1st week of the Big Clean Up!

It is not about this place... it is about these people!

Well, I completed my first challenge! When glancing at the list, the obvious first choice would be to put away the Christmas stuff. To be honest, the Christmas stuff is not bothering me that much but something else really is driving me nuts!

So I decided to do...

4. Clean Master Bedroom
I know I promised pictures but I actually have a good excuse for once. I grabbed my camera and ATTEMPTED to turn it on but apparently it is broken. I am hoping that I just need to buy a new rechargeable battery. So it sounds like for awhile it will just be cell phone pics!

Now on to the challenge, our bedroom was a M.E.S.S! I had a huge pile of clean clothes in front of my closet. (Andrew and I have Jack and Jill style closets) It was literally knee high and made access to my closet pretty tricky. So I grabbed handfuls of the clothes threw them on my bed and spent the afternoon sorting, folding and putting away.

We took a dinner break, then came home and removed the mattress and box spring from the bed. One of our 2 cats hangs out underneath so you can imagine how super hairy and disgusting it was. We spent about an hour vacuuming (emptying the canister over and over) and vacuuming some more!

I did some more general cleaning and organizing and the room is definitely improved. I did realize though that I need to get to 2.Hang up/Launder/Donate all the clothing in the Master.

Stay tuned to Christmas stuff for this week!

Oh and I have a question...Do you make your beds everyday?

Wednesday's Websites

• 5 simple ways to organize your home
• Day 1 Kitchen Organization
• Getting Organized giveaway!
• peroxide-magic
• 52 weeks of Organizing challenge

Menu on a Monday!

Monday (Mexican)- Chicken Fajitas
Tuesday (Tomato-ey)- Pop-up Pizza
Wednesday (Wild Card)- Out!
Thursday (Thrifty/Thankful)-Lasagna
Friday (Fancy)- Tortilla encrusted Tilapia and Half baked potatoes***
Saturday (Sandwich)- Hot Hoagies
Sunday (Sunshine)- Creamy Scrambled Eggs, bacon and toast

***Recipe for you!
Half Baked Potatoes
•Potatoes
•Butter/Margarine
•Seasoning salt
Cut raw potatoes in half. Using knife, cut several slits down the length of flesh. Butter flesh of all halves. Sprinkle with season salt. Bake in 350′ oven for 30-60 minutes depending on size of potatoes.

These are my husbands fave. We add even more butter when eating! Enjoy!


Food thoughts for next week
Macaroni and Cheese!
Oreo Truffles We did not get around to making these at Christmas so I definitely want to make them soon.

52 Weeks

It is not about this place... it is about these people!

1. Go through/Donate/Put away Christmas decor.
2. Hang up/Launder/Donate all the clothing in the Master.
3. Paint the kitchen cabinets.
4. Clean Master Bedroom.
5. Clean out everyone's dresser drawers.
6. Clean out Andrew's Kitchen drawer.
7. Clean out Cat's cupboard.
8. Reorganize pots and pans.
9. Vaccuum out couches.
10. Organize Family Room.
11. Organize Living Room.
12. Organize Dining Room.
13. Organize Kitchen Counters.
14. Organize Upstairs Bathroom.
15. Organize main floor bathroom cabinet.
16. Organize guest room closet.
17. Organize Guest room.
18. Organize Joshua's Books.
19. Organize Art Supplies.
20. Organize Coat Closet.
21. Create Maintenance plan. Flylady????, Motivated Mom or other?
22. Go through/donate/organize school items.
23. List sellables on http://www.craigslist.com/ .
24. Touchup ceiling paint oops'.
25. Go through and donate toys/books.
26. Repair nail pops.
27. Garage- Throw away/put away.
28. Garage- organize.
29. Garage- Clean floor.
30. Get garage window replaced.
31. Get dishwasher replaced.
32. Conquer Legos!
33. Plant Flowers.
34. Pack/donate adult books and relocate shelves for Children's books.
35. Seriously consider trying Flylady again...maybe even give it a try.
36. Paperwork paperwork paperwork!!!!!!
37. Conquer the desk.
38. Go through/organize/purge old homeschool/Montessori items.
39. Get rid of rarely used cookbooks. (freecycle/craigslist?)
40. Repair undersink area.
41. Purge computer files that are unnecessary.
42. Finish baseboard project in Living/Dining.
43. Repair/replace/refresh all light fixtures.
44. List Freecycle items (including Microwave).
45. Get trees trimmed and trim bushes myself.
46. Paint deck :(
47. Shop for/purchase solution for living room furniture. (slipcovers?)
48. Basement walls.
49. Basement carpet/flooring.
50. Wash walls (spots).
51. Hang picture/art in dining and bathroom, etc...
52. List house for sale.

Well, that is my list/goals. I had intended on a 365 list but quickly realized that was crazy. If I can just do one smallish project a week we can get to a place where goal 52 can be realized and that is really part of our goal. I will try to take AND post pictures of my journey. Befores and Afters!

Wish me luck! So uh, anyone know a good cheap handyman?

Inspiration from around the Web!

It is not about this place... it is about these people!

I am still recovering and now the boys are sick but I am working on a few things. I thought I would share a few goodies I have found lately...

6 SIMPLE rules

Changing Traditions Timely but....

Motivated mom's planner This is an interesting idea! But I am not ready for this kind of maintenance plan. Right now we are too buried under with all the extras.

http://www.flylady.net/

Lego/Toy Ideas

Organizing Kid's Toys

Lego Organizing Ideas

Lego Labels

Be Right Back!

I have Bronchitis. I have been on bed rest all week but have to go back to work tomorrow. But then just 2 days and we have 2 weeks off!

It is not about this place... it is about these people!

It is not about this place... it is about these people!

I am trying to find/create a challenge for myself. It is hard to work and be a mom and do everything that needs to be done. But to be honest.... how well was I really doing before I started working....

Do not get me wrong, I am not talking perfect house and mess of a family! I am talking happy family in a home that makes them feel loved and safe. No one is going to flip out over a few dishes in the sink or pick to vacuum instead of helping Josh with his homework or playing a board game as a family!

But something needs to be done. So from now until January first I plan to come up with, well.... a plan. A challenge of some sort that will involve me making little changes for the next 365 days. So I guess...stay tuned...

To be Continued...

It is not about this place...it is about these people!

More coming soon!

Thanksgiving

Here are the links Josh and I are using for some Thanksgiving fun!

• Give thanks turkey
• Thanksgiving songs
• How to draw a turkey
• Place setting printables
• And one for the little ones I work with at school! Adorable turkey!

Saturday Seven

1. I am really enjoying my new job. Nothing else is getting done, the house is a mess and we are finding NO time to do extras with Josh. But I am having fun being back in the classroom.


2. Josh is adjusting okay to me being back at work but he hates daycare. He does not really have any real reason but he would rather be at my parents the whole week instead of just the 2 days and 3 at the daycare. It is just until June - It is just until June- It is just until June!


3. Christmas is definitely coming faster this year! We like to have our shopping done before Thanksgiving so we can just avoid the stores and enjoy the season. I am doing okay with the shopping because I mostly buy everything online. Right now I am just waiting on a few things Josh wants to go on sale. Sheesh, he sure does have expensive taste!


4. Andrew's family has a stocking tradition in which they fill stockings for everyone and pretend it is from Santa. I can not figure out how to get this done this year. I usually just did it when Josh was at school but now I do not have that time. I need to find an online source for those items too! (you know tiny and cheap! but not too junky and useless!)


5. We have 2 cats...have had them for about 8 years. They adore each other! That is until last week. All of a sudden our female cat started hissing and carrying on every morning when I fed them. Which also means she was not eating. It got so bad I started feeding them separately. They finally have made up but I just cannot imagine what the problem was!
6. Joshua was Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars for Halloween. He went trick or treating but then we traded him a penguin pillow pet for his candy. It just works out best for us since he does not care for chocolate and we do not do dye! Andrew just takes the candy in to work for the guys to eat!

Joshua at my parents house after t or t!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday's Website

Teachers TV looks like a really cool resource. I am personally interested in the science videos.

ht - Wise Little Owls

Our Reading Basket

Josh is reading -

• The Bald Bandit (A to Z Mysteries) Josh is liking these okay, it helps that there is a character named Josh in the story.
• The Nixie's Song (Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) Josh loves this whole series and reads them fast and voraciously!
• A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) Book 2
• The Wyrm King (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3)

Shannon is reading -

• The Help I am really enjoying this book! It is about the relationship of women during the civil rights movement.
• Return To Sender I have to admit, I just love a Fern Michaels book! This one has a sweet Mother/Son relationship!

Andrew is reading-

• Under the Dome: A Novel Which is easily the biggest book I have ever seen, he says he is enjoying it!

Menu on a Monday!

• Monday (Mexican)- Chicken Fajitas
• Tuesday (Tomato-ey)- Pizza
• Wednesday (Wild Card)- Out!
• Thursday (Thrifty/Thankful)- Chicken pot pies (here!)
• Friday (Fancy)- Mexican Beef and Beans casserole Not fancy but sounds yummy!
• Saturday (Sandwich)- Tuna salad sandwiches
• Sunday (Sunshine)- Egg in a Hole!

Wednesday's Website

Josh's teacher recommended this site for a good sight word list. There are even printable flashcards. He is in Kindergarten and is supposed to learn the 100 list this year. He can read through at least the 500 ( we have not tried the 600 yet) so instead we are using these as spelling words.

Also... Please HELP!!!
Anyone have any great resources for how to easily accelerate his work in class that I could pass on to his teacher? So far they have him using the computer on www.raz-kids.com during any phonics/reading instruction. For math they seem to be trying to just have him add 1 digits when the class is just counting. They seem to not understand he can do at least 2 digits and subtraction. I would like to have some ideas when we go in for conferences in a couple weeks!

Great deal!

Check out the science kits on the Kids Woot website http://kids.woot.com/ today! Remember this is only available today!

Autumn Ideas

Halloween Ideas-
Halloween Paper Chains Print and assemble!
Halloween Paper Toys
Creepy Witch Banner Sewing required!

Language Ideas-
Halloween Word Ladders Check other links here too!

Math Ideas-
Fall Tree Dice Game Adapted to fit your child (e.g. addition/subtraction problems)

Science Ideas-
Leaf templates
Lifecycle of an Apple tree

Family Project Ideas-
Jack O Lantern Mosaic
Papier Mache pumpkin
Hand tree

Art Ideas-
Scarecrow Paintings
How to draw a Maple Leaf
Tissue Paper Fall Leaves

Decorating Ideas
Pompom Acorns and Felt leaves
Leaf garland Turn down your speakers for this blog!

Wednesday's Website

Oh my stinkin' heck on Pioneer Woman talking about EDU-CATION! This is a nice take on homeschool vs sending your children to school.

Menu on a Monday!

Mexican Monday - Bean and Beef Crescent Pie

Tomato Tuesday - Spaghetti

Wild Card Wednesday - Out!

Thankful/Thrifty Thursday - Herbed Chicken & Mashed Potatoes

Fancy Friday - Still have not made the Fettuccine alfredo! So that is my plan!

Sandwich Saturday - Hot Hoagies (Andrew's current favorite sandwich!)

Sunshine Sunday - Make Ahead muffin Melts If I can pick up some farm eggs before Sunday, oh ...and figure out how to make hard boiled eggs. Just never liked them...so... never tried!

Our Reading Basket

I am reading...

• Honey for a Child's Heart Wonderful explanations and lists of books for children. I need to sit down with the book and my laptop and add to my amazon wish lists!
• Honest Pretzels: And 64 Other Amazing Recipes for Cooks Ages 8 & Up What a great collection of recipes to use with your children! (Her other books are great too!)

Josh is reading...

• On his own - The Spiderwick Chronicles Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath Josh is just loving these. When he is not reading them he is drawing pictures of the characters, pretending to be the characters, or making cool things like a home out of a shoebox for a character. These books are a fun quick read (chapter books but shorter) but are full of fanciful characters. We love sci-fi/fantasy but understand that others object to monster/fairy/etc...
• Reading aloud together - Pippi Longstocking (Puffin Modern Classics) We just finished this tonight. What a silly story! We all enjoyed it and are planning to watch the movie this week.
• Next on his list - The Absent Author (A to Z Mysteries)

Menu on a Monday!

Monday (Mexican) - Chicken Quesadillas

Tuesday (Tomato-ey) - Pizza Bake

Wednesday - (Wild Card) - We are thinking we will reverse Tues and Wed and go out to celebrate my new job and Josh's new school year.

Thursday - (Thrifty/Thankful) Mac n cheese and hot dogs (did not get to these last week!)

Friday - (Fancy) Fetuccini alfredo

Saturday - (Sandwich) Cheesy lemon pepper Chicken Sandwich (did not do this last week either!)

Sunday - (Sunshine) Hungry Girl Cinnalicious French Toast & sausage

I am loving this new system of having assigned days. It is making menu planning super easy!