kcook's Profile

My husband and I also follow the "need/want/wear/read" although our daughter is only 2.5 and doesn't really know what she wants, except to be the boss, of everyone:)That said we are getting her a shopping cart (found a great WOOD one at Target for $30!!!), a book and jammies(need & wear combo) plus stocking stuffers which will pretty much be new markers and stickers. I wish it was always going to be this easy...

Aunts and uncles are usually pretty conservative since there are so many nieces and nephews, but I really wish that the grandparents would listen to requests. They ask, but never really listen. I tried to convince both my mil and mother that a family membership to the science or children's museums would be invaluable to us this winter, but no go. I guess grandma's just have to buy lots of plastic toys to feel the spirit of christmas:) well, grandmas can do whatever they want, I suppose.

There's no shame in my holiday card game, but where is the form? I don't seem to see it...

The one thing I cannot do without is the evening kitchen cleanup. That way in the morning, I can enjoy a little time doing a project with my daughter instead of cleaning the kitchen.

Our home has 2 floors, so I rotate. One week, upstairs, the next I clean the main floor, with the exception of vaccuuming our main living space every three days. That makes a difference in how clean our home feels.

I stay on top of the laundry. Even if there is only one load of laundry, I put it in. This makes all the difference in my sanity.

Thanks for the great post:)

I think you could put some sort of fine mesh in place of the plastic covering in the holes and get that much needed airflow while still being safe. I think that it looks great.

I was just having this conversation with my sister who inquired about our daughter's 2nd birthday coming up in June. I practically begged her for a gift certificate for the Portland Children's Museum or the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry which has an amazing Science Playground for toddlers. During the many, many, many rainy days of winter these resources are our savior and provide so much stimulation and education. We live away from most of our family and a gift certificate never needs to be shipped. Plus, I don't have the extra cleaning up to do after bedtime. Also, a great charity to donate to is projectpeanutbutter.com which helps to combat malnourished children in Malawi and Sierra Leone.

Love it!!! I, too, spend at least a few times a week perusing our local Goodwills, etc. and have built quite a library for our daughter doing so. I've never paid more than $1.99 for a book and most have been only $.49, including some nearly brand-new board books of Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny and Guess How Much I Love You. Plus, it feels great to recycle something that is not only good for the planet but for is vital for the development of our children.