As I mentioned last week, we will be heading to North Carolina via car (shudder) next month. This trip has been planned for quite a while now, and I've been making mental notes of different things to buy in order to make the road trip a little less hellacious.
One of my ideas was to give each boy a small book bag to hang on their arm rests to hold their loot (a.k.a. books, crayons, paper, and small toys). This is to prevent me from getting whiplash from all the neck-craning involved with pleasing 3 boys on the road.
If you've taken a road trip with young kids, you know what I'm talking about. "Mommy, I need such and such." (5 minutes later) "Mommy, I'm done with such and such."
In my non-crafty mind, I imagined that I would need my mom's help in sewing simple bags. But when I mentioned this to her last week, she suggested I check Hobby Lobby for cheap, already-made bags. She's a genius, I tell you!
A trip to Hobby Lobby proved her right. I found these canvas bags complete with handles and outside pockets for around $3 each.
I found fabric markers on the same aisle for something like $7.
The boys have enjoyed decorating their bags a little each day.
And my idea of hanging them on the boys' arm rests...voila!
I had hoped to show you a picture of the boys each smiling in their seats and proudly displaying their bags. Unfortunately, their stinky attitudes showed me that they needed an early bedtime. Anywho....
When we hit the road in a few weeks, my neck will be able to rest a little longer between the requests for "such and such".
What else might make this road trip bearable? I would love to hear your ideas! (I'm also planning to hit the dollar store for cheap toys so they can have something new every couple of hours. Of course, we have movies and music.)
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday over at We Are That Family.
WFMW: Bags for the Road Trip
Works for Me Wednesday: Blog Design
If you have had a blog facelift, I'd love to know the name and contact info of your designer!
This is the backwards edition of WFMW. For other participants, please see Rocks in My Dryer.
WFMW: Putty on the Carpet
My question is this: Does anyone know how to get silly putty out of carpet?
Not that I need to know for any good reason, Hubby!
Thanks to Shannon for hosting Backwards Day!
Cheers!
Cheers to Vicki R. that left me a well-researched answer to yesterday's WFMW post on baby monitors! I am truly grateful to you, Vicki, for your time to find a link for me to research! And I am currently bidding at Ebay for the exact product you mentioned! Vicki, I can't contact you directly, given that your email and blog are hidden, but I do thank you and hope that you see this!!!
I am mulling over a meaningful post idea, but I am short on time today. Stay tuned....
WFMW: Baby Monitors
Shannon is changing things up with Works for Me Wednesday this week. Instead of sharing ideas, she's asked that participants post questions to be answered by others. And I need help on the topic of baby monitors, so I'm in!
The boys' bedrooms are upstairs, and ours is downstairs. If they are sick or upset during the night, I don't always hear them. I do have a baby monitor in Jack and Garrett's room, but the problem is that I haven't found a monitor to put in Liam's room that doesn't interfere and cause horrible static between the two monitors. I could hear other babies down the street better than I could hear my boys the last time I tried a monitor in each bedroom! Who really wants to wake up at 2am to the cry of a baby not in your care?!
Jack and Garrett's monitor is made by Safety 1st. The monitor I tried in Liam's room was Fisher Price. I am not certain if the interference was caused by the two particular brands that I had or not. I'd rather not go buy additional monitors without some experienced opinions from anyone out there.
Any suggestions out there? Hit me with your best shot!
WFMW: No More Forgotten Stains
If you're like me, your brain seems to forget minor details between the time you start a load of clothes in the washer and the time that the clothes need to moved to the dryer. By the time I remember to move those wet clothes to the dryer, I've forgotten that there was a red stain on that white shirt. When I remember that red stain, it's too late and that pesky stain is set after being heated in the dryer.
This dry erase board holds my memory and hangs on the wall next to the washer. As I treat a stained piece of clothing and place it in the washer, I put a simple note on this board next to that person's initial. For instance, if Jack's khaki shorts are stained, I write "khaki shorts" next to his initial. When it's time to move that load of wet clothes to the dryer, my note helps me remember to check those shorts for cleanliness before putting them in the dryer.
Works For Me Wednesday: Car Essentials
Shannon has requested that this week's edition of WFMW be car related. So, I thought I would share three essential items in my car.
Hand sanitizer is essential for us. After playing at the park or riding in the grocery basket, all three boys receive a squirt of Germ-X before the drive home.
Hefty's HandySaks are awesome! They're usually at the check-out stand at Target and only cost a buck or two. They're great for any trash accumulated on the go. They also come in handy for blow-out diapers or wet clothes from potty training children, not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.
Now that warm weather is here, I also carry sunblock in the car for last-minute stops at the park.
For other car-related tips, please visit Rocks In My Dryer.
Works For Me Wednesday: Nail Biting
Liam has been biting his nails for about a year. This habit consumed him so greatly that he had whittled his nails down to mere nubs, all ten of them. I tried applying different terrible-tasting remedies to his fingers but to no avail. Whether it was the cheap $2.89 bottle from Wal Mart or the high-dollar purchase from the internet, no lotions, creams or polishes helped him. I had even broken a house rule and allowed him to chew sugarless gum at all waking hours in an effort to keep his mouth busy on something besides his nails. This helped somewhat but not enough to merely break the habit. I had given up, thinking that he would have gnawed-off nails for life. That is until my mom had an excellent idea.
Didi, as he affectionately calls her, told Liam that if we would stop biting his nails, then she would take him to Target, his favorite store, a boy after my own heart, and buy him a special surprise. Within days, he was catching himself in the act and would tell me, "I don't want to bite my nails anymore." Within two weeks, I was having to trim his nails. And a couple weeks later, Didi came through with her promise and took Liam to Target. He was thrilled to pick Hot Wheels Blast and Crash, a battery-operated track for his favorite cars.
He's had this toy at home for two weeks now, and he has still not resumed biting his nails. He's so proud of himself! Was this bribery? Maybe so, but it worked for us!
For more helpful tips, please visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.
Works for Me Wednesday: Quiet Time
I hear so many moms comment on how they struggle to find time to read the Bible and pray on a regular basis. I, too, struggled with this, until I implemented blanket time. While the boys play independently on their blankets, I sit in the same room with my Bible and prayer journal.
This works for me for several reasons:
- This gives me a guaranteed 45-minute time slot every day, in which I'm spending time with God.
- I am showing my boys the importance of reading the Bible.
- By journaling my prayer requests, I am showing my boys how to take concerns before the Lord.
- Because blanket time is usually in the morning, we are beginning our day on the right foot.
- Because I also play worship CDs during this time, my boys see/hear me praise God.
- Once I finish reading and praying, then I use the last few minutes to read non-fiction. It is important that our children see us enjoy books. (I'm currently working on Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas, which I recommend to every parent!)
I hope you found this helpful. Shannon has many more ideas, so please visit Rocks In My Dryer.
Works-For-Me Wednesday: Remember God First
As encouraged by our pastor, I decided to begin speaking to God first thing in the morning. Some of you may say, "What? You don't pray first thing in the morning?" No, sadly, I don't. I'm a terrible morning person, and I hardly speak to my husband, who is physically in my house. I'm not very good about remembering to talk to God until the first catastrophe of the morning strikes. And, then, I go to God with, "Father, I forgot to start this day correctly...."
I decided that I need a little reminder of some sort. I asked myself, "What do I do every morning, no matter what?" I go to the bathroom, and I'm sure you do, too. So, I taped a little reminder above my toilet paper dispenser. It simply says, "Remember God first." I know it's silly, but it works! God doesn't mind that I talk to him from the potty.
Sorry, no photo available. I'm not comfortable showing a photo of my toilet area on the internet!
For more tips on making life easier, please visit Shannon's blog.
Works For Me Wedesday: Marble Jars
My boys get marbles for various things, such as being kind, eating a good meal, being helpful, reciting a memory verse, etc. If they do something over-the-top fantastic, then they might get numerous marbles at one time. It takes a long to time to fill the jar, but when that happens, the boys are rewarded with something tangible. For example, Liam's first reward was a ticket to the Texas Rangers game with Daddy and Big Daddy.
As the boys get older, I may remove marbles for poor behavior. I haven't done that yet, because I want to focus on the positive at this time.
I recently began putting the jars on this serving tray, so that I can easily move the jars around the house for different activities. For instance, I take it to the table to encourage good table manners. I also move it to the floor when we're working on something such as a counting game.
This is also a cheap way of praising kids. I found our marbles at Hobby Lobby for $4, and I've also seen them at the Dollar Tree. The boys' plastic jars came from Wal Mart for $1.98 each. If you don't have a spare kitchen canister for the extra marbles, you could use any plastic bowl that you already own. The serving tray is optional but a nice bonus. The rewards can be any dollar amount that you set...an extra hug is free!
My boys love receiving marbles. If I don't think to give them one, they will remind me. Kids want to be praised!
For other helpful tips on making life easier, visit Shannon's blog.
Works-For-Me Wednesday: Blanket Time
Do you need a little break from the tantrums, fighting, whining? Go to a five-star hotel. No! Although a weekend at the five-star would be heavenly, what I have to offer you today is a bit more frugal. If you're like me, you need a a little time every day when you know your children can play peacefully. Blanket time is one of my favorite times of the day.
Each child is given a quilt to sit on in our game room with a couple of toys and books of my choosing. I set a timer for 45 minutes, and the boys are required to stay on their own blanket to play and read. I play praise music and read quietly in the same room.
We have blanket time in the mid-morning. The boys' tummies are still satisfied from breakfast. They are dressed, and they've had time to play together. Blanket time brings calm to each one of us. It brings structure to our day. It also gives the boys some healthy boundaries in their play time.
You set the time, duration, location, and activities to fit your lifestyle. I guarantee you'll feel more peace in your home!
If you would like more tips on making your life easier, see Shannon's blog.
Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Eating Healthier
Works-For-Me Wednesday: Candy Jar
This edition of WFMW is multi-purposed. Let me say that I am all about healthy eating, but there are certain occasions that call for candy. Celebration, gluttony, and PMS survival are the top three reasons for keeping those calorie-laden items around in my opinion. But now that it's January, and I have a few pounds to drop, let me tell you why we'll keep the candy jar in our house...bribery!
Liam gets 2 Skittles when he wakes up with dry underwear. He also gets an additional Skittle if he stays in his bed all night without finding his way to my bedroom. Three Skittles have brought much better sleep to my husband and me, because we don't fret over Liam wetting the bed, nor do we awaken at 5 am with his dark shadow in our doorway. Liam knows that we'll come to get him at the appropriate time, and if he's dry, he begins the day with a treat.
Now for the second purpose of this WFMW post...I realize that many of us have sworn off sweets for the new year in hopes to drop those extra pounds that creeped up on us during the holidays. In honor of New Year's resolutions, here is a quick tip for staying out of the candy jar.
Yes, it is merely a Post-it Note that says, "No, No, Mommy!" I realize that some of you might need a padlock for your candy jars, but if you're like me, you just need a friendly little reminder that the holidays are over, and it's time to watch those "waisted" calories. If you need a padlock, then go buy one at Wal Mart. But heaven forbid, do not throw the candy away. Use it for bribery!
And another thing.... Notice that my candy jar has a lid. Candy dishes are way too tempting for me. There must be a lid that requires me to slow down for two seconds to ask myself, "Do I really want to do this?"
For more helpful tips, go see Shannon's place.
Works For Me Wednesday: Kid Funnies
If you're like me, you feel like your kids are sucking every memory cell out of your brain. Why can't I remember the simplest of things anymore?! It's those kids! They consume so much of my time and energy, as they should, that my brain can't keep up with nearly as much data anymore. Like me, you probably want to remember every cute and funny thing they say, so that when they're 16 and driving you to question why you ever became a mother, then you have record of their once being oh-so-cute! But if I can't remember what I fed them for lunch yesterday, then I sure won't remember their cute three-year-old jokes, when I'm screaming at them to finish their homework at 16 years of age. This is my solution:
I keep this small notebook in a kitchen drawer. When my boys say something that I really want to remember tomorrow or ten years from now, I stop and make a quick note. Each entry begins with the date and the child's name. Then, I give a brief synopsis of the oh-so-cute moment.I enjoy looking back at the funny things my boys have said. This handy journal has brought me to laugh on the hardest of days, all because I made a quick note of it on the day it occurred.
For other helpful tips, hop on over to Shannon's place. Ya'll, she's the blogging queen, as far as I'm concerned!
