An organized life for today

When the kids were growing up I never seemed to get a handle on organization. It was more like chunking .... Bins for clothes, toys and other stuff. A decorated house back then was one where the bins matched! Lol. Now it's just my husband and I and we really do have an organized life.

In the kitchen I got rid of everything I wasn't using. And that left lots of room to be organized.
A trip to the dollar store and bed Bath and beyond and I pretty much had in my cabinets organized. The trick was throw out the junk... get rid of the things I wasn't using.

My writing desk had always been a disaster. It took two walls of built in bookcases and files in the attic to manage the clutter. I think this is the one place I will never really sort. My books have so many memories and they still hold the lure of a good journey of a quiet afternoon.

The closet holds the quilts. Not quite happy with this yet but it's getting closer.

To grandmother's house we go - day two a hungry caterpillar visits

I asked Tim if I could read Ella a good night story. Even those she knew The Hungry Caterpillar by heart, we read it together. When we were done, I said, "Wow, I'll bet she's still hungry. Should, we invite her to pancake breakfast tomorrow?" Ella agreed and we invited her to come. Off she went to sleep....

Meanwhile Tommy and I woke at 6 am to blow up balloons, cut little legs and hang up the caterpillar. I just done this for my graphic designer's baby shower at the office so knew it would work.

Ella woke and saw the caterpillar from the upstairs landing and giggled with joy.

Tommy was just finishing up the first batch of pancakes.

"Ella, look.... That caterpillar ate right through the pancakes!"

Her reaction made MY day. There is nothing like seeing the wonder of life through the eyes of a three year old and watching her count those pancakes and hold each one up to her eye... He ate this one too grand Nancy... It was the most wonderful breakfast I had since the days when my children were little.

To grandmother's house we go.... Day one drive in movies

When I took my latest job we had to leave home and move eight hours away. Great job, beautiful place (NC), nice new friends but sadly we had to leave friends and family and that hasn't always been easy. Hardest has been not being close while our two grandchildren grow up before us.
The good thing is they both have two sets of loving grandparents who smother them with lots of love. The bad thing is that they both have two sets of loving grandparents that smother them Keith love. While we'd love to drive or fly home every weekend, but it just isn't possible and if we get back home once a month, that's a lot.

Thus the first visit from our son, his wife and beautiful granddaughter filled us with both joy and fear. We had nothing for a three year old to do. Their other grandparents had build an in-ground swimming pool and playhouse and had lots of toys everywhere. We had NOTHING. Worse everything at the stores were were so expensive that it was impossible to try to catch up for one weekend. I

Instead I let it all go and concentrated on doing what I do best.... Imaginary play. If ever you have a doubt about what to do for your grandchildren, trust me, imagination will always work.

They were coming for three days. Here's how it payed out ....

Day One
Drive in movie night with Lightening McQueen
A.k.a "This is was the best day of my life."

Body- Painted a wardrobe box red, removed metal rack, spray painted paper plates for wheels
Face-Used left over white Martha Stewart sample paint for eyes and mouth and magic marker
Interior- large pillow and backrest we had laying around.

We added some windows on the side so she could lay down and watch tv and still have plenty of cool air. Thank goodness for my husband who really did the majority of the work - spray painted and assembled. I did the face. Ella loved it and told her parents it was the best day of her life. Made my husband and I smile ear to ear, but the best was yet to come...

The Hungry Caterpillar Baby Shower

We gave a baby shower for my graphic designer and used the "Hungry Caterpillar" theme. Of course we all got our ideas from Pinterest but I wanted to share how it came out. We made the balloon wall decoration, cupcakes' grapes and veggie platter. I bought some silk tulips and dollar store buckets and used an old shower curtain for the tablecloth and voila!

Our guest of honor!