Homework Box

My oldest child started Kindergarten last August (oh, how they grow up so fast!) and has been bringing home homework since the 2nd week of September. Since when did they start giving Kindergarteners homework?! What happened to enjoying the afternoon playing after being at school ALL day (yes, ALL DAY kindergarten!) :::SIGH::: but I digress...

Since I have been a student myself for a while now, my son would constantly want to do "homework" with me even before he was old enough to understand what homework was. Now that he has his own, he has been proudly asking every day when he comes home "can we do our homework now?" :::PICKS HERSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR::: Now only if this could last forever...

I needed a way to organize the things he was constantly using after school: crayons, pencils, glue, etc. I hated how everything was in a different spot and in a different container. Then I saw the perfect solution on Just a Girl. I couldn't find any like the ones she used, but when I saw these at IKEA, I fell in love!

Here's my finished product!

My son was doing homework at the time I took the pictures, so what you don't see is the glue stick and scissors that go in the box as well. We keep markers, pencils (his teacher gives them away as prizes, in case you're wondering why we have so many different kinds!), erasers (more prizes), crayons, and of course a pencil sharpener because he must always have a sharp pencil (I HATE dull pencils...) I love how those little dividers are adjustable so as he gets bigger and his needs change, he can do it himself. And nothing says "MINE!" more than a little personalization.

So how do you all organize your kids' school supplies and make homework fun?

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Eating disorders

Aly has pretty bad allergies so her doctor had her tested for food allergies. It came back that she was allergic to milk and peanuts. She is not just lactose intolerant like we had thought, but instead is actually allergic to milk. So this means she can't have any diary products at all. Can we say, yuck?! It is SOOO difficult to feed her now that she is eating table food. There is diary in almost everything we eat! So tonight, while the rest of us had meatloaf, peas, and YUMMY garlic mashed potatoes...

(forgot to take a pic before, so I only got an after of Jackson's plate)

My poor baby girl had to resort to eating:

I know it's all natural, but I still feel bad that while the rest of us are eating home cooked foods (probably not as healthy though!) she is eating a boxed dinner. Between Jacks and Aly's food issues, I must have the only set of siblings this young with eating disorders....Does anybody else have to be a short order cook to family members with food allergies??? Any suggestions?

love-hate relationships

Jackson, 4 and Aly, 11 months

This picture was taken right before we headed out for our Annual Mel's 4th of July pancakes. It was my absolute favorite one because it accurately shows their relationship. Jackson is always giving his sister some lovin', but she does anything and everything to get away from it. I can't wait until it's the other way around....*lol*