Roll Tide Roll (and throwback thursday)!

This post is a combination of Throwback Thursday, in attempt to try to capture Ridge's life before blog began. Well, began the 3rd time, 4th or whatever. And, to celebrate this weekend's opening game Michigan vs Alabama, September 1, 2012.

This is a glimpse of Ridge and Fulton's journey supporting the Tide!

 

Oh Baby Ridge, how I miss your funny facial expressions!

Born a BAMA fan!

 

I think I'm a little too young to be on your shoulders dada.

hahahaha!

 

First trip to the beach and first football season

 

 

loved watching the games

(sorry, the quality of some of the pics is horrendous)

 

And, momma left you to go to ATL to watch us beat Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators.

You stayed at home with Dada. :)

 

And, then Mama and Dada left you to go to Pasadena, CA.

You were an important part to AL football history since you were born in 2009 and we were National Champions in 2009 :)

Don't worry, Lala and Jeremy left Harris too :)

The Pasadena crew

 

And, Ridge, you've always loved playing football. Even at 8 months old

 

 

 

Touchdown Alabama!

You have always loved playing with footballs. Well, any sports ball.

 

Watching games with some of your extended family

"Watching" games with Nonnie

You and your bud, Harris

:)

 

True fan: game day tee and a diaper

ROOOOOOLLLLL TIDE!

 

 

 jlaurenphotography

 

 

Yay! Fulton's first football season, 2011!

 

Mama and Dada game date night

On my way to my first Bama game! Nov. 19, 2011. Alabama vs. Georgia Southern (Don't worry, I'm not crazy. I had to google the 2011 schedule and looked for the easy, nobody team game. Sorry to all you Georgia Southern fans)

 

 that's the best family shot we could manage

 

Once again, our lucky charm, first game, you get your picture taken with Mark Ingram. Alabama's only Heisman Trophy Winner. You can thank momma for this picture later ;) (It wasn't easy acting a fool and chasing down a huge NFL player surrounded by cops and about to step into his limo, believe me)

 



best buds playing while their dads play flag football

 

Didn't make it to the 2011 Championship game, but Ruthie and Fulton were once again our good luck charms for 2011!

 

Dada's true vintage AL shirt

 

Choice of clothing on his 3rd birthday :)

 

Proper attire for the zoo

 

 

We love college football. And, especially Alabama football. We're ready for a fun and exciting season! ROLL TIDE ROLL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



And the results are in!!!! {better late than never, right?}

Drumroll please!.................

 

 

I LOVE MY NEW HOMEMADE DETERGENT!

YAY FOR SAVING MONEY AND FEELING DOMESTIC IN 2012!

 

via google images

 

ok ok. so, really, here's the rundown....

 the recipe I followed is found at:

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

There, of course thanks to Pinterest, are tons of recipes out there.

This is the one I found that seemed the simplest for 2 reasons:

 

1.NO GRATING REQUIRED!

2.AND NO MIXING WITH WATER IN HUGE BUCKETS OR WHATEVER YOU GUYS USE IN YOUR GARAGE OR WHEREVER YOU MAKE THAT WORK WITHOUT A HUGE MESS TO CLEAN.

 

ok, so, the recipe:

1 4 lb. box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (did not know this existed)

1 4 lb. box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

1 4 lb. box of Mule Team Borax (had no idea what this was)

pack of 3 bars- I used the Kirk's Castille Soap (found on the bar soap aisle at Walmart, could not find at Target) 

 

That's it.

I found all of the ingredients at Walmart except the Borax. I had no idea what I was looking for and neither did the guy helping me. He looked at me strangely. Luckily, Target had it. (I've heard it's hard to find right now because of everyone trying these homemade recipes) (Another side note, borax is used to clean anything in your house, amazing stuff!) There are also recipes that use the Fels Naptha- found in the detergent section. But, the smell knocked me on the floor and I had to pick myself up. So, I went with the other. But, I think, next go round, I'm going to try the Ivory soap because I'm a big fan of Ivory. Simple and clean.



 

 

So, here's my employee working in our factory mixing the stuff up.

I went with a storage container from Target with a lid. Because, I don't need Fulton eating it.



 

I did not take pictures of the mixing process, but basically, in simple southern terms:

 Dump the washing soda in, stir, dump the the baking soda in, stir, dump the borax in, stir.

Cut the soap into small pieces, place in food processor.

Process the soap, mix it in the container. And, all done! It literally took about 10 minutes total.

 

Some recipes require you to grate the soap. Nope, not worth it. Get the ol food processor out.

Save your knuckles ladies.

 

The finished product.

The soap processed will look like feta cheese crumbles.

Your detergent will smell like the soap you choose. So, ahem, choose wisely. (hint hint- no Fels Naptha) For those of you that like that smell, I don't understand.

 

Ok, so here's the run down of my thoughts after about 4 weeks.....

 

1. I have a front loader- high efficiency washing machine. And, I've tried using the Affresh, or is it Afresh, washing machine cleaner, I've scrubbed that nasty rubber thing in the door. I've ran vinegar and baking soda cycles through my washer, and it still smells musty. I know, yuck. So, on the blog where I got the recipe, she talks about her disgust as well. And, this recipe helps eliminate that smell! And, it does. So, number 1: it helps clean your washer as well as your clothes! Multi-tasking! It even cleans top loaders too!
2. There are no bubbles.(Even less than regular detergent with your he washer) Get used to it. And, everything I've read out there, here  and here  are just a few of the many places that discuss how bubbles/suds do not = clean. It took me a few loads to get used to it. I kept looking for bubbles. Trust me, there will be no bubbles.
3. The lady at Sugar Pie Farmhouse, where I got the recipe (link above) also discusses how this stuff is super concentrated. I'll be honest. 2 Tbs. did not seem like enough to clean my load of dirty boy laundry. But, it did! So, stick to the amt to use. And, most of the liquid laundry detergents are the same ingredients, but you add water. I think that's just an extra step and a difficult one.
4. Another important point Sugar Pie Farmhouse lady discusses, if you have a front loader washer, do not add the detergent to your dispenser drawer. It will get clogged! So, I just add it to the actual washer. Once I've loaded my laundry, I just pour it on top of the clothes. Be sure to read that section of her post.
5. In my opinion, the smell is not amazing. It really doesn't have a smell at all. It's not sweet like she describes. It just smells simple and clean. Now, don't think you will be smelling a strong Febreze or Tide Clean Breeze smell. I can't stand a strong detergent smell anyway. Detergent is not perfume people. Again, it will smell like the soap you choose.

MY FAVORITE PART OF ALL......it gets out all stains with no prewash, presoak, pretreat, whatever you mamas do!

 

via google images

 

 For example, Fulton's birthday party- he had dried in strawberry juice all over his clothes. I didn't wash it out at all. It completely dried over night. I threw it in the washer, completely forgetting about the stains, and MAGICALLY, they were all gone when I took it out! No even slight red or pink hint at all! Another example, Ridge had on a white embroidered Big Brother shirt the other day. He had junk all over it. And, 4 HUGE blobs of chocolate milk. I thought the shirt was completely ruined and felt bad because his Granna bought it for him. It sat in my laundry room for 6 days and I did nothing to it. Dried in and yucky food all over it. I DID NOT PRETREAT AT ALL! Nothing! No oxiclean, no shout, no scrubbing in the sink. Nada! Threw it in the washer with a bunch of other clothes, came out  good as new!!! No hint of any dried in chocolate milk stains at all!!! This is really the best part!

The ingredients are so natural, safe, and simple, but yet so so POWERFUL!

 

You mamas out there, we don't need to worry about our kids clothes and stains! They are kids, especially boys, they are going to destroy their clothes! And, we don't need to worry about getting those tricky stains out!

 

So, I've made the 1 batch and I still have tons left. And, the batch was made 4 weeks ago!!!!

My total cost was around 13 buckaroos!

 

*I've been trying her advice and adding probably 1/2 cup of vinegar to my fabric softener dispenser. And, it does not reek of vinegar. And, I've been using some fabric softener sheets to my dryer to still have that small hint of clean smell.

 

Try it and tell me what you think! It's cheap, easy to make, and CLEANS CLEANS CLEANS!!!

* coming sooner hopefully than later, my homemade hardwood floor cleaner!

 



 



sick sick summer... as in Walgreens knew me by name and the car I drive

And, I don't mean sick as in, awesome or super.

I mean, sick, illness, fevers, ear infections X 1 gazillion it feels like.

So, I'm guessing it stems from Ridge starting "school."

But, geez, the Wiggins need a break!

 Ridge fell asleep after waking up from nap time beside me on the couch. Pitiful baby. He has NEVER EVER EVER done this.

I wish I could take the pain away.

No, really, I expected a few runny noses and coughs here and there. But, I've been MIA for weeks lately. Around mid June Ridge started running a fever and after a few days, went to doc and it was a super yucky ear infection in the right ear. Took the super powerful Augmentin, 2 weeks later, still there. Took omnicef, 1.5 weeks later, still there. Took the children's z-pack, 1.5 weeks later, still there. Did the 3 day Rocephen (sp?) shots (which was the most miserable experience ever with a 3 year old) 1 shot in each leg each day, still there.

 

at the dr's office on a Sunday, boo!

 

After a round of shots, so pitiful.

 

 

So, this past Tuesday, August 21, 2012, RIDGE HAS TUBES!!! {I hear hallelujah playing in my ears right now}.

I worked some magic and the surgery was scheduled the morning after our appt ;)

still waiting in waiting room

finally called back and playing until surgery

 thank you Children's for having toys for them!

 who's bigger momma? me or the soccer ball? ha!

 Glad he wasn't bored or asking for something to drink or eat too many times

Popsicle and 8 stickers makes it all worth it! All done!

 

Please don't think bad of me for praising tubes. We have already been down this road with Fulton. It is the only option left and it's a wonderful one! And, the not knowing of how the surgery works is scary. But, it was a 5 minute procedure. He was back in my arms in 10. No iv, just gas mask and all done! When Ridge was little, he had his share of ear infections, but the antibiotics always helped. Not so with Fulton, which led to tubes at 7 months old. And, such was the case with Ridge this go round.

 

So, the experience is long. Too long. The wait is ridiculous. We got there at 6:30. Can't have anything to eat or drink past midnight (aka bedtime for us). And, surgery happened around 10. Ridiculous, I know. But, the end result is NO MORE PRESSURE OR PAIN!!! He can still get ear infections, but he doesn't have to take an oral antibiotic, just ear drops. It's amazing!

Thank you Thank you to the one that invented tubes!!!!

 

 

This past weekend the boys came down with this super nasty cold virus that affected their breathing! Can I just say, that is SCARY!!! But, after 2 doctors visits, a nebulizer, and enough albuterol for the whole street for a year, we are better and fevers are down too.

 

But, man, don't play around with your child having a hard time breathing. Go to the doctor! Luckily, Fulton already had a mask, air chamber for the "pump" sprays. {My knowledge of breathing issues, asthma, etc. is pretty pathetic as you can tell}. But, we have the real deal now. Poor babies have been taking breathing treatments every 4 waking hours. And, albuterol makes you jittery and hyper!!!! So, naps have been pretty hit or miss these past few days.

 

But, in the midst of such a sick summer. I'm reminded that these sicknesses are nothing compared to those that other families are facing with their children. All of these are viruses or curable infections. And, Lord, I'm so gracious for that. Thank you for our doctors and the medicine and treatments we are able to receive. Thank you that we live in a country where we can go see an ENT and not wait 3 months. I'm greatful for recovery and healing and for the Lord Jesus watching over our family during these illnesses.

 

And, I'm looking forward to {hopefully} a healthy Fall and Winter. Hopefully with tubes in all 4 ears, the future is looking bright!