Five On Friday!!

It's been awhile since I have done a five on Friday, so here goes!  Be sure to check out the host blogs, Darci, Natasha, Liz, and Christina!

{One}

So I saw the other day that Matthew has 37 days until Opening Day for baseball.  That means that practice will probably start within the next 3 weeks.  Either this is amazing news, the weather is changing, time for sun hats and flip flops while sitting in the sun at the fields, or I am in for weeks of torture sitting through practice bundled up.  The day I saw this post, this is what it looked like outside my window.....

{Two}

Yesterday I had tons of housework to do, so I did the only practical thing, packed up the kids (2/3 the other was at school) and headed to the mall.  It was Joshua's first time playing in the play area and after playing monkey on me for a few minutes terrified of what would happen if I put him down, he LOVED it!  

{Three}

Speaking of Joshua (and shopping) I finally decided it was time for shoes.  He hates them, I think they are the cutest thing on the planet, and my husband thinks they were too expensive #storyofmylife.  oh and PS how is this child big enough to wear shoes??

{Four}

 My husband is currently moving offices, and it has been a long, rough few weeks.  We have barely seen him, and when we do it is us visiting and helping him at the new place.  The kids have been AMAZING.  Never complaining when we are there, eager to help.  Joshua has even taken a few naps in a (very large) closet.  Not gonna lie, the iPad has helped fight off the boredom when we are there, whatever works, right?!?!  (If you want to see the iPad Apps we love for the kids, check that out HERE!)

{Five}

To go along with that while, where has my little baby gone vibe, how is this just 6 months later.... he looks so much bigger, in just SIX months.  {If you want to see what books I am loving for Joshua check out this post}

My caption to the 1st photo : "There are always moments when I stop and think how does the time pass so quickly?"  Truer words never spoken....

Hope you all had a wonderful week!!

Oh, and if you haven't seen my Mom On The Go Planner Review, CLICK HERE and enter for a chance to win one of your own, the giveaway closes 3/1 so hurry!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Our Daily Routine - Winter 2014

I am a big believer in having a routine.  Especially with children, I think that life runs more smoothly when everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect.  I have had requests to share our daily routine.  It is so hard to get it all out, because it does change frequently, and as seasons change and the kids school/activities change our day shifts.  Here is our current daily routine for Winter 2014.

5AM- Joshua is still waking up for a morning bottle, he is off of formula, just drinking whole  milk now, but it is something he isn't ready to get rid of, he falls back asleep right after.

6:30AM- WAKE UP.  I get myself dressed, and start making breakfast.  I also start packing lunches as well.

7AM- Matthew and Lilly wake up, get dressed, and eat.  Then they brush their teeth and get ready to head to school.  Joshua usually wakes up around this time as well, and eats breakfast.

7:43AM- We take Matthew to school.  After we drop him off we head back home.  I spend this time getting ready/shower.  I also do my hair and make up too.  During this time Lilly and Joshua are playing upstairs in their rooms.  (I do my hair and makeup in my room, which I can see into their rooms while doing so)

9AM- M/W/F Lilly has school.  We drop her off, and either head home or run errands.  Joshua takes a nap from 9-10:30, if we are home he naps in the crib, if we are out he naps in the car/stroller/Boba Carrier.

9:30AM-11:40AM - If we are home this is my most productive time of the day.  Since JD is sleeping I have 2 uninterrupted hours to work.  I almost always film during this time, clean, do laundry.... On days Lilly doesn't have school we either stay home to play, run errands, have gymnastics....

12PM- Pick up Lilly from school.  If it is a non-school day this is the time I make sure we are headed home by.

12:30PM- Lunchtime.  Then straight to bed for naps.  Lilly and Joshua both nap from 1-3.  During this time I eat my lunch, watch tv, rotate laundry, edit, nap....

3PM- Pick up Matthew.  We head straight home do homework right away, have a snack and then play.  I can usually get some cleaning done while the kids play.  I also start making dinner.

6:15PM- Dinner.   This is when Matt gets home from work, so we eat as a family at the table.  After dinner is playtime with Daddy.  I can usually sneak away to get some work done during this time. (Only on days he is home on time.  He works late a lot)

7:30- Bedtime routine.  Baths/PJs/Brush Teeth/Reading/Potty/Prayers/Goodnight!

8PM- Kids are in bed.  This is when my husband and I take the 20 minutes to do all the dishes, clean the counters, sweep the kitchen/dining room, clean up clutter from the living room.  

8:30-11PM- We just hang out.  Watching TV, working on the computer, anything really.

11PM- Goodnight!

So that is our day.  It seems so long all written out!  Weekends are a lot less structured, since the kids don't have school.  We try to keep them pretty relaxed.

Favorite Board Books For Toddlers

I have mentioned numerous times our love for books.  I have shared how we store our books, I made a list of favorite holiday books.  Today I am going to share the board books we love.  Board books are great, especially for young hands because they can't rip the pages or eat them.  

We started reading to all 3 of our babies pretty much since the day they were born.  

{Lilly reading to Joshua, he was 1 day old}

Now that he is 1, he really likes to, let's say....interact while reading books.  Board books are pretty much our only option with him right now.



So here are some of our favorite board books!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

  1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 {Pre Order} / 6 {Pre Order}

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

So what are your favorite books to read to the little ones in your life??  And who is as excited as me about the new Llama Llama board books coming out later this year??

**This Post Contains Affiliate Links**

Mom On The Go Planner

Today I am sharing my newest planner.  The Mom On The Go planner really is a planner that has everything.  

Year at A Glance

Month At A Glance

Week At A Glance

Monthly planning

Event/Party Planning

Holiday Planning

Journaling

Space for Monthly Goals, Budgeting, Reminders.   

 Here is a look into my Monthly and Weekly Spread.

Be sure to check out my video as I walk through the planner and show all the features I love!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!

WIN IT!  Mormon Mom Planners has graciously provided 2 copies of the planner for me to give away to all of you!!  Enter using Rafflecopter!  US only, must be 18 years of age.  Winners will be contacted via email for more information!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bookshelf Organization and Some Favorite Books

I'll be the first to admit I am not a big book reader.  Maybe that will change someday, maybe not.  I am ok with it.  We literally have 1 shelf on 1 bookcase that contains real books, you know, ones that are not for the kids.  1 shelf.  Kids books, we probably have a few hundred #it'sbecomingaproblem.  

On said shelf my husband has about 5 books, either about the Yankees or Jerry Rice.  As for me.  My favorite fictional stories come from Nicholas Sparks.  I own in real book form every book he has written.  

Other than that my book collection is filled with books about cleaning, organizing, housewife stuff, motherhood things.  These books I do actually enjoy reading, and I read the same over and over.  

Below I am going to share some of my favorites with you.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 {Newer Editions Available}

5 {TOP PICK!} / 6 /  7 / 8

To see what else is on our bookshelf, be sure to watch the video below!

What are your favorite types of books to read?  Share below!