Cup Station

With many kids, we go through tons of cups per day. So much so that the majority of the dishwasher was cups / glasses - even the bottom rack!  I first remember hearing some ideas toward this problem at a Smart Martha seminar, but more recently I went to a friend's home and she had this on her kitchen counter:

I loved this idea, and more importantly my friend said that it works out so well for them!

I will tell you that this system is working beautifully.  They're still getting used to it [one child in particular can't seem to rmbr], but mostly it's been great!

I came up with the template on Word - the kids got to choose their color and the type of font [b/c we all know it's all about the FONT!].  Well, Charlie had no choice on the font but he's not complaining ;)  I printed it on photo paper for more vivid colors and then laminated it.

It stays on the counter right below the cups and next to the fridge.  So from breakfast to dinner, that is the cup they use all day.  It's somewhat prolonging the dishwasher run-time.  And that works for me ;)

Cake

John Paul said he wanted a shield and sword on his cake - I went with that, but it morphed into something very meaningful [thank goodness that Dani had recently had her nose in this book which sparked this idea] ...

The coat of arms for Pope John Paul II is intended to be a homage to the central mystery of Christianity, that of Redemption. It mainly represents a cross, whose form however does not correspond to any of the usual heraldry models. The reason for the unusual shift of the vertical part of the cross is striking, if one considers the second object included in the Coat of Arms: the large and majestic capital M, which recalls the presence of the Madonna under the Cross and Her exceptional participation in Redemption. The Pontiff’s intense devotion to the Holy Virgin is manifested in this manner, as it is also expressed in the motto when he was Cardinal Wojtyla: TOTUS TUUS. One cannot forget that right in the territory of the ecclesiastical Province of Krakow one can find the famous Marian sanctuary of Czestochowa, where the Polish people have been nurturing their filial devotion to the Madonna for centuries.

Pope John Paul, pray for us!

St. Anthony, pray for us!

7-Up

My handsome son...

He called this one his "fancy smile" ... ;)

We are so very blessed by God

 with you in our family,

   John Paul!  

We love you so much.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Now I'm off to go change a few ages on my sidebar :o)

All Fingers Up!

Because she's TEN today!!!!!!

Daddy and I call you our Silly Heart - and yes, we call you Theresey-Poo or just plain Poo as well!  You are a beautiful soul Therese Agnes - we are so proud of the young lady you're becoming.  You always make us laugh - usually because you're laughing :)

Happy Birthday Beautiful!