Extreme Makeover: Playroom Edition

Not really!! I just cleaned it out today during nap time. I took a box of toys to the little boy a few houses down, and saved a couple that the boys really loved.

But with their 2nd birthday quickly approaching and then Christmas around the corner, the room just needed some organizing.

This is nothing new or original.  And I'm betting everyone else has already done this, it just took me this long to get on the bandwagon....
Are you ready for it?

LABELING

I know, classic. My husband laughs knowing, the toys will be thrown out in 2.5 seconds after they wake up. But we will just keep practicing how to clean them up.  I hope.

Start with a clean room!

Then take pictures of your drawers. Upload to Picnik, and add text! (I like to use a font that is thick, but has lowercase letters.)

Print on cardstock, and I told my printer to print 6 pictures to a page, so they would be smaller.

Cut, and cover with packing tape.

I left one blank, because it is like the 'junk' drawer. Whatever has no home ends up here!

This toy bin is from Ikea in case anyone is curious.  Cheap, but does the job.

Suzie

Easter Egg Shakers

It feels like I haven't posted in forever!
Here is a little something for fun and a cookie recipe that really tells the meaning of Easter!

Egg Shakers:
Plastic Eggs
Hot Glue
Dried Pasta, rice, large sprinkles, dried beans, small screws, etc.

The boys loved shaking the eggs and hearing the different sounds! However, I used Tacky glue, and my kids ripped them open and mess when everywhere. So I think you should use hot glue or super glue to really glue these shut.  And parent supervision is a must, just in case they do break open!

Speaking of parent supervision...
A bunch of our friends are having their second babies!!
And I learned a great tip in college. Teach the older children what toys are safe to come out and be around the new baby by using a toilet paper roll, paper towel roll, or even wrapping paper roll cut up. String yarn through it and hang it on your child's door. If the toy they want to bring out can fit through the roll... then it has to stay in the room. That way, little lego pieces and barbie shoes are not getting anywhere near your crawling baby.

Choke tube

Of course, you can always buy one, if you don't want to hang a toilet paper tube on your door!
And here is a great article about toy safety when you have some time.

And now back to Easter:
I found this cookie recipe on All Recipes.com and I really liked the idea of doing it the night before Easter with your children. I know my kids will be too young this year to really get it, but I am going to file this idea away for next year!

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup white sugar
•  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Place pecans in a resealable plastic baggie. Crush the pecans into small bits. Read John 19:1-3
3. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into a medium bowl. Read John 19:28-30
4. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Read John 10:10-11
5. Sprinkle salt into the egg whites. Read Luke 23:27
6. So far, the mixture isn't very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
7. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
8. Place cookies in the oven close the door and turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
9. Go to bed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
10. In the morning open the oven and take out the cookies. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

***If you go to the link above, all the reviews say to add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in with the sugar.  But what a fun way to teach the meaning of Easter! And the tomb was....