31 days to happier children

While thumbing through the "pins" on Pinterest this morning I found a fabulous site Housewife In Town She headed up a post series that caught my attention:


While I am the first to admit that Idaho Winters are difficult for me, ok, that isn't strong enough language. "I hate them!" But, ssshhhh, we don't say that word in our house!
I love the feel of warm sunshine on my face!
I love being outside!
I don't like being cooped up in the house for too long!
Winter and small children are not a good combination for below freezing temperatures!


Why do I live in Idaho you ask? Well, my husbands family and most of my immediate family are here. {Miss you Ash & fam and Brandon!}
I grew up in the Valley of the Sun or Phoenix, AZ in a bedroom neighborhood in the East Valley. Where there are 300 days of sunshine a year. Yes, quite a few above 100 degrees! But a Fall, Winter and Spring most would kill for! I finally understand what the Snowbirds {or Sunbirds} were thinking and wish I could follow suit!

I have lived in Idaho now for 7 years and am ready to make this winter my HAPPIEST yet! This post series is aimed at making both Kids and Mom a happy camper by implementing "Happiness is a Choice" into our daily routine.

I am going to take this considerably slower, a couple times a week more likely. We will see how it goes. 

If you'd like head over to Housewife in Towns 31 Days to Happier Children and check it out for yourselves! Then, let me know what you think

A special 5th birthday

I want to give a special shout out to my little guy {who isn't so little anymore} today on his 5th Birthday!
He is growing up so quickly and I love watching every minute. It is amazing how such a little person could have my heart from the first second I saw him, before he was even placed in my arms. But, he does and has from that first moment.

It seems like yesterday that he was this tiny little guy I was dressing to take home from the hospital...

and now...


he is growing up! Some days I wish I could push a pause button to savor the moment. But, then I would miss the next and I don't want to miss any.
P at age 5
loves Ironman, Green Lantern, Spiderman
playing baseball, soccer
very social
smart and good memory
great helper around the house
silly
loves pleasing Mom and Dad
protective of his sisters
loves taking his scriptures to church every Sunday
loves going to pre-school
and
loves being outside as much as his Mom, which is A LOT!

Mindy Gledhill is one of my favorite artists and I love her song Hourglass.

operation organization...step 1

I am at a point where I am feeling a bit unorganized. I have a 2400 square foot house but everything seems to be out of place. 

Well, not anymore!! 

This afternoon while the kids were taking naps and I was doing some house cleaning I started feeling a bit overwhelmed at how un-organized my entire house is! 

Yikes! 

So, instead of getting myself in a tissy or going through every room and emptying all the closets, drawers, bookshelves...you get the idea. I headed to the computer and started some research. 

I found this great article with questions to ask yourself before you start organizing

10 Questions To Create Your Organizational Plan

(click on the link above to read article)

I love it! an organizational per-curser to getting your house organized! Genius! 

I am not going to give you a step by step of how I will organize my house in this post...

but I will give you two things...

1. the 10 questions 

and 

2. the commitment that I will document this process as I go. 

(Idaho winters leave me spending a TON of time indoors to accomplish this)

So down to business! 

the 10 questions to ask when creating YOUR organization plan... 

 1. What do I want the purpose of this room/area to be? 

 2. What do I need in or near the room to serve that purpose? 

 3. What can I remove from this room? 

 4. What problem do I see in this room? 

 5. What organizational tools will help solve those problem? 

 6. What habits need to change to solve the organizational problem? 

 7. What kind of budget do I have to create the organized room/area of my dreams? 

 8. What kind of a timeline is necessary to organize the room/area?

 9. What is my plan of action? 

10. Which room would I like to focus on next? 

(only decide, don't brainstorm, nothing further)

As I was previewing this post I remembered something I found on Pinterest on October 1st...

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking did a 31 day post series on how to organize your home.

Genius!!! 

I will definitely be incorporating her ideas as well!

You should go check her site out. Some of the ideas she shares are FABULOUS!!

Every post needs a few pictures. I will leave you with a few of my favorite's I found floating around Pinterest.

via jazzie and tahlia

Source: nicholmagouirk.typepad.com via Carol on Pinterest

Source: athome.kimvallee.com via Carol on Pinterest

Source: realsimple.com via Carol on Pinterest