Organize it Mondays - Silverware drawer

We are sure hoping for a healthy Christmas at our house!  As if the 4 months of colds weren't enough... we were hit this weekend with that horrible flu that is going around.  I got it first and thought maybe we were in the clear with 2 full days and no other sickies.... then last night I was woken up (though barely asleep) at midnight with toddler puke.  I was awake most of the night attempting to ensure that a bucket made it under her mouth in time.  I was mostly successful and only had to do one load of laundry.

Organize It Mondays - Silverware Drawer

enough about the sickness... moving onto my regular Monday posts.  (I needed something small and manageable today with the events of last night) so as I was unloading my clean dishes from the dishwasher I couldn't bare to put another clean utensil in a dirty utensil tray (I had been looking at this dirty tray for weeks but had yet to do anything about it - how does a drawer that holds only clean items get so dirty anyway?)

Looking at these pictures you can't see the dirt, but the drawer was gross

There were a few problems with this drawer (though I know it is already fairly organized).  My main problem is that the silverware tray would slide into the back of the drawer and I couldn't easily get at the baby utensils I had at the back.

I pulled everything out of the tray, cleaned it (and the drawer) and took out the items we never use (mainly the chopsticks and fondue sticks).  I added in a drawer liner to prevent sliding.

I moved some of the items I had at the front of the drawer into the empty sections (from the chopsticks and fondue sticks) and placed everything back in.

The tray no longer slides and I turned the tray so the baby spoons are at the front and easier to access.

Easy-peasy and cost me nothing as I had the drawer liner on hand already.

It is amazing how long we live with something that isn't as efficient as it could be, especially something so easy to fix.

I love it and challenge you to clean your silverware tray (come on, we all know it is dirty ;)

leave of absence

until my daughters let me sleep for more than one hour at a time the blog posts will be on hold!  I will return to my regular posts ASAP!

a week off

My girls are sick.... yes AGAIN, or still.  It is never ending.  I'm pretty sure they have had a cold for 4 months straight now (along with teething).  I haven't slept through the night in probably that long (and I was on such a roll with baby going all night without eating or waking up).

I am grateful they are just minor colds and nothing worse.  I am looking forward to having a schedule again (or maybe for the first time since Hailey was born).  Here is what my 'schedule' would look like (and I am trying to be realistic here)...

7 am - Wake up before girls, shower, have breakfast, get dressed (because at this point I have slept all night and feel great)

8 am - Girls get up - feed them breakfast, clean up kitchen, get them dressed/changed.

9 am - Play time for kiddos/Computer time for Mommy

10 am - Quinn nap/Play with Hailey outside

11 am - Hailey play time alone in room/Mommy lunch prep

11:30 am - Lunch for both girls

12:00 pm - Lunch for mommy and daddy/clean up/Girls play

1 pm - Hailey nap time/ Mommy projects/cleaning

2 pm - Quinn nap time/ Mommy projects/cleaning

3:30 pm - Snack time for girls/Clean up

4 pm - Hailey activity

4:45 pm - Dinner prep/ Hailey alone play in room

5:45 pm - Dinner for all/Clean up

6:30 pm - Girls play/ House projects/chores

7:15 pm - Bathtime and bed routine for girls

8:00 pm - Girls in bed/Mommy relaxing time

10:00 pm - Mommy to bed!!!!

It's possible right?  Maybe don't answer that... I can always hope :)

I will return to my regular Mon/Wed postings next week.... perhaps next week I will get something done!

Two Cents' Worth - Potty Training

Potty Training....

sigh

I'm beginning to think that keeping children in diapers is WAY easier.

We spent the entire morning on the toilet (at least 10 separate occasions) trying to get Hailey to poop on the potty.  Nothing.... even though it is her 'usual' poop time.  I've got all the tempting treats and prizes and she wants to go.... but just doesn't know how.  She will pee anytime we put her on but still doesn't tell us when she has to go.  She probably just isn't ready yet.  I will likely wait till after Christmas to really focus on training her.

Until then I will enjoy not having my day revolve around bathroom visits every 20 min (that is even more frequent than pregnancy bathroom visits).

So today I am asking for your tips and advice about potty training.  How did you get your children to use the toilet?

Check out this blog for the MOST HILARIOUS cartoon depictions of motherhood!  The latest post was on potty training as well!

Organize It Mondays - Menu Plan Printable

Do you hate deciding each day what to cook for dinner, breakfast, lunch or snacks?  Last minute planning is THE WORST!

Solution = Meal Planning

It doesn't necessarily make cooking more enjoyable but it does take away most 'worry' about what you are going to make.

My friend Rhonda made this awesome printable to assist with all those meals you have to plan.  I have had this menu planner for a few years now and have found it SUPER useful.  I first used it for at least 6 mths straight but it has been sporadic since (though I wish I did use it every week).

The best thing is that once you have a week planned you can reuse it with minimal adjustments.  Don't forget to add on the back of each plan a grocery list for items needed to make those meals.  You can also change things up and have one day a week where you make a new recipe that you haven't tried before.

You can print a blank form, laminate and use a dry erase marker - or keep it in hard copy form and collect them in a binder for re-use later.

you can find the menu plan here on Rhonda's blog

The Girls at 6 Months

Our little Quinn is officially 6 months old now.

It has amazed me how different she is from Hailey. 
*Top picture is Quinn, bottom is Hailey at 6 mths

Quinn	Hailey
No teeth (but they are coming)	Had 2 bottom front teeth
Won’t eat solids	Ate solids well (rice cereal and fruits)
Doesn’t like bottles (won't touch formula)	Almost fully weaned (nurse 2 times a day)
Usually gets up only once	Woke up in the night often
Just started rolling (back to front)	Crawled (6.5 mths)
Does not hold items well	Drank from a sippy cup
Yells loudly	Said “mum”
	Signed “all done”
Is happy 80% of the time	Was happy 20% of the time
Intolerant to cows milk (Mommy on Goats milk)	Intolerant to cows milk (had soy formula)

I love my girls, I'm thankful for them, they are my life.

Two Cents' Worth

Favouritism

Did you pester your parents as a child about who was their favourite kid?  Did they always respond with "I love you all equally" (or as my Dad always said "You are my favourite fourth oldest daughter Jen")?

Well I figured it out.... it's all a LIE!!!!!  Every parent DOES have a favourite child (unless somehow they are all miraculously the same).  Now I'm not saying every parent doesn't LOVE each child equally.  Just that they have ones that push their buttons less often than the others.


Knowing about this secret comes with a catch.... You may have a favourite child but you can NEVER.... EVER admit it or speak about it as long as you live.

I'm not very good at keeping secrets!