School's Out; Papers are EVERYWHERE {School Paperwork Organization}

This post was originally published by me here.

I am taking advantage of using an old post today. Today is Tanner's last day of 3rd grade and Breckin will finish up daycare this week in trade for summer camps until he begins Kindergarten in August. Of course they have been coming home with tons of school papers as teachers clear out their classrooms. A few years ago, I created a system for organizing school paperwork and artwork - you know, just the stuff that are keepsakes and are simply too cute to toss. Here goes - enjoy!

For the record, I do still use these boxes, and plan on making one for Farrah as well! Here they are today, still getting their fill of paperwork!

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If you're like me and you have a child that brings home endless amounts of papers each day from school, then you might also be like me in that you have random piles of it all over (neatly stacked, at least!) I can't believe the amount of worksheets, drawings, etc that come home with him.

I read a very cute blog everyday called IHeart Organizing - some of you I'm sure have heard of it. Anyway, the blogger, Jen, is excellent at organizing and always finds cute, stylish ways to do it. I came across a post of hers earlier this week where she showed what she does with all three of her boys' schoolwork that she wants to keep.

They each have their own file box sectioned off by grade - in each folder she files her favorites of their artwork, crafts, tests, report cards, etc. Unfortunately, it would be too hard to keep it all, but this solution definitely helps to be able to hang on to more of it for cherishing later in life. Each folder had a paper with a picture of the child from that year and their teacher's name, etc. Jen even offers the same printables she used for her own on her website. I snagged hers up, but edited them with fonts and details that were more "me". Thanks, Jen for your awesome website and sharing your ideas with the world. You are helping to make my life so much easier!

Here is how my project turned out - I did one each for Tanner and Breckin! It will be so fun to look back through these with my husband and the boys as the years go by.

First, I got 2 blue plastic file boxes ($7.97 each at Walmart):

I figured plastic would stand the test of time, and the handle makes it easy to tote around when pulling it out

I stuck a personalized label on the front of each box:

I got some manila folders and file hangers (already had both of these) and I printed out these covers & labels for the folders:

And here are some pictures of the finished project:

You can see I pulled out my stash of kept projects from Tanner's daycare and Pre-K years

I just LOVE it.

I figured this top compartment would be a great place for ribbons, medals, etc...

I am so glad I have somewhere to immediately stick Tanner's schoolwork and Breckin's daycare projects each day. I will definitely keep those loose piles to a minimum now!

How do you tackle the school papers? Would something like this help you?

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Bucket O' Summer {and Spring}

Every year when the weather turns warm, I try to gather the necessary and often-used supplies and keep them in one central location where everyone can find them. Nothing more annoying than trying to round up the 4 or 5 different types of sunscreens you need for a day at the beach {you know - Sport SPF 30 for volleyball-playing daddy, SPF 45 for mommy's face and 30 for her body, kid's spray in 50+ and a face stick, and then baby face stick and SPF 70 baby sunscreen - I mean, seriously??!}, when it's hard enough just getting out the door with three kids in tow {one of them being a baby!}

So this is a little thing I've used the last couple of years and it's worked great. I got this utensil holder from Target and it perfectly stores our sunscreens, bug spray, lighter {for the grill pilot or those Citronella candles}, flashlight, etc. I keep it on the top of our fridge [out of reach for little ones} for easy on-the-go access and also for backyard fun.

I'll share with you my favorite sunscreens...

For Tanner and Breckin, Neutrogena's Wet Skin line is great. As you probably know, when swimming, you should really apply your sunscreen again every couple of hours. So since their skin is usually wet, this stuff makes me feel confident I've got them adequately covered.

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I also like to use a stick for their face as it's more sensitive and sees the sun more. It is thicker, so not as likely to wear off. It's also a lot easier for me to put it on them than slathering lotion all over their face...and this one by Banana Boat is generally tear-free.

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I have yet to actually use sunscreen on Farrah yet, but I will be soon as the weather is nice and we'll be spending a lot of time outdoors. I have Neutrogena's Pure and Free line ready to go for her.

For myself, I really like the Beach Defense line by Neutrogena for my body.

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And for my face, generally my daily moisturizer and foundation have SPF 20 in them, but for a day out in the sun for hours, I definitely like to enlist the help of a sunscreen with a higher SPF {and sometimes a baseball cap!} I'm in my 30s now and I am really trying to be aware of how I treat my skin. Again, I go with a Neutrogena product - I love the Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch because I don't feel like it clogs my pores and it applies nicely.

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Jake likes to use a sport sunscreen, so I usually stick with tried and true Coppertone for him. He also prefers the spray because he feels he can reach his back better with it.

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How do you keep your on-the-go spring/summer stuff organized?

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Becoming A Praying Mom

This is one of those "real" posts, y'all. Just a heads up.

As a mom, I feel I have faltered in many ways...I have triumphed too. I am no picture of perfection...I try as I may, and try as I might, but the truth of the matter is I always, ALWAYS have room to improve. I know today with Facebook and all other sorts of social media, it is enticing to paint this picture of perfection for your friends and followers...it can be hard to admit when you are struggling with some facet of life, or just when something isn't going right when everyone else's "lives" are seemingly perfect. Even though I too get caught up in painting that perfect picture, I am able and willing to admit there are situations that get the best of me...when I don't have all the answers, when I'm at my wit's end...when I feel hopeless. I am so glad I have this blog because it is a great outlet for venting and reflecting.

My husband and I believe in raising our children in a Christian manner...we believe in taking them to church, teaching them prayer and teaching them about God and His love. However, I would not consider myself a true "praying mom". While I know at times I have my talks with God and a relationship of sorts with Him, I do feel that I am lacking in truly pursuing a better one and also being better about pursuing a relationship with my children when it comes to consistently praying with them {and I don't mean the dinnertime "bless this food to our bodies" yada yada yada...I mean a true, heartfelt daily prayer with them and for them.}

Tanner is my strong-willed child...he is my first and he has had struggles when it comes to school and general socializing. Jake and I have tried so many things to help him in this area...we have had years of trial and error. This weekend, I had an a-ha moment at church service. Our pastor was talking about a 30-day Gospel reading challenge {which I fully plan to participate in} and not just believing in Christ, but following Him. It truly made me realize that when it comes to Tanner, one thing I have not been diligent in with my effort to help him, is utilizing the power of prayer. I made the decision right then and there that I would pray with him every day before I take him to the bus stop for school.

On Monday, when it was time to go back to school after the holiday break, I sat with him a few moments after he ate his breakfast and we held hands and I prayed aloud for him. I simply prayed for a blessing on his day, for him to feel God's love for him, for God to bring good friends into his life and for him to make good decisions and strive to do well in all things he tries. The smile on his face and happiness in his eyes after we said "Amen" was so moving to me. I will admit that in recent years, I've felt a big strain on my relationship with him...there was always so much disappointment on my part for certain behaviors he would have and I would have to come down on him hard more than I liked to. He too had become hard and closed off, which broke my heart to see. All of this has had a heaviness on my life for a few years now, and I know it must on his as well. I know he just wants to feel loved and know that I'm on his team. He is naturally a loving, sensitive sweetheart of a kid and it hurts me to ever see him suffer from frustration and being misunderstood. It almost seemed with that one praying moment together, his heart softened and felt my love for him. I want him to feel my love for him every day. There was a time when we were best buds and I miss that. I know he must too.

Of course the goal is for our prayers to become more specific each day...hoping he will open up to me with any struggles he is going through so that we can pray together about them.

I did present my resolutions for 2015 here yesterday, but I definitely want to add to the very top of that list:

Praying with and for my children individually every day. 

I know it's important because I can see what just one time has done for Tanner. He had a happy day at school that day and I know it was because he started it off with a happy, full heart. Even that evening, he happily did his homework {many days it is a whiny battle}, he would also just come up and randomly give me a hug...his overall attitude toward everyone was a 360 from what it has been. Even when he didn't get his way {i.e. he has been grounded from his video games this week due to attitude}, he wasn't trying to argue with me until we were both red in the face...he would just accept it and move on. I can only hope to see more and more improvement like this in the coming months. He truly is a good kid with a big heart. The following morning after he had finished his breakfast, he called to me and said, "Mom, ready to pray?" Be still my heart. He loves it.

One day when I'm no longer here, I want him to remember me as a happy, encouraging mother who loved him with all her heart and made it known to him...not a disappointed, angry mother who didn't try harder to understand him. I know a large part of his self-confidence will come from me and I want him to know every day how amazing I believe he is, so that he too feels that way about himself.

Back to the 30-day Gospel Challenge: I was challenged by my pastor to read three chapters from Mark, Luke and John every day for 30 days...it can either be three chapters from one of them, or one chapter of each of them, especially focusing on the red print {Jesus' words}. If you feel encouraged to take on this challenge for the next 30 days, I'd love for you to join me.

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An Organized Diaper Bag

As a mother of three young children, I am constantly on the go. Now that it's summertime, that's even more so. With an infant, I like to be prepared for anything while we are away from the house and for me, that requires a pretty darn organized diaper bag with all of the things I might need while we are out.

Here is what I keep in my diaper bag and how I keep it organized.

My diaper bag is the J.J. Cole System 180 bag and I've had it since Breckin's diaper days four years ago, but it is still available online. It comes with a portable changing mat, plenty of pockets and a detachable pacifier case.

 

It's worked great for me, so I was glad that I still had it in my closet when I found out I was going to have Farrah.

1. It's always a good idea to have spare clothes for an infant. Spit up happens, right? And stuff out the other end as well. I keep mine in a gallon size Ziploc bag for a few reasons. One is it keeps them protected should anything spill in/on the bag. Two is it doubles as a spare bag for soiled clothing. I label mine with her name - a good idea if you take your child to daycare.

2. A bottle and formula. My formula container is by Munchkin and is available at Target. It has 3 compartments so you can carry formula for up to 3 bottles. I just measure out the amounts for each feeding into each compartment. Simply pour into a bottle with the correct amount of water. I carry a bottle and usually if I'll fill the bottle with water at home and heat it to hot, so by the time I have to use it, it's usually the right temperature that she likes.

3. Wipes and diapers of course! I typically keep 4-6 diapers in the bag.

4. In a small Ziploc bag, I keep the changing supplies, i.e. creams, powders, ointments, lotion, etc. This way, if anything happens to pop open or leak, it's safely sealed in a plastic bag to prevent making a mess in the diaper bag. It also makes changing easy because I'm not digging in the bag looking for anything, I can just grab the Ziploc bag.

5. I recently started carrying a Tide-To-Go pen. My kids attract stains and usually I end up getting a little something on my own clothing from them.

6. Infant gas drops are a must right now. Farrah is typically pretty good, but usually has a bout of gassiness once a day where it bothers her and these really seem to help when that happens.

7. A burp rag, for obvious reasons.

8. Pacifier wipes by Munchkin. I also got these at Target. Great for wiping dropped pacifiers or toys before giving back to baby, since we all know everything goes straight into their mouth!

Other things I might carry depending upon where we are going or what season it is are sunscreen for the kids {will carry baby sunscreen when she's 6m+}, spare clothes for the older kids, a baby blanket, travel-size bathing supplies {also in a Ziploc}, healthy snacks for the kids and me, my wallet and phone if I'm not carrying a purse, and small toys for entertainment when she's a little older.

What do you keep in your diaper bag?

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Five on Friday

Happy Friday, y'all! Joining these lovely ladies and many others again for:

{one}
I was on Cloud 9 when I found out IHeart Organizing featured my Kid's Organized Art Area in this post. Those of you "regulars" in the blogging world know that her blog is the mother of all organizing blogs...she has been featured on HGTV, in BH&G and so much more. I was so ecstatic and in disbelief when I went to read her daily post as I always do only to scroll down and see my very own project right there before me. Happy dances were had, people.

{two}
Prenatal vitamins making my nails grow long and strong!

{three}
We got a great ultrasound done this week for first trimester screening. Here is my little guy or girl at just about 13 weeks:

It sort of looked like he/she was nuzzling up against me...sort of how they sleep on your chest in those first few weeks. So sweet.


{four}
I celebrated 8 years of being a mommy as my first born, Tanner, celebrated his 8th birthday this week. They truly grow so fast. He gets that pre-teen attitude at times already, but we love him so so much. I had his parent/teacher conference this week as well and he is making such improvements with his behavior and schoolwork. {A little background on that: We struggled a bit during Kindergarten and 1st Grade...going between ADHD meds...it was a real battle for us and so stressful. But I am so proud to say he has been doing so wonderfully this year and he is even med-free and has been since July. I always knew in my heart that ADHD medications were not the right answer for him.} He is maturing and becoming an amazing little man and we are so proud of him.

{five}
I seem to always get to five and struggle to find something worth posting about. {How sad is my life that I can't think of five things? Ha!} All I can think of is that I owe you guys a post on my sons' new bunked/shared room...and I promise to get pictures of that this weekend and put up a post next week. The little buggers keep making a mess in there and it's been hard to get in there and give it a good cleaning and put everything back in place - the joys of boys, right? It's like a tornado goes through there...every day. I also plan to start getting back on some of my organizing projects and other household things and get some of that stuff back on this here blog. The nursery will be a big project in itself, but we don't find out the gender of this little peanut until just before Christmas, so we can't start on all of that quite yet. So be on the lookout for projects to come - I look forward to sharing them here with you!

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