Our mud kitchen

Gathering some supplies for an outdoor "mud kitchen" was on my to-do list for a while, after first seeing the idea here and here. Finally, while out thrifting with a friend this weekend I stumbled on some little muffin tins and spoons that were perfect, and finally inspired me to make a few more stops and gather everything we would need.


When I returned home with bags full of cookware and utensils, I had no choice but to tell my 4 year old what they were for. He was beyond excited, and would not even consider waiting until tomorrow to get this set up. I told him I wanted to build something with shelves and a counter to place in the back corner of our yard, but he convinced me that it was "fine" and we didn't need to wait for silly things like planning or assembling anything complex. He helped me find some scraps of wood from the garage, and an old drawer which we nailed sideways on top for "shelves". In about 20 minutes, he declared that this was perfect! and just like a real kitchen mom!.


Part of the fun is scavenging around the yard for "ingredients", like these that he decided to use for tea. There were a few unfortunate sips to be tasted as well. And much excitement as I was presented with my morning latte.


My boys played outside in their "kitchen" until it got dark last night. Then on the way inside, my oldest hugged me and said "this is so awesome mom! I love it! I can't wait to wake up in the morning and put my shoes on so we can come back outside!"


And that's just what we did, at 8am this morning. I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day!

Terrarium

I've been wanting to make one of these for a while, after seeing so many of them pop up around the internet.

So last week, we gathered the materials (pebbles, sand, charcoal, soil, moss) and put ours together.



The best projects these days are quick and easy for everyone to participate in. Dropping rocks into a glass jar = lots of fun for a toddler.



The final touches were some smooth stones and a few pieces of beach glass from last summer. And of course, we needed a little mushroom or three - (I got them here).



A little spritz of water and we put the lid on tight, and our terrarium is now a lovely, earthy centerpiece for our kitchen table.

Obey the Signs!

If you've been to our house recently, you may have wondered about some of these. Just so there is no confusion, I will explain the meaning of these warning signs. Made and displayed by my 4-year-old, they are to be taken very seriously. (And yes, the adhesive half-sheets are shipping labels!)


The first, above, is a drawing of the boys' trampoline. (Yes we have a trampoline in the living room - doesn't everybody?) You'll notice in the photo that the trampoline's rear legs are off the ground. The circle and line mean "NO making the trampoline come off the ground!", which has been something we have been needing to remind them of. I was proud of my little guy when, of his own initiative, he made this sign to remind himself of the rule.


Next, on the side of mama's nightstand, is the sign above. This one is to remind everybody NOT to jump off of mama's bed. Do you notice a theme here? If you were to come to the conclusion that we have a lot of JUMPING in our house, you would be correct... (And just so I don't sound like a big mean NO NO NO parent, there ARE plenty of places and ways that they are welcome to jump safely - and boy do they ever... Our couch, stairs, and their own beds, are fair game!)


This is in our office, on a bookshelf. A reminder to all of us not to yell or scream.


And yes, another reminder of the same - in the living room. We have all struggled with not yelling lately, and I may have set myself up for these by welcoming reminders from my little boy if I start to raise my voice...


In this photo above, you will see my favorite - the SOS. Don't be alarmed, there is no dire emergency, just a little boy who does not like the sound of the vacuum. In his words, when asked about this sign - "It's a distress signal. So when you are vacuuming and you see the sign, you will remember that I don't like it and turn the vacuum off."

Below that, you will see a sign that he made a few days ago. After playing too roughly with his Earth ball to the point of hurting people, daddy had to put it away for a while. So this sign was to let everyone know that there was to be NO more Earth ball (temporarily, at least).


And finally, the newest addition to the living room... No jumping on the clothes hamper. (I had to make this rule after picking up pieces of the wicker hamper off the carpet all morning...)

So there you have it. Is everyone clear on the rules now? :)

Simple Abundance

I had never heard of this book until a friend mentioned it recently. I checked it out from the library and started reading it shortly after the new year. There is a short essay for each day of the year, with the purpose to guide you to a life of contentment and simplicity. It sounded like just what I needed.



I like that each day's reading is very short - I've had no problem finding a few minutes to read it as part of my morning routine. While nothing I've read so far has been especially earth-shattering, it has been nice to start each day with something to think about and keep me focused on what is important. It can be a little cheesy at times, but I'm ok with that because it does seem to be making a difference for me. I look forward to reading it every morning, and I think it is playing a part in helping me stay calm and focused throughout the day.

Quite ironically, we found out some news last week that has drastically changed all of our plans for 2011. The routine of this simple little book has helped me stay positive and embrace what is to come.

Put it on the calendar

The end of 2010 was busy and stressful. So naturally, I've been pondering how to make sure 2011 is more peaceful and organized. We got off to a bumpy start, but now I'm feeling better about where we're headed for 2011.


Magnetic Chalkboard by NameDrop on Etsy.

On a friend's recommendation, I signed up for the free site cozi.com, which is an easy to use family calendar site - you can color code things for each family member, make grocery lists, send things to your phone, and I set it up to email my husband and I our weekly calendar each Sunday. (No I'm not being paid to mention their site - Ha! I wish! - I just really like it.) For some reason, Google Calendar just wasn't doing it for us. But this is working great.

Instead of muddling through the weeks, struggling to find time for everything (and each other), I've made us a weekly schedule that has specific time allotted for our work, family time, and even time for my husband and I to have one-on-one time with each child (and each other). This is already helping us feel more productive and at ease with our weekly routine.

Mini Goals Chalkboard by MaryKateMcDevitt on Etsy.

I've also scheduled time at the end of each month to organize our business receipts, etc. for the month using Outright. So hopefully next year's taxes will be easier (compared to the scary huge pile of receipts and papers I have been shoving into a binder all of last year.)

Of course, as important as the schedules and calendar themselves, is the flexibility to make changes as needed - and know when to throw the day's schedule out the window too ;)

Even though it took me until mid-January for the inspiration of a new year sink in, I'm feeling pretty good now about the next 11 months!

Why is our water bill so high?

Because these boys (the little one especially) love to play in the sink, every day.

I wish I could figure out a way to allow all this fun and NOT waste so much water.

I suppose if they get wet enough, it can substitute for tonight's bath...?