It seems as if my children’s clothes keep multiplying by the minute. So this is how I keep them organized. I use bins to store clothes that they have already outgrown or that they cannot yet fit into.

This is the method I have been using since my first baby. The tubs cost about $4.97 each at Walmart/Target.

To save me from having a million tubs in the closet, I organized a few different clothing sizes in each bin. For example, my 1st daughter received a bunch of 18 – 24 months and 24 months clothing when she was born. I knew it would be a while before she would wear them so I separated them into one bin – 24 months folded at the bottom and then 18 -24 months untop of the others. I usually use a small blanket to separate the different sizes.

When she outgrew her baby clothes newborn, 0-3, 3-6, etc. I did the same thing. So at the bottom of a bin/tub I put 3-6, then laid a blanket. At the top of the blanket I put newborn and 0-3.  Then in another bin, 3-6 and 6-9.

Then 9 months, 12-18, etc. Now I knew exactly where to find them when my second daughter was born.

Also, I used 1 or 2 bins just for pajamas (by sizes) and the same for sweaters and snow suits, if you live in cold areas. For the cute little shoes, I simply dumped them all in 1 bin.

My kids have a lot of clothes, but if yours have way too much, you may just need to make separate bins for separate sizes.

Save the clothing for another kid to be born or sell/donate them if you have too much.

What is your method for storing and organizing kids clothing?

Do you find it difficult to keep your bedroom closets organized? I do! I do not own much clothing these days – seems like I am always dressed with the same outfits often. In addition, hubby and I share the same closet and it seems like he owns more than me:) But his clothes are one end of the closet and mine on the other end.

It is so nice to walk into a welcoming closet to find a piece of clothing. By this I mean, when all the pieces are lined together -sweaters in one spot, long pants, shorts, tops, and even color coded. However, I find it so difficult to keep the clothes in the closet in an orderly fashion.

Every once in a while, I would go through our clothes and reorganize them.  I know it only takes a second to put things back in order once they have been organized, yet I find myself just throwing them anywhere in there.

Whenever I am organizing, I would make a bag for the thrift store and another for the trash! Yes, I am known for trashing things around this place. Ask a frustrated hubby who cannot find his stuff when he needs them! (Ha Ha). The funny thing is, he never seems to need them until after I give them away or trash them. So I have learned to ask him first before making any decisions, unless it looks like it really needs to go (either too small, too big, or too worn out).

So this is what a section of our small closet looks like before organizing.

And this is what it looks like after. I did not color code them this time (but they are in order by type).

Do you have a strategy of keeping clothes closets organized! Sure would love to hear about it in the comments!

[wysija_form id=”10″]

These are the bug crafts we did to go along with our Welcome Spring What’s in the Garden Preschool Bundle.

Just in case you missed this bundle, just click on Welcome Spring link to print in PDF. Here is the link to the post.

The bug crafts can be done ahead of time. Discuss each bug and their various parts and functions as you come across them in the worksheets.

Or the crafts can be done after each bug is discussed!

 And now unto the bugs and simple instructions for creating them.

To make the bee: Use black and yellow construction paper. Cut out the shapes of the different parts of a bee. Glue the parts together. Then add on craft eyes and fuzzy sticks for mouth and antennae.

To make the butterfly: Use wooden craft sticks and popsicle sticks to create the wings & body. Add on craft eyes and fuzzy sticks for antennae. Decorate with crayons and glitter, if desired.

To make the dragonflies: Glue 3 popsicle sticks together (as shown above). Add craft eyes and fuzzy sticks for the antennae.

 To make the dragonflies: Color a clothespin using a green crayon. Glue on craft eyes and use fuzzy stick for the legs.

To make a ladybug: Use red/pink and black paper plates (I had the kids color them with acrylic paint). Allow them to dry if painted. Using a black sheet of construction paper, cut out the face, feet, antennae, spots, etc. Glue them unto the paper plate. Add on eyes and a mouth if desired (I used glitter glue for the mouth).

To make a spider: Cut out a section of an egg cartoon. Paint it with acrylic paint if desired. Allow to dry. Add eyes and fuzzy sticks for the legs. Bend the sticks to make the look sort of like spider’s legs.

To make the worms: Lay a popsicle stick on a flat surface. Paste it with glue. Attach pom poms unto the stick. Add craft eyes. All done!

Don’t forget, if you like these free printables created here at Flourishing At Home and the crafts that we do, you can always subscribe to our email list so you won’t miss a post!

[wysija_form id=”10″]

This area of the home seems to be one of the most difficult to get organized. Everything just gets thrown in there. I frequently have to organize and reorganized this little space:)  The following photo depicts what it looks like with everything out of order.

This is an example of what it looks like after I took some time to reorganize it. It seemed to work for a little while but like I said, it calls for constant reorganizing!

How about you? What tips do you have for keeping a front closet organized? Would love to hear about it!

Help your little one learn to count with this free cheerio counting concept. They’ll have fun counting and eating their cheerios, too.

Do you have preschool kids at home? How do you help them learn the basic concept of counting? When our first little one was around the age of 3, I created this cheerio counting printable to help her practice basic counting. Of course, she was already counting from numbers way past five but this little activity served as an additional learning tool. There is a difference between saying numbers from memory and actually seeing it and knowing how to use it. At preschool age, simple is best so I only made the counting from 1 through 5.

At first, when she put all the cheerios in the circles it seemed like it was a closed activity. But then I realized that this activity does not have to be a one time event. The child could remove all the cheerios and start over for continual practice or the sheet could be put away and used another time. For longer usage or for use between more than kid, it may be helpful to laminate it to make it durable.

Note: My intent is to update it to a higher number for kids just a tad older – maybe of kindergarten age.

To print this free worksheet in pdf, click on this link cheerio counting and just print it out. Please note that while this printable is free for anyone, it is not to be reproduced or modified without written permission from Flourishing At Home.

                          Do you have little ones at home who could use a print like this to help with basic counting concepts?

One of the spaces I am most discontented with in my home is the kitchen. I never seem to be able to get my kitchen to look the way I want it. During the years we rented, I have complained about kitchens being too small, or not having enough counter space, or cupboard space, or no extra pantry, or kitchen dislike for the kitchen floors, or appliances too old or to small, etc. etc. etc.

Then when we bought our first home over a year ago, I thought I could get finally get an upper hand on my kitchen. Needless to say, I am still tweaking and reorganizing all the time. The layout is terrible, the cupboards kind of old style, and I am not a fan of the color of the tiles (they retain and show up dirt easily)!  We bought our home “as is” and did some on the surface renovations such as painting, repairing door knobs, fans, lights, and the like. We removed the ugly wall paper in the kitchen and re-positioned some additional kitchen cupboards that were there. But that was about it. I later replaced the old stove and just yesterday, the dishwasher. To do a complete kitchen remodel will take planning, financing, and skilled workers. That will have to wait! Oh the dream to have a beautifully designed kitchen!

Anyway, I do my best to make my kitchen work for me. I frequently organize and reorganize the cupboards and filter out old stuff. To do a major reorganizing, I take everything out from the cupboards, lay them on the counter tops, clean the cupboards, then put everything back in new or same places! For minor cleaning or reorganizing, I may only do one or two cupboards at a time.

Then about a few days after Spring break , my hubby scrubbed the kitchen floors. It had been on his mind for a while to do it. The white tiles retain a lot of dirt and bare daily mopping does not remove all the dirt.

Look how clean and sparkly that looks!

And then, here it is a few minutes after. Oh the joy of kids – Love them!

Despite my (un-godly) discontentment with my kitchen, I still have a duty to keep it neat and tidy so I can prepare scrumptious meals to feed all the little an big tummies that need to be fed.

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed (Titus 2:4-5).

How about you? Do you have kitchen issues or are you totally content? How do you organize your cupboards and pantry?

What have you been learning from God’s Word, lately? On Sunday mornings during church, we are going through the book of Colossians. Our Pastor is doing a verse by verse study on what God expects of us. We are now in chapter 3. Last week, we learned from verses 12 and 13 about characters believers in Christ should have. The following verses are taken from the King James Version (KJV).

¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And this past Sunday, we moved unto verse 12 where charity (love) is the stressed character.

¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

As believers in Christ, we should put off the old deeds and put on new Christ-like characters. However, all the characters mentioned in verses 12 and 13 is not complete without the main character given in verse 14. Love is the bonding character that holds all together. According to the verse, it “is the bond of perfectness”. If we love someone, we will demonstrate mercy, kindness, forgiveness, etc. to that person. But if love is not the bonding factor, then all else will definitely fail! Refer to the opening verse on the image.

How are we doing with those we say we love? Even the ones we sit next to in the pews on Sundays – do we say we love them but the above characters are missing in action? Think about Christ and how He loves. He gave it all for us! I know sometimes we feel that we cannot love or do not chose to love a person. Remember, we can do nothing within ourselves. But with Christ, we can do all things. Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

This post is part of my Snippets from God’s Word series. Just in case you have missed the first few posts, I have included the links below (in order of posts).

Snippets From God’s Word Series: “When Trials Come”

Snippets From God’s Word Series: “Easter Part 1 – Meditational Verses Printable”

Snippets From God’s Word Series: Easter Part 2 – “The True Meaning of Easter”

Do you have a laundry schedule or do you launder sporadically? Our family is not huge (4) but I have noticed without regular laundering, I get very backed-up and the piles become overwhelming! And now with Spring/Summer at hand and more outside kids play, the baskets are piled even higher!

As a result, I have created scheduled times throughout the week to do laundry. Below, I listed two different schedules that I have tested.

• This first one, I have tested and tested for a while now. It seemed to work very well for the size of our family.

Mondays: Weekend Round-Up Clothes (all dirty clothes from the weekend gets washed, usually around 2 loads)

Wednesdays: Whatever was dirty (around 3 loads)

Fridays or Saturdays: More loads including begging (around 3 to 4 loads)

With the above schedule, I was totaling around 8 to 9 loads weekly. Although this schedule seemed to work well, I find that I was backed up on folding and putting laundry immediately. I realized part of the reason was due to the fact that I sometimes do not have the time to fold them right away (busy with kids) and then the different pieces of clothing overwhelmed me. I mean, just think about having to put away small clothes, whites, dark, towels, etc. all on the same day put a blockage on my motivation!! Anybody else feel the same way?

So to try to eliminate my lack of time and motivation to fold away various pieces of different clothing, I created a recent new schedule.

• Here is the second one:

Mondays: Weekend Round-Up (all clothes from the weekend, around 2 loads)

Tuesdays: None/Break

Wednesdays: Towels (kitchen & bath, 1 to 2 loads)

Thursdays: Kids’ clothing (Around 2 loads)

Fridays: Parents’ clothing – white & dark loads & small clothing – (About 5 loads for us because I wash heavier  clothing like denim separately from lighter clothing like hubby’s shirts).

Saturdays: Beddings/More Towels/Miscellaneous (Around 3 to 4 loads).

So with this second schedule, I tend to wash more it seems, but I find that the clothes are easier to fold away. Just having to concentrate one clothing type a day creates a whole different motivation to put away immediately. Albeit, I am still trying to see if I like this one above the first.

Despite my lack of motivation to put clothes away, I find that they are kept smooth and are easier to iron (or not even iron) if they are folded/hanged and put in their locations immediately. Plus, it is much easier to find stuff when we need them:)

So these are the two laundry schedules I have been trying out. How do you go about handling laundry? Are you motivated to fold away laundry as soon as they are done? I would love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below!

It has been a while since I have done a Weekend in Review Post. I used to do them all the time when this blog was first installed. But with more responsibilities on hand, it is super difficult to type a post like that all the time, as there is always so much to talk about. I do like to have them, though, to remember all the fun family times we have!

So this weekend in review post is from two weeks ago (Easter), as this past weekend, we kind of stayed around the home.

Our celebration began Thursday during the Passion week (April 17). We had some of our dearest friends come over for a play date. The kids had fun doing crafts and playing together while the moms chatted and got caught up! You can visit Kathryne’s blog at Godyfamilyblog.com where she jots down her family memories. Here are some photos of the crafts they did. I did not take photos of the crafts that same day nor of our friends’ crafts because I just wanted the day to be about catching up. I did not want to make my blog the central focus of their play date. My kids and I did this same craft again on Good Friday and I did get some photos. Here they are below.

Then on Good Friday morning, I took the kids to Yu Kids Island inside Woodfield mall for a time of fun (one of the largest mall in the area). It is one of our oldest toddler’s favourite play place. If you have read any of my previous weekend in review post or birthday posts, you would know how she loves this place. Our younger daughter seems to enjoy it much now, too (at 15 months old). On that day, there was a free Easter egg hunt, crafts, and a party going on for the kids (we did not know this until we got there). The egg hunt was over in a split second so we did not get any eggs. My kids were still enjoying some refreshments from the party when the hunt started.

Here are some photos of this place.

Then here are some other photos of a Rainforest Café at he mall! It is so fun to go inside there and tour . It has all kinds of fake animals and the chairs and seats are even shaped like zebras and other fun animals. There is a huge fake alligator (or is it a crocodile) at the entrance. It opens and closes its mouth every once in a while. The kids throw pennies and coins in its mouth or just in the water where it lies. I thought I had a photo or two of it, but I must have deleted them. It is always a fun place to go. Here are a few photos of the inside of the café.

After all the fun at the mall, we went home, the baby had a nap, we ate lunch, and made the Easter crafts (see below). It was such a quiet, Good Friday feeling type day).

After this, the fun still was not yet completed! It was such a beautiful day so I took the kids to the nearby neighbourhood park to play. They had more fun meeting and playing with other neighborhood kids at the park. I had about 10 photos of the kids playing and rolling down a big hill but accidentally deleted them.

Then on Saturday (April 18) we took the kids to an Easter egg hunt out in one of the local baseball field. It was not the usual egg hunt because the eggs were not actually hidden. All the eggs were out in the open field and kids (with their parents) ran to see how much they could pick up. They did them by age group, but the eggs were gone within seconds. It was a bit overwhelming for the smaller kids. I intended to do an egg hunt at home jus for our kids but did not have time to put it together.

After the egg hunt, we headed down-town to decorate daddy’s office at work. It was a project pending for his new office so we decided to take the time to do it. But before we even did the décor, we had to run around to purchase the decorations. Hubby works in the heart of town at Moody Bible Institute. Here are before and after photos.

After the decorating was complete, we headed back to our surrounding area for dinner and some more shopping. Needless to say, we did not get back home until late that evening. What a full day!

Then on Sunday, we went to watch the play at church. It is crucifixion play put on by the members of our church almost every year. I was so excited because I have always loved this drama. I blogged it here.

Then after church, we went to visit grandma at the nursing home (hubby’s grandma). Then we went home to eat lunch with just our family as our extended family are kind of scattered about. I attempted to make an Easter cake which totally flopped. NO photos of this one for you. The chocolate cake itself was delicious, but then the decoration was quite interesting!!!!

So that was our Easter and weekend in nutshell. What a packed weekend we had! How was your Easter or did you do anything special this past weekend?

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

         Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see,

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain

Original Artist: George Bennard

Do the words above mean anything to you? Let me tell you, I cannot sing this song without a well of emotions boiling up inside of me, especially when I sing the Spanish version of it. Now I know it is not all about emotions, but God did create us with an emotional side. And when I think about what Christ did for ME on the cross, I just cannot help but become emotional. I simply cannot read about the crucifixion story in Matthew 26-28 or in John 18-20 without sobbing. When I think about how they scorned and scourged and bruised MY Saviour, I just cannot help it! Albeit, I know deep within, that His suffering were to bring unto ALL PEOPLE eternal life. He took the pain, He took the penalty, He who knew no sin bore the sin for us! Oh how the sinless, most impeccable, spotless ONE took upon Himself our sin, and bore our shame upon a cross! Does that mean anything to you? In fact, what does Easter really mean to you?

• Is it about decorating and eating Easter eggs?
• Is it about all the Easter candy that floats around during this time of year?
• Is it about flying kites in sunny opened air? (A childhood tradition back in the Caribbean)
• Is it about eating fish on Good Friday? (Another childhood tradition back in the Caribbean).
• Is it about. . . . fill in the blanks

I remember growing up our traditional Easter Season began with Palm Sunday. We used to celebrate Palm Sunday by waving palm leaves in a march after the Sunday morning service. I remember getting up super early on Good Friday to catch the beautiful sunrise, eat my mom’s yummy Good Friday breakfast, watch my brothers and other kids in the neighbourhood prepare kites for flying, and getting all my chores done super early so I could sit and watch the Easter movies all day on Good Friday. I so used to love those crucifixion themed movies. I do not remember them all now but I specifically know there was one called “The Robe”. And then to top of the Easter season, we would go the beach on Easter Monday and have a blast all day. Families got up early and prepared huge meals and took them to the beach. That alone shows that there was no intent to leave the ocean anytime soon.

But my friend, it is not all about having fun and keeping traditions! It is a time to reflect upon the CROSS and what Christ did for us. He gave His life so that we, ungrateful, undeserving, wretched sinners, would not have to pay the penalty for our own sins! Consider these words from Isaiah 53:

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 is heart wrenching and bone chilling! What if Christ had not paid the debt for our sins? Where would we be today?

Can you see within you the crown of thorns being placed upon His head? Can you hear within you the nails being driven in His hands and feet? Can you see within you Him carrying that heavy cross up to Golgotha? Can you feel within you the agony and the pain He went through for you? Oh my friend, He went through a great deal just to save us from our sins. Consider how He demonstrated His Love toward us in these Meditational Easter Verses printable below. And if Easter means nothing to you, I encourage you to stop for a minute and consider what Christ did for you on the cross.

 I am glad that Christ did not just die and bury, but He rose again that WE might have life through Him. He took away the gloomy feeling of the cross by bringing new hope and cheer! Here are a few verses from Matthew 28 that depicts His resurrection:

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

³ His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

⁴ And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

He did it my friend, He did it for YOU and for ME, let us not push Him aside. Consider His love and invite Him into your life Today and let Easter mean more to you than just keeping traditions and having fun!

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

¹² For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9-13).

One of my favorite songs about the Cross is by the Gettys:  The power of the cross (I tried inserting a YouTube video but was having issues so I left it out). But the link will take you to a YouTube video of the song. Such powerful words: I cannot sing this song without being deeply moved, especially when it comes to the last line in the chorus. Here is the first verse and chorus.

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:

This, the pow’r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath-

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Others Songs that reflect the cross:

Via Dolorosa – Sandi Pattiy

Worthy is the Lamb – Thank you for the Cross Lord, Thank you for the price you paid – Hillsong-Worthy is the Lamb (Darlene Zschech)

I know this post was a bit lengthy, but I hope during this passion week, you will find the true meaning of Easter in walking with Christ!!

This post is part of our Snippets From God’s Word series. And just in case you missed the first two, I have included their links below:

When Trials Come

Easter Part 1 Meditational Verses Printable

I created these Spring worksheets for our 3 year old toddler. The picture tells what is included in this bundle. The activities are centered around bugs and animals that are commonly seen during the spring time. Preschoolers focus on Reading, Writing, Math, etc. Click on this link Welcome Spring to see more and to print these free worksheets in Microsoft word! The concentration game cards could be printed on card stock, cut apart, and maybe even laminated to make them durable. Enjoy!

NB: This preschool bundle is NOT to be reproduced unless given written permission from the writers of flourishing at home.

Here is a better shot of some of the activity sheets.