Gladdest Hours

In Between the Front Seats of the Van

THAT title really caught your attention, didn't it?

The Organizing Junkie had a post about organizing her van, so I thought I'd tackle this annoying little 18" x 18" section of my life. 

While the girls were painting on the front driveway the other day and Caroline was in the backpack, the middle of my van went from this mess:

To this beautiful sight:

Here's the nitty-gritty:

Top left - a cut-off Capri-Sun Box (they are the sturdiest boxes!), the perfect size to fit:

• Entertainment Book
• Box of Wipes
• Notebook (in case I get an exciting blogging inspiration while driving)

On the right - a shoebox for:

• Hand lotion
• Sales flyers
• Driving directions and other loose paper for which I need quick access
• Tall cup to hold a BrainQuest
• Canning jar to hold all the pens/pencils upright

I will be on the lookout for just the right size plastic container, but don't have one yet.  I'm sure the cardboard shoe box will get trashed.   

Bottom left - a tall round, tin popcorn container to corral the tall things:

• Water bottle
• Ice scrapers
• Sunglass case
• Toilet paper roll

That black thing in the middle is the CD case.   The baby diaper items hang on the back of the driver seat.   There is a Tupperware container of First Aid items under the back seat, along with a couple of umbrellas and my Dumb-Broad-Stranded-on-the-Road-Emergency-Kit.   Believe me, you do NOT want to know what is in THAT kit.  I'm the gal whose husband's favorite bedtime reading is the catalogue from Emergency Essentials.   

The Baptism Box

I have intended to create a Baptism Box for about a year now.  Finally!  I did it on the first anniversary of Caroline's Baptism, May 21. 

I got tired of running around the house gathering the various items to prepare and clean up after celebrating Baptism Anniversaries.  So, this is my solution.  Nothing earth shattering, I know.  But I wonder why it's taken me so long to do this.  Hummph.  We'll never know.   

Here is what is in the box:

• 3-ring binder with four sections: each girl's Baptism scrapbook pages.   On the back of the binder is my "idea list" for celebrating Baptisms. Download baptism_anniversary.doc
• Baptism Gown with a hanger
• Baptism Bear
• Family Sacramental Tablecloth
• Angel Candelholders
• Bottle of Holy Water
• Shells for Table decorations at each place setting
• Baptism stickers
• A few leftover print-outs from Moira Farrell's Albums
• Baptism holy cards
• Today I was Baptized picture book
• Laminated recipe for our Baptism Cookies (Russian Tea Cakes)
• Baptism Prayers/Blessings
• White Blanket crocheted by Dorothy Jo's Godmother for Erika's Baptism
• Baptismal Candles
• Baptism Plate
• White Cloth Napkins

Everything miraculously fits in this container. 

OF COURSE, it has a label on the outside that says, "Baptism!"  And, it has it's own rightful spot in the basement.