Category Archives: Parenting

Ikea Kura Bed Climbing Wall Hack

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wallMy kids are climbers. They climb anything and everything. My four year old in particular. We also live in an apartment so we are limited on what we can build inside of our home. So I came across an Ikea hack of creating a rock wall on the Ikea Kura Bed. However it was just a photo with the supply list, so I kind of made it up as I went.

cuttingHere is my supply list

  • 3/4″ Piece of plywood with at least one good side. Cut to 41″ x 45″
  • 6 – 3/8″ bolts/nuts. The bolts we used are 4″ long and hang out about 1/2″. I think 3.5″ would work too.
  • 12 – 3/8″ Washers for bolts (one on either side of wood)
  • 12 Climbing Holds (I bought 2 packages of these from Canadian Tire, but you can buy real climbing holds also).
  • A drill, and a hammer, and different drill bits.

 

 

boltingI started by going to our local Kents Hardware store, grabbing my 3/4″ plywood and having them cut it right there at the store since we don’t own tools beyond a drill. Then I located my hardward. All of that cost me a little over $40.

My original plan was to buy actual rock climbing holds and multiple tnuts so we could easily move the rocks around the plywood. But with what we wanted and with what our budget was the playground holds were the cheaper option. You can still move these ones around, just not as easily.

DrillingSo here is what you do.

  1. We first held the board up to the bed and drilled 6 holes through the plywood and the bed railings. Make sure you are far enough away from any screws in the bed. We did 2 on either side and two img_5005along the top. After that we took it back out and took it outside.
  2.  Now we marked where we wanted our climbing holds to go and with a 1/4″ drill bit we drilled 12 holes in the wall.
  3. Flip the board over so you are looking at the back side of it, and hammer in the barrel nuts that come with the climbing holds. We actually had some issues with this. The barrel nuts didn’t fit well so we had to go back over the holes and widen them a bit.
  4. screwing in Flip the board back over and start screwing your holds back oninto the wall. We used both a hand held screw driver and our electric drill. The large bolts go into the barrel nuts (make sure you add your washers), and then you screw in the smaller screws to keep them from spinning.
  5. Take your board back in to the bedroom line it up and bolt it to the bed. Add washers on both sides of the bolts to make it more secure (or something, I have no idea. We actually forgot on some of them).
  6. Let Kids climb
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I don’t fold clothes

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imageGuys I have a secret or three. I don’t fold clothes. Like ever. With four kids I just gave up. This closet belongs to my 6 and 4 year old, the closet belonging to the 2 and 1 year old looks similar.

When we had dressers they would just pull all of the clothes out anyway so there was no point folding them. My new system works awesome. They each have two boxes. One box for bottoms (shorts, pants, skirts), and one box for tops. The only items hung are sweaters and dresses.

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Here is my next secret. I don’t even turn their clothes right side out. If they can’t be bothered to turn them right side out when they take them off then they can figure it out when they get dressed. I know I am pretty much the meanest mom in the world. Or the best because they are problem solving. Or something like that.

Also with the bins it is super easy for them to help me put their clothes away. Which is always nice.

imageHere is my last secret. See that bin. It is full of undies ranging in size from 3t-6 and every single sock the kids own. It is kept in the girls bathroom so in the morning they can grab undies that fit them, grab any random two socks (I hear people who wear mismatched socks are better adjusted and win the Nobel prize or something like that) and they are set for the day. Who cares if a sock gets eaten by the dryer monster, who cares if one sock gets a hole and gets thrown out, because no sock gets matched to its mate. And I don’t waste time matching and rolling socks. I mean I could be doing so many better things than matching and rolling dozens of tiny socks. Like eating cake, or wasting hours pinning fancy crafts I will never do.

And guess what you get a bonus secret? I don’t fold my own clothes or wear matched socks.

Do you have any secret ways you make your daily life easier?

What Babywearing Means to Us

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first timeIMG_6714“You’ve got your hands full”
The comment most said to me as I’m out with my four young daughters. This comment always gives me a chuckle because my hands are free and usable thanks to babywearing.

Being able to do life without the stress of keeping our kitangeIMG_7293little ones close is an amazing thing. Babywearing has allowed us to do and see so much.

My journey started the first time I wrapped my oldest at 3 days old in a woven that was poorly wrapped and not tightened properly (She is 3 days old in that picture on the top left). Now 5.5 years later I’m able to swing my fourth baby onto my back in a traditional African Kitenge without breaking a sweat.

IMG_2563Babyweariimageng allows me to keep those little pieces of my heart that I have birthed into this big world close to me for just a little longer. It calms the spirit of the most wild toddler, and the inconsolable infant. It takes our family on adventures and creates memories to cherish always.

Babywearing can take you to places you never thought possible with a young child. TIMG_6303o get through a busy IMG_0808airport, on your way to a grand adventure. Or to go on a hike to find the perfect sunset while keeping baby close yet still apart of the show. Babywearing gets you where you need to go.

Babywearing is not always flashy and exciting. Some days it allows supper to be made or a room to be vacuumed. It 248656_10150197706218796_72571_nallows a hot meal to be eaten, or one more cup of coffee to be consumed. It is the moments when you are able to pace your halls with a sick little one and your arms don’t grow tired. It is the times
when an older sibling can get some one on one time with Mama while the baby naps on your chest. It allows work to get done in a job that never slows, in a world that never stops spinning.IMG_1252

Babywearing is both a sanity saver and a life giver. An extension of yourself, and an extra set of hands. A long lasting hug, and a kissable head. A place for a small head to rest while life moves all around them. That is what babywearing is to us.

Confession of a Barbie Loving Mom

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imageA year and a half ago I found all of my old Barbie’s. I loved my Barbie’s as a kid and kept them in great condition. I never cut their hair or drew on them like other kids. In fact I played with them until I was probably 11 or 12. I was so excited to pass them on to my girls.

imageCapri and Payson loved them. Unfortunately they were rather rough with my beloved perfect condition 25 year old Barbie’s. So we now have a Barbie with one leg and two Barbie’s who have heads that pop off randomly. I was so sad. So Barbie’s went away for a little while.

imageToday is a snow day however so I brought the Barbie’s up and they are happily playing fighting and arguing with them. It is driving me nuts. But they are playing.

Here is my confession. Because it is a hot topic right now with the announcement of the new Barbie’s that come in many shapes. Here is the thing, I think it is great that they are branching out and making different looking Barbie’s…but I don’t think original Barbie’s actually have this horrible negative impact that so many people try and place on them. I don’t remember once thinking while playing with my Barbies, “oh I wish I had a tiny breakable waist and uncomfortable looking feet”. I didn’t try and diet and workout to look like my dolls, because that’s just it, they are dolls.

I instill healthy body image thoughts into my girls and have zero concerns about them comparing themselves to our size 00 dolls. I don’t hear little conversations wondering how they can have poofy blonde hair or perky plastic boobs. Instead they are talking about taking care of the Barbie babies and playing house. imageSo little girls play on. Use your imaginations and have fun playing make believe. Don’t allow adult stereotypes to pollute your brain and hearts. Be innocent for a little longer and enjoy that your Barbie can ride the magical unicorn pony without shame. image

The importance of family photos

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Do you ever find yourself looking through your photos only to realize you are not in them? A family trip to the zoo, or playground and it appears to only be your spouse and children on the adventure. I decided I didn’t want that. I want photos on our outings and of our everyday life that include all of us. imageMy iPhone has a timer in the camera app so I find places to prop it and jump in the picture. I would love a remote so I can take more candid pictures. But I love having photos of us all doing things like decorating cookies or having family game night.imageWe are able to capture memories and make sure that one day when our kids go through our photos they have ones of all 6 of us. image

We have also discovered that our stroller cup holders work great as a tripod.

imageAnd on the rare occasion there is no where to set up for a photo we have gotten good at groupies via my husbands long arms or mirrors.

And now that I have written this I realized I should try and get more family photos of the 6 of us.

So set up your phone or camera and set the 10 second timer and take some photos of your family doing everyday family things. Leave your kids with photos of everyone and don’t just be the mom or dad behind the camera.

Edit it add our new family pics hahahaimage Continue reading →