Up Hill Both Ways

I was running up hill the other day and thought, "Oh good! This will be downhill on the way back." Coming back, at the same location, I thought; "Why does it feel like I am running up hill...this was suppose to be downhill!" And then I understood how it can feel like you are going up hill both ways.

The more that I ponder that statement the more it applies. As a mom I am always going up hill both ways. With laundry, cooking, cleaning, errands, it never really feels like I can coast down hill. There will always be something. It gets a little bit easier if you give your self the right tools and training...and then sometimes you will go downhill for a while. This week I wrote out a detailed schedule of things that I should accomplish. And things got done...this morning I thought that I could coast downhill for a bit. And it took a whole 5 minutes for someone to ask for underwear. The one thing that didnt get washed was my whites...and then I started climbing again.

So the next time someone, more experienced than myself, tells me that they walked up hill both ways...I will believe them. Because life is a up hill climb and if you are able to coast it wont be for long. Good luck everyone with the climb!

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!