Toy Room In Progress

This toy room continually causes me heartburn. It's unfinished and hopefully sooner than later we'll get her all fixed up. For now it works...if I can just get the girls to play in there rather than taking all of the contents to every other room in the house.

Before:

After:

Bags/purses have always been a continual problem in our home. So for now, I decided to hang screws in the 2x4's that they can hang on. A little redneck I realize, but frankly...I'm glad to have somewhere to put them temporarily.

This view is from looking in from the door. It's sort of an odd-size room, just long and narrow. Ah well, it works for now. And I've TOTALLY been downsizing on toys. That got me motivated to do a yard sale here in a couple weeks. I told the kids that anything of theirs that sells, they get the $$. Hopefully that'll entice them to find more than then otherwise would.

Not a huge transformation, but it looks a lot better than it did. The before pictures were done after a little big of cleaning up. I always seem to forget to take the befores.

If you see any other suggestions, I'm all ears. :)

Sane Summer Happenings

Update: 9-6-09
There were some things I did great with this summer and others not so great. All I can say is I'm glad kids are back in school. I need some downtime and some structure back in our home!!! It was a fun summer and it flew by quickly!!
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Summer vacation is upon us. I am determined to be a 'fun' mom this summer and to try getting everyone in my family out and doing more! It is also my goal for all of us to enjoy a 'sane' summer together! :)

I've told both Taylor and Hollie that they need to make a list of things they want to do this summer. My focus is to do one 'fun' activity each week. That's not to say that we can't do more, but I have a few motives with this.

#1- I will have something to use as leverage in trying to keep the kiddos in line.
#2- It is summer after all and it's SUPPOSED to be fun!!!
#3- I am trying to become a funner Mom, remember?!

So I've got our initial list and I'll add to it as I go. And of course, due to being a Penny Pincher I'm all about finding the cheapest forms of entertainment. Therefore, as I continue getting my list put together I'll keep you posted on those types of things too!

• West Yellowstone Condo Trip

• Walker Cinema Matinees Tickets (Out of 6 sets of tickets, we used FOUR movies off of them. Shaun and Holl went one day and Holl went with my MIL to 2 others. Note to self: we won't be buying those next summer.)

• Swimming outings

• Bowling
  

• Miniature Golfing

• Treehouse Museum

• Swimming lessons

• Willow Park & picnic

• Camping w/friends (this is really going out on a limb for me as I'm not a camper by nature and this type of thing is really not me. BUT...I used to enjoy camping.)

• Lagoon

• Running through the Sprinklers (at home and w/Stephanie) :)

• Outings w/Emily, Katie and kids

• Extra trip to the condo w/kiddos

• Taylor & Shaun to a Bees Game

• Hollie & I to the monthly scrap night at Alpine (this is open to the public...you should join us- $5 a project)

• Kambri's Weekly 'Talking With Tots' Classes

• Hollie- Honey Bee Camp at Just Bee Scrap'n
  

• Chuck E Cheese

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I will continue to update this post with more...please post your ideas and what you have planned for the summer! Oh, and we are looking for friends to join us in our outings! The more the merrier, right?!