Toy Boxes

I have been nesting again. I really have the mental energy to do a lot to our house every evening; but, my physical energy only allows for one project a night. I am having a much rougher go this time around...

Anyway, we have two "boxes" or "bins," whatever you want to call them, in our living room.

Note: the black things on the wall next to them, are the latches for the big, baby gate that we used to have to block the stairs. It will be back out soon enough... :[

The bins used to hold photo albums, craft stuff, blankets, etc. They were catch-alls. Then, when Lucy came, I cleaned them out and they currently hold all of her living room toys.

The toys that you see in the picture? They are from Lucy's room. Of course the toys in the bins weren't enough, she had to bring more out!

I was recently cleaning up the living room and going through the toy bins. I've been slowly taking the things that are too small for baby mouths and putting them in Lucy's room. I decided to separate the toys into the bins by "baby-friendly" and "toddler-toys." Then, I decided that each of our girls would get their own toy bin, once Olive's toys started to take over the living room too. Wouldn't labels be nice? :)

I started by making two 7 x 5 in. name tags, one for Lucy and one for Olive.

Seriously, how sick of "olives" will Olive be? :)

I printed them on card-stock and for anti-destruction purposes laminated them. I love my laminater! :) Lucy loved it too. :)

I wasn't sure how to adhere them to the lids of the bins. I didn't want something that would be permanent necessarily or leave a gross residue. So, for the meantime we pined them on there. I think I can staple them...I'm not sure.This part is to be determined, and I lean heavily on my intelligent husband for a fix...

 

Lucy was so proud and told me who's bin was who's, over and over again. :)

It was a small change; but, I love it. 

I know that once they hit a certain age that it won't matter who's bin is who's anymore. But, this way they can each decide what toys they want in the living room and what toys they want in their bedrooms. Each of them only get what fits in the bin! Also, when it comes to clean-up time, they know where it goes....hopefully. :)

What do you think?