Work and Play

Today was a pretty good day. Half Marathon training went well today, I beat my fastest mile. Which isnt fast but it is getting there. And because we had Family Home Evening today I got to make these yummy cookies that I found on http://www.bakerella.com/. There are so many yummy recipes on there that I will have to try. But as for now I made these simple and yummy cookies. And they were yummy!

Of course I didnt just bake all day...that would have been nice. However, I do have my goal of cleaning and organizing my life. And I have not been on top of it lately. So I decided this week I would make a big push to get my downstairs done. Now my downstairs does not get a lot of traffic. I wish it got more, (because that is my photography studio) but it doesnt. So it is a dumping ground for my family. The blankets get dumped from the drive in. Kids laundry gets piled up down here because they dont have a desire to walk the four more steps to the laundry room. If you come in the downstairs door, just kick off your shoes anywhere downstairs. And then my craft stuff gets piled up down there too. So I decided to start working down here...and I got a good start on it...I think.

So this is what I started with. I have more pictures...but they are not uploading right now. So I cant show you how awesome it looks now. But I did get a lot of the floor done today. Hopefully I can post them soon.

Chore Charts

Maddelyn asked me today if she could start doing chores because she wants to fill up her piggy bank. I didnt grow up getting paid to do chores...I just had to do them...so it is hard for me to remember to pay them for the work that they do. I do think that money is a powerful influencing tool, and may be just what I need to get my girls to help out more. Of course then you have to find the balance of how much is too much (with chores and money). But I do think that it is an important thing to offer kids.

I think that maybe if I had been paid for my chores that I would know how to manage my money better. And that is one thing that I want my girls to know. I think every girl should know how to manage money, basic car maintenance, basic cooking skills, sewing skills, how to maintain a home, and be trained in a profession. Now I am not speaking from experience. I am still learning many of those things. But as a parent I want to better prepare my daughters. And as I learn now...it is helping me have the tools to teach them as they get to the appropriate ages.

So the chore list is made...I think. I believe that Maddelyn is old enough to take care of her dog. Feed, play, walk, clean up after, and so that is her number one job. Second she is responsible for maintaining her room; making her bed, cleaning, bringing down her laundry. Third, clearing the table. (Which will help me keep up with the dishes...I hope) And the I added some personal care items that I think she could be better at. So all in all it looks like a long list but I dont thing that it is unreasonable. She will be 8 years old this July...so she should be able to manage these tasks, and not all of them are every day.

Julia's list is more focused on the personal care aspects of things. Right now she needs to learn how to take care of her body and so that is what is mainly on her list. She also has cleaning her room, less push on the bed and laundry for her...those are things I will help with. And then she is also responsible for setting the table. She really enjoys doing that one and that makes me happy that she likes helping out. So maybe I have a head start with her...because she didnt ask for money!

So does this apply to my goal of organizing my life? I think so. I think that if I can get my kids on board that I will have less of a struggle with getting the everyday things done. And maybe I will be able to tackle my laundry room before my anniversary!

Catch up...

Why is it that when a Mom gets sick the cleaning stops? My poor family has been going up and down with this flu like bug. Julia was hit the hardest with it, then I got it, and now Maddelyn. Hopefully Evan doesnt get it!

So I was able to get everything done for Evan's birthday...YAY! And then Sat. came and half way through the day I felt really yucky! And the day and night didnt get much better. Worst feeling in the world is feeling like you are going to puke and then not being able too. Well I did all the prep work for the birthday party but we went to the drive in so I didnt clean up after the party. And then I got sick and the dishes sat in the kitchen until today. More dishes piled up on top of them to boot. So today...since I am feeling better I finally got to wash them. But tonight I feel like throwing up again. Everything was so stinky! I wish that I had called in a maid to wash the pee out the sheets, to wash the dishes and maintain my home fore me while I was out. Why is it that the healthy one can do that for me? He did keep the kids out of my hair, which was nice! But throwing some dishes in the dish washer would have been ideal! I need to help my girls find husband that will do that for them when they are sick...I guess I better start taking applications! Hee hee!

I did get a lot done today, so now I am going to put my tired feet up! And rest a little bit. I need to take some excedrin and then lay down and hopefully feel better. I think Maddelyn will feel better too. Poor girl hates missing school...I would hate to have to miss 2 days in a row. And if she is feeling better maybe that means that I will get a good night sleep! :)

Laundry!!!

I have been guilty of saying "I am caught up with laundry". Every few weeks I get it all done and jump for joy because I am finally to the point where I dont have anymore to wash. Truth is when you say that you are just lying to yourself! There is no catching up with laundry! It is something that will always be there. I have a family of 4, in one day we accumulate 4 pants, 4 shirts, maybe a few additional sweaters (knowing me), 8 socks, 4 things of underwear, 4 towels, peed in sheets or the pee mat, any blankets that get peed on, and then any addition clothes that the kids wear due to outfit changes, spills or pee pee pants. Right there alone that has to be over 2 loads of laundry a day! A Day! Oh my goodness! So realistically, I can never ever say that I have caught up on laundry.

So how do I manage these loads of laundry? I have tried the whole wash laundry in one day thing...doesnt work for me I have to wash at least one load everyday anyway with the pee pee sheets. So what works best for me, a functioning messy person? Through my 10 years of being married I have learned that I have to wash at least 2 loads of laundry every day.

Today, however, I have to make up for what I didnt do while I was sick last week. So far I have washed and folded 3 loads of laundry. Today is make of up day so I will try to get in as many loads as I can...but I wont lie to myself and say that I am caught up....because clearly that cant be done!