Fun morning at Home Depot

For the longest time I have heard about the free kid events at Home Depot and Lowe's, but have yet to try one with our kids.  Well since I recently downloaded the Home Depot app, it kindly reminds me of the upcoming events in my area!! Home Depot has completely free kid events the first Saturday of each month and since we didn't have soccer this weekend because of Labor Day, I thought it would be fun to try it out!! 

Even better, the project was DIY white board.  Maddie and Charlie are obsessed with whiteboards!

It was outside and I immediately regretted my three quarters sleeve shirt...but other than that the weather was perfect.  It was the perfect little set up outside.  We just checked in to get our supplies and off they went!

Charlie attempted to hammer the nails---- and did good!  Maddie I gave her the hammer for one point five seconds and decided that was a horrible idea for a two year old! 

The paint on the other hand was right up her alley!

Actually kind of SHARING!!!

We slightly modified the directions and didn't put the whiteboard sticker in there in case the painting got a bit reckless and they decided to paint the middle instead of just the sides.  Good thing because #painteverywhere might be an appropriate hashtag.  

Normally, they also give out free kid aprons...but unfortunately they were all out this time.  Bummer.  Next time we will get some!

In the mean time- little brother Mikey...chilling in the car seat.  We are currently in mode GO EVERYWHERE because Mikey isn't mobile and sleeps in the car seat.  Six months from now this might be a different story and we will possibly be stuck at home unless beer is provided.

I didn't get a picture of the kids with their finished projects (after we got home, they dried and we still need to put on the whiteboard part!).  It was neat because at the end you showed the Home Depot lady the finished project and each kid got a certificate and pin (to put on your apron!).

Overall, it was pretty awesome!!! And legit free (which Jimmy didn't believe me!). If you're interested- check it out next month!! I'm obsessed with DIYing and so happy my dad and mom taught me how to use a hammer, nail and so much more so I'm pumped to teach our kids too!!

DIY chore chart

At 4, 2 and 0 (ages of our kids), while they might not be SUPER helpful (as in, "go take out the trash, go mow the lawn"), but we do think they can be doing things around the house.  Obviously we make them do stuff, but after getting some birthday money, Charlie kept asking to go back to Target and buy more cars.  Ummm.  Sorry, we don't just go to Target whenever and buy toys for you.  He then told Jimmy he wanted to earn some money to buy cars.  On the way to school, Jimmy called me and asked if I could come up with a chore chart for him.

Oh, yes I can.  So after browsing Pinterest and contemplating the easy option of buying a poster board and drawing on it, I decided to do it Brittany style and go completely over the top.  Because, I'm on maternity leave and I can.  I never have time to do fun stuff like this - so why not?  

I decided to go with the magnetic chore charts on Pinterest that the kids move the icon to "to do" to "done" when they are completed.  Easy enough.  After gathering the materials for all that, I had to figure out where to hang it.  While it would be easy to put downstairs, I thought it would be better upstairs, since a lot of the tasks take place in the morning/night (get dressed, brush your teeth, make your bed, etc.).  And I had the perfect wall.

While Charlie is the one that wanted the money, why not get everyone involved??  Maddie can do most of those tasks and I'm sure she'd like to earn some dough too, right (they don't have to know we are talking cents here...).  Mikey - well, poor kid.  He's a little helpless right now - so his "chores" consist of basically surviving through the day (sleep, eat, poop, nap, burp, pee - enough said) but I couldn't leave him out because someday he will be able -and hopefully willing - to help out!

I had these done for a while (along with the super easy DIY picture ledge I built), but on Friday, my dad showed up at my house in the morning after some miscommunication - and I asked him if he would help me hang these up.  Of course, he said yes, and then pretty much did the whole thing perfectly while I took care of Mikey.  Have I mentioned how awesome my dad is???

And I'm in love with the final product - so in love!

Charlie is pretty into it - Maddie is clueless, but I'm confident she will get there soon - and Mikey, well, he's only 5.75 weeks old.  So yeah.

Here's a closer look.  I love the picture ledge shelf and just used some items that I already had that weren't being used but I had stored in the basement.  Everything else is from Walmart.  And the chore chart icons were from this website I found via Pinterest.  

Charlie and Maddie have a goal of completing 6 of the 10 chores they have on their each day.  Then you move the little circle magnet at the bottom as you complete each chore until you get to 6.  Then you get your money for that day.  If you don't complete at least 6...no money.  We have still yet to determine how much per day.  I'm thinking 25 cents?  Maybe?  That would be $1.75 per week - sounds reasonable for a 4 year old?

I also got some jars from Target's dollar spot around back to school and there are 3 for each kid - Mikey did not get these because I'm not paying him for these tasks :) - but one will be to spend, one to save and one to give.  After studying finance and working in it for almost 10 years, I know the importance of having a good understanding of finances and your personal finances, so I know they won't understand, but I'm hoping that they can somewhat.  At least the giving part because at church each week they have an offering at Kids COR.  So we will see how it goes!

It was a fun and easy project (however, as Jimmy mentioned, yes, a poster board and markers would have been WAY easier and less expensive...) and I love the look of it.  Like I said, only one day in and Charlie just loves it and picked up his toys and put Toby away so he could move some over...so we will see if it sticks.  Anyone have any tips to making it hold?

Happy DIYing!

School pictures: 2016

Instead of a Five on Friday - how about five school pictures of my babes?

We got these back (finally) this week and while they are not just amazing, I thought they were pretty cute.  We even got both of their class pictures too- which is fun to have as a keepsake to look back at the friends they were in daycare/preschool with!

My favorite things about them:

- Maddie looks so sweet and innocent - DO NOT let her fool you.  Ha.  But she is very sweet!

- Charlie's goofy teeth smile

- Charlie's hands on his pictures - he was hilarious and showed me 12 times after school on picture day how they wanted him to place his hands - hilarious

- The picture of the two of them of course...because I mean they really look like they like each other, right?

I am struggling if I want to get someone to take some pictures of us while we are still just a family of four (I better make that decision fast, right?) because I really do need some new-ish pics of the kids and got maternity pics with both of my kiddos.  Mainly I just want two good pictures of our kiddos with their real smiles (and not so much forced if possible) and one good picture of our family of 4 for memory purposes - because as we all know, once this babe comes, all new pictures!!  Wahoo!!!

Happy Friday!!  I have been busy organizing this afternoon and getting my paint on in the baby's room for the dresser.  Love checking stuff off the list!  Have a great weekend!

Props to my husband

Surely you have seen this string of text messages from a dad to the mom about the kid puking, having to clean it up and him puking on the side of the road AND then the lady's lawn he was puking on calling the cops and having to do a breathalyzer???  ***Ok - wait, so now he is saying that well...he really didn't have anyone call the cops or take a breathalyzer and was just being super dramatic for his wife - I have to say, I like this guys even better now because guess what?  I do the same thing to Jimmy #mightbealittleoverdramatic ***

I saw the story when it first came out when Baby Rabies posted it on her facebook feed and literally started crying I was laughing SO hard.  It was literally uncontrollable laughter.  And a bit of sympathy laughter too!

Poor guy (and kid for throwing up in the first place!), but seriously, I had this draft in my posts for about 2 weeks now and was getting around to posting it and yep, this goes right along very well (I guess unfortunately!?!?).

Let me start off by saying that my husband, Jimmy, is officially a super hero to me.  Especially after he's been gone for 6 days and I've been taking care of these kids solo with one in my big belly.  I swear, there might not be anything harder to me than getting the kids out the door on time in the morning.  WHY!?  And after doing it for 3 days in a row...I will say I did progressively get better and more efficient and decreased my lateness to work time each day (yes, I did track that myself).  But he does it every morning.  While, yes, I do help with lots of things, like helping to get them dressed, I usually make the breakfast for them both, he is the one that ultimately gets their shoes on and out the door.  Which you think that would be easy right.  But when I leisurely walk out the door at 7AM, mug of hot lemon water and purse in hand - what I quickly realized after this week and after this string of text messages...

...you never know what can happen between when the time mom walks out the door and when you drop them off at daycare/preschool.  Never.

Because on this morning, I walked out, drove my normal drive to work alone enjoying my drink and the radio and walked into work around 7:20AM and started my day.  Nope, not stressful getting out the door once I pulled out of the driveway.

Jimmy on the other hand...poor guy.

I got this text message from him below that Maddie was SO upset with him because I don't even know why.  Likely it was that he asked her to go potty (how dare he) or that he put on her shoes (seriously, worst dad ever)...or that he asked her to walk out to the car (I mean if that's not child abuse...). 

 #almosttwoyearoldDRAMAQUEEN

Anyways, she was screaming so upset and Jimmy got her into the car seat and then went over to buckle Charlie in and just like that - she threw up.  From crying.  And I'm pretty sure she had cereal that morning.  And maybe some oatmeal.  And of course a big glass of milk.  Yuck, yuck yuck.

Just read to see what he said.  And of course he felt horrible because like any rational adult, he was likely frustrated with the situation (versus Maddie herself) and got mad.  I mean - I would have flipped out.  And vomited.  And maybe cried because I cannot handle things like this.  Especially before work.  No way.

He handled it like a champ though, like I said, super dad.

My favorite part of the text string might be the fact that he accidentally typed "cat" versus "car" and envisioning Charlie buckled into the car seat right next to her screaming "get me out!!!  I'm gonna throw up".  Don't get me wrong - I felt absolutely horrible for him, but was laughing and screen shotted this and sent to my mom and sister to tell them if they thought their day was off to a bad start - couldn't be as bad as Jimmy's.  And they both immediately asked "Wait.  You have a cat?" (no we don't - just a typo).

Of course when I picked the kids up - Charlie went into Maddie's room with me and told her teachers how she threw up in the car this morning - and then I was stuck explaining she really was NOT sick, it was just an "upset-I'm almost 2 and can't handle life-probably couldn't breathe I was screaming so hard/loud" throw up.  Not sure if they bought it, but needless to say, she wasn't sick so thanks a lot Charlie!!

The point of this story besides forcing you to read about the now viral post famousish guy and hopefully getting a good laugh envisioning poor Jimmy's morning...is to say.  Here's to you parents that are the day care/school/preschool dropper-offers.  If I could drink alcohol, I would literally cheers to you because...FOR REAL..the fact that you make it out of the house every morning with alive and well children and you have not gone insane means you deserve a medal.  I'm serious.

And now that Jimmy's back in town and is back to his normal taking the kids to school role, this mama couldn't treasure more the fact that I'm lucky enough to get to walk out the door and worry about the stress of my day at work without having to pile on top of that getting everyone out the door and on time.  For real.

And for Jimmy - thank you thank you thank you.  For taking the morning drop off every day like a champ.  While pick up is stressful some days as well, I'll take that any day of the week.  Love you!

Maddie the nudist

Ok so not really a nudist, but this girl I swear.

While her brother likes taking his clothes off and even has his own hashtag for it (#charliehatesclothes)...Maddie has started to adopt the same desire to wear no clothes.  Except this might be a worst habit - at night!!!   This is naked people, including no diaper.

The first time this happened was a while back and I posted this picture to Instagram of her getting ready to get in the bath tub.  

Because...yeah.  It was a Saturday morning and we heard her wake up in her crib (of COURSE Charlie was awake because that boy is up at 6 or earlier on the dot every day) at 6AM and kind of rustle around.  Didn't think anything of it because when I looked at the monitor a few minutes later, she was laying back down flat on her stomach.

It was a Saturday, Charlie was entertaining himself, so Jimmy and I stayed in bed and drifted in and out of sleep - relishing in just how wonderful life was.

Come 8:00, big brother was getting anxious to play with SOMEONE.  Since apparently we weren't wanting to get out of bed (trust me - in bed at 8AM, yeah this was like a once in every two year thing for us - our kids do NOT sleep in), he decided to go in and wake Maddie up.  I knew it wasn't good when you hear Charlie say over the monitor "Get up --- ER - Maddie why are you naked....and what's that smell!?!?  EHHH gross!".  Oh yes.  Oh yes.

As he proceeded to run out of the room, we both ran in.  Naked 18 month old happy as a clam with her poppy diaper on the other side of the crib.  Apparently she didn't want it on so instead of crying enough or yelling, she just took it off quietly and went back to sleep.

I mean I can't blame her because - yeah, no one likes poopy diapers.

But still, gross.  Luckily, I'm pregnant and smells make me gag and then puke - specifically nasty poops so the cleaning up the crib responsibility fell to Jimmy while I swooped Maddie off to be cleaned...praying this was a one time occurrence.

And then it happened again the following Saturday morning.  #seriously

So we learned our lesson and stated putting Maddie only in pajamas that were zip up but had the snap thing on the top (we have some hand me down ones that just have a zipper all the way up, which she obviously has no problem at all taking off).  And we thought all was well for awhile - and then...last night, it happened again.  It was Monday and for some reason it was a Mooonnnndddaaaay - if you get my drift.  Like just ready for the day to be done.  Charlie would NOT go to sleep and I was getting so frustrated with him and Maddie was asleep and had started crying and Jimmy was nowhere to be found - ok really he was cutting his hair in the garage and then shaving/showering in our bathroom, but from my vantage point I was like "OMG help me husband!".  So I left Charlie and went into Maddie's room and walk in and she's butt naked just standing there yelling "poop!!!" pointing to her diaper.  I was like "NOOOOOOOOOOOO".

Thank goodness, she was crying wolf because there was in fact no poop in the diaper - but then I was just plain confused (I'm sure she was too).  And before I could do anything, Jimmy came in and said, I'll handle it just go to bed.  Um...ok.  So I literally got in my pajamas, washed my face, brushed my teeth and immediately turned off all the lights in my bedroom and got under the covers.  When you tell me to go to bed, I will do (even if my intentions were to gather last minute tax stuff).  

And then I couldn't stop thinking about EVERYTHING.  Like why is Charlie so frustrating to me lately and how do I take a chill pill?  Why do I feel like the worst mom ever like 80% of the time?  Why does my baby in my stomach not kick me more so I can feel them and know they are ok?  And WHHHYYY is my daughter a nudist?

Yes friends, I did think that. While I am guessing hoping this is a stage, you can't help but blame the girl because really I just think she hates the diaper.  She pees AND poops in the potty before her bath and is obviously taking her diaper off when she doesn't want it on - so maybe really we are letting her down as parents and should attempt to potty train her?  But God help us, so much work.  The weekend with Charlie was like #givemeallthewine and when you're pregnant I'm guessing it might look more like #givemeallthequesoandchips - but still.  Just a long weekend for everyone. 

This post really has no point.  Except that I used to be awesome at documenting all these crazy, funny, weird things Charlie did and poor Maddie is getting no love.  So yes, it does have a point.  The point is to document her current love for being naked - and praying that stops promptly at age 2.

But for the next 4 months - I will let her be naked when she wants because she is so darn cute.  As long as she learns to do her business on the potty and not while running around naked.

The end.

First trip to the K!!!

Can you believe that Charlie has never been to Kauffman stadium??? He's almost 3 years old and since his dad is such a die hard Royal's fan- it's kind of hard to believe (seriously, he's crazy - see here for the craziness that ensued during their trip to the World Series this last fall)!!!  But in all reality- the games are at 7:10 (which is bed time) or 1:10 (which is in the middle of nap time). So because our little man seriously thrives off a schedule, we haven't wanted to mess that up.  

Finally- Jimmy decided it was time for him to go.  And I was in and excited! I knew he'd love it!  And I was planning on just strapping Maddie in the Ergo and off we go.  However, little miss got another stupid ear infection (#7 since January!!!!), so I asked my mom to come hang with her while we took Charlie.

If you can't tell- after waking up from naps everyone was excited- ha!

But Charlie is at the perfect age.  He is so into the Royal's and can name off at least 4 players- it's pretty cute (and I guess expected with how much the games are on in our house).

The giveaway that night was a tote bag and apparently people were all about it because at 4:15 there was a HUGE line!

When we got in, we immediately went down to the field trying to get someone to autograph our ball during batting practice.

Charlie was mesmerized with the big field!

He brought his own glove and took a seat (legs crossed- love it!) while he put his hand in and out of his glove just like Jimmy does.

It didn't take long to get hot and bored waiting...so when we headed to the little K (kids portion) he was ALL about it.

He liked the carousel, but his favorite?! Well that was running.  Nonstop.  I had to go with him first, but after that- that was all he wanted to do!!!

This video that Jimmy took is what he literally did OVER and OVER again.

Pretty stinking cute.

So we finally made our way ALL the way up to our seats.  When Jimmy bought them, he said there was no one around us.  Well since everyone loves the Royal's now....the place was almost sold out.  So after sitting there only an inning and a half, we gave in and went back to the little K.  He wouldn't stop talking about running the bases.  If you can't tell I was thrilled to carry that little man all the way back down the stairs!

But never fear- dad showed up with some dippin dots (our favorite) and we finally pulled him away from running.

But then he literally ran like 20 more times (I'm not kidding) and the only way I could pull him away was to promise cotton candy.  The weather wasn't looking too promising, it was getting late and we still needed to go get his certificate for his first game from guest services.

And finally got a good family pic minus one (next time Maddie will be with us!).

We also plopped down and had some serious conversations together.

And then our sweaty kid finally got his cotton candy and all was right in his world.

Overall it was a lot of work getting him around...but it was seriously so much fun!!!

Five places...all at once

Last Thursday - Sunday...might have been some of the worst days...I have had in a LONG time.  Is that rather dramatic? Maybe.  But for real people- motherhood.  Sheesh. That's all I have to say.

I found myself sitting in the hearth room, just off my kitchen last Friday morning.  Jimmy had been out of town for work since Wednesday morning.  I was nursing Maddie while Charlie was eating breakfast and then at one moment's notice- I all of a sudden realized that I needed to literally be in five places at once.  Yes, five of them.  Not one or two, five.

(1) 

Maddie needed me to stay right there and keep nursing her, you know, for her nourishment and all...nbd

(2)

at the same time, my stomach was rumbling and telling me I needed to go to the bathroom...STAT.  Oh yeah, conveniently while Jimmy was out of town my right breast infection that had been hurting for about a week got bad and painful. Fever, aches, etc. I had gone to the doctor to the morning and she like  was "not serious, but let me give you this antibiotic to help fight off the infection".  She might as well handed me over 3 lbs of super spicy chili and said- "just eat it and see how if makes you feel".  Because that's how I felt every hour waking up and hanging out in the porcelain throne the night before.  In between my kids waking up screaming the other times. It was awesome.  Oh yeah and even after taking the antibiotic, the "chili" side effects happened until SUNDAY night. If you're good at math (or not) that's three full days.  You can close your mouth now.  Anyways,  this was mid that chaos (which has finally subsided- those were some strong pills- I just wish they would have beat my infection off versus just beating me), and I needed to be in the bathroom at that moment.

(3)  

Charlie just spilled yogurt ALL over his pants and ia screaming "MOM I need a napkin at the top of his lungs". He won't stop.  

(4) 

Toby is banging his bowl of empty food and Willy has knocked over the water bowl because it's empty.  Sweet life.  But seriously- anyone want 3 dogs- free to a good home.

(5) 

to be honest, I needed to be at work at that very moment as well.  I had more than a full days work to do and if all these other demands weren't surrounding me, it is likely have been at work at like 6:30.

But I sat on the couch. Cursing the dogs, telling Charlie to sit on his bottom and get a napkin himself, knowing that again, everything would not get done at work- but that it would likely have to spill into the next day and I would just have to prioritize. As for my bathroom issue, I was able to hold it and I sat there and continued to feed my baby girl.  

For a second, I really thought my head was going to explode.  Like how was it even possible that 3 years ago I was a newly pregnant adult with so few things relying on me (we still had the dogs...)??  It's crazy how fast life can change.b and sometimes how freaking annoying it is.  Like I just wanted to curl up in a ball, put on sweat pants and go back to bed.  

But then I took a deep breath, looked into my baby's eyes and realized something.  For as many times now I'm wishing little people (and big...) would stop needing me for 4.5 seconds so I can go to the bathroom, I will be wishing they were this little again years from now.  When they are teenagers, or away from home or even adults themselves.  I know try will still need me, just like I need my parents, but this absolute dependency just doesn't last very long and I think as I see how dang fast Charlie is growing up I'm realizing these childhood years just fly by.  

So instead of wishing I was in my sweat pants alone and sleeping in my bed, I charged ahead.  I knew that the next day would come.  Jimmy would eventually come home.  And someday I will sleep again (not anytime soon- but oddly, I'm ok with that).  I was wishing that my babes would stay needing me and barging into the bathroom on me and yelling my name at the top of their lungs the minute they wake up in the morning.  I hope they always give me that sweet look of love too.  Even as we all grow older- I don't Want that to change.

So to all you mamas out there- take a deep breath.  I wish I could tell you a solution to getting it all done by adding a limb (or two more!) or acquiring an assistant or cloning yourself.  But I can't. I can tell you that you are everything your kids need in that place at that time- even if you think you need to be 5 places at once.

Five on Friday - random mix

 

Join the link up too with Darci, April, Natasha and Christina. 

This week was quite the week.  Jimmy and I are on our second week of the 21 day fix and it's going really well.  Not going to lie - the whole potty training thing (that included treats  - i.e. gummy bears), did me no favors because I have no problem helping myself to one when Charlie gets one. BAD.  But I have worked out EVERYDAY since January 5th.  Are you kidding me?  And guess what?  It feels amazing.  With craziness at work and all the meal prep/exercise and playing with the kiddos at home - I'm pooped.  But still lots to say (duh!).

  

{ONE}

Some jewels!!!!

I hosted a Stella and Dot party way back after Thanksgiving when my sweet friend Liz, who is a S&D consultant, was in town over the holiday.  So we decided to make it a pi phi party + a few more.  It was so fun to see everyone and best yet, I got some credit to buy Stella and Dot jewelry!!  So I need your help - any recommendations on S&D favorites that you have?

Here are a few I have been eyeing:

{TWO}
 

Healthy pancakes.  YUM!  Jimmy and I have eaten these for breakfast on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the last 2 weeks and man are they good.  The first week I made them the night before but they are literally so fast and easy (I just put them in the magic bullet and then poor them on the griddle), that this week, I just made them in the morning and I think they were even better.  Looking for a "clean" breakfast - try these!  They are even Charlie approved!!!


PS I'll be sharing next week some of my favorite 21 day fix meals - I have to say they are pretty good even without all the salt and carbs and sugar!

{THREE}

Martin Luther King Day = SOLO day for this mama.

I'm thinking I will go to a movie solo.  YES.  YES.  Any recommendations?  I was thinking Unbroken - but then I figure Jimmy would like that too so I'll wait and watch it with him.

I REALLY want to see the next Hunger Games...but might opt for Annie.

Add on top of that maybe taking a nap, a good workout (or two!) and showering for as long as I want - that sounds like a perfect day to me.

Speaking of the perfect day/night - I have a pretty fun night planned out with my Pi Phi girlfriends to Cooper's Hawk Winery on the Plaza to celebrate KC Restaurant Week.  I love our annual tradition of going out to dinner this week for a yummy meal, good deal and helping out charity.  I'm excited to try a real meal at this place, as I've only done happy hour there!!

{FOUR}

MEXCIO!!!!!!!!

Jimmy and I are planning our five year anniversary trip and first trip ALONE since before Charlie was born (let's just say it's well deserved trip!).

Here are a few places we are looking at. Any recommendations???  Going around May timeframe!

 

 

El Dorado Royale

 

Excellence Resort that we went to on our honeymoon...

 

{FIVE}

Moving and shaking.  Maddie Carter is doing just that.

This girl is EVERYWHERE.  We got this adorable picture of her the other day from day care saying she rolled herself into this spot and was just SO proud!!

This one is of her trying to pull up in her crib.  

Did I mentioned I am terrified for her to start crawling???

Happy Friday friends! More to come from me soon on adventures in potty training, breastfeeding/pumping and catching up from the holidays!

IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness.

Have you heard the news??

Ikea is open in Kansas City.

Seriously, it's the best thing ever and I feel like I pinch myself every time I drive by it on the highway - which is quite frequently - realizing it's in KC to stay and we don't have to wait until we go on vacation to visit one and only limit ourselves to things we can carry back on the plane.

It's just so exciting!!

I was nervous to venture there in the first few weeks because there was SO much hype about it, I figured it would be so busy.  Like I even heard people were planning family reunions there.  Seriously?  I'm not sure if that's true - but at least I can confirm my family is not THAT crazy!

Maddie and I made a trip there on the last week before I went back to work full time and she slept and I had a blast.  She was bound to get hungry so I didn't make a full trip around the store...but headed right to the kids section with my mind already set on a few things to pick up.  Thank you for ikea for sending me the catalog in advance :)

So what did we pick up?

On the top of my list was this cool rug:

It's the perfect addition to our play room for under $15!  Charlie loves cars and tractors and all things with wheels these days so it is great and already getting lots of use!

Second on the list? This awesome table top paper roll holder and of course the paper roll.  I had the perfect DIY table in the basement ready for it to live.  And guess what?

It's Charlie approved which is the best part!

As for the table? I held off on the kids ikea table and chairs for now, since I whipped this up a while back.

All it is is a few cube shelves from target, and then 4 2x10 boards that are painted with chalkboard paint on top.  Thanks for Jimmy for messing up these boards that were originally supposed to go on our kitchen table he's building....because now they live here and are perfect!  And my sister for the idea to paint it with chalkboard paint!!

But the paper roll holder + paper was so cheap and I'm sure it will provide hours of fun!

We also got a potty from ikea to start the idea with Charlie (since all he does is complain about diapers) and I picked up some cinnamon rolls for Jimmy- that were gone in two days!

Overall- quite the success for our first trip to ikea.  I'm over the moon that we have one here!!!

Any other great finds that you like at IKEA!??