It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged on a regular basis, so I thought I’d use a 7 Quick Takes post as a perfect chance to play catch up:
1. Jane’s new “Quiet Time Corner”
At 5, Jane is down to taking only one or two naps a week. On those days when she isn’t napping, her brain still needs a break. She had been having “quiet time” in her room while the boys napped. The only trouble was she was waking up her brothers during her quiet play. I decided to create a special place for her to go while the boys napped. I rearranged a few things in our basement to create what I’m calling Jane’s Quiet Time Corner.
I simply stuck a banquet table in the corner. Then, I gathered all of her favorite stuff to have at her fingertips in one place–puzzles, arts & crafts supplies, sticker books, LeapReader books, Melissa & Doug magnetic dress-up dolls, Doc McStuffins paper dolls, her fashion design center with rubbing plates, etc. Notice that awesome clock looking thing on the far left of the table? That’s a fantastic timer we got last summer and have been using ever since. You simply turn the nob to whatever desired time you want (in minutes up to 60). When you let go, the timer starts counting down. As time decreases, the red card disappears. This is a great, visual way for Jane to keep track of how much more quiet time she has. This way, she isn’t coming upstairs every five minutes to say, “Can I come upstairs yet?” Everyone’s brain gets a little break since I created Jane’s Quiet Time Corner. She’s happy to have her own space to create and play without fear of waking up her brothers, the boys get uninterrupted naps, and I’m able to get a few things accomplished.
2. I got a whole buncha great paperback books for a steal at a recent consignment sale. Jane and Walt love hearing me and Philip read the Ramona books. It’s so fun to re-discover one of my favorite fictional characters with the kids. We recently had a veeeeeeeeeery lazy Saturday morning, enjoying these books together in our jammies.
3. Sibling sweetness
Harry climbed into bed with Walt after evening prayers. Oh, my heart!
Jane and Walt like to pretend to paint the artwork around the house. They’re so adorable with their little palettes and brushes!
4. Why buy toys when you can give your kids a laundry basket choo-choo joined together by a zip tie? 
Or a hamper full of dirty clothes?
5. It’s all about the minions, people.
BANANA!
6. Current favorite things:
Jane’s favorite part about spring rainstorms? The worms! She’d catch ’em all day and make them little homes if she could. 
If she has to be indoors, she has to be with Monty. Here they are, fighting off exhaustion around nap time.
Harry loves his bunny, Clover, and his fuzzy blanky. 
I love this delicious beer! Illusive Traveler Grapefruit Ale is my new favorite summer beer.
It might be May, but Walt’s favorite shirt is this hand-me-down Halloween shirt. “Hands off my stache!”
Okay, so I’ll admit that those 7 things aren’t real categories and were just an excuse to dump a buncha photos. It’s my lazy blogger attempt at archiving my favorite moments. Someday, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, I’ll be a more regular blogger again! Until then, enjoy the random.
To read more 7QT posts, head over to Kelly Mantoan’s blog, This Ain’t The Lyceum!
