Random Tip No. 16

If you're making butterscotch oatmeal bars, don't forget the flour.

If you do forget the flour, don't throw it away. Eat some out of the pan. Discover it's quite yummy. Save it and sprinkle it over vanilla ice cream.

Random Tip No. 15

If you are in the market for a new washing machine and think you might one day have a two year old, seek out one with a locking feature. You'll want it when your two year old decides to "help" with the laundry, turning it off, changing the settings, and restarting it at her discretion until you remember the locking feature and bless the wise washing machine engineers who probably had two year olds of their own.

Random Tip No. 14

If you take the time to print out the Stations of the Cross from Lent and Easter in the Domestic Church, have the kids color them (even Second Daughter!), cut them out, laminate them, cut them out again, and hang them on the walls so you can say the Stations of the Cross every Friday at home with the kids (using The Way of the Cross for Children (Package of 10)), be sure to write the correct number of each station.

Random Tip No. 13

Baking and cooking are good preparation for chemistry.

It's important to read ahead so you know if you are supposed to reserve a liquid before you pour it down the sink.

Random Tip No. 11

Consider carefully before putting your baby with a cold facing forward in the Baby Bjorn when preparing a meal for the whole family.

He will probably sneeze.

Random Tip No. 10

Don't confuse the baby's oatmeal with the mama's cream of wheat at breakfast.

Random TIp No. 9

These waterproof bandages are awesome for a mom with a cut on her finger who changes diapers and washes her hands a hundred times a day. Keep some on hand that are not from Shark Tale.

Random Tip No. 8

Be very  careful when reaching over the Advent wreath at dinner time.

Lit candles are hot.

Random Tip No. 7

If you are worried about how well your newborn is eating and growing, use cloth diapers instead of disposables. It's a lot easier to see and feel how wet they are.

Random Tip No. 6

If you are planning to paint cereal boxes as ziggurats with your children, don't buy brown paint. They will enjoy the project that much more if they have to mix red, blue and yellow together to make the brown.

Random Tip No. 5

Don't try to build a model of carbon atoms in a diamond with modeling clay and toothpicks. Just use a molecular models kit, though you might wish you had more than one.

Random Tip No. 4

Always check the pockets of gym shorts before putting them in the washing machine. That's probably where the iPod gets stuffed when the battery dies in the middle of a workout.

Random Tip No. 3

If you decide to strip your diapers by hand in your sink, because you are afraid to put Dawn in your front loading washing machine, it is a good idea to subscribe to Netflix so you can watch a movie. The job will be done before the movie and seem much less strenuous than the last time you stripped diapers.

Random Tip No. 2

As you move your diapers from your washing machine to your dryer, turn your SuperDo inserts inside out. They might not all stay that way, but the ones that do will be dry after one cycle in the dryer.

Random Tip No. 1

If your microwave buttons stop working (say "1" and "2" and "minute plus"...maybe some others, too), just wait until you lose power. They'll work just fine when the power comes back on.