Tick Tock

 

Some of you noticed our new alarm clock in that last post. My kids are still pretty young, but I think they are old enough to get some responsibilities. Waking yourself in the morning is an easy but important skill. My oldest and I did some window shopping and ran across this cute sphere. In addition to being an alarm clock it also has a white noise feature which is great since our old machine stopped working.

From my daughters' view the best thing about it is how it lights up.

 

That's right a rainbow of colors that changes about every 10 seconds while it is on. It's actually very soothing and not at all disco like. It goes well with the girls initial rainbow request, and for the most part sits there in a neutral white state.

I also got around to hanging sweater hooks. They are just some curtain tie-backs left by a previous owner. They got a few light coats of pink spray paint, and mounted to the wall with wall anchors. Easy, Peasy, Lemon Squezey.

Dancing on the Ceiling

Grandma picked up some cute hanging shapes at Hobby Lobby. The strings they came with had stark white plastic rings on the end for hanging.

Similar to these

I didn't like the way they contrasted with the ceiling. I cut them off, then decided that they still hung too close to the ceiling. New hanging "wire" made from fishing line was a quick and easy solution.

Simple tacks held the strings in place without putting giant holes in my freshly patched and painted ceiling.

We picked up the lamp during a family trip to Gatlinburg, TN. It was a steal at just $19.88, and made it home 16 hours in the car safe!

The small music boxes were a Black Friday Doorbuster that found their way into the girls Christmas stockings.

We aren't quite finished yet, but it was come a long way!

You've Got Mail

 

During a trip to the Children's Museum a long time ago I noticed how much the kids enjoyed delivering mail in the small town. I have since been on the look out for a great deal on mailboxes. This past week I finally found 4 mailboxes at just $.50 each!

I used a Sharpie to write addresses on the side and got busy installing them around the play area.

Used a (free after rebate) level to keep them straight.

Used a drill bit to make holes in the 2x4's that I mounted them in.

Then to make holes in the mailbox.

I made 1 hole attached it to the 2x4, then drilled the second hole to ensure that I didn't move it in between.

 

Since I couldn't fit a drill inside the mailbox and I didn't want a sharp point from a screw on the inside, I chose to use 1 3/4 inch machine screws and nuts to bolt them in place. (2x4's aren't actually 2 inches thick)

 

Used blank note cards and stickers to make mail. The kids have already been making their own mail, so that should be fun to see evolve as time goes on.

I even found some small boxes to wrap and address. I covered it all in clear packaging tape to help them live a bit longer. I also made sure the kids knew the boxes where empty.

Now the kids can deliver and receive mail by matching the letters and numbers.