How do you get candle wax out of the drain?

So, the other day, my two year old son was supposed to be taking a nap. Well, little did I know that his busy little hands had made their way into the bathroom. I had a candle burning on the bathroom sink, and it had been lit for a while. I walked into the bathroom and found the candle in my son's hands, burnt out, with no wax in it. I looked into the bathroom sink, and saw green wax everywhere. He had dumped all the liquid in the candle down the drain. Well, as you can imagine, all the wax from the candle hardened and clogged up the drain. For a while we were pouring Drano down the sink, and after a couple of days, we realized that wasn't working. Then my husband got a brilliant idea and boiled some hot water on the stove. We poured that down the drain, and found that all the wax came bubbling up from the drain. We cleaned it out of the sink, and then melted what was left with the rest of the hot water. I don't know, may be our son was trying to teach us a lesson. Like a science experiment. Whatever was going through that crazy little head of his, we now know how to get candle wax out of a drain. So, there's your little intellectual nugget for the day in case anyone ever asks. Or maybe the best thing learned is - don't put a lit candle by the bathroom sink when there's a two-year old in the house...

Crazy Days are Here Again...

Last night we had a terrible ice storm! One of the limbs on the tree in our backyard split in two from the weight of the ice and fell on our house. I praise the Lord no one was hurt. That of course, woke my 2 year old son, who wanted a drink, tried to get it himself, and spilled water all over his bed. (I had to lay a Superman towel over it to get him to back to sleep). When we woke up this morning, we found we had no power. That was TOUGH! Our heat turned off, we had no water, and we didn't want to open the refrigerator because we didn't know how long the power would be off, and we didn't want the food to spoil. (Which it occurs to me now we could have just taken it and set it outside. Duh!) Anyway, in the middle of all this fun we were having, my son tells me that his tummy hurts. His eyes started to water, and his mouth started to pucker like he had eaten a bug, the next thing I know, I've got puke all over me, and all over my new couch. (now, remember, we had no running water-YUCK!) Our power is turned back on now, and boy am I grateful! Anybody else have a good "losing power" story??

Just a couple of thoughts on what to do if you lose power:
- Make sure to stay warm by adding extra layers and wearing hats
- Check on your elderly neighbors and make sure they're dressed appropriately. Also, if they have medical   machinery that runs on electricity, make sure they are moved to a place where they can find electric
- Be careful when going out, because there may some traffic lights without power as well
- Call 911 and report any down traffic lines

Stay safe in this cold weather!!

Snowy Weather Makes Things Better

 Alot of people view the snow as a terrible nusiance. I would have to agree if there is somewhere I have to be. I hate driving on snowy roads. But I also believe there are a lot of really great things about the snow. It slows us down a little. It makes us stop and think about what fun and different things we can come up with. We often are so focused on all the things we need to accomplish, like take back the library books, go to the bank, attend the lunch meeting, we forget about the fun we can create. So, instead of complaining about the next snow storm you hear coming, get excited, and start planning a memorable day with your children!

Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Build a snowman or snow fort together
- Make Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and cut them into shapes with cookie cutters
- Make Hot Cocoa, snuggle up under a blanket, and watch a movie together
- Make snow icecream!
- Have a snowball fight
- Go Sledding
- Create a comic strip together with pictures from your snowy day
- Read a book together by the fire
- Make snow angels

Recipe for Snow Icecream:
1 cup of milk (the creamier the better)
1 egg beaten well (before adding)
1/2 cup sugar
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
(Mix together)
Add clean snow to desired consistency
*Food coloring can be added (before snow) for variety

Also, if you're looking for some good gear to venture out in the snow in there are some really great jackets and coats at:  <iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwmore4you0c-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B003NVKP62" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>

A Baby Blogger -"The Terrible Twos"

Hey everyone! I'm just beginning this blog, and really have no idea what I'm doing, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know what they are. I will be very grateful!

The purpose of this blog is really just to talk about my amazing children, and offer some advice, ideas, products, and information to other families out there who might be looking for it. Also, just to make others laugh, because our days here can be pretty CRAZY! I have two toddlers. They are fifteen months apart. My son will be 3 in April and my daughter will be 2 in July. Currently, I am 8 months pregnant, and I can't wait to get this baby out of me. My husband is a youth pastor at our Church/Academy (a ministry we absolutely love), and he is very busy with teenagers and their problems, and constantly coming in and out of our home. So, you can see how our days can be a little hectic and TIRING!

Right now, my son is going through something I dearly hope he will grow out of very soon. It is a stage someone has affectionately and accurately titled, "The Terrible Twos." (He will grow out of it won't he?)
It seems like all he does and cry, and talk back, and embarrass me in the grocery store and restaurants. (Is 2 years too old to be talking back? Maybe he's learning it from the teenagers.)

Well, today, we had a go of it. He started out by hitting his sister in the face, and getting his sledding privileges taken away. Then he decided he wasn't going to take a nap because "he's a baby and he needs his NUK." We recently took his pacifier away, and told him it's because he's a big boy now, so this is the line he uses when we lay him down. After that, he decided to be a stinker in the grocery store by running around and touching everything even after we demanded "Do not Touch!!" In the restaurant we ate at for dinner he made a scene because he didn't obey daddy when asked to sit in his chair on his bottom! (He likes to sit on his knees). This landed him in bed early where he sat by his door for an hour crying for Mommy.(I'm a softie, and he knows it). Will these days soon be over?

Another adventure awaits me tomorrow, I am sure! I know with the grace of God I will make it through it. My grandmother once said to me, "Children are one of two things. They are either heavy in your arms or heavy in your hearts." I definitley choose the earlier over the latter. My little boy may wear me out, but he is still my little boy. He still wraps his arms around my neck and tells me he loves me. And right now I know he is safely tucked in his bed, recharging for another round. The "Terrible Twos" aren't that terrible are they? :)

 If you can relate to a day like I had today, and want to know more about this wonderful phase of toddlerhood, check out http://d6177izmsp581sie5k-csfnj-u.hop.clickbank.net/ It will show you a great program for stressed out parents in power struggles with 2 year olds. Give it a try!