Backpack Storage

We don't have an entry way closet or any place to put our coats/backpacks when we come home. We started by hanging a mirror with hooks, but this quickly became full and they kids were trying to take down their own things and that was dangerous.

Photo by Sweet Son

I had this Deluxe Dress-Up Storage Unit that we had previously used to hold costumes. I bought it at a warehouse sale and the kids have been using it for years. Then the kids stopped cleaning up their costumes and they were taken away. (The costumes are still in the garage a year later because they haven't proved they can keep them cleaned up.) We shifted the coat rack to just under the mirror and it has been the perfect solution. The kids hang up their own coats and backpacks. They get their own things ready and put them away. This opens up more space for the adult jackets on the mirror.

Ice Skating

The best activity when it is over 100F (38C) outside? Ice skating obviously.

I can't skate, so it's up to Wonderful Husband to teach the kids.

They are both getting better at skating on their own.

The independence is great so they don't have to take turns on the ice.

Here the three of them are racing toward the camera! hehehehe

It's also a great way to exhaust the kids, which is a running theme around here.

Back to School Supplies

After being a teacher for more than a decade, I am still in the habit of looking for affordable school supplies this time of year. I learned about UI School Supplies through a blogging group and wanted to share it with you. They have a large number of items perfect for preschool supplies, teacher supplies, and at home educational supplements.

In order to compare prices I picked a few items that we have. The Avalanche Fruit Game we love and I have posted about before is only $19.99. The Latches Board that builds fine motor skills is $24.99.

Then I moved on to looking at things on my current wish list.
Globe (the kids broke ours, so I need to replace it)
Kanoodle
Multi-Use Pocket Chart

What back to school supplies would you like this year? Had you ever heard of UI School Supplies before?

**This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.**

Asia

This is what happens when you buy a puzzle of Asia (affiliate link).

Sweet Daughter: "Mommy is this the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal?"




Sweet Son: My favorite part of Asia is Stan.
Me: Stan?
Sweet Son: Kazakh-Stan, Uzi-Stan, Turkey-Stan, Kri-Stan, Tajik-Stan, Afghan-Stan, Packing-Stan

Not a bad summary of all of the "stans" in Asia. We may need to do a little more work on the real names, but that was fairly close. Packing-Stan is my favorite from his list. :)




Sweet Son: "Mama, can you stop teaching me things? I just want to see if I can name all the countries in Asia."

I should note this was in response to me asking if he wanted to use his dinosaur stamps.

(He only missed 3 countries btw - Bhutan, Malaysia, and Palau.)