Gardner Village

Fall 2010

just a cute picture

It’s getting harder & harder to do the “pony ride”!

Annual Pumpkin Pick

It was time for our 6th annual pumpkin pick with our friends, Liza and Matt.

It started with these toddlers 5 years ago, Olivia and Makenna.

And now there are 6 kids between us with one on the way! (Liza is due in April)

.Organize Me.

Laundry Service

About 18 months ago I HATED doing laundry. I had 3 kids and a husband and I could NOT keep up. It’s one of those never ending tasks. Plus we are not ones to wear things twice, I like fresh jammies and clothes everyday. And more often then not I wouldn’t do laundry all week then have to do 10 giant loads on Saturday, which was overwhelming and just not a fun Saturday for anyone.

So I made a schedule. I am good at keeping schedules. It has saved my laundry hating days! I do about two loads a day. Which is much more manageable. And I don’t get behind because I know I will have to do 3 or 4 loads the next day if I do. So my schedule looks a little like this and it’s taped to the back of my laundry room door. (I have it memorized now)

Monday- Drew’s darks & Alex’s darks

Tuesday- Olivia’s darks & kitchen towels

Wednesday- Kid’s whites & bathroom towels

Thursday- Mom and Dad’s whites & blankies

Friday- Mom’s darks & Dad’s darks

(bedding is done every 3rd week when the cleaners come, but you could do it every other Saturday)

That’s it. So simple but makes the biggest difference. Every family is different so you would just modify to make it work for you. And we never run out of “underwear” because it’s always done on it’s day.

*TIP 1: I keep everyone’s clothes separate. Except for whites. So I don’t combine the boys clothes or me and Tyler’s clothes. That way putting them away is easier.

*TIP 2: Tyler and Olivia put away their own clothes. It’s the least they can do.

*TIP 3: A lot of the times I am putting away clothes in the evening when Tyler is bathing the kids.

 

.my friend alex.

Three days a week for 3 hours it’s just me and Alex. He’s supposed to take his nap at this time but sometimes he has other plans. So we just hang.

He’s learning to pose. I love him.

AND (a big and) Alex has

gone 6 straight weeks to nursery without me. He’s doing awesome! What a relief. He’s doing good in preschool too. I am so glad they actually do outgrow their attachment issues.

DABO 2010

 {Alex T. at TWO}

He likes helicopters, buzz lightyear & jumping on the tramp.

 

{Drew B. at FOUR.5}

He likes riding his bike, baseball & puzzles

{Olivia at almost SEVEN}

She likes reading, the monkey bars & barbies.

{the mom and dad}

We like long walks on the beach without the kids.

{the family}

We love playing pictionary, reading together & going to the driving range.

 

 

.Organize Me.

The dreaded garage.

We outgrew our garage years ago. So we have to be creative and super clean so that we can always fit both cars in there.

Last week Alex knocked over Olivia’s bike and it scratch Tyler’s precious car.

So we had to clear out some things.

These before pictures don’t show the worst of it. I had already cleared out 3 scooters, a wagon, a big wheel and two bikes.

Before

After

All the shelves are labeled so know one is confused where to place things. Liquids are high, since Alex sprayed Turtle Wax all over himself last week. Tyler got his first, yes his first ever tool box! Poor guy, isn’t that what you are suppose to give Dads for Father’s Day? Well we forgot to gift that the last 8 years. So there you go, Happy Father’s Day Tyler.

Before

After

Does everyone else have FOUR strollers? (The jogger, I don’t jog. The double, Drew is too big. The single, Alex doesn’t even like strollers. The umbrella, we’ve used this one the most and it was the one that cost 10.00)  Well since I’m not ready to let them go (the hoarder in me), we put them on hooks from Lowes so we have space for scooters below. Made a huge difference, since I park on that side.

I love a clean garage, it is part of the house.