Visit Power of Moms

One of my favorite websites is Power of Moms.  When I am doing laundry or dishes I like to listen to their podcasts.  They have amazing training programs for mothers.  I am a big fan of the Mind Organization for Moms program.  

A variety of authors write articles for their website.  This past week a few of my articles have been on their website:  

Simple Steps for a More Organized Life

Back to School and Back to Basics

Enjoying every little moment

Last week as I sat in the hospital holding this little bundle of joy, I felt a bit sad knowing how quickly she will grow up.  In just one month she will be so much bigger and I am afraid that if I blink she will be grown up.  I pondered how I could enjoy every little moment of her being a tiny newborn.  

In my mind I devised a plan to simplify my schedule even more. 

I have received so much help.  My husband has been incredible and has taken over the laundry.  He really is amazing, he does it each time I have a new baby.  He has been running to the grocery store and working so hard at home after a long day at work.  

I appreciate my mom being here to help care for kids and cook.  I am so grateful for friends that have brought in amazing meals since my mom left.  

With all of these wonderful people helping me I have been able to have more time to enjoy this little sweetheart! 

She is here. . .

and it is Heaven on Earth!

MOM ADVENTURE #7

Our oldest daughter was my helper for our 7th MOM ADVENTURE.  She thought it would be fun to go to an art museum.  The kids each took a sketch pad and a pencil.  When they found a painting or sculpture that they liked they made a quick sketch in their books.  After our picnic lunch we showed each other our sketch books and talked about our favorite pieces of art.  It was one of our favorite adventures!  

Take A Step Back

July 26, 2013

Today I had an "Aha Moment" let me explain. . .

I am 33 weeks pregnant.  I feel like I have a basketball for a stomach and I am walking around on swollen feet and ankles.  To bend over, move, or walk up stairs takes effort and exertion (you know when your out of breath after one flight of stairs :)  I am sure that people notice my swollen feet and wonder how many days I have left until I am due. I wanted to record what I look like during my 7th pregnancy and just how big I am so I had my daughter snap a few pictures today.  When the pictures were downloaded on the computer and I saw what I looked like it was like taking a step back from life to recognize that many of my problems are distorted in my head.  

I am not nearly as large as I feel and my feet aren't as obviously swollen as I thought.  Probably no one at the grocery store walks past me and thinks, "That lady has swollen ankles."  How often are we like that?  We get so caught up in our discomforts and problems that we don't realize that they aren't as serious as we make them out to be!

I have decided that when I am in the "woe is me" mind set it is time to "Take A Step Back" and realize how blessed we really are.  

To be completely truthful this is actually my favorite part of pregnancy because I made it through the nausea, then I had low iron and was so tired, now I feel good and time is flying by!  I also love this part of pregnancy because the baby is moving so much.  I already know what the baby's schedule is like and I am getting prepared to be up from 2:00 am until 3:00 :)  

The First Day

The kids had a successful first day of school yesterday!  

Ready For School?

We have done 7 things to get ready to start school this week.  

1. Clean the mudroom

I wanted to make sure this room was clutter free so that we were ready for it to be filled with backpacks!

2. Get the Backpack's cleaned out and ready

I made the mistake of letting our oldest daughter pick out any backpack she wanted when she started kindergarten.  Let's just say that cheap "Hello Kitty" backpack didn't last long at all.  She actually went through three backpacks before I learned my lesson and started buying Land's End backpacks and lunch bags.  I always get them on sale for a great price and they last for many years! 

3.  Buy school supplies

While I was shopping for a cart full of school supplies my husband went shoe shopping.  Our kids have to have a pair of gym shoes to keep at school for their P.E. class and the boys needed new shoes to wear to school.   Out of the six pairs of shoes purchased, four of them were a size 3!  

4.  Have the lunch bags and containers ready

Our Ziploc containers fit perfectly in our kids lunch bags.  The water bottles that I found at Old Navy are the perfect size for the side of their bag.  

5.  Print new charts and plan the fall schedule

6.  Clean closets and buy some school clothes

I have learned the beauty of not having too many clothes!  It is much nicer to have a closet with items you love and can easily find than a closet stuffed with items you don't really like.  

7.  Have an organized system for papers

When the backpacks come home and I am sorting through papers I have my ipad handy to add anything to my calendar or to-do list.  

I also have the stadium file to file papers in one of the following folders:

Today (things that must be handled today)

Weekly Review (things that I can take care of that week, I usually have a weekly review on Fridays)

File (papers that need to be filed long term)

Read and Review (magazines or information I would like to read through)

The black accordion thing in the picture has a place for each kid to store papers that need to be filed temporarily (spelling lists, sight words to practice).