Day 11 The Toys Left Behind.....

Before my kids go to bed, I ask them to pick up their toysand stuff. Most of the time, like 8 out of 10, they do a good job. What what about those toys and things that get left behind?

Toys and shoes belong in the kids bedrooms. They don't belong in the living room, kitchen, hallway or bathroom. They can certainly play with their toys outside of their rooms, but at the end of the day, toys need to be put away.

So tonight I decided to go around the house and pick up what they missed. And boy did they miss alot!

 Looks like tomorrow morning rhey will empty the crate after breakfast.

Day 10 Homeschooling in the Kitchen

Some of our everyday homeschool supplies and books are kept in the kitchen. We cut an old tv stand to give us storage space. The only down fall to having this extra space is that it tends to be a catch all for everything that was on the kitchen table. 

Dinner time comes and I ask the boys to set the table and they put whatever is on the table on the school storage space. And then it looks like this. 

After about an hour and half of cleaning and purging, here is our space, all clean and organized. 

Day 9 Room to Breathe

It has been over 3 years since our home has actually had a living room. When we moved into this house about 2 years ago, Steven's computer desk was in the living room. His "office" took up most of the space. I didn't bother me, at least I didn't think it did.

Now that we have a living room, with chairs, a couch and a lovesest, I don't want to give it up again.

It is wonderful to be able to sit and read with kids or hang out and watch a movie. Not to mention that the "new to us" couch and love seat are super, super comfy!

Day 8 Gotta Let the Sillies Out

Sometimes ya just gotta toss the bedtime routine out the window and have your older brother style your hair with the vacuum! 

Day 7 How Does One Get Paid?

My boys are the at ages where they constantly want money. And around here it is not just freely given. (there are times where we have given them a couple bucks, but it doesn't happen often) Money has to be earned.

We do not pay our children for doing their chores: keeping room cleaned, making bed, dishes/trash/sweep floor. They are required to do those things because it their responsibility as members of the family. That is how they contribute.

They get paid for going above and beyond their regular chores. And they only get paid when their regular chores and schoolwork is done. Ya can't earn money if you don't have time to finish what you are supposed to be doing. Doesn't work that way.

Day 6 Meal Planning

Feeding a family of 6 is no easy task. Especially when you ask them, "what do you want for dinner?" and their reply is "I dunno" or "I don't care."

I hate menu planning, just as much as I hate grocery shopping. But thankfully I have access to the wonderful world of Pinterest and I am a Tastefully Simple Consultant. 

I do have a basic plan when planning our menu for the month. 

Sunday: crock pot meal

Monday; Mexican (because we LOVE Mexican food)

Tuesday: Dinner at Mom's

Wednesday: Pasta or soup

Thursday: Salad

Friday: Grilled

Saturday: Breakfast (because I LOVE Breakfast food)

Thursday Oct. 1

Friday Oct. 2  Carne Picada Tacos

Saturday Oct. 3  Leftovers with Shrimp

Sunday Oct. 4   Chicken Alfredo

Monday Oct. 5  Twisted Pizza Breadsticks with Salad

Tuesday Oct. 6 Southern BBQ with coleslaw

Wednesday Oct. 7  Leftovers

Thursday Oct. 8  Spaghetti w/ meatballs, garlic bread, and green beans

Friday Oct. 9 Grilled Chicken, cabbage and potatoes

Saturday Oct. 10 Breakfast burritos with fruit

Sunday Oct. 11 Simple Cassoulet

Monday Oct. 12Baked Chicken Chimichangas refried beans and rice

Tuesday Oct. 13 Dinner at Mom's

Wednesday Oct. 14 Chicken noodle Soup with biscuits 

Thursday Oct. 15 BBQ Chicken Salad 

Friday Oct. 16 Hamburgers and french fries

Saturday Oct. 17  Sausage gravy & biscuits, eggs

Sunday Oct. 18 Chicken 'n Dumplings

Monday Oct. 19 Tacos 

Tuesday Oct. 20  Dinner at Mom's

Wednesday Oct. 21 

Thursday Oct. 22  Grilled Chicken Salad

Friday Oct. 23 Steak with mushrooms and onions, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts

Saturday Oct. 24   Chocolate chip waffles, sausage, eggs 

Sunday Oct. 25  Creamy bayou bourbon chicken rice and green beans

Monday Oct. 26 Cheese'n Rice Quesadillas with added chicken and refried beans

Tuesday Oct. 27  Dinner at Mom's 

Wednesday Oct. 28

Thursday Oct. 29

Friday Oct. 30  

Saturday Oct. 31 

Day 5 Tech Time

I live in a house full of technology: TV, computers, game systems, tablets, and phones. Everywhere you look you will find something. These are common items that are found in most homes. 

Most of the time, technology is useful and beneficial. We use computers for schoolwork, paying bills, emails, and work related stuff. But I feel that most of the time spent on these devices is just for fun. And there is nothing wrong with that, as long as it is in moderation. 

Years ago, when my 2 older boys were younger we had established Tech Time Tokens and No-Tech Tuesdays.  Tech-Time Tokens were poker chips given out at the beginning of the week. Each token equaled 30 minutes of screen time. The boys would "turn in" a token each time they played or watched TV. No-Tech Tuesdays was just as it sounds, no computers or screen time on anything. 

I have been seriously thinking about going back to those two rules. Technology is taking over and I feel that it is getting out of hand, especially with my youngest son and daughter with all my children. It seems that Phillip and Trevor are always on their computers and Annabelle always wants to be watching something on the TV or my phone. 

So I think that No Tech Tuesdays and Tech Time Tokens are going to be making a come back, starting tomorrow! And I think I will add No Tech Thursdays too. 

Day 4 Hey it's Bedtime, Dude!

So I missed yesterday's post because we got new couches that are oh, so comfy and I fell asleep. 

Anyways, let's talk about sleep and bedtime routines, or lack there of. 

An established bedtime routine at our house doesn't really exist. Since we homeschool 3 of our 4 children, bedtime can vary most nights. Most nights, because I watch Z and R, the 3 little ones are usually in bed around 8:30/9pm. Their routine consists of pajamas, brush teeth, and watch 1 JustinTime on Netflix. 

Patrick has a set bedtime at 10pm. He is the only one that goes to public school and wakes up at 6am to get ready. 

Trevor has no set bedtime. Phillip usually goes to bed between 9:30 and 10:30. 

The goal for the month is to establish a bedtime routine for all the kids, including Trevor (he just doesn't know it yet).

Day 3 "Mom, Have you seen my....."

That say is easy to say, but hard to follow. Especially with children. 

It never fails. It is time to go and someone can't find something.  A shoe, a book, their jacket, whatever it is that they need, they can't find. And it always happens when it is time to go; not during the ten minutes before hand when I tell them to get ready. 

Most of our activities take place in the evening, so they do not typically need to get ready the night before.  The morning of works for us, most days. 

One of my goals this month, is to help my kids remember to put things away so they can find them when they need them. And to be ready when it is time to go. 

Day 2 Let Me Check My Calendar

There is something about actually writing events and such down on a calendar instead of solely relying on a calendar app.



My planner book. At the beginning of the year I searched for a pretty planner book. Because I knew that if it was pretty to look at, both inside and out, I would actually use it. And I do.

I try to write down everything in my planner book, Some months are better than others. 

Here's what I write (or try to remember to write)

-when bills are due/paid

-what we had for dinner

-doctor appointments

-school calendar

-anything Tastefully Simple related (parties/events/meetings)

-Family Days

-kids activities

-schedule for Z & R

-important things to remember that happened that day 

-birthdays/anniversaries

-vacations

 I also use the calendar app on both my phone and my tablet. And yes, I was able to sync them together! Which is awesome by the way, because I typically do not carry my planner book with me. 

Day 1 A Clean Table

If your kitchen table is anything like mine, it is always filled with stuff. It's the place where everything goes, or should I say, ends up. School papers get left behind when completed. Laundry gets folded on the table and then sits, waiting to be put away. Everything ends up on the table.

Having a cluttered table when I wake up in the morning is not a great start to my day. I don't like having to find/clear a spot for the kids to eat breakfast. I feel like I spend most of my morning trying to put things away or find something that I know I last saw on the table. It's frustrating!

So I am going to try very hard to make sure that the table to clean and empty before I go to bed every night.

31 Days Out of Chaos and Into Peace

It's that time of year gain. October 1st. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are beginning to change and it is Day 1 of the 31 Day Blog Challenge.  I have attempted this the last 2 years and have never actually completed it. Hopefully this year will be a success. 

 My plan is it bring my home from Chaos to Peace by organizing it, and keeping it organized. There are times during the week that I can get one area organized and clean, but then another area becomes a disaster.  

Join me this month as I bring my home out of Chaos and into Peace

Day 1 A Clean Table

Day 2 Let Me Check My Calendar

Day 3 "Mom, Have you seen my...."

Day 4 Hey it's bedtime, Dude!

Day 5 Tech Time

Day 6 Meal Planning

Day 7 How Does One Get Paid?

Day 8 Gotta Let the Sillies Out

Day 9 Room to Breathe

Day 10 Homeschooling in the Kitchen