Califoregon Living

Last night, I went through a bunch of magazine, tearing out recipes, organizing tips, and fashion outfits for inspiration.  Halfway through, I was reminded that I broke one of my “rules”, set a time limit or risk burnout.  In any task, I will set a time limit of 15 to 30 minutes.  Anything that is not accomplished within that time frame gets reassigned to another day.

Over the years, my storage methods for ornaments has been less than stellar.  I wrap them in paper towels and place them all in a large plastic bin.  Chances are good there’s a casualty or two every year.

This year, I decided to do it right and buy a storage system that is a ready made for ornaments.  Do you think I could find this anywhere?!  Anywhere?!  So, I went to Plan B…

I received an email with this tip…glue styrofoam beverage cups to the bottom of the storage bin and place the small ornaments in them.

OK, I had plastic cup, and I was not going to glue them to the bin, but HEY, this is a great idea!  I was able to place all the smaller ornaments into cups and wrapped and laid the larger ones on top.  I am hoping that the structure of the cups will provide some extra stability and maybe there won’t be any losses this year!

I often mention our “morning routine”.  This is something we do pretty much every day with little deviation. We have a checklist posted for the boys to refer to.  I often have them do one task, the come and ‘high-five’ me.  This helps keep them on task.

Now that the boys are a little older (6 and 8), we can knock this out within an hour (assuming they stick to the tasks…), but this routine used to take a good part of the day in the early years!

-Breakfast/vitamins
-Brush teeth
-Hair
-Get dressed
-Make bed
-Clean room (as in tidy)
-Dishes (They empty and load)
-Cleaning ( I tidy kitchen, dining, living and family rooms. I wipe down kitchen sink and counters.)
-Clean bathroon (The boys wipe down sinks and counters. They alternate days who does the downstairs/upstairs)
-Sweep (I sweep kitchen and entry)
-Empty all trash baskets (The boys consolidate the small trash to the large kitchen one.)
-Laundry (The boys collect all laundry and sort them in piles in the laundry room.)
-Feed cat and water (the boys do this)/check/clean litter box (I do this)

After the morning routine, we begin homeschool lessons…

During our Cinderella Saturdays, my husband or I will tackle the toys.  We use this system and it has worked well, although I must admit we have to have the kids occupied elsewhere, otherwise everything would go in bin ‘A’!  (Can I get an ‘amen?)

• We divide the toys into three groups. A, B, C
• A-Toys the boys play with often and/or have educational value.  The ‘A’ toys are assigned a designated bin in the zones assigned to the playroom (Lego Zone, Media Zone, Creative Arts Zone, Reading Zone, Misc. Zone)
• B-Toys we rotate to the garage.  These toys will sit in the garage for about 3-4 months.  If neither child wonders where that toy is and does not mention it during that timeframe, it disappears.  I think we have only had this backfire on us once.  I’ll take those odds.
• C-Toys that will be donated or tossed

I wish I had taken a picture of this when we did it.  When my boys were ages 4 and 5, I grew increasingly frustrated at how clothes kept falling (or were pulled) off the hangers, and the drawers looked like something exploded.  I grew weary of the constant folding, and re-folding, and re-folding…

My husband came up with a solution that we kept up for three years.  We recently stopped it because the boys clothes are too large now to accommodate the system, but it worked perfectly in the early years, (until around age 7).

• We created eight sets of outfits for each boy (shirt, pants, undies, socks)
• Six outfits are for every day, two are for Sunday
• Each set of clothes went into one small plastic container and labled with the boy’s name (we used the stackable, clear plastic, shoeboxes).  These boxes were stacked in their closet.
• The boys choose which outfit they want to wear for the day and pulls the container from the closet.
• We placed about 4-5 pairs of pjs for each boy in a plastic bin under the bed
• We had an additional small bin for a few extra undies, socks, and a couple of shirts

A friend had a child who was/is strong willed.  It was a constant battle over what she was to wear.  My friend implemented this system where she (the mom) chose what went into the boxes, but her daughter got to choose the box.  Problem solved!

It’s OK to admit it.  We’ve all been there.  There are moments or days (Dare I say weeks?) when cleaning house is the last thing you want to do.

When I am not feeling motivated, I will set the timer for 15 minutes and clean as quickly as I can.  I have the kids do this as well and give them a specific goal to work on, not just “clean”. They love to watch me race through the house like a banshee and I get a good little workout in the process.

When my kids were tiny and attached to me, the TV was my friend. I would clean during commercials.

I have a channel on my computer for music that is called “Kickin’ Christian”. It helps me keep my energy up when cleaning.  We play it LOUD!

I often take the time that I clean to pray for those who God brings to my mind.  I also give thanks for the floors I sweep, the clothes I wash, the dishes I clean.  There are so many who don’t have what I often take for granted.

I am always attracted to, but never have been able to stick with a chore management and home planner for very long. However, of all the ones I tried, this one kept me engaged the longest.

Yearbook from Marmee Dear

Not only do you track chores, you also track homeschool plans, menus, grocery list, etc. It is an excellent “one  stop” resource.

Although my boys currently work alongside me, using the Motivated Moms chore management system, I want to share with you another program that we used when they were younger. I first discovered it while at a homeschool convention, and lobbied for them to get accepted for the vendor fair at the MOPS conventions, I felt that strongly that this was a beneficial system for families.

Accountable Kids is a system that encourages accountability and responsibility resulting in positive consequences.  I liked to use it when my boys were younger because it was colorful and easy for them to look at and know exactly what was expected of them. Even if they could not read, they recognized the pictures. I had one system for each boy.  It’s worth a shot checking out.  There’s more to it than my little overview.

I have a friend who has a tradition for 12th Night.  I did not know what 12th Night was and did a little investigating…

Twelfth Night is a festival in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany and concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas.  It is the evening of the fifth of January, preceding the eve of the Epiphany,  last day of the Christmas festivities. One custom is that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations up after 12th Night.

This is a tradition that can be done with kids, or other family members, but my friend has her husband take the kids out for the night, and makes it a reflective, personal evening for her alone.  She thinks about the past year and prays over the current New Year.

Celebrate 12th Night by:

• Playing your favorite Christmas music, loud and proud! This is it!
• Finish the egg nog in your fridge, the peppermint hot chocolate, or favorite holiday beverage of choice.
• Bring out the boxes marked for holiday decor. I have four red plastic bins that have green lids. They are easy to spot in the garage. One for ornaments, one for lights, one for Christmas books and stockings, one for the misc. decor.
• Get tissue paper or plastic wrap; whichever you prefer.
• Take the ornaments and lights off the tree and wrap them securely. Place them in their designated box. Be sensitive to the fragile items, and place them on top. Small, delicate ornaments can be placed in an egg carton before going into the bin.
• Place outside or in the clean green can, all fresh materials that are not meant for more than one season.
• Wrap and store the remaining items.
• Store the bins in an area that does not need regular access…the garage, basement, attic, guest closet…
• Enjoy this final evening of the Christmas holiday by treating yourself to a final holiday treat, a bubble bath, a family movie, or quiet time.

‘Tis the time to stash away the Christmas decor for another year.  This year, before anything goes into the designated red and green plastic bins that will be stored in the garage,  I will look at each item and discern:

1. Does this item hold sentimental value or just serve as a decorative item?
2. Is the item worn, chipped, or broken?
3. Will the boys miss it?

I already have quite a few items in my head that I know will not make “the cut” this year.  On to another family to enjoy…