children Archives - Lumber in My Minivan

2021, back to school, children, family, getting organized, home management, organize, organizing, parenting, priorities

Five things to do for a smoother start to the school year

July 22, 2021July 23, 2021by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment

School is just around the corner. As a teacher, I feel like we only just left school for the summer. As a parent, I am looking forward to the kids getting their routine back. While we are busy squeezing the last little drop out of summer, I have begun to think about what we can do to make our back-to-school transition go more smoothly.

1. Organize your children’s closets

Does your kid’s closet currently resemble an avalanche? If so, that’s really going to stress you out when you’re trying to get everyone dressed but their closets are insane.

Just grab a sheet of plywood, a saw, a drill, and some wood screws and build yourself a closet organizer.

2. Teach your children to prepare the night before

Pack your lunches, lay out your clothes, and get your book bag ready the night before. There’s no point in scrambling to find what you need in the mornings. This will only stress you out and make you feel rushed.

3. Establish bedtime routines and after school routines about three weeks before school starts

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Don’t wait until the week before school starts to begin going to bed early. Make sure kids know what you expect them to do when they first get home from school and what times are bath time and bed time. We start working on this a month to three weeks before school starts to get it ingrained. We also use a checklist similar to this one to help:

4. Go back-to-school shopping early!

If you wait until the last minute, items may be sold out. Get your back to school shopping done sooner rather than later and you won’t have to worry. Also, if you forget something, there is plenty of time to get it.

5. Take some time off

Rest. Don’t jam pack your schedule the last few weeks before school. Take one to two weeks to relax and prepare for school to start back. Spend time together and just enjoy one another. For the days are long, but the years are short. Someday, back to school time will be a distant memory.

Have a wonderful weekend.

2021, Blogging, children, family, life as a lumber, Personal, Sunday Musings

Sunday Musings: Life as a Lumber

April 11, 2021by LumberInMyMiniVan2 Comments

I hope everyone had a blessed week- we had spring break, so I chose to take a week off from blogging to focus on my family and getting a few things done around the house. It was a much needed break and I feel so much better.

I’m happy to be back at it again, from work to blogging. I’d like to share what we’ve been doing with you.

1. We went to church

We have been listening online to a local church for more than a year, and on Easter Sunday, we visited in person for the first time. We had a wonderful experience there and will attend again. It was wonderful to be back in God’s house again amongst other believers.

2. Our greenhouse is thriving

I’ll be the first to admit- I often just DO things without researching or reading the directions. Sometimes it works out well and sometimes it doesn’t. This greenhouse is only slightly different: I researched a bit, but I am mostly learning by doing. So far, it’s working well. We will plant our garden at the end of the month.

3. We plowed a bigger garden

Last year, the garden we grew was a little two small in square footage. Our veggies grew too close together, which often meant that we missed ripened veggies since we couldn’t see them. This year, we tilled a much larger area than we actually need so we can spread things out. We use a Wizard chain-driven tiller I inherited from my grandpa. It is older than I am but it works great. It’s a workout for sure, but I know he’d be happy to know we are using it. Plus, he has a hand in my garden, even though he isn’t here physically.

We will plow the garden one more time before planting.

4. Back to school!

Miss E went back to school this week- as in back in the building to school. In class. In person. She resisted a bit at first, but I think she is happy to be back. I’m also getting ready to get most of my students back four days a week.

5. The chickens went outside!!

Our chicken littles are no longer living in a wash tub in our bathroom- they have transitioned to our coop! I think they are much happier living outside. I’m much happier not finding chickens flying around my bathroom.

Have a wonderful week, everyone! Join us for the following articles this week:

1. Scrap wood challenge: chicken coop/rabbit hutch part one

2. Healthy school lunch ideas

3. Farmhouse Friday: spring decor roundup

Have a wonderful week!

2021, bedrooms, cheap decorating, children, decorating kid spaces, Designer dupes, DIY, girls rooms, kid spaces, kids rooms, Pin-spired projects, Pinspiration, repurpose, spring crafts, thrifty decor, upcycle

DIY Shabby Chic Lampshade

February 1, 2021by LumberInMyMiniVan2 Comments

My youngest daughter wanted a pretty new lamp for her bedroom. We tried to find something that would fit her boho- themed room without breaking the bank, but we couldn’t.

But did you know lampshades are incredibly easy to DIY? All you need to make this one is some ribbon and a hot glue gun.

We found this ribbon at the Wal of Marts.

Then, get your hot glue gun and glue the ribbon to your shade however you want. I put a drop of glue every inch on this one and it has held just fine.

I really love how it turned out. A lot of people have thought it was high end.

Plus, my kiddo is happy and that’s all that really matters, right?

Tune in next week for some more really cute crafts for girls’ crafts.

2020, children, family, life as a lumber, Personal, pets

Life with the Lumbers: what we’ve been up to

September 12, 2020by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment

It’s been a minute since we last posted on a regular schedule. We have had quite a year dealing with Covid ramifications so we took a break from regular posting to lighten the load a bit.

And that break was just what we needed. We were able to take blogging off the plate and spend some much needed energy on one another.

Oldest daughter is busy with school but is having a good year, despite the strangeness of starting the school year online.

She’s growing up so fast and she is beautiful.

Little daughter is adorable and keeps us on our toes.

We also have recently decorated for fall.

My kiddos helped me and we had a blast.

The Lumber fam kitties are doing well, too.

Gray says this the UPS man sure was nice to give him this box to sit on.

Daisy thinks her daddy’s uniform shirt is a perfect blanket .

Covid still has our lives basically shut down. No dance, no school and no church. So in the meantime, we try to fill our time having fun together, learning together and doing things around the house.

Recently we completed two small outdoor projects, which we will share with you soon.

But until then, have a blessed weekend! See you soon.

2020, children, family, Personal, photography

Emorie: Now entering the back nine

June 17, 2020by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment

Nine years ago today, our oldest daughter Emorie blew into the world. We were told only one year earlier we’d never have children without fertility intervention. We said we’d go home and think about it. Two months later, we found out she was on the way. She was born three weeks early and was the tiniest, pinkest infant Id ever seen in my life. We were instantly in love.

Her personality grew right along with her and she gained a fan club everywhere we went.

She was snuggly, sweet and had her daddy wrapped around her finger. Still does, in fact.

Even as a toddler, she was known for her sunny personality and soft spot for others.

She is smart, talented, kind hearted and loving. She is empathetic toward others and wants to be an oncology nurse someday.

She doesn’t like to admit it, but she loves her little sister and tries to take care of her.

She is happiest when she is dancing and she works hard each day to become better at her dancing.

She is growing up so fast and will be a fourth grader this fall. We have realized we only have nine more years left before she goes to college. Time truly does fly when you’re having fun.