Sandbox FUN

I have wonderful memories of my childhood sandbox.  I remember my dad building it and then the endless hours of fun I had playing in it with my brothers and sisters.

So, Josh built me one - I mean built the kids one - this past weekend.  It is FABULOUS!!!!

The sandbox - right after it was filled with sand...

The next day... completely filled with toys!
(yes the kids are in sleepers because the sand was chilly:)

A tarp to prevent the sand and toys  from being ruined.

NEW KITCHEN COMMAND CENTER



This morning I tackled another project

that I had been wanting to do...

create a "command center".



* The giant white dry-erase board is a calendar

(it's Simone's job to  fill it in each month)

* I hung a curtain rod with curtain clips to hang special things 

(baby announcements, invitations, business cards...)

* Of course I have my chicken calendar

*The double blue bucket is hanging from a ribbon on a nail

 and it holds dry-erase markers and pens

*My Myers picture frame was a gift from a friend

and I am sure I haven't developed a single picture since then (2 yrs ago) 

so its no wonder that it is still photoless:(

* The beautiful 4-pocketed hanging file thingy was made by me

in my new sewing area

 Its the first thing that I made from a pattern all by myself!!!

*The clipboard (which I covered in contact paper) has a laminated menu sheet

for me to keep track of what we have eaten all week

Just to prove that the Cooking Nook really has me

more organized

and the kids motivated -

Simone made whole wheat waffles (I did the hot griddle).

It was then I informed everyone of the bad news... who ever helps make the meal has to help clean up after wards.
Surprisingly they were ok with that and my kitchen has been clean ALL DAY!!!!

Edison made lunch - he buttered practically a whole loaf of bread for grilled cheese sandwiches!

Eli shucked corn!

Andre really wanted to make noodles which requires no real cooking

so he helped create some veggie burgers.

Our new Cooking Nook

So here is our very shameful hallway closet.  It is a mini dumping ground for STUFF... very very wasteful of prime location space.  So - instead of putting away the MOUNTAIN of laundry, I painted and decorated the closet to be a functional Cooking Nook.

COOKING NOOK- I would like the kids to help with meal planning and preparation.  But the supplies are scattered and I am unorganized.  I wanted all the things that I want the children to use in one place... aprons, cookbooks, planners, ideas, menus...

SO I BEGAN

 I used some extra mistint pain that I had extra of - a pale mint green and school pencil yellow.  I got lucky cause they actually look nice together:)

Bottom half of closet

The top of the closet - I painted the ceiling.
(this is where I want my soap making things to go:)

Here is a front view of the Cooking Nook



The shelf has cookbooks and cooking magazines. 
The baskets so far have pencils and dry erase markers.



1. Each side of the Cooking Nook has a magnet dry erase board
 ( I can assign chores and which meal is to be planned by whom) 

2. The three clipboards have laminated meal planners -one for each meal
 (the kids get to chose what the menu is for one meal a day and that is the meal they get to cook with me)

 Simone was by far the most excited about the Cooking Nook!
She got busy planning breakfasts and snacks for the week:)