the morrisons: Pumpkin Spice Latte, good enough to turn your "Fall" into an "Autumn"

Thor enjoying a sunny Autumn day... playing football outside with dad.

Anika... always ready to "play model."

Liv doesn't get it... but she is cute anyway!

After getting home from the wedding I'm finding myself sinking deeper into the "pit" of not being able to get everything done each week!! And with the holidays (the REAL ones, not Halloween...) approaching, I have SO MUCH more I want to do...

If I don't make a plan, it will be a repeat of last year ... no Christmas letter, very little holiday baking, very little decorating... and worst of all ... NO LEFSE!

I really like the Family Fun website and magazine. I've gotten some very good ideas there... I'm going to share my newest inspirations, even before I use them. Maybe someone out there will help keep me accountable?

Great Idea #1: Weekly Family Menu
Actually, I've been doing this for 2 weeks now, and it really works for me. I have blank "menu" for the 3 meals each day, for 1 week. In each meal I have a color coded spot for Whole Grain (yellow); Protein (brown); Veggie (green); Fruit (red). For those of you who know me, I am NOT a detail oriented person (maybe Dirk is rubbing off on me?). I guess I need the ultra-organized shopping list.

Since Thor and Anika have started school, and taking cold lunch 4-5 times a week, if I don't plan ahead for EVERY meal, we run out of food after 3 days!! I just cannot run back to the grocery store 3 times a week... or we really will spend our whole budget on groceries every month!

I sit down on Sunday afternoons, fill in my Menu, adding thing to my grocery list as I go. It has helped reduce the amount of impulse purchases... I guess knowing what we are doing for each meal helps me be assured we won't need the optional extras?! Whatever I'm doing must be working. My last two grocery bills were each $50 less than the previous 6-8 weeks!!

Great Idea #2: Packing for a Family of 5
I know I will use this idea when we go camping next summer!! Instead of packing a duffel for each family member... laying pants, tops, undies, etc. The idea is to pack each days clothes (per person) in a plastic grocery bag, including undies and socks. Then, when you are at your destination, each person finds their handy bag, and is ready to go... for the girls, I'll probably even add the "hair pretties!"

I really like this idea for holiday trips to visit the grandparents. We usually spend our holiday time "house hopping"... and I get very tired of re-organizing clean/dirty clothes, especially if we have to go to more than 2 homes/hotels on our trip. Dirk hates having to bring in 13 bags just to stay over 1 night... I totally AGREE! This would make mid-trip reorganizing much easier!!

Great Idea #3: Family Holiday Organizer

This is posted on the Family Fun website, if anyone is interested! I LOVED the cute pre-made forms -- ready to print. Go to www.familyfun.com then, Holiday & Seasonal, then Ann's Amazing Holiday Planner!
Her basic idea is to start a 3-ring binder with divider tabs for each family holiday, birthday, etc. In each section, you can make (or use her pre-made ones) organizing forms, lists, calendars, assignment sheets, etc. She also includes a side-zip plastic pockets, so you can save "hard copies" of inspirational items or anything that won't fit in by being "hole-punched."
Not only do I love this idea for the (hopefully) organizational advantages, but also for great family memories!