Kids Routines from flylady.net

Since I wrote about MY routine that I really enjoy based off of flylady.net, I thought I'd share some of their kids' routines.

They actually have a new section for kids called Riley's Challenge. Each day it has one little task for the kids to do which usually takes about 5 minutes. (Put away crayons, organize books, straighten sock drawer, etc.)

They also have a Student Journal that helps teens start to get their lives organized. It has a morning and evening routine plus a daily cleaning schedule for their bedroom. I printed it off for my sisters and thought I'd share it really quick.

Monday - Your Bed: Straighten your bed. Clean your nightstand. Get rid of all trash in bedroom.

Tuesday - Your Closet: Hang up all clothes. Put all dirty clothes in hamper/put away all clean clothes. (Do laundry if that is part of household responsibilities)

Wednesday - Your Floor: Pick up all the clothes and trash up off of the floor. Vacuum - without being told to!

Thursday - Your Desk: Throw away all of the trash and junk papers on your desk. Put important papers in drawers. Take all dishes to the kitchen. Clean out all desk drawers that last Thursday of each month.

Friday - Your Bathroom: Once a week, clean the shower while you are in there. Throw away old bottles of stuff and old razers you don't use. Wipe down the sink, toilet, and then floor with your wet towel. Empty laundry basket.

Without even realizing it, your kids will have a clean room every day! No more spending hours on a Saturday. Just 5-10 minutes per day.

Daily Routine

To my blogging followers (my mom), sorry that I've been absent. I can't promise it will get much better. I've found that I really enjoy looking at other peoples' blogs more than I enjoy typing on my own. But it does seem like one of that give and take relationships in the blogging world where I would be selfish to only take from others and never give anything, so here's my gift to the world. :-)

In the middle of last year I found Flylady.net and it has been a great tool for me! I really love it. It breaks your house down into different zones to work on each week. It also encourages you to do certain daily tasks to help keep life more organized. During the holidays I slipped a bit on my daily routine, but I've been trying VERY hard to maintain it so that my house stays pretty decent at all times.

Here's my AM routine (except Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays):
-Brush teeth, go potty, weigh (too detailed?)
-Make hair and face look somewhat presentable if someone drops by or the I see a neighbor, but I do stay in sweats or PJ's when I'm at home because I dress up for church and work.
-Swish and Swipe the bathroom....clean the toilet and wipe down the counter after putting everything away. This has been a new one in 2009. I didn't do it last year, but have been trying to keep up with it every day this year.
- Start 1 load of laundry. This is also new for 2009. Last year I saved all my laundry and did it all on Thursdays, but I thought I'd give it a try and I've actually liked it. Somedays I just do my one load and other days I just work on it all day and get it done for the week. Thursdays are still my "have to have it done" day though.
- Get the kids' breakfast.
- Put away dishes that I washed the night before while the kids eat breakfast.
- Lay out dinner for that night.
- Take vitamins and get a glass of water.

PM Routine -
- Pick up entry way.
- Wash the dishes and clean the counters. (I hardly use my dishwasher anymore now that I do this.)
- Clean desk area while shutting down computer for the night.
- Do a quick runthrough of the house and pick random things up.
- Brush teeth, floss (I try to remember!), and wash face or take shower
- Kiss Josh (He always stays up later than me!) Night owls.....
- Read my Bible (I love my Daily Bible that has Old, New, Psalms, Proverbs)
- Write in my journal
- Lights out by 11 PM on weekdays; 12 AM on weekends

Kids Chores -
I've started having the kids do some specific chores every day before we start school just so they get used to the routine of it. It's been working very well. They both put their shoes away that are in the entry way, make their beds, tidy their rooms, and then Javon takes the recycle out while Reagan puts the silverware away. They usually make a race out of it and it only takes like 15 minutes.

My mom has always been great about keeping everything picked up! I never remember our house being messy as a kid. I wish my kids could say that! :-) But I'm really working on it!!! I want to be organized and clutter free. I've been letting go of things and learning to keep on top of this routine so that things stay within my control. It all about self-discipline. Yeah, I'd rather not do the dishes before bed, but then I wake up and feel yucky seeing them in the morning. So that's what I've been working on in 2009!

Happy New Year!

A smile sits on my face and I'm not quite sure why except that with the stroke of the clock comes a fresh sense of DAY 1.... I am not in New York City or even surrounded by friends or most of my family, but I am completely aware that my FATHER loves me and has a plan for my life, Josh's life, and my kids' lives.

There are small fireworks displays going off throughout my neighborhood; reminders that most of us don't have a lot of financial wealth but we do have more than so many others around the world. Our home may not be show quality or our cars built in the last decade, but what we do have is more than enough.

I don't have my husband to kiss tonight, but I know that he is right were he should be....praying with and having fun with our church kids. My kids aren't awake to "ring in the new year" with me, but they are cuddled up in blankets laying at my feet. That's pretty special if you ask me.

There was no party to attend and no reason to even take a shower for that matter today, however, I accomplished a lot around the house and with the kids in school and that's more rewarding than getting all dolled up to have a night on the town. Not that I even know what that is considering I've only stayed up past 1 AM a handful of times in my life. :-)

I have $12 in my checking account but my bills are paid and I the promise of another check coming this Friday; but if it didn't come I know that my heavenly Father would take care of me. There have been times that I have stressed about money, but I've come to the realization that having little or much doesn't change your worth.

There hasn't been anything "BIG" that has happened in 2008 per say. No babies or buying a home or finding out that someone you love has a disease you have no idea how to manage....no ministry changes, no death or lose, no great victories to speak of.....but what I can say is that my babies are healthy and growing up every day and that at least I have a home when so many are losing theirs and that my husband has felt better than he has in 5 years and I feel like I have the man I married back again after an absence due to fear and side effects of medication. I can say that although our church hasn't grown by much, I know that there are little boys and girls that will always remember that I took time to care for them and teach them about Jesus. Hopefully someday they'll do the same for others. I can say that there are teenagers who know Josh believes in them when most other people don't. I can say that I have sisters who I love and I believe are realizing God's will for their lives although they may not say it to others. I have a mom and dad that support me and love me and are always there for me. I have friends that God has put in my life that "stick closer that a brother".

Is everything perfect? No, nothing ever is, but that doesn't mean it's not good. I have yelled at my children this year when they didn't listen for the 10th time. I have been frustrated and treated my husband poorly when I shouldn't have. I haven't told my sisters enough that I love them and can't imagine how boring life would have been without them. I haven't spend quality time EVERY day with my Savior and Lord...the One who died to take away all my wrongs and offer my eternal life. But for all the wrongs and all the mishaps, there is one promise - tomorrow will come - tomorrow is here. 2009 will be what I make it! Whether the economy is good or bad, gas prices rise or fall, or God forbid a tragity comes across my path, I will say, "That whatsoever state I am in I (am learning) to be content."

Hug those you love tighter today, smile wider, teach more passionately, share more openly, love deeper, pray longer, sing louder, dream bigger, speak softer, cherish everything....may God bless us all as we seek and serve Him in 2009!

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The Christmas County Spelling Bee

Wow, I have sooooo much to catch up on! This month has just flown by! Here's a few pics from the Christmas program that I directed and the kids did on Dec. 13 & 14. We started practice in September and the kids put so much time and effort into it. If you've ever been a part of a kids' Christmas program you know the immense amount of time and patience that goes into it, but it's all worth it when you see the kids share their talents with their family and friends! I won't use the kids' names because I don't have their parents' permission but I was SOOOOOO proud of them. We had 3 year olds through 6th grade in the choir and then I got to use the Jr. Highers as the actors which is always fun because all of them have been my "kids" in the plays over the years. 

Javon and Reagan both did solos and I was very proud of them. Reagan LOVES to sing, but I wasn't sure if she'd actually do it when she saw all the people. Her and one of her little friends did a fabulous job singing! I was very proud of them.  

It's hard to explain how you can be so proud of kids that aren't your own, but I was just of proud of all the other kids that I knew had worked so hard to make this possible. They gave their all and the show went off great! Although we did have snow in Seattle on Sunday morning of the performance, a lot of people still came out to see the program. That was just the beginning of our SNOWY days in  Seattle. It is a winter wonderland right now. We've been in CA with my grandparents and traveled through lots and lots and lots of snow. We are happy to be home now and spend a pretty quite Christmas with family. 

Lots of love to all my friends! You make my life full......

Life Rules

A fellow blogging mom (urbanfunnyfarm.blogspot.com) had these LIFE RULES on her blog and I loved them. They were written by George Washington Carver for his classroom of students who he treated as his own children and wanted to build their character as well as their intellect. Thanks for sharing Charissa!

1.  Be clean both inside and out.

2. Neither look up to the rich or down on the poor.
3. Lose, if need be, without squealing.
4. Win without bragging.
5. Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
6. Be too brave to lie.
7. Be too generous to cheat.
8. Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.

We're decorated for Christmas!

Hoping you and your families have a wonderful and blessed Christmas season celebrating Jesus! 

I am thankful for my family!

Thanksgiving and cornbread dressing

I know there are thousands of dressing/stuffing recipes out there, but all I have ever grown up with is cornbread/sage dressing that's what we make. None of that apple, nut, fruity stuff for us!!!! :-) Both of my grandma's make the exact same dressing which is interesting since not many people make it on the west coast (I don't think...). One grandma is from Arkansas and the other from Texas. 

Step 1: Make cornbread - not that sweet kind! 

3 cups white corn meal

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 1/2 cups milk or buttermilk (if using buttermilk add 1 tsp baking soda)

Step 2: Make biscuits (most any kind will do...Granny makes them from scratch and Momo used canned) 

Step 3: Let them dry out (2 or 3 days) then crumble

Step 4: Make dressing

1-Saute up one large onion and lots of garlic cloves (actually my grandma's both put the onions in raw and do not use garlic...that is my little twist :-)

2-Hard boil a dozen eggs and dice finely

3-Add cornbread and biscuits

4-Add sage, salt, and pepper to taste (LOTS!)

5 - Add 5 cans of chicken stock plus several spoons of turkey drippings

6- Cook at 350 for 40-45 minutes until top is brown and crispy! Yum, yum!

Okay, let me hear from all you "fruity" dressing people why yours is better. Not that I'll believe you!!!!!!!!! :-) 

Veterans Day Parade

The kids and I went to our towns Veteran's Day Parade and had a great time. It is the largest in the state of Washington. There were sooooo many school marching bands from all over the state. I was amazed at the distances that some of them travel. 

I was especially moved by the elderly veterans in the parade. They were so proud and it was an honor to see them! I became emotional several times throughout the parade thinking of how much they gave for our freedom. 

There was a group of veteran bikers all decked out in their leather and bald heads and cheering, saluting, and thanking every veteran that passed. It was VERY cool to be standing by them. 

The saddest part of the day was when the family members of those lost in the current war walked by holding large banners with their pictures of their lost brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, etc. It was so sad and the reality of loss so vivid. 

I talked to the kids about what it was all about. I'm not sure how much they understand, but by simply exposing them to veterans and the reality of what our freedom costs hopefully they will appreciate it more. When we got home from the parade we called my grandpa and said thank you for serving!

Thank you veterans!

I've been trying really hard to work on crafty stuff with Reagan more. She LOVES it! Javon was more into bookwork type things where Reagan loves to draw, paint, glue, glitter, bead, cut, basically the messier the better! 

Here's our attempt at a straw skill. I drew lines on straws for Reagan to cut and then she was supposed to put them smallest to largest. Well, she didn't think that would 'look' good so she decided to do it HER way instead. I was trying to talk her into placing them in size order but she seemed to be placing them in random order. 

It is hard for me to BALANCE creative play with constructive school skills. I know that there are MANY different ideas about the BEST way, but I can only do what I feel is best for us. I tend to be more 'this is the way it's supposed to be' kind of person. 

Anyways, I thought she was placing the straws in total random order and not 'getting' what I was trying to teach her. BUT then she raised her hands up in triumph and said, "Look I made a house Mom!" I was very proud of her and her imagination! Wow, I have to remember that we all think differently. She looked at those straws and thought to MAKE something. I was just looking at it totally black and white and she was using her imagination! What a smart girl!!!

To my faithful few followers - Sorry that I've lapsed on my blogging. I've been trying to prioritize my time better and watch less TV and have less computer time. I feel like everyday is so jammed packed! 

Here's what I've been up to the past two weeks:

1) Cleaning out our attic/bedroom! We have our bed at one end and storage at the other because we don't have a garage. There were boxes of stuff that we haven't used in the three years we've lived here and I decided it was time to get rid of "stuff". I worked for a week on it and feel SOOOOOOOOO great! I get emotionally attached to things and find it hard to get rid of them, but I figured I hadn't seen it in years anyways and wouldn't miss it. Although I did have to take it to my mom's house and haver HER take it to Goodwill because I just couldn't do it. :-) I could have saved it until summer and had a yard sale but then I would have been in the same boat of having it in my attic for the entire winter/spring. I LET IT GO! Plus Josh had a lot of clothes that don't fit him anymore since he's lost 75 pounds. He hardly has any clothes left, but he wears the same things over and over anyways. If he has a couple of work shirts, a couple of church shirts, and a couple of church shirts he's happy. I also went through my closet and got rid of stuff that I've had forever and haven't worn. Again the emotional attachment thing. I don't know why I'm like that (remember the thing about not using the Strawberry Shortcake bandaids?!). So anyways, I feel such an overwhelming since of accomplishment! We have spent the past week upstairs doing school. I took a small desk upstairs for Javon and we LOVE it. 

2) Learning the songs/motions for our Christmas play. I can't believe how much work goes into a kids' Christmas play!

3) Going through our Christmas closet and organizing it. 

4) Painting and redecorating the downstairs of the church for our new SuperKids room. It's been a lot of work but the kids and teachers really like it. 

5) And then there's the normal things like school, work, wrestling, laundry, cooking, cleaning, kids, etc. 

My goal for this holiday season is to be prepared early, not spend much money, and keep on top of things EVERY day to eliminate stress of things adding up. Help me Jesus!

Tons of love and prayers..............