with all this extra time at home, I need something productive to do.  And I love to save money, cause that's just more money for me to spend on something fantablous for my family.  And  I like the ideal that "I made it myself".  Here's my project from last week.

Arm & Hammer Washing Soda $3.24

Borax Laundry Booster $3.36

1 bar of Fels-Naptha - $.97

plus .06% sales tax.

All found at my local Wally World in the Laundry section within 2 feet of each other.

Grade 1/3 of bar soap.

Melt graded soap into 6 cups of water.

After soap has melted, add 1/2 cup of Borax and 1/2 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.  Dissolve.

Clean your storage bucket (2 gallons or more, I like to double my batch and use a 5 gallon bucket with lid).  Fill bucket with 4 cups of hot water.  Then add detergent mixture.  Last add 1 gallon and 6 cups of cold water

Stir and let set for 24 hours.  You will use 1/2 cup for each load.  Substance will not be sudsy, it will have an egg noodle soup look. 

Here's the break down....

The price below is for 2 gallons = 64 loads.
Arm & Hammer cost $3.44 divided by 55oz = $.07 per oz. X 8oz. = $.56
Borax cost $3.57 divided by 76 oz = $.05 per oz. X 8oz. = $.40
Fels Naptha cost $1.03 divided by 3 = $.35
And about 30 minutes of my time.

For a total of $1.31 which equals out to just a tad bit above $.02 per load.
I figured that I will save approximately $250.00 per calendar year by going Homemade!

This is not my ideal, it's a copy cat from HERE (which is very detailed)!
I've been washing with the detergent for a few days and no one has noticed the change or has had any breakouts, so I believe it's a "go" for the Maddox household.  Now to make the Dugger Family laundry softener.

Swim Day & Isabella First Day of Preschool

Tuesday some of my coal wives came over for a swim, food and conversation.  The swim was chilly, the food was good, but the conversation......was great!  I love these women so much.  We had so much fun, we scheduled another for next week.  Here's some picts!

My sister-in-law Kelly (her husband Shag works with my husband/ her brother), Ms. Vanessa (her husband works there too but she was also Karson's afternoon bus driver last year), Chasidy, Melony, & Jeanetta.

Sheila's grandson Gage.

Gage & my niece Isabella.

The good food.  As always.  We had a mini celebration for Vanessa.  It was the day before her 40th birthday so we had a "Hanging on to 39 Party" for her.

Isabella, Me, Jeannetta, Sheila, Mel, Chas, & Kelly.

Sheila, Mel, Chas, & Vanessa.

Good cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Vanessa!

Wednesday was my niece Isabella's first day of Preschool.  I can't wait to hear all the stories she's going to tell.  I think her mom cried all morning long :(

On a sad note....yesterday at work one of boys had an accident underground.  He's the one on the right in the picture below.  They call him "Princess".  I've only met him a few times and oh what a sweet boy he is.  He has a wife & "i think" 2 children at home.  He broke his leg and possibly his foot.  He had surgery last night so please keep him and his family in your prayers.  Their jobs are so dangerous and unpredictable.  He is a Benchman of the Ky Coal Academy Mine Rescue Team that Kris was on.  National Contest is in about 6-8 weeks and I hate that he has worked so hard to go and now this.  But it could of been a lot more serious, so Thank God for that.  Remember Coal miners....Work Smart, Stay Safe!  Daddy's Home, Every Shift, Every Day!

I've been in the house for a few days now working from home.  Going to work a few hours then head out.  I can't stay here too long, I'll go crazy.  So I'm headed over to have lunch with my Mother-In-Law, Sister-In-Law, and niece today.  Will probably stop at the shoe store on the way.  Have a great Thrusday!