Embracing Life

School starts tomorrow. I am trying to get things organized in between working full-time. Ha! We had already been using a shoe organizer in our closet off the kitchen for miscellaneous items, such as hats and gloves in the winter, and sunglasses and baseball hats in the summer.  By moving those things to a different spot, I had plenty of space for our homework supplies. The kids love the ease of being able to find what they want without having to dig through the closet or a drawer! Full view Close-up #1: The first three bags are the kids' markers for art. The bottom two bags hold pencils, erasers, crayons and a glue stick for each twin Close-up #2 Misc markers, rulers, and art supplies for when homework is done and they just want to create something! Art supplies, extra markers (Keith got a great deal at Meijer!) Stamps, envelopes, return address labels, Connor's box with his school pencils and crayons. * I had previously posted this on my other blog, b...

T-minus 8 days until the start of school! And to get back in the routine of school, homework, and just the general busyness of life, I thought I'd post about some things we are doing at home to help make the transition from summer to school a little easier this year: Prepare the night before: Lunches and backpacks are ready to go.  Clothes are set out for children and mom!  Set the timer on the coffee maker.  Double check your cal endar to make sure you aren't forgetting a treat or permission slip.    Here is a picture of the wall/counter right by our back door.   Under the counter , Keith built cubbies for coa ts/back packs.   We use the old shutter for bills/ permission slips/important papers. Hover over this picture to see the "Pin it" button! Hug I t O ut: I've read this in numerous parenting mags, so it must be true... right? Sometimes kids are especially needy in the morning because they've been away from ph...

Now I'm not saying I was a goody-goody-two-shoes when I was growing up, but I can say that during the first 13 years of schooling I had (K-12), I got in trouble ONE time. I was in fifth grade and rolled my eyes at the teacher. I had to write my name on the board. My mom was upset, and made me write an apology letter to the teacher. (Which didn't prove at all awkward when I ran into her years later, as she teaches at the college I now work at!) Connor, I remember, had to move his magnet from green TWO times the entire first year of school. The twins, on the other hand, appear to be on the fast track to detention. (If kindergarteners had detention, which they don't. They do have a colored-clip system where they start on green, and can move to yellow, orange, and red.) Nine days of school, and Keira has moved her clip THREE days so far.  Yesterday, she even moved to orange, which warranted a 5 minute time out. Colin has only moved his clip twice, or so he says.  It...

Last week was a stressful one.  Connor, who loved going to school the previous two weeks, had apparently changed his stance on the subject.  Keith takes all the kids to daycare/school because it's a block from his work.  The children all go into one room for the early morning snack, then later, Connor goes to his classroom.  Keith always sends me a text or will call me when he is leaving the school.  This usually happens around 6:40-6:45.  By 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning, I was getting worried.  Turns out, Connor had a fit when Keith tried to leave.  He cried.  Which in turn upset the twins, who then cried as well. Blah. Wednesday and Thursday were more of the same. At night, Connor would seem ok with going to school.  On the car ride there, he would be ok.  But he would suddenly change his mind once Keith tried to actually drop them off. Yesterday went better than last week, at first.  Then Keith called me to ...