A New School Year and a Honey Do list

With end of summer quickly approaching its time to prepare for the new school year.
Each year as our K12 virtual school supplies ship to our house I go through a moment of panic.  I never feel like I'm as organized as I would like to be.  Why is there a magnifying glass in the Lego box and a pair of princess shoes in our counting cubes?

I am in serious need of a school room over haul and I recently found a website with great FREE woodworking plans. Ana White Homemaker, I love this blog.  Hoping to get my husband to put all his nifty power tools to use.

I want to start with storage. I love the plans for this general storage bin bookshelf. Perfect for my toddlers and I'm sure the older kids would love one for themselves as well.  I am tired of the ugly blue storage containers we use right now. Sure their great when I pack toys away for rotation but not for everyday use.  There is also this much larger storage unit. Locker and Hutch for the Cube collection

Then there is this Brookstone desk project. The high shelves would be a hit with my older daughters so they can keep their treasures out of the hands of the destructive duo.  (A piggy bank that was a gift from a friend was broken recently.. we have two culprits and neither is informing on the other.)

Then for the arts and crafts table this table would be perfect!  Maybe then I could give my mom back her 6ft plastic folding table.  I have had it for over 2 years now, after borrowing it for a party at my house.  I should just buy her a new one.

For now I will settle for a heavy handed purge on toys. No, you do not need to keep a toy you got from some random fast food joint that in reality is only half the toy because you don't know where the rest of it is.  A few month ago I actually went through and took 3 huge storage tubs of toys away. You would think that would cut down on the mess.  Wish me luck! Time to crank up some music and take on the beast that has become our school/play room this summer.

Darn Rodent..

Darn, rodent!  You just had to see your shadow... If I had any faith your actual predictions bringing more winter I would be very depressed right now.

Shhh concentrating

If you are all bundled up inside against the cold here is a fun puppet you can make.
Great quiet time craft and I really needed some quiet time today.  ::brain pop:: This is also a great craft for practicing cutting and gluing skills.  I love watching little kids concentrate.  Their mouths work as hard as their hands do while they cut, as if they are chewing along with the scissors.

You can easily find many patterns for a Groundhog paper bag puppet. (I'll try to get mine uploaded and linked)

Glue Body under the flap

Add poem and done!