Home Organization 101 Week 3 ALREADY?!?

No worries if you're still finishing week 1 like me! At least we're trying to organize our houses!! For week 3 the pantry is the prime target. I organized my pantry through a similar challenge summer before last and have maintained it for the most part :) We have to work at it regularly to keep it fairly organized. About every other month we dive in and make sure everything has a spot. Here's the inspiration pantry. Happy organizing!!

Father's Day 2013

Today we celebrate dads! Not as much attention is placed on Father's Day as is Mother's Day. I guess the old saying "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" plays a part in the massive amount of attention for moms. 

I am blessed with a wonderful dad who has always been there for me. He's a fantastic grandpa and excellent carpool driver whenever we need help. He worked very hard all of his "working" years and shares the fruits of his labor with all of us. 

The kids and I tried to make Tim feel special all weekend. We made a Father's Day banner. 

We bought him the one thing he mentioned he would really like to have...an electric smoker to replace the wood burning one he's had forever. 

Yes that's Valentines wrapping paper because that's what I found :)  Life's too short to sweat the small stuff. Overall he had a good weekend even though I talked him into a furniture building project. 

Maybe Father's Day doesn't get the attention Mother's Day does but we all love our dads, grandpas and uncles. My grandpas were two of the most wonderful men you'd ever meet and I miss them. I hope all the men enjoyed a wonderful day! Happy Father's Day to everyone! 

Camp Rap-A-Hope was AWESOME!

Dillan attended Camp Rap-A-Hope this year for the first time. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go so being the mean mom that I am I decided for him. I absolutely do not regret my decision. He was a nervous-wreck on our way to drop him off.

Once we arrived and went thorough the check-in process I could tell Dillan's nerves were beginning to settle a little. We ran into one of his classmate's big sister, Sydney.  She's been before and was ready to show him the ropes. 

Then two of his counselors, Matt and Will, came over and told him he better be ready for a week of fun!  Ice cream before bed every night, fishing, horseback riding, no chores, swimming and many more things would make this an awesome week. 

As he went off ready for fun (with a little anxiety on being away from home) we left to head home without him. I'd be lying if I said I was perfectly fine with all of it but in my heart I knew he needed this experience and forced myself to drive away. Every once and a while I allow myself a weak moment and that Sunday was one of them. I knew Dillan was going to be well taken care of and he was going to have an incredible week but I cried just the same. 

Monday morning I receive a phone call from Melissa, Camp Rap-A-Hope's Executive Director, to check on me and let me know Dillan was doing great! I was touched she called to see how I was doing and extremely happy he was having fun. 

Tuesday my friend and fellow Gifted Ed Teacher, Talia, was at camp and checked on Dillan. She snapped a picture of him having a good time. I appreciated another update and cute picture of him with one of his favorite counselors, Brandon. 

Dillan knew a friend of ours from church, Whitney, would be making breakfast for all the campers and USA Children's and Women's provided breakfast on Wednesday. Whitney said he ate really well and gave her a big hug. From what Dillan said they had very good food throughout the week provided by many local businesses and groups. The Pilot Family, the owners of Camp Grace, not only donated the week at Camp Grace but also cooked something very yummy, too!

Two of our local news stations came out and filmed the campers enjoying a week of fun! Fox10's story Camp Rap-A-Hope is Underway and WKRG's story Summer Camp Inspires Children Diagnosed with Cancer! 

On Friday in the mail a very sweet surprise arrived. The postcard from Dillan made me so happy and the postcard from his counselor, Joe, made me very proud. 

The week flew by and when Saturday morning arrived I was up bright and early, ready to pick Dillan up so we could hear about all the fun he had. We pulled up to find him running around and enjoying spending his last morning with the counselors he grew to love over the week. These special men and women came from various parts of the country to spend the week with Dillan and the other 77 campers and ensure they all had a fabulously fun week. I am in awe of them. We snapped a picture or two before we gathered Dillan's belongings. 

He wanted to make sure we took pictures with as many camp counselors and staff as we could before he left. 

He had an amazing week including a visit from the tooth fairy! As we were hearing about his week he remembered his newly lost tooth and showed me where he has a new temporarily empty space. When he told me the tooth fairy visited him I was overwhelmed. Words can not convey how much everything everyone did to make his week special means to Tim and I. I know "making" him attend camp was the right thing to do. He knows he is not alone and other kids understand what he's going through. We all wish all types of cancer could be cured but until then I am thankful God inspired everyone associated with Camp Rap-A-Hope to do all they do to have "Fun for Kids with Cancer!"

Home Organization 101 Week 2 is already upon us!

Never fear my week one task of organizing my kitchen is not complete, however, for my friends who stay on top of the task at hand. Here's the inspiration for week two! Happy organizing!

Father's Day is almost here!!

I always want to make Tim feel extremely special on Father's Day. He is an amazing father! This year he mentioned something he'd like which doesn't always happen. I also really like these cute printables for a banner, gift tag/wrapper and cupcake toppers plus they're FREE! I wanted to share.
Very cute and FREE printables!!

It's that time again!

Here I go again! It's time for Home Organization 101 Season 3! Maybe this time I'll make it through the organization challenge...
I will say when you have plenty of space it is easier to find a place for everything. I have to use a little creativity when organizing or purge more to make room.  
Check out my inspiration! Happy organizing!

Operation Organization: More Than One Way to Organized :: Laundry

With four kids my husband and I are constantly trying to tackle the mountain of laundry. One thing I do during the school year is keep a separate laundry basket for uniforms and school related clothing. When it's time to wash them all I have to do is separate the whites and colors. I think #2 might work for me.
operation organization: More Than One Way to Organized :: Laundry: This is the first in a series of articles chronicling the multiple ways one can keep organized with routine home maintenance needs.   In ...