Summer Time Management {Chore List}

In an attempt at self preservation, I decided this summer I didn't want to be harassed within an inch of my life over SCREENS. I'm not sure if your family is like mine, but somehow every second of every free minute seems to revolve about using a screen of some sort (tv, iPad, iPhone, PlayStation.) 

I'm happy to report that 4 weekdays into summer vacation and it's nearly 2pm: my children haven't asked to go on a screen ONCE! {I'll be honest, I'm shocked!}

I would like to believe that making them accountable and needing to earn it, has really seemed to make our lives just a little less stressful. I am no longer the deciding factor if they can use a screen. They know not to ask...because my answer is "have you finished your list?" {And honestly, consistency is key: every time they ask, I repeat that question...}

I'm also subtly forcing them to PLAY, CREATE, LEARN, and HELP...and honestly, while I hear a gripe here and there about needing to finish and activity (reading) they really don't seem to mind. 

**It is 2pm and my son JUST said "It's 2 o'clock and I still haven't gotten to go on screens!" 

If you'd like to use my version of the list, click on the image below. I print it on both sides, cut it in half, hole punch, and put it into a small binder (a small clipboard would work too!)

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Car Seat Child Information {Printable}

I've been meaning to create a printable information card to place on my children's car seats for...oh, the last 4 years. Today I finally decided to go ahead and make it happen. {This is really easy, and definitely a worst-case-scenario, hopefully it's never needed type deal...}

I decided to keep it simple...with basic information about my children in case we are in a car accident where {God forbid} they may end up seperated from us or in another hospital....my brother is a doctor has I recall him mentioning having a mother being sent to a different hospital than her children accidentally. {Horrible!!}

This should help avoid anyone from being forced into detective mode...

To personalize this for your children: 

1. Click on the above image

2. Download this document from Google Drive

3. Update the information for each child/car seat. Delete the unused/extra "cards." 

4. Print on (bright) paper or cardstock 

5. Use the dashed lines along the edges to trim the page (each card is business card sized) *You can also print onto Avery 5371 Business Cards, but it is not necessary if you don't have them on hand!

6. Affix to the carseat using packing tape {I have a laminator, so I will probably laminate + tape.}

7. Be sure to change the information if you move or update phone numbers, etc. 

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Milestones

Today in my house we've reached a milestone. I have TWO children both sleeping in their appropriate beds. Yippee!

contemplating naptime with his beloved "lovie." 

I had been so concerned about switching my almost three year old out of his crib, but alas, I don't know why I ever doubted him. He took the change like a champ when we removed the front of his crib and converted his crib into a toddler bed. He cried initially, but then continued napping and sleeping well...I am going to erase a few early mornings from my memory, and hate to admit I've added a door knob child safety device to the inside of his door. At least now the only late night visitor I have is our dog...

But today, I took the toddler bed out of my sons room and reassembled it in the baby's room. My firstborn's only choice would be to sleep in his big boy bed. {Okay, I will admit it's been set up in his room for days now and he absolutely refused to go near it when it came to bedtime.} But now that it is his only choice, he reluctantly took his nap in his big boy bed. {YAY!}

Happy to show off his big boy bed...

I'll tell you about it soon, but this is my husband's childhood bed.
I recently gave it a paint job and now hope that it can be loved for years to come by my son. The bed is made with my college bedding {sheets: Eddie Bauer; duvet: GAP circa 1999.}

Make room for #2. The baby happily took his first nap in his "new" crib. 

 ACTUAL NAP TIME. {Read: end of the world?!}

Some actual tears might be in his eyes at this point. He is trying {in his word-less way} to convince me he doesn't NEED a nap, but this momma ain't no fool! 

"C'mon, let me take your picture resting in your big boy bed." Score 1 for Mom. 

Thank Goodness for the trusted lovie. 

As I walked out the door, I snapped this. And not a peep...

Goodnight!

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Growing up {Parenting Advice Needed!}

So, we are in a major state of flux these days. We will close on a new house next FRIDAY (yikes!) and I've been busy packing {when I'm not wasting time on my new obsession Pinterest-follow me: Danielle Bartran} and living in a sea of boxes. {Why did I agree to move?}

So, the big question in our house these days is how to handle the sleeping situation of our growing children.

My oldest will be 3 in October and still sleeps in a crib. I know that he could get a leg over any day, but up until now hasn't tried. He loves his crib. I love his crib. I'd let him stay in a crib until he was 16 if it meant maintaining a good sleep pattern. He generally takes at least a two hour afternoon nap every day...but sometimes that nap extends to be 3 or 4 hours. That tells me he still NEEDS the nap! At night he usually sleeps about 12 hours. So, not to sound selfish: but I cannot lose that nap. {Momma needs time to craft and sew!!} My concern about switching to a toddler bed is the potential of giving him freedom to escape (or play) when he should be sleeping.

The baby is 9 weeks old now (yikes!) and is still sleeping in a cradle in my room. I realize his days are limited in the cradle, he will probably need to shift into a crib soon-ish. He's not sleeping through the night yet, so I don't mind him in my room until he's sleeping for a longer stretch.

I found a really cute toddler bed that we could make on ana-white.com. I love the idea of making a bed. That plan {I almost said pattern, haha} claims it will only cost $50 in materials to make the toddler bed! We'd still have to buy a new crib sized mattress, but that is totally do-able. {I really sort of want to make the new toddler bed!} Purchasing an actual toddler bed would definitely cost $50+ and also we'd still have to get a new mattress.

I also found a crib that I love. {Yes, I know it's navy blue, but I love the idea of a blue crib. Plus it gives me hope that I might have a girl one day, hahaha.} But it would cost about $200 plus a new mattress for that crib. It also converts into a toddler bed and has a rail for the toddler bed. My thought is that maybe when I finally break down and let the oldest out of a crib, I could put him into that toddler bed???

But here are the other issues:

We also have my husband's childhood bed and mattress on hand. It's a little higher up, so falling out of bed might hurt a little more...and it also has rails on the side, but we don't have them, I think my in-laws still do though. That would mean no additional cost, we have the bed, mattress, and matching dresser.

The current crib we have does convert to a toddler bed, but we would have to purchase some kind of bed rail to hold him in. I think that is only a $20-30 purchase?

Also, we could go the craigslist route and try to find a used crib (I'm talking cheap-like $25) that we could use to get us over the hump to toddler bed or big boy bed or whatever...

So what would you do?

What do you think I should do?

Help! Please. Help me!

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