Entertainment Center for sale

Solid wood center with doors, drawers, adjustable shelves, and wheels.

Brown in color,

Exterior

61 long

22 deep

50.75 high

Interior: TV area 18.25 deep

32 wide

28.25 high

$225

What does LOVE look like at your house?

Love at my house looks like clean dishes

that were washed by my wonderful husband .

Fits, Fussin' and Fightin'...

I thought I would break my hiatus with a Works for Me Wednesday post.

Who: your little buggers

What: designate a "Child of the Week"

When: any time 2 or more are involved in a dispute or a turn needs to be taken

Where: anywhere and everywhere

Why: I have precious little brain power and I don't need to waste it trying to remember who's turn it is to pick the movie or the Slush flavor during Happy Hour at Sonic. It decreases not only the number of fits, fights and fusses but the length of them regarding whose turn it is or pushing to be first or any number of things that my kids want to fight over.

How: assign a week to a child and rotate it. Choose alphabetically or chronologically or just start with the one that didn't ask to be first. I put Post It notes on a Monday to show the kids which week is theirs.

What for: attempt to save your sanity and it makes the little buggers feel special

If there is a choice to be made, I will ask the child. For example, the child may choose where we go out for lunch or they may choose the game. They may go first or run an errand with me. I also use this week to assign the not-so-fun chore(s) to the child.

This is NOT an original idea of mine. A very wise homeschooling friend of mine with 4 kiddos made this suggestion a looooooonnnnnggg time ago. I finally implemented it. It has been really great! The little buggers even count down the days until it is their turn.

Maybe this idea will help cut down on the squabbles in your house... For more great ideas head on over to Rocks in My Dryer.

The SchoolHouse Planner Giveaway...

Head on over to Proverbs 22:6 Academy for a chance to win a planner to meet every need! The Old Schoolhouse has just released this awesome planner and she is giving one away.

The contest ends July 8th. You don't have to have a blog to enter the contest.

Spring Photos

Where's the turtle?
















Jumping from the swing.

















DB's turn to jump. Mommy's turn to mess the photo up again.














Did you know you can do your homework under Mamabug's bed as long as you have a tray and 2 headlamps?

Snugglebug is picking up quickly on a real bike. #3 does things earlier than #2 and #1.















Something our backyard has never ever seen... shade from something natural.

















Working together to get the job done!













MB and DB's niece

Awesome photo blog: Portes et Fenetres

I ran across this awesome photo blog of doors and windows called Portes et Fenetres via DesignMom. I wanted to print several of their photos for a collage for my living room.

I wouldn't mind paying for them but bare minimum I wanted to ask permission to use their photos. I can't find any contact information on the blog. Would anyone know how to get in contact with them?

Works-For-Me-Wednesday-- keeping sheets straight...

Roll your twin sheets as you store them rather than folding them and you'll never wonder which one is is the twin sheet.

We have 4 twin beds and one queen bed so the majority of time we are looking for a twin fitted sheet.

It cuts down on the question of "Where's a sheet for _______'s bed?" And it also is easier for the little buggers to roll rather than fold a sheet that is twice their size.

Of course, that presupposes that there are sheets washed, dried, and put away properly. Two out of three isn't too bad.

If I used top sheets for the little bugger's beds then I would probably keep each set together in a pillowcase like someone else has suggested on a previous WFMW post.

Head on over to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for more great tips!

Works-For-Me-Wednesday-- LEGO, K'NEX storage

My friend Bestbug has two boys that are amassing quite a K'NEX collection that was taking over the living room. After using a toolbox in order to store Ticklebug's Hotwheels , I suggested she use an empty large tackle box that I had laying around the house. She took me up on my offer and this is what she came up with. Isn't she clever? Makes me want to play with all the pretty colors!

The box came with several drawers/boxes but I purchased 2 extra at Walmart for a couple of bucks. They come with dividers that you can arrange to fit your pieces depending on how you prefer to sort them. Each has a secure snap top lid. There are many sizes and styles to choose from. I found the best selection of boxes to be at outdoor stores like Bass Pro Shop and Academy Sports. If you only have a small collection you could purchase just the small utility boxes.

An added benefit of having them stored and sorted seems to be that the kiddos play more with them once they can see what pieces they need more readily.

Anyhow, that works for me. What storage works for you?

Head on over to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for more great tips!

WFMW- Over the door organizer ideas...

I am always scouring magazines, books and other media sources for inexpensive (read cheap) ideas for streamlining our life. As a result I came across an idea to use over the door shoe pockets as an organizer for small items.

One is hooked on the back of my pantry door and it holds mostly medicines, dosage cups, tape, Swiffer refills and occasional art supplies. I like the high pockets because not only can I see what is in there but also the little buggers cannot reach it.

The other pocket in on the door out to the garage. I use it for things I might want to grab on the way out the door--seasonal items like umbrellas, hats, and mittens. BestBug, my friend, uses hers inside the coat closet for hats and outdoor items. You could use it for toiletry items in a bathroom closet, toys in a kid's room, art supplies or as a general catch-all for things needing a home.

I originally purchased one at the Container Store but the second one I purchased at Walmart or Target and I am perfectly happy with it.

Got any favorite organizing tricks of your own?

Head on over to Shannon for other great tips and ideas at Rocks in my Dryer.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday-- Hot Wheels storage

Ticklebug is now 6 and is accumulating quite a few Hotwheels. Needless to say they aren't so "hot" when they are scattered on the floor in the middle of the room.


My solution is a plastic toolbox that he can store, organize and tote around if he so chooses. Because of the deep base he can also fit the car carrier in.









Talk about a good deal for $5 or $10! I got this in December at Home Depot but I can't find it on their website. This is a similar one. I would go for plastic rather than metal for the noise factor. Tool boxes come in all sizes so you could find a size that fits your collection.



If you need to keep him busy longer, turn it into a project of decorating it with stickers, paint or Sharpies-- depending of course on your level of sanity that day.

What storage works for you?

Head on over to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer for more great tips!

Hellooooo out there!!!

Obviously, it has been a while since I have posted. I could give you a list of reasons (excuses)...and I will.

10. 3 birthdays in one month
9. Spring Break
8. Easter
7. camping overnight
6. pneumonia (Doodlebug)
5. messy house
4. researching education options
3. more education...
2. looking for a cleaning lady

And the NUMBER ONE reason is... I didn't feel like it.

Any how... I'll gear up for WFMW tomorrow...

Texas Snow... from earlier this month...

Please forgive the positioning of the photos. I can't get it right to save my life. UGH!

T

Randomness...

Some trees have leaves... Our tree has sandals, ribbon, princess shoes, buckets, baskets and teapots.

We just purchased a new red oak for our back yard last week. I guess the little buggers thought it looked a little bare.





Some Christmas trees have angels and stars... Our tree has an alligator.

Every year at Christmas we top our tree with whatever puppet we have handy. It started off as a joke 10 years ago and has now become a humorous tradition.

Awesome Giveaways! Act Quick!

Mod*Mom is giving away 75 things for Valentine's day. Things you didn't even know existed but now you can't live without!

Go check it out!