Just finished one of the most motivational books yet!

I just finished the book- The Life Changing Magic of Tidying up by Marie Kondo.  I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  I am at my wits end.  We live in a huge house and stuff is taking us over.  I am so excited and blessed that I found and read/listened to this book!!  I am ready to find joy in this house even though we are renting it.  I feel trapped by the stuff around me and can't enjoy my family!  Tomorrow is a CC day so I will not be starting then, I need my energy for class:)  but I will be getting the room ready to go through my clothes.  I will be using the spare room,as my family will be sleeping during hours I will be going through my closet.  I think this will work good for going through all the areas.  This way I can work on it and still close the door and return to life.  I plan to bring everything in to this area then have a place to return it.  My goal was to take our week 6 off school to begin this but I am just too excited about it!!  

T25 Week 1 Completed

Hey guys, so week one is done!!!!   I am so proud of myself for sticking to it.  There was a day or two I didn't want to do it. My motivation to follow through was my kids.  Most of the days they were in the kitchen making oatmeal watching me..  I couldn't give up!  What would that teach them!  So I kept pushing play.

 I don't have a handle on my schedule for the week.  The weekends kinda get me off. Saturday we went bird watching so I walked about a mile and a half with Princess Pea on my shoulders.

  So I am counting that as a workout and Sunday I was able to get it in after church.  Usually I don't like working out in front of Prince Charming.  But he was outside with the kids.

My eating has been okay.  We ate out once which is huge for us and I split the meal.  I asked for a to go box when I ordered!  I have always known to do that, but never had the guts.  New me here, and I don't what others think.  The kids were so happy I had brought them home some food!  So here my plan.  I have been making freezer meals again.  What I need to do is add up the calories in My Fitness Pal .  They now have it so you can scan the items for you recipe or meal.  EASY!!  I hope, I will give it a shot my next cooking session.  

So that is where I am  making progress one day at a time.  This time around I am in it for the habit.  I know the results will come with that!

For 25 minutes I sure sweat a bunch! 

Let me know how you are doing.


Do something today your future self you thank you for!
Kelly 

Playing on the ice

Here in Southern IL it's been pretty cold. We didn't get as much snow as our friends in the upper parts of the state.  It was cold enough Prince Charming said we should walk on the ice.  Oh course at first I was like, didn't we tell them not to, now were going to say its okay to do.  We talked with the them about the temperature and to tell how frozen it was and I said yes.  I love being a yes mom!! 

When we first went out I had them hold the dock.  But once they got it we were off.  

Our dog Jessie loved the ice also.  She ran and ran.  Sliding as she tried to stop. She must have hit her nail while we were playing because I noticed a little blood. She never indicated any pain.       

Here is our little princess walking with no hands.


 

We got the sled out and I pushed and pulled. We were out for about an hour and a half. We pushed nap back a little, so thankful we did. The sun kept it bearable.  We all had a great time.

Our super hero keeping asking if we can go out again. If the temps stay low enough, I'm going to say YES!

Traditions and Senses

Woke up this morning with the fear that Christmas is almost here, inching its way closer.  My little super hero is counting down.  Thanks to a Micky Mouse count down ornament.  That never made it back in the Christmas box.

So I called on my trusty friend Flylady. She has been there for me when I begin to freak out about our home.  I can recall doing this for the few years.  Why have I never actually used one of these journals.  I think because I jump in with all these ideas and burn out.   This year baby steps, one thing at a time.  I will also involve my family and put what I have created in the Christmas Box so I can just call on it when needed.


So as I began to read through FlyLady’s Holiday Control Journal.  She wrote,

"Always remember that memories you create with your traditions are reflected in all
of your senses: Sight, sound, feel, taste and smell."

Wow what a great place to start.  This is what I am working on today with Prince Charming and the kids.


How do your traditions reflect on your senses?

Overwhelmed by things on the floor

As I look around the living room, I think how did this happen in just a few hours.  Every toy a was on the floor. I play with them but didn't realize until I sat down to take a break at nap.  All I could do was look at it and feel overwhelmed.  I made a cup of coffee and began to search for answers to help with this.  I got on The Flylady FB page. I talked with some other ladies they suggested a 5 min room rescue, after reading that I thought and replied, we just move on to the next thing all day. We get distracted and off routine when the littles have to go potty. I guess after that we should just go back to that area and pick it up. And maybe no eating until the area we were playing in is picked up.  


We take potty breaks but sometimes they don't have to poop then,  I also try to keep us eating at the same time so when the food is ready we wash up and eat.  So what I think is we will have to pick up before then.  But more important is that they know where to put things,  I think I am going to have to shell out a little bit of money for some shelves in the living room.  This is where they really like to play.  I am thinking cubes and baskets. 




For the over all storage I found an idea I like at The cottage home blog.  I have tried this in the past.  But I tried to take pictures of all the toys in the bins.  Why didn't I think of taking the pictures from the web and just printing.  I already have an inventory of the toy we have since DCFS needed one.  I will update when its done.  

FlyLady's Habit of the Month: Shine Your Sink

This is one habit I really try to keep on. It so go from nice and clean to disgusting in only a matter of time.  If I don't get a chance to stay on top of during the day like I want to.  I try really hard NOT to go bed with a sink full of dishes.  As childcare provider I have to hit the ground running in the morning.  It doesn't go well if we have no dishes to eat on and I am grumpy because I have to clean before I get my cup of coffee or now tea!

Okay so you want to get started GO HERE! It really does make a world of difference.

The Flylady Do Over

Routines:  Why don't we get along?

I have recently noticed I need them more then I want to believe.  I need to lean on it and learn to be consistent.  I need to do this for my kids too.  We do not work well with each other if I don’t keep our day consistent.  I wonder, why I fight it so much if it works?

So here I go back to the baby steps of what “Flylady” taught us! 

Establish small routines first

Establish a routine and stick it

Have fun while I am doing it

I have tried to make a full routine and make it work the first day.  Talk about over whelmed and burned out.  I need to remember this when establishing a new schedule for the kids.  So I picked a couple things to start with. 

Before bed

Clean sink and counter

Pick out clothes, brush teeth, lotion

Check the calendar 

Flylady has babysteps to follow, monthly habits, and weekly zones that really help you keep on top of your life.  Here we go again!  check out The Flylady 

Taco Bowl

 The kids think these are so cute. I just took tortillas, heated them in the microwave between moist paper towels.  So they were more pliable. I then formed them in the largest muffin pan I had.  Don't forget to spray the pan with cooking spray. I spray the shells too and sprinkle a little salt on them.  Put them in the oven 350 for about 10 mins.  Check them if they are golden brown they are ready.    Just add your filling and serve.

Family Child Care: Learning Goals

I began to think of the curriculum I wanted for the kids.  There are so many things I want to teach them and I feel like I have had not a plan to go off of.  So I thought about the goals C brought home from preschool and   the Montessori activities I wanted them to know.  This is what I can up with.

Everyday Life Activities:

Pouring

Washing: self, dishing, clothes, toys, and chores 

Tying shoes

Dressing

Folding

Cooking

* There are so many more that we will be working on I will add as I think of them.  

Math:

Count, recognize, and math numbers 1-30

Classifying items by color, shape, and size

Terms: more, less, over, under, above, and below

Shapes: square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond

Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Black, Brown

Basic adding and subtracting 

Reading:

Picture sequence to tell a story

Prediction about stories from the title and pictures

Print and recognize thier name

Letter sound 

Calendar use

Writing:

Print name

invent spelling 

Science:

Textures 

Senses

Weight

Measurement

Water

Seasons

Weather

Physical: 

Body Parts, their function and caring for our bodies

Run, jump, hop, gallop, skip, and dance

I will try to link them from this page to the page in my blog.  I am just learning all this cool blog stuff so stay with me while I figure this out.  

Do you use a theme when when you teach or just mix it up?

Welcome December!

I had been looking for something different this year.  We have always done the chocolate advent calendar.  Why?  I asked myself what does that teach us?  I looked around the web and found so many good ideas.  I was going to make my own activities put them in pockets on a board.  Right now I do not have time for that.  While I was looking I found Truth in the Tinsel.    Wow. It gives me a craft to do with the kids, scripture to read with them, and  what to talk to the kids about.  This year we have been talking more about what Christmas really means and giving to others.  This will help back Daddy-O and I up.  Oh it is only $4.99 and it comes as an e-book.  What's not to love.  

We have also introduced The Toy That Saved Christmas, Veggie Tales video.  I picked it up at Walmart in the $5.00 bin.  

I will post as we complete.  I think I have found a new tradition this year.  

What kind of Advent Calendar do you do? 

Lunch-able made at home

 My kids love the Kraft Lunchables.  It is a bit costly if I would get it for all the kids and they always want more.  Here is our version: I let them cut the cheese.  This was the first time they did this.  They did not want to stop we did two bricks of cheese while they were learning.  It was a great time.  The older kids cut some and gave to the younger ones.

C was singing a song about how yummy this was.  They made sandwiches and mixed in the veggies.

I did let them pick out of the veggies we had, its always different, but they eat them better when they are in sticks.

 I have even served it with a juice box for the added excitement.

Crock Pot Ground Beef

I hit a great sale at Kroger this week on Ground Beef.  Each pack I got has at least 3 lbs. I was thinking how long it would take for me to cook it.  I wondered if I could cook it in a crock pot.  I put it on high and popped in and out through out the morning.  It worked!   It turned out great.  I kept crumbling it and mixing it around.  It turned out better than in the pan.  If you were short on time however this may not be the way you want to cook it.  I drained it, bagged it up, and put it in the freezer.  So far I did Taco and just browned.  

What do you mix with your ground beef and freeze for a quick meal?  

Laundry Habit

I have been working on this habit since August.  I am determined to get a handle on it.  Laundry!!!!  I takes over in a matter of days.  I have been trying to do a load a day.  But then there are days I totally forget.  I don't like to do it on the weekends, as they are so busy and I want us to be able to hang out Daddy-O. Now in the past one load a day has just meant washed and dried.  I have been known to let clean clothes sit in a laundry basket.  It is no fun to have to be digging for something to wear and it doesn't help the children learn.  So here is what I have come up with.  I do a small load everyday.  By doing this it will only take minutes to fold and put away and the kids aren't to overwhelmed.  Since I don't want to do it on the weekends.  We do two load on Monday or Friday.

• Before coffee or while its brewing throw the load.  Side note: I really like to have this ready the night before as that has been an excuse to not it, it the room and everyone is sleeping in there.  I am not going to wake them up,  it can wait.  Oops now I didn't get it done and the whole day is thrown off.  
• Change the load as the kids breakfast is starting, also starting a timer is helpful. I have also had the kids help hang it out while we are waiting for breakfast to heat. ( remember this is a small load so it only takes a few minutes.
• After breakfast, kitchen clean up, and the kids have cleaned themselves up we grab the load and fold and put away.  I have picture labels on their drawers so they know where things go and all shirts get hung up. Even the others help out as they are part of our "Family". 

It has been hard for me to let them fold towels as they come out looking sideways and a little messy.  After taking with Daddy-O we are just going to let them look like that.  The kids will get better as time goes on.  This way I don't have to make them feel bad by doing it over and it saves me time too. 

I love it when I can tell C to get dressed and he doesn't have to say I can't because I don't have  any undies or socks.  Or he can wear his favorite shirt 3 times in a week. 

Now to tackle matching socks any suggestions?  

Pretending to Move- Flylady Style

As you know I have been decluttering and getting ride of the things we don't love or need. We are blessing other families by giving it away. I find myself thinking, "Oh if I would have kept that stuff I could have sold it and had the cash", but then I think of the families that are blessed to have it.

With that said Flylady suggested we pretend like we are moving. In an email she sent, she said "If we had to pay a dollar per pound to move, how much clutter could you get rid of?" I thought about it and I looked around and began thinking if we were to really have to move what are the things I would have to take? I am in the process of making a list of those things and getting rid of the other stuff.

Let me know if you have done this? Or How you got rid of things when moving?

I become overwhelmed with the kids stuff, mostly their toys that lay around. I don't want to just toss their belongings. So we have made a deal if they want to keep they have to show me they love it by taking care of it, that means putting it back in the designated place ( its home). I try to remind them to pick up which I sometimes forget. :( In which we all clean up quickly.

How do you get your kids pick up? Have you tossed their toys if left out?

Family Traditions

As we begin the holiday seasons. I thought I would post the family traditions we have acquired. My first year as a mom I searched for things that I would like as family traditions and was worried we would have none if I didn't get them all lined up and started them his first year. I remember worrying about that when we got married to, but changed when we had kids.

Since then I have learned they just happen and some years they just don't happen, but they are still traditions. We seem to have traditions most of them in the fall and winter then in the spring and summer. Is that same for you?

I am going post a series of our family traditions. I hope you will join me and post yours.

• Banana Bread

Family Traditions: Banana Bread

Every year my mom would make breads, Banana Bread was one of them that we have turned into a tradition to bake at Christmas time. Christmas Eve or around then we make many loafs using the little loaf pans usually. Unless I know there is a big family, then we use the bigger ones. Together we make a list of the people we want to give them to, we give to all the neighbors on our block and then friends that are close. But it started with just neighbors.

We wrap them in foil and sometime a holiday gift bag and add a Christmas Card or a note that C made. ( It will be fun this year to see R get in on the action) I like to drop them off on Christmas Eve but sometimes we are too busy, so planning is helpful. We load all the bags in the car and head out.

When dropping off we don't stay or even go in. We just say Wishing You a Merry Christmas or just a simple Merry Christmas. If we have something more to say we add in the card as this is a busy time for everyone.

So here is the recipe my mom gave me. I am not really sure where it came from. My guess would be a Betty Crocker Cook Book from years ago.

Banana Bread

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup ( 2 med) mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cups nuts (optional if you don't know about allergies leave out)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

What to do :

• Preheat oven 350.
• Grease bottom of loaf pan
• In a large bowl blend the first 6 ingredients for 1 minute on medium speed
• Stir in the rest of ingredients until dry ingredients are moistened
• Pour batter in to loaf pans
• Bake for about an hour (check in center with toothpick if it comes out clean you are good to go)
• Cool for about 5 minutes and remove from pan

I line them up on cooling racks.

This makes one of the larger loaf pans.

This is a great family tradition since it is simple, inexpensive and meaningful.

What kinds of family traditions do you have or remember from childhood?

I'm Flying

Have you every heard of " The Flylady"? She is this wonderful women who at a hard time in her life turned it around and is now helping people all over the world do so. She has really helped me figure this whole wife/mom/homemaker thing out.

When I first started staying home I was looking for a guide on how to keep it all together. How to run a successful home. I came across the site and it was really helpful. I was still a little overwhelmed at home to put it all together. I would do some of the steps sometimes. I did not truly get how to do the Zones until I was done removing the clutter in one room.

Some of the zones I am able to, but others I am still decluttering. I feel as if this will never end, I know it will because that is how I felt a while ago when I gave up. Since then I have been making weekly trips to the local women shelter. They will take it all. So I do not have to sort it out. The kids are really getting in to it. A few times C has come up to me and said "I think another kid would like this, can we drop it off?" I know that what I am doing it making a difference in them.