Routines
Routine:
7:00 am Wake up. (this is assuming that the baby has nursed at 5:30 and gone back to sleep like a good little Monkey)
Morning:
* Shower
* Do morning devotions while having coffee/tea.
* Wake boys and help them get moving.
* Make breakfast.
* Clear dishes to kitchen.
* Boys get ready for school while I clean up kitchen.
* Check to-do list for day’s activities.
* Dress baby
* Get Bear in taxi to school
* Drive or walk with Pea to school
Morning chore: (this is assuming that I don’t have something scheduled in the morning) 15-20 min. max!!!
* Monday: laundry (wash/dry/fold)
* Tuesday: bathroom #1 spiff (spray/wipe down all surfaces, clean toilets)
* Wednesday: laundry (wash/dry/fold)
* Thursday: bathroom #2 spiff (spray down all surfaces, clean toilets)
* Friday: organize a "hot spot" (a cluttered area of neglect)
Mid-morning outing: (Around 10 am) This is the time in the day I designate for an errand or time "out" of the house
* Walk to park or store
* Grocery Shopping
* Play dates or meetings
* Library trips
Home for lunch (around noon):
* Prepare lunch
* Eat lunch (w/ Pea on days when he wants to have lunch at home)
* Nurse Monkey down for nap
Afternoon (1:00-2:30): Chores
* Vacuuming/Sweeping/Mopping of all floors
* Laundry (wash/dry/fold)
* Do any prep work for dinner.
Late afternoon (whenever baby wakes up):
* Prepare after-school snack for kids (Special K at 3, Pea at 3:45, Bear at 3:55)
* Play with Monkey
Early evening (i.e. The Hours of Insanity)
* Prepare dinner while trying to keep Monkey from screaming, answering homework questions
and keeping the TV OFF!
* Sit with boys to go over their Awana verses
* Eat Dinner when J gets home
* Family time until 7:00 (episode of tv show, game, etc.)
* Monkey gets a bath, snuggles, nurses and goes down (hopefully asleep by 8:00)
* Boys get washed up, pajamas, stories, prayers and bed (in bed by 8:30)
Evening (i.e. Ahhhh time)
* Check my "to do" list for the next day
* Check e-mail, blog, update websites
* Chores (clean up kitchen, pick up living room)
* Make sure backpacks are ready for school the next day
* Spend time with hubby
Sleep (hopefully by 10:00)
* Nurse Monkey on demand and hopefully get 5 hours of sleep before starting over again.
1st Day of School Madness
As part of this new adventure in higher education, Special K had to attend an orientation last Thursday from 8am until 2pm. Was it free? Nooooooo. It was $20! And for that $20? They got dogfood burgers, cheap crap for their lockers and a day of teachers and administrators talking at them. Do you think they heard anything past the first 10 minutes? NOPE. Special K was with her friend and they were busy comparing schedules and picking out the cute guys in their new fishing pond. That alone was worth at least $20 in their eyes.
Anyway, I digress. Back to tomorrow’s exciting, momentous occasion. Since I still have to finish getting school supplies for Pea and Bear, I decided to be nice and get K an outfit for her first day of school. I’m 29, so I am TOTALLY still hip and fashionable, right? I can SO get her an outfit that she will be thrilled to wear.
God, I am so so so so so soooooooooooo naive. I should have gotten her some poly blend elastic waist granny pants and a tshirt silkscreened with a kitten playing on it for all of the joy and gratitude I felt upon handing over said outfit.
I am SO not ready for high school.
Menu Planning Monday
I’m excited about this week since I had such good luck with last week’s dishes. 
Monday: Pizza Burgers
Tuesday (Mom Gone): Turkey Taco Salad
Wednesday: Crock Pot Turkey Joes w/ Sweet Corn & Potatoes
Thursday (Mom Gone): Brats on the grill with veggies
Friday: Pizza Friday
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner
Sunday: Turkey Rollers & other snacky foods (Monkey’s Baptism)
For more menu plans, go to orgjunkie.com
Free trial for Amazon Prime!
Amazon.com is offering a free one-month trial to Amazon Prime!!
Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping or Overnight Shipping for $3.99 per item!
This is an awesome deal - especially for diapers!!!
www.amazon.com
Holy Giveaway, Batman!
Is it wrong that I am ubber excited about
reusable produce bags
and
aprons? I am truly a domestic diva.
Anyway, take a look over at Simple Mom’s blog:
It’s a Motherload of Prizes!!
Inside the Mind of a Teenager
More Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom
Random Bits About Me...
1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
In 1998, I was recovering from heart surgery, finishing up my freshman year of college, spending the summer working at Indiana Beach, transferring to Purdue for my sophomore year of college and generally being a pain in the rear to my parents.
2. 5 things on my to-do list today?
1. Read
2. Return library books
3. Finish thank you notes for shower
4. Watch olympics
5. Get the kids out of my hair!
3. Snacks I enjoy:
fruit, granola & yogurt, chips, pretzels, smoothies, pretty much anything!
4. Places I’ve lived:
Here
Schaumburg, IL
Lafayette, IN
Idaville, IN
5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Open trust funds for the kids, pay off everything that my parents and J’s parents owe to ANYONE on ANYTHING. Give a healthy gift to our siblings and our church. Put the rest away to use at our discretion for charitable causes and live off the interest.
Oh - and TRAVEL!
If you’re reading this, consider yourself TAGGED. Leave me a comment so I can come and read some random bits about YOU!
A Moment of Peace
Monkey and me
The big kids are outside enjoying the end of summer vacation. Monkey nursed himself into nirvana and his contentment was mezmerizing to watch. I decided that I needed a picture of us so I opened Photo Booth and snapped this picture. His chubby cheeks and wide eyed gaze captured forever.
Exactly five seconds after the photo was snapped, Monkey puked half his meal on himself and me. Then Bear came tearing in soaking wet, demanding a towel while dripping all over the hardwood floor.
Back to reality.
The Simple Woman's Daybook
For Today...
Outside my Window...are a pair of purple finches eating birdseed from the feeder
I am thinking...I hope the baby takes a long nap. I need a nap too!
I am thankful for...healthy children and a wonderful husband who supports us in all ways.
From the kitchen...are a fridge full of leftovers that sinfully have gone to waste.
I am wearing...denim bermuda shorts and a red tshirt
I am reading..The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and catching up on my favorite blogs.
I am hoping...that this week goes quickly so that Ms. Freshman can start high school and get past this anxiety plaguing her.
I am hearing...the swing rocking the baby and the boys playing quietly in their room
I am creating...a cleaning schedule and a household notebook
Around the house...are reminders that there are now FOUR children living in our home and in our hearts.
One of my favorite things...is the smell of new school supplies.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...cleaning and preparing for the fall madness that is just around the corner as everything starts up for the new year.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
My Sweet Baby Boy - Always Close to My Heart
For More Daybooks - go to: The Simple Woman
This Week's Menu
Monday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti w/ Turkey Meatballs & Marinara
Tuesday: Grilled Greek Chicken with Zucchini, Tomatoes, Basil & Feta
Wednesday: Hearty Chef’s Salad w/ Crusty Bread (Women’sHeart Cookbook, Pg. 126)
Thursday: Cranberry Pork Chops w/ Whole Grain Couscous (Parents Sept ’08, Pg. 238)
Friday: Pizza Night!
Saturday: Graham-Crusted Tilapia w/ Veggie (Betty Crocker Healthy Heart Cookbook, Pg. 86)
Sunday: Sandwiches w/ Cottage Cheese and Fruit Salad
But Jesus Didn't Wash HIS Hands...
Scripture: Matthew 15:11
“What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "
Observation: When chastised for his disciples not washing their hands, Jesus rebukes them with this statement. Thus completely blowing every mother’s requirement of washed hands before eating and reinforcing the importance of kind words and deeds.
Application: How many of us have wished we could take back something that we let slip from our mouths? How many relationships have been damaged - that of a friend, a family member or even God? I turn this question on myself...and I’m ashamed of the answer as I think of how many times I have said something and immediately regretted it. This verse is my reminder to count to 10 before saying something. It is my reminder to think before using harsh words with my kids. It is an important lesson for all of my kids as they go to school and encounter bullies and the other cruelties of childhood.
Prayer: Lord, we are desperately in need of Your guidance in this world. Create in us clean hearts so that our thoughts and words will be pure and worthy of You. I pray that You would remind us daily the power of kindness as shown through your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Be a beacon to my children, showing them the way to witness to their classmates the power of Christ’s example. Your words are a blessing, reminding us of Your love and unending compassion. Thank you!
A Tribute to Moms Everywhere
The Mom Song- LIVE from Northland Video on Vimeo.
Enjoy!
And remember to give your Mom a HUG today or at least call her and tell her Thank You!
SOAP Study
What is SOAP? Well - check it out here. In the meantime, I hope my journaling brings you inspiration and encouragement to start your own SOAP journal as Amy’s inspired me.
Addicted to Coupons
Next thing I knew, I was digging through my in-laws recycling to recover Sunday’s coupons and Walgreens ad.
Now I am officially addicted to saving money. I check Crystal’s finds at least five times a day through Google Reader and I get a tingle when it pops up that there are new posts.
In addition to Money Saving Mom, I’ve decided to share the other blogs that I check obsessively to see just what bargains I can get my little hands on. Hey! I’ve got four kids to support! I need all the help I can get!
Baby Cheapskate - Freebies 4 Mom - The Shopping Queen - Ikea Hacker
There are others...but I can’t share ALL my secrets now, can I?