Just Reminding You All...

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***I know. I know. It's a repost. But ladies. Seriously. JANUARY is tomorrow!! So this is a friendly reminder - because Tupperware Modular Mates are 40% off this month. And if you happen to live near me...well, you know it would probably thrill me to help you figure out your cupboards and make them all fit nice-like!***

Kitchen cupboards can be scary places, because sometimes you never know what might be lurking in the depths.

I speak this from experience and am referring to the time that I discovered all my leftover Easter candy (my hidden stash, mind you) was being devoured by a sneaky little "friend".

And he was rude enough to leave the wrappers behind to taunt me.

I had the opportunity to meet him face to face one evening when I opened up my cupboard. He didn't stick around for introductions and a few nights later he was evicted.

That incident, however, brought my cupboards to where I am today. The thought of little mouse feet scampering through my food and hard-earned candy pushed me into Tupperware Modular Mates. And before you click away, thinking "too EXPENSIVE!!" hear me out - cause I'm about to give you a lovely tip.

JANUARY means 40% off Modular Mates!! Specials galore - and it's definitely the time to buy them!! I've gotten mine in spurts over the years for both my cupboards and my freezer and LOVE them - because everything has a place (well, except the peanut butter and such).

To give you an idea of how the cupboards look, here are some pictures of my cupboards and my freezer (different containers in the freezer, but by Tupperware too).

Here's the nutshell of how they work: there are 5 sizes of containers, and they all work together in their sizes. For example, a #4 container is the same heighth as a #1 plus a #3 stacked on top of each other. That allows you to use different size containers based on the type of item you need to put inside. I have a few containers that contain a hodge-podge of things (chocolate chips, shortening, etcc) and have it labeled: Baking Things.

My freezer also has containers and it makes it SO much easier to find things (or direct others where to find them). My biggest suggestion would be - label everything you put into ziploc bags or containers. You might think you'll remember what it is, but a few months later you'll be staring at a mystery something-or-other and scratching your head. I've even gone so far as to label the shelves above my pull-out drawers in the freezer to remember what is in the drawers.

If you happen to live near me and want to take advantage of my sickness passion for organizing, let me know and I'll have fun measuring out your cupboards and will even find a labeler...I've done it before and I'd do it again!

I Don't Hab It!

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Kaleb has been chatting up a storm around these parts and although I know Mary isn't hosting Tiny Talk Tuesday this week (sigh) I am still going to post a little video clip, because this little man is just too.stinkin.cute to pass up!

Kaleb has suddenly started saying the funniest phrases and has little mannerisms that go along with the phrases make me laugh out loud every time he does them.

And now he KNOWS he's cute.

We asked him the other day where his socks were (since he keeps taking them off) and he held his little hands up in the air and said, "I don't hab it". Later when he found a jacket we were looking for, he ran to Rick and yelled, "I gots it!"

Now the kids think it's hysterical so all day long they keep asking him questions they know he can't answer, just to hear him. Over and over again.

Here's a little clip of the bug hamming it up for the camera (along with all the loud and laughing children in the background).



And don't forget to stop by Mary's anyway!

A Christmas to Remember

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Past Christmas celebrations have all been fun and filled with memories, but this year's time together has really been the most memorable to me.

Not because of all the gifts (although those were nice too), but all the little things. New traditions that will be around for years to come. The little things that made me laugh and even cry.

The week prior to Christmas Rick and I helped the kids write letters to each other and everyone else in the family. It came from a post I found last year from An Ordinary Mom on stocking stuffers. The letters were all "top secret" and I put them into everyone's stockings Christmas Eve after Rick and I sat down and wrote a letter to each of the kids also.

Christmas morning, after we had a yummy breakfast, read the last devotion from Jotham's Journey and read from Luke 2, the kids sat down to read all the notes and letters in their stockings.

And really it was the sweetest (and funniest) thing to read some of the notes they wrote to each other.

"Kaleb, I love you because you are cute, cute, cute!" Laurianna

"Thank you for hugging me when McKenna hits me." Zachary

Laurianna had worked especially hard on a gift for me (after we said we didn't want her spending money on gifts for us) and made me a special necklace one day. She made 6 paper beads and laced them onto a yarn necklace. Six beads since there were six of us in the family. And it was wrapped ever-so-sweetly too. A little necklace that now has a special place in my jewelry box.

But the one that just brought tears to my eyes was a handmade gift from Laurianna to McKenna. One that she had obviously put time and thought into and been planning for awhile. During her co-op time while learning how to sew and stitch, she made her first "cross stitch" for McKenna.

One that I will be keeping around for years to come.

The Quick Christmas Recap

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Christmas Day has come and gone and along with it, there was...

...a whole lot of this...

...quite a few of these...

...a lot of energy released...

...a little bit of mischief....

...and the element of surprise!

A very fun day for everyone!

On My Nightstand

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Since the Fall Into Reading Challenge is over, I figured that I would try to keep myself a little motivated in the reading department.

Maybe shut the computer down a little earlier every night *gasp* and curl up under a nice warm blanket and read a book (or two).

5 Minutes for Books hosts a monthly meme called "What's on Your Nightstand?" so here's what is currently next to my bed...and more than likely I'll be changing it over every Saturday, since fiction seems to fly off it faster than it's counterpart.

And perhaps a visual might be a little more motivation for me to actually move some of the books. While I'm at it, I might as well post the view of inside my nightstand drawer. I have such high, high hopes. :)

But sitting on my nightstand here is the current stack.

And in case those eyes of yours are having a difficult time figuring out what is in the stack, here's the quick rundown:

• In the Company of Cheerful Ladies - McCall Smith
• Finding Favor with the King: Daily Inspirations- Tenney
• Cranford - Elizabeth Gaskell
• Finding Favor with the King - Tenney
• Skydiving for Parents - Bullivant
  

Time to read!

What's in the Box?

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Laurianna was fascinated the other day with how matches burn. Usually we use the little "clicker" to light a candle.

Because matches + Zachary = Not a good plan.

The matches started a whole realm of questions on how the match lights, what makes it burn, etc...and I tried to explain it the best that I could.

The girls seemed to understand, but Zachary got this far-away look in his eyes and said, "Or maybe....a dragon lives in the box."

Yep. That'll do it every time.