biggest to smallest
books stacked up
things in order
just float my boat
kids in a line
jars on a shelf
shoes in a row
they help me cope
so much of our lives
is chaos and crayons
so when I have the chance
I organize all that I can!
order in the chaos
November 18, 2010
These are my favorite posts. Colorful, kid filled, organizational idea posts. Love em. Keep em comin.
I don’t have any kids and I still can’t get organized. I know how, want to, and have all I need to do it except for the energy and motivation. Maybe when I get so lost in the clutter that my wheelchair can only be seen by the lights on the controller will I get the motivation to get up (metaphorically, can’t walk) and get ‘er done. Can’t stand clutter, but can’t seem to get rid of it. If you didn’t write posts about your imperfections, I’d really think you were Superwoman. I still think you’re closer than anybody I know!
I’m always looking for how to better store the kids toys and so. I LOve the Ikea shelves (Expedit) for books and boxes. Their boxes fit exactly in the cubes/shelves. You can get bigger or smaller ones, they have see-thru boxes, so the kids know what’s in them. I also put a sticker on each box recently, so I can tell what kinda toys are supposed to go in it. I think it also helps my kids to “read” and maybe recognize some letters (they are 4 and 2).
“So much of our lives is chaos and crayons…” Love it!
Hey there,
Just wanted to mention that Abby Riggs is done with her chemo officially today. Those who have followed Abby thru her cancer (and maybe some of you that haven’t) might want to pop over to their blog and say congrats. It’s been an amazing journey! http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/
Blessing!
LOVE me some Mason jars!!!
I organize and then the next day chaos reigns!
hmmm. . . . .5 small kids, messes left about, and OCD tendancies. That can be a deadly combination.
I can’t keep things organized to save my life. Seriously. If my life depended on it, well, I’d be dead.
Love the organization!! I wish I could be that organized!
Love the first picture of the kids! Also, I would also love for you to do a “day in the life of” post. I’m always curious how you keep that many kids occupied with no TV and while homeschooling Big Mac.
So, my first thought was, “Why haven’t I thought of those giant bags for storage.” Then I realized that they would end up bothering me to no end because I can’t stack them neatly on a shelf. Although, I do have some baby shoes in one and I haven’t broken out in hives from that yet so it might not be a bad idea for the toy rotation organization that I want to do but who knows when I’ll get around to doing.
Ha! After writing this I switched over to my email where I saw and email from Mamapedia (or something like that) for 50% off family organizational products!
I was always a little afraid of the plastic bags when my kids were under 5. I used plastic bins that stacked on each other. I would actually hide some away for a few months, then swap those bins out and the kids thought it was Christmas!
You could get skirt hangers and hang those filled bags in a closet or on a clothes line in a storage room
I love that idea! I
Love your wood floors, orange walls, glass jars and distressed green furniture!! Also love those little feet all lined up in a row!!
Organization leaves me in a quandary…
If they mess up something that is organized and neat it makes my grumpy.
If they mess up something that is already a mess I figure…oh well.
So do your organize to make yourself happy knowing that invariably you’ll be grumpy later?
Or do you leave everything a mess knowing that maybe in a decade or two you will be able to clean and organize and it will stay that way?
One of life’s little conundrums…Kim
This made me smile!
I love the taller stool at the end for little Stellan. To me it’s the point of interest in the picture! Love it.
Tooo cute!! I love all of the colors!! You will be organized in no time!!
Ps: Check out my FIRST GIVE AWAY!!! Sooo pumped!!
I love love love to organize too! Is it weird that I stopped and stared at your pictures a while? Haha!
the nesting instinct hasn’t hit me yet and I have never had too many organizational skills, so anytime you wanna come visit and take over my house with organizing is fine by me!!!
My house is covered in Ikea buckets and bins. And my kids know they better not just throw things in the buckets to get it off the floor. Everythig has a home. But sometimes they get lost and need help finding their home.
Organization is the key to happiness of here. Well, that and chocolate. 
God bless.
oh – where can I find mason jars with the little locking lid contraptions like that?
Ikea has them and even Walmart might. Also, if you have one, Old Time Pottery has all sorts of stuff like that. Hope you find some! I love them
Thanks Rachel =)
There is even a pattern to the way your kiddos are kneeling! Sweet feet. An organized home makes for a happy mommy over here, and nobody likes an unhappy mommy, right?
Oh can I relate! I love organization; and my 3 kids are learning (albeit slowly – ha!). It helps me to keep some small scant bit of sanity. I know that before long the kids will be grown up and moved on and there will no longer be colored pencils and scraps of paper (or spilled milk) etc…on my floors; and I WILL miss this. But when everthing is picked up and in its proper ‘order’ I am very happy – even if it only lasts a 1/2 hour
But you/we are teaching them that everything has its place and when you take it out, you put it away in the proper place so you know where to get it the next time you need/want it. A teaching moment huh? 
You should check out the workbox system for homeschooling. It is a great organizing system and helps kids be organized too.
I’m just a little ocd about organizing:) All the cans in my pantry are in straight lines & all the kids toys have to be sorted by type.
Love it! Great perspective on the photos and love me some huge ziploc bags!
My fave is the pic of them kneeling on the stools,though! 
You can tell your were a teacher. You are so organized. I find all teachers are organized. My husband who was a teacher now an administrator is very organized…me not so much. I wish I can be more organized being a stay at home mom of three I feel our lives are chaos among chaos.
Teach me! 
Have a great holiday season!
Elena, trust me! All teachers are NOT organized! LOL I’m not a teacher, but did work at a school for about two years…some teachers were totally disorganized (But still did a good job!) I, myself, need help in the organizing area…I can get it organized, but it never stays that way
Ooh, I love being organized too! Here’s a favorite site of mine with organization tips and such: http://orgjunkie.com
Happy Friday, Friend!
Love the SC Johnson products.. (ZIPLOC) made in my town in Racine , WI. I love those big Ziploc Bags!
I love the way that you see things and I LOVE your photographs!
Love the color in those bags and I love glass jars too. I fill mine with all sorts of stuff from lentils to yeast.
Organization….Is there any other way! =0) I would seriously be lost without it. I haven’t tried the big Ziploc’s. I guess i will be going to target tomorrow!!
This is music to my soul today….to know there is another life out there who cares…as deeply as I, for the earth, but who still cannot keep hersel from SORTING into seperate containers/bags. It’s just difficult…I think about using the baggies/big bags…and then I think…”is it necessary?”. But for me…IT IS! I’m glad to know I’m not alone!
I love your tips in organization. You totally help me have order in my life.
Love your poem and the sentiments! I, too, find a total difference between “orderly chaos” and “chaotic order”. Love the picture of tidy things here. Excuse me, gotta go tame some paper piles and find my tabletop again. Thanks!! =o)
My husband makes fun of me everytime I bring home plastic bins from Target. I also like their fabric ones. I love organization.
Ziplocs and clear containers of all sorts and sizes are some of my very best friends
oh, and just had to say that I’m glad I’m not the only one who takes pics of the kids’ feet from behind when they sit like that! I love to watch my littles sit and wiggle their feet while they’re concentrating on something at the table, too cute
First?! I have a three boys, a hubby that owns too many business, and a way tiny home. Organizing some stuff is the only way i keep my sanity!!