Laundry Room Laboratory

So, I read "20 and counting" by the Duggars a few weeks back and
learned that they make their own laundry soap. I thought, I should do that.
So, I read up on their recipe, researched some more and then
conducted some laundry room experiments.
Result? Success!

All it took were these few ingredients and water. I also put some
lavender oil in there too.

Mix it all up and it turns into this.

Then I pour and dilute it into a vinegar bottle and use it just like
regular detergent. I still use a little bit of Downy softener and a half of
a Bounce dryer sheet. Let me tell you, I have noticed no difference in the
scent of my clothes. And it is so cheap!!

A little extra laundry tip: Use undiluted vinegar in the rinse cycle of your towels or other potentially smelly clothes and they will come out with no odor. It keeps towels from having that off/mildewy smell.

Baby Ballerinas

Clara and Reese had their first ballet recital last week. They did
a dance to Baby Ballerina. It's such a cute song. I will try to have
Rob upload the video of their performance. I was so proud of them!

Putting a little makeup on before dressing.

Reese looking so pretty and grown-up.

Clara showing off her great ballet skills and
Reese being annoyed at having to take pictures.

The girls waiting for their turn to perform.

As long as the adults look good in the photo....

All their friends in the class.

Where's Brynn been this whole time?
Just hanging out, being Brynn.

Summer Time Fun

Clara, Reese and I went blueberry picking yesterday and
then again bright and early this morning with just me and Clara.
Yesterday we got 5lbs and today we scored 10lbs!
We'll have lots of fun baking and making fruit smoothies with them.

Taking a break and eating a snack mid-picking.

Friends.

Nothing better than topping off the day with some sno-cones.




We've gone to the pool a few times now. Clara is really doing good
swimming. I think this picture is hilarious.

Children's Museum

We bought season passes to the Children's Museum this year. We went with some dear friends of ours the other day. The girls had a blast playing with some of their best friends and so did I with one of mine.

Reese looks like she is doing some serious
problem solving on the glass window.

Reminds me of this scene.

Inside the puppet show.

Dear friends together. and duck and squirrel.

Splish Splashing Fun

It's starting to get hot here; in the 90's already....

The kids have been asking for me to take them to the pool lately. Me being mom awesome , did one better, brought the pool to them!

I don't think they noticed the lack of water slide, the only 4 inches of water or the fact that it was barely big enough for all three of them. They had a great time splashing around tonight.

Little known Paolillo Family Fact: The red cozy coupe in the background never moves. It's sole purpose there is so that Clara and sometimes Reese can climb up and onto the fence to look into the neighbor's yard and talk with their kids. I find her there often on top of the fence just watching.

Affections

Kaiya is getting pretty desperate for attention now that there are 3 kids vying for mine all day.

(thanks spell check for teaching me how to spell vying)...

She has given up hope of me petting her during the day while the kids are awake. Thus she has resorted to drastic measures and the next best thing; my kids' affections.

She will sit on Clara's lap while she is watching a movie and has started sleeping with her sometimes.

Kaiya doesn't really do much with Reese; I think she's too wiggly.

With Brynn, Kaiya will sit and nuzzle her when she is the slightest bit still. She has a lot more tolerance for wiggly babies it seems. Whenever Brynn is laying or sitting on the floor, Kaiya is right there next to her, touching her. It's sweet.

Pay no attention to the fact that Brynn is eating
breakfast while lying half way off a bath mat as
I take a break from getting dressed to snap a picture.
We are multi-taskers in the morning.

My Sweet Reese

I love my Reese's curls. I think they accent her personality perfectly. Bouncy and cute.