*Joys of the Home*

Monday, January 9, 2012

~Abort Mission~

That is how I felt on Saturday. Beaten down, defeated, Weak and weary. I had just blogged about completing my first week of one of my new year resolutions. I had left out of my post that I didn't start those daily chores until my kids went back to school on Wednesday and that I was still determined to get EVERYTHING done, so I squeezed Monday and Tuesday's chores into Wednesday and Thursday which were also days that I was gone for the majority of the day working and running some errands. WHEW! Talk about run on.... I think I do that a lot in my writing as well;)

Managing to get everything accomplished, especially on the shortened time frame, made me feel like super woman. I had cleaned, shopped, worked, made home cooked meals, ran kids to activities and so forth, and i survived! That was until yesterday. Apparently it only takes a ravine, a few extra kids, a husband in charge while I shop for more tile, and one hour. That's right, one hour to destroy my perfect house.

I might be exaggerating a bit. It was really only two bathrooms who had a confrontation with the dirt from the ravine. The dirt won by the way. The rest of the house just looked like a stuffed animal toy factory had thrown up all over. I had no idea we had so many stuffed animals. Either neighbor kids are contributing to my youngest child's obsession or Toy Story is true and the animals come to life, and breed.

As I was cleaning the bathrooms, again, I started to laugh hysterically. I hadn't really cleaned these bathrooms in a while. A quick wipe down or just the toilet in the half bath. The kids bathroom scares me so I try not to venture into it if I don't have to. I have never had this happen before. That is, until I decide to deep clean, even wash the rugs (which now have to be rewashed because my middle son got dirt all over them, then took a shower and got water all over the rug). Do you know what dirt and water make? That's right.....it's mud. How can I be mad though. Oh, I was at first, but it is just so comical. They did nothing wrong. The dirt wasn't even from their shoes. Somehow it just got on every inch of D's clothing. He said he's sorry.....I said I forgive him and God is giving me another week to clean them again.

How fortunate am I!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

~Free 2012 Printable Calendar~

I LOVE FREEBIES!!!! Especially pretty freebies that help me with my goal of staying organized. I have calendars absolutely everywhere. In my purse, on the refrigerator, in the pantry, on the ipad, in my family binder..... and I use them all. The one on the fridge is mainly for meals and events that might require me to think ahead for the meal, but otherwise they will have the kids' schedules. I can't seem to keep up with everything, or I tend to forget when someone gets picked up or dropped off. It's just good for me to have a calendar readily available at all times.

I found this website last year after googling free calendars. It is perfect for my computer nook. It is pretty and yet has a fair amount of room to write stuff for each day. I have mine framed in a dollar tree frame and I use a wet erase marker on it so I can add and take events off easily.

She just posted this years free calendar!! Enjoy, and thanks 505 Five O' Five Design + Paper!!

Friday, January 6, 2012

~New Year Resolutions: Week One~

Well, week one of 2012 is almost over and I have completed one, of however many weeks there are in a year, of my new year resolutions. Mission Organization. Actually it's just one step in the process, but a HUGE one and a very important one to me.
I showed you my family binder here and it has not left my side this entire week. I spent a day last weekend, filling in some of the freebie forms that I had printed out, including the daily to do's. I only put chores on the days and then I have a daily to do that I fill out every evening with places I need to go, things I need to get, what's for supper and what I need to do for the following day. It's a great form where I can gather all of my information into one place and I actually leave my binder open on the table all day long so I can check things off my list. I love making those check marks.

So my cleaning schedule that I have created consists of this:

Monday: Clean hardwood floors

Clean master bath

Vacuum upstairs

Tuesday: Dust upstairs

Clean kids bath

Vacuum Main level

Wednesday: Clean half bath

Dust Main level

Vacuum downstairs

Thursday: Dust downstairs

Clean downstairs bath

Wash bedding

Week 1 and 3- master and E's

Week 2 and 4- boys

Friday: Grocery shopping (yes, that is considered a chore in my world)

Wash windows

Week 1- upstairs

Week 2 - main level

Week 3- downstairs

Week 4- off

Saturday and Sunday have been left open to have fun with the family or do other projects that don't need to be done weekly. I also do laundry and dishes every day. OH... and sweep my hardwood floors. I hate crumbs.

I just finished my chores for today, my daily to do has everything checked off and I am ready to relax and enjoy an "at home date night" with my husband.
This is just a beginning draft of my chores. I know that there is a possibility that I will have to add something, move something, take a day off... and I am OK with that. Having a guide will hopefully keep me motivated and help me not to forget things. There were a couple of times today that I thought I could just skip something. The basement bath wasn't bad, the windows could wait for another time, but I kept going and pushing myself and the reward of a clean house (it was clean until the kids came home from school;) is well worth the work and effort.

So.... I'm curious. Do you have a cleaning schedule? How long have you had it and have you kept up with it? Am I missing something on my list? I would love to hear your responses!!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

~Double Chocolate Brownies~

Can't eat just one. Trust me.... I tried.....and failed......miserably. Elizabeth actually named these herself and since she is the one who makes them, I let her name them, and lick the spoon, and the bowl, and take the first taste test, because that is what the cooks get to do:)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C sugar

3/4 C flour

3/4 C cocoa powder

3 eggs

3/4 C butter, melted

3/4 C chocolate chips