Hand wash challenge! Who's in??

Ok well I have started the hand-wash only challenge. I made it up. I am trying to not use the dishwasher unless we have guests over or we have a busy night or something right after dinner. I noticed my top rack never dries so I constantly unload and put in the sink to dry. Then later I go back and put them away. Since I scrub the dishes before they go into the djshwasher any ways, why not add soap and wash them. I guess I am saving a step. I can easily do this now with being off  for the summer I just am not sure how long I will keep it going when I go back to work. My favorite tool to clean dishes:

Yes a baby bottle brush! It scrubs off everything and great to get inside cups, glasses and cleans utensils as well. 

I do not want to have my kitche sink full but like I said I was having to load it full illf dishes to dry any ways!

And here is my favorite dish soap: 

I love this stuff. It is super concentrated so you don't have to use a lot and it lasts forever!! No one paid me to say this, just my opinion!

So anyone else up for a challenge?  I think Ill make it to the one month mark and then Ill try for 3 months! 

Recent Family photos

Well the summer is flying by. We started with a giant mess of a yard, literally the 1st day of our summer break. As soon as it was finished we were able to get started with some landscaping projects and now that most of that is done we are hoping to do some relaxing for sure.

 

Here is a picture of Scott and I before we went out for our anniversary dinner. Nothing fancy, in fact we decided Chipotle was the way to go! Love that place. If you like burritos, go there. If you like salsa and chips, go there. If you want to eat a lot and still feel healthy, well go there!

 

This is our silly boy Clark, ready to get his eye exam on for kindergarten. He kept saying, what is taking so long? Um that's a doctor's office, Clark. They are busy. We did find out he has an astigmatism, like I do so we will bring him back next year to see if his vision has changed. I'm thinking he will need glasses eventually.

And our little stinker, Charlie. I can't believe how strong he is. Holds his own in many ways. He is 2 1/2 but keeps up with the big kids, until nap time, of course!

 

 

Feels so nice to enjoy our summers off! Teachers, don't you agree? We NEED this time though so those of you that do not teach, no comments. Lol

Lilies

 I love day-lilies! It didn't really dawn on me until this year when I went around the yard taking pictures if all the different colors. I have pinks, orange, yellow, red, and apricot! We have lived here for over 8 years and probabaly started with 2 kinds. 

This is a bright yellow and not only is it gorgeous, it is huge!!  Bigger than my open hand! 

This is a pretty pink, regular sized.

Another huge bloom in bright Illini orange!!

More of a petite purple, very pretty!

This is probably my favorite, I found it in a garden center several years ago. Its a double apricot! Kind of has ruffled petals.

Beautiful red. This is a regular sized bloom.

Very pretty light peach this is a larger bloom.

These ordinary ones surround the base of our mailbox post. On the smaller size, I tend to see these around town.

Finally this pale yellow which was here when we moved in. Its a nice sof color and I was able to divide it several times the past few years. 

What color is your favorite? Do you have another kind you would recommend? I need to cut some for an arrangemt soon!! Maybe add some coneflowers?