Chalk Message Board

Chalkboard

All I did to make this super cute message board:

Bought a really ugly picture from Goodwill for $5. 

Took it apart, painted the frame, painted the picture that was previously in there. 

Put back together! Super easy and cute. 

I got the idea from Pinterest :) 

A Day in the Life...

What does a day look like with four kids going to three different schools on different schedules? Well here's a little snippet:

6:50am:    Wake up and take a shower if I'm not too tired.
7:00am:    Wake up Wyatt, if he's not already awake.
7:15:         Make breakfast/pour cereal for Bubba.
                 Wake up the big boys and get them cereal.
7:25:          Get everyone dressed and wake Maddie up.
7:35:          Load everyone up in the car and drive to Wyatt's bus stop.
7:50:          Get back home and make sure all homework is done and teeth/hair is brushed.
                  Try to squeeze in getting myself ready.
8:10:           Load everyone back up to take the big boys to school.
8:15:           Drop off big boys.
8:30:           Drop off Maddie at preschool.
11:30:         Pick up Maddie and eat lunch.
12:40:         Pick up Wyatt.
12:55:         Put Wyatt and Maddie down for a nap.
12:55-2:45: Clean/cook/craft/sit on my lazy prego butt and watch Gilmore Girls while eating popcorn.
2:50:           Wake up littles, load them up, pick up big boys.
3:00:           After school snack time.
3:15-4:15:  Quiet/reading time for the kids while I finish getting dinner ready. Or whatever.
4:15-5:30:  Gym
5:45:           Family dinner
6:30:           Dinner clean up
6:35:           Bath time, brush teeth.
7:00:           Story time
7:30:           Individual reading time.
8:00:           Bed time.
8:10:           Mommy collapses and begs Ryan to do the dishes. Haha.

Then the rest of the night is cleaning, homework, crafting, or relaxing.
Phew! Got tired just writing that :)

How Do You...?

I am frequently asked how I can keep up with my four silly kiddos. Yes, four kids, ages six and under can be intense but let me share some tips:

1. Organization: Organize the CRAP out of your life and things will go much more smoothly. Four kids, three different schools, all with different schedules.... not to mention extra curricular activities, play dates, and family days. ORGANIZE, people!

2. Patience: Now this one can be rough, especially when your three year old is repetitively asking if the item he's holding is in fact a car when you have already answered him thirty times. YES, WYATT, IT'S A CAR. Breathe. Remember how adorable they are and that they are just curious little humans. This one is constantly in the works.

3. Have some alone time. Or a date night. Or go grocery shopping alone. Now, I know all of these things are not always possible. Luckily I have an awesome partner-in-crime who let's me escape when I'm starting to lose my mind. Especially with four young kids, leaving the house alone is a luxury.

4. ENJOY it. Yes, I know. The kids got into the fridge and smashed all the eggs on the kitchen floor. Or one of them grabbed a marker (where did that come from?!) and drew all over the walls. Or a certain little princess took off her diaper during nap time and now has an interesting and smelly mess for you to clean up in her room. I'm not saying that these things specifically are enjoyable, but try to remember that in a few years they will be so big and too cool for this "little kid stuff." They are going to grow up faster than you know (Yes, people say this ALL the time, but it's VERY true).

This picture is from April 2012. Credit to Mark Matteson of Matteson Photography. 

Check out his website Matteson Photography.