I have lost control! A conversation on back to school organization.

Dear Kids,

I have not read the book The Happiness Project, but I am certain it would say that 

an organized home= a happy life. 

I am sure of it. If not, I will write a book that says that.

Years ago, a favorite blogger recommended Real Simple's guide to an organized home. You go room by room looking at each space as though your house will be on the market, and prepare the space. Real Simple gives excellent tips on how to do this, etc.

So, I have been trying to clean up our home, clear out clutter, and help you girls start the year with a fresh, organized home (with a happy mom).

Nothing makes me happier than this closet.  Really. Well, maybe you three.  I ironed every napkin in there too.  Love!

 Spices!  This isn't my most used space, but so happy it is clean.

 HAIR!  Many might think this is gross, but after years of running up and down the stairs for morning hair, we moved the hair supply drawer to the kitchen.  It makes life SO much easier.  

Everything in one place:)  

 We have not been using this cabinet well at all, after a good clean out, we are in business! We are storing all our large/awkward kitchen things, and some platters.  Above this is a cabinet full of wrapping supplies and other supplies we want to keep out of reach.

 I have been struggling with how to best organize medicines, etc.  I had this makeup organizer that is perfect for our supplies! 

Today, you may have been having cousin time, and I may have done you the favor of clearing out your drawers;)

Here is to order!

The Beach

Dear Hudson,

We had a date today, and it was perfect (which you like to ask about food before you will eat, "It's perfect?"

Anyway, we hit Costco, where you kept instructing me to take your picture while navigating our cart through the crowds, then would give me a smile and say cheese (while I was not taking your picture).

From there you wanted to go to the beach, so we grabbed your sand toys and hit the park closest to our house. From the pictures you might think we stayed a while, but a hot minute after we unpacked, you were stealth and pooped your pants, sooooo, we went home.

All in all, a great date buddy!
xoxo

Super nanny

Hi, Anna,

You are the luckiest girl ever:)

You are in soccer camp this week and needed a jersey with a country on it today.  I will go on record as saying I do not enjoy these types of days at camp.  While it may be fun for the kids, it creates so much more work for us:)

Because we don't have soccer jerseys at our house, and you had a total meltdown and said you wouldn't go to camp unless you had a themed shirt. So, Alex to the rescue!  She whipped this up for you this morning using a white t-shirt and fabric pens.

Yikes

Dear Taylor and Anna,

What a rough day.  Thank goodness we can start again tomorrow.  We had bickering, manipulating, unkind words, harsh voices, and generally being jerks.  When Hudson went to bed at 6, you two did as well.  I am not sure what the story was, but I look forward to a new day tomorrow.  I asked you both to suggest consequences for your behavior and you suggested: no technology for the week (done), having a bar of soap in your mouth for 10 minutes (I started to gag thinking about it), running around the block (you love doing this, not a consequence at all), and there were others, but I don't remember.  We are going with a VERY early bed time and no technology for the week.  You will both also get a nice talk with your dad when he gets home.  As a side note, I feel like it is 1954 when Dad comes home and has a firm talk with each of you about your behavior, but I think it is important that you both know what Dad and I are communicating about your behavior many times a day.

So, we will do better tomorrow.

While I was thinking about today, you can imagine that I started a project.  It was time to do something/anything in our room.  It is always the last space I spend time cleaning/organizing, but I was so mad at you two, I wasn't willing to improve a space you "live" in.  So, I went to the garage (which I cleaned and organized on Saturday- pictures after Dad does a dump run) found a couple curtain rods, dug into the linen closet (which is my project for tomorrow night), and did this!

It is a very small change, but I STRONGLY DISLIKE the little metal blinds that came in our room, but our windows face the neighbors and I wanted some block.  This is the perfect thing to brighten up the room just a bit.  Now I am dying to find something to hang over our bed:)

 My side.... missing something, just don't know what.

 Daddy's side. The view when you first walk in our room. 

I feel better already.  Tomorrow night, linen closet.  Who is excited? Just me.  Ok.

xoxo

mom

The best!

Dear Kids,

The countdown is on! School starts three weeks from Monday and I am SO excited. We are going to have to revisit our summer goals to start to work on finishing those.

In the meantime, you girls are doing the most amazing job on your checklists! I am so proud of you!! Daddy and I will have to think of a special reward;)

In an effort to keep things running smoothly around here, I am always reorganizing our craft and school supplies. I am still not happy about how they are, so next time daddy is out of town, there will be another round.

We now have your summer work in an easy to reach space, but off the dining room table- woot woot!

I also did a massive end of the year purge.....finally.

Loving this summer with you three.
Xoxox
Mom

Nothing good starts with a tow truck:(

Kids,

My birthday was absolutely perfect in every way, except one.

After a great dinner with Alice, I came out to find my car dead.

Friday morning, this is how we started our day.

 You three were so cute playing on the floor of the waiting room.

So cute that I got over the fact that it was gross that you were playing on the 

floor of the service department waiting room.

Luckily the problem was just the battery and we are back in action.

xoxo

Hopscotch!

Dear Taylor and Anna, 

We are loving our sidewalk chalk and this easy to whip up hopscotch tracks!  Fun for everyone.