If you have at least one boy, then bathroom cleaning can be, um, challenging. I cannot stand dirty bathrooms, but I especially dislike dirty, smelly ones. And the once-a-week cleaning routine just doesn't cut it at the Suburban household, because I have (count 'em) three boys- and one girl- who share a bathroom.

Enter Lysol cleaning wipes. If you follow this advice, I promise you that it will revolutionize your bathroom cleaning habits forever. Really. Every evening, after the baths, teethbrushing, etc., I pull two wipes from the container under the sink. One wipe is for the countertop and sink bowl. I generally rinse it out once and swipe again. The other wipe is for the toilet seat, under the seat, and behind the seat. *If you have girls only, this piece of advice is utterly meaningless* On Saturday, all I have to do is spritz and wipe the mirror, swish out the toilet bowl, and quick mop the floor. But that's another tip altogether! Sound simple? It really works for me.

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I'm going to take a poll, and I want to see a show of cyber-hands. How many times have you slipped your shoes on to take paid bills to the mailbox? Just as you grab those envelopes, you realize you did put the cute little personalized address labels in the left-hand corner, but you didn't put stamps on them yet. While you begin searching for the sheet of stamps (because you swear they were right here), your sweet chubby-cheeked toddler proudly shows you his latest masterpiece: "A fwag paper, Mommy!" You frantically think, "Oh my goodness! Did he just say 'flag'?" And, sure enough, there are the remainder of your 13 stamps, plastered to black construction paper, and crumpled beyond all recognition.

"Maybe I can gently peel them off," you think to yourself. "Or, if I use the tip of a steak knife, I could slide it under and...." Oh, for the love of Pete, STOP!!!!! Just stop, okay? Step away from the steak knife, give your toddler a big smooch and "thank you", and log in to your bank's website.

Online banking is sooooo easy. I set up our online account myself. And, if you know me, you know that's saying a lot! Online billpay is practically a cinch. Really. It works for me, and it will work for you too.

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This week at school, we are in the throes of standardized testing. My feelings about them are a bit ambivalent, even for an educator! Nevertheless, it is a task we must accomplish, and to the glory of God we shall endeavor.

As a teacher, it is frustrating to walk that tightrope of shedding a bit more light on the question at hand and not "giving away" too much information. I am administering the test to 22 sixth graders; I'll let you draw your own conclusions on that!

This week's testing takes away three whole academic instruction days. Yay! for the kids, but Boo! for the teachers. It seems that everything competes for attention in these last nine weeks. I'm as eager as the next guy/gal for school to be over, but there are things that must be covered!! If I am a bit scarce the next few weeks (as if I'm not scarce enough already), it's not that I don't love you all (five people, including my parents and sister). Just know I'm trying to model what I am pushing for my own children and students- perseverance. Perseverance and faith.

*Contrary to what the comic indicates, I am not a public school educator; but it is funny still!

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Aaaah! Hear that? Of course you don't, but I'll tell you. It's the sound of my washer and dryer running at 9:54 in the morning. What's this? The Suburban Housewife is online at 9:54 in the morning. Her children are in sweats and blankets, listening to a Junie B. Jones CD and playing with Legos and Polly Pockets.

It is Spring Break, my friends, and I don't even care that it's 55 degrees and misting on this first day of our mini-vacation from school. After school yesterday, we stopped by the library to load up on books for our upcoming week. Yay!! My children are at the age now where they disperse to their own favorite parts of the library and come find and consult with me when they are ready to checkout. And, BONUS, they've learned that the librarians actually GET PAID to answer their questions and help them locate items! Shhhhhh! Don't let that one get out!

Labels: Spring Break

Do you- and by "you" I mean "your children"- misplace library books? Do you ever get that Overdue Notice in your e-mail inbox? Do you have to play "last minute mad-scramble" before heading to the library? Let me be the first to say that all of the above have happened to me. Sometimes I want to avoid the library altogether, but that's not a smart move. So what's my solution? The Library Laundry Basket! It's easy: just designate a small to medium-sized (remember, you have to carry it full of books) laundry basket for library use. Take it into the library with you and tell your children to choose their 5 (or however many books they check out on a weekly basis) books, movies, books on tape, etc. and put them in the basket. I promise you that you will become a favorite with the nearly-retired librarians! After checking out, remind your children that all library items must stay in the basket unless being used. This way, the library things don't get absorbed into your children's things. Imagine: your local library will be FREE again without the hassle of overdue fines from lost books!!

Shannon has some more great reruns over at her place!

Labels: works for me