Routine and Chores Update Fall

Odie has fallen down on his head. That's how I've felt the entire month of September.

We had a good summer getting used to our new home and some new chores, routine and being outside more than ever before. The end of August I decided we needed a "staycation" to help me finish some projects. On day two, we discovered the water dispenser had a slow leak...on the hardwood floor. We had to unload and remove the big Expedit shelf from the dining room. Since I thought it was the shower leaking at first, the landlord came and cut holes in the wet dining room drywall. Now that needs to be repaired along with the hardwood floors. Repairing drywall is a process...the drywall has been replaced and the initial mudding needs to happen, then texturing and painting. Sigh.

The weather has changed (welcome autumn!) and I feel derailed. Shorter, darker days are approaching...poured (POURED) rain under dark gray skies, this is day three. The sun came out for about 40 minutes...we took advantage and ran out and did our daily weeding. Then more wet...gray and dark at 3:30pm! The neighbor's solar powered barn light is already on! Deluge!

I have this tendency to want to change things up, but when I try to change things and it doesn't work, I go to the Lord, who keeps telling me to "keep doing the same things". Awhile ago, He led me to start our day with a load of laundry...it WORKS for me! It really DOES work...keep doing it!

I've been using the index cards which have worked awesome for chores! Dan wanted to go back to the sheets after about six months, so he could have more control over checking off his completed tasks. I want to encourage initiative, so we're using sheets again. Sarah wanted to stick to the cards, but for now, I'm just reading off her tasks and keeping track of what she still needs to do on my own daily sheet.

Here's our daily routine:
Start day with load of laundry/folding
Breakfast
Table Time
Chores, weeding & pickup
Productive Free Time

We all have lists for each day plus a chore we do together:
Mon: clean bathrooms
Tues: collect garbage
Wed: put folded laundry in rooms
Thu: vacuum
Fri: fresh toothbrush cups/fill soap dispensers

On the kids' daily lists:
-get dressed/brush teeth
-put out fresh hand towels
-empty dishwasher
-open living room blind
-sweep kitchen & cat litter area
-take out garbage
-collect & sort laundry

Our "Monday Chore Day" didn't really work. We decided we like to do a little everyday instead of a lot on one day, which I prefer anyways.

Recently, there's been some grumbling about who-sorts-the-laundry-when. Since the implementation of chores around here, Dan has always emptied certain parts of the dishwasher every morning with Sarah doing other parts. The kids collect and sort the laundry on Mondays and Fridays, but we added Wednesday when we moved. After some discussion, I've decided that Dan will do the MWF laundry collect and sort while Sarah takes over the entire dishwasher. This worked well last week and the grumbling has ceased. Emptying the dishwasher every morning has become such a habit for Daniel, that he's found himself opening the dishwasher only to realize "I don't have to do it"!

I've decided that I need to switch gears when I start preparing dinner. I need to have my stuff all wrapped up so I can give my family my undivided attention. This has been really good...once dinner comes around, I'm available for whatever comes up for family time-no computer, no projects.

I like to post these things in detail because it is fun to have a record when I look back on our growth process. I think the most recent post on this topic was last November, so much has changed since then!

Prevail Fight Scene Gets LIGHT

Our friend Max added some effects!

Prevail Fight Scene in Lego

This afternoon Dan was looking for the right Lego hair...he was thinking about our friend Max, who entered a lightsaber movie called "Prevail" in last year's contest. (This year Max won first prize with "Loyalty"!) Dan made the red lightsaber last year, but today he decided to make a little fight scene depicting the two brothers in their movie. He wanted the base plate to be green because they fought in a meadow. Turned out great! Love the PRODUCTIVE creativity, Dan!

Dan's Blog 2013

Daniel has been updating his blog recently. He's been adding more content and changing the theme to suit his taste. I love how it keeps getting better with more plushies and now his first slide show!

Dan's Lego Chess Set

Daniel has been wanting to buy new Legos to make a chessboard. Instead, he used what he had and made this awesome chessboard! The people are called microfigures and they are borrowed from various Lego games.

Returning to Routine

A couple weeks ago, I had the idea to implement a "staycation" so I could take some time off and finish some projects that needed to actually come to completion! I finished some handmade napkins, a blanket/quilt and several crocheted afghans. So I suspended our routine so I could focus and we took some time off from Table Time and various chores.

It has been a struggle to come back to our routine! "Change never changes" and as the seasons change, my walking schedule changes because it stays darker longer at this time of year. Our lives have been really different since we moved in March and I'm wanting to really solidify our routine before adding more to it.

I look forward to Autumn Equinox (in a few days!) because it begins the "dreaded dark" time of year for me, where the days really get short, leaving it dark in the morning and early evening. I dislike this season for that reason, but like it for some many other reasons (the crisp fall days, the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc). The reason I look forward to it, is because I know come Christmas, the days start getting longer again!

The Lord continues to tell me to "just keep doing what I was doing" instead of trying to mix it all up. So this morning we began our day with a load of laundry. And then some breakfast (brunch) and Table Time.

I discussed with the kids the idea of changing some of our chores to be done on "Monday Chore Day", mainly the bathrooms, vacuuming and weeding. These are the "big" things we do and we all like the idea of seeing how we like getting them all done in one day. Monday we'll give our new "Monday Chore Day" a go.

The kids have been really good with doing "their lists" each day. They each have particular tasks that they are responsible for and doing their lists each day is non-negotiable.  I'm looking forward to continuing our growth as we get more established with our new routines.

Happy Birthday Oreo!

I simply cannot keep up with all that Sarah produces...I need a blog just for her projects!

Today, she used a tutorial from MyFroggyStuff.blogspot.com to make a tent for her plushies. It is AWESOME! The tent poles are attached with small rope, she is getting so good using her glue gun she got for her birthday! I often have to interrupt her creative process to do Table Time and often have to remind her to eat lunch-she's that focused!

She made presents and decorations for Oreo's first birthday, we had a little party. She made him a pillow with catnip inside. This morning we found Shadow biting, kicking and scratching it!

Read Alouds-Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This book has been on my list so we're currently reading "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson. I try to avoid books that are centered around school (aren't there more interesting places in which to set a story!?), but this is turning out to be entertaining. To me, it feels like the author is constantly taking the Lord's name in vain (she uses "Lord" numerous places) so I just skip reading those parts.

Mom Reads-Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

I read quite a lot and don't post everything I read on this blog unless I really want to remember. I am LOVING this series, "Ranger's Apprentice" by John Flanagan. My husband and Daniel devoured these books and now that I'm taking time to finish a large crochet project, I'm listening to the audiobooks. What a great story! I love the characters!

Remember, don't judge a book by its cover...I thought from the cover artwork that this story was heavy and dark with creepy spiritual overtones...but it isn't like that at all. The setting is medieval castles and barons, the story about an orphan named Will.