Time to Restore Order Around Here...

As many of you know, last week was quite a challenge for me. However, you only knew part of it...

You see, my daughter got sick on Tuesday, I started to miscarry on Wednesday AND my friend (nearly sister) went into the hospital to have her baby on Thursday(she was induced). I had spoke of her earlier this year as she had several episodes of premature labor...well, she made it to 39 weeks for the first time in all her pregnancies. AND since she lives quite a ways away, when my hubby was up in their area for work he picked up their children and brought them home with us...so I had 9 children under the age of 11 (or almost 11) in my home for several days last week.

I had a 1-year-old (almost), a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old, a 4-year-old, a 5-year-old (almost), a 6-year-old, a 7-year-old, a 9-year-old, and a 11-year-old (almost) in my home all at once...

Now, maybe your thinking, "NO wonder she miscarried!" No, that's not the case as the extra children arrived Tuesday evening (when I still wondered what was wrong with my daughter) and all we had to do was put them to bed.

Since I started miscarrying on Wednesday morning (around 5 a.m.), my older children took care of the younger children outside...Yes, we sent them all OUTSIDE to play...so the house was nice and quiet (for the most part).

It was quite busy those few days as we had their children from Tuesday evening to Saturday afternoon...

Thankfully a family from church drove up (2 hours away) on Friday to provide a meal and help with the cleaning... Shortly after they arrived, I arrived home with my daughter from the doctor.

However, with all the down time that I had to spend while trying to keep from miscarrying, I made up a chore chart for my children so things could start getting done daily around here...We are still trying to make it work, but I thought I would share our chore list with you.

NOTE: Usually we are unable to complete our tasks, but sometimes they get them done early in the day...

First thing I did was buddy up my children... The buddies (groups) are:

1. 11-year-old (almost) with 6-year-old
2. 9-year-old with 3-year-old
3. 7-year-old with 5-year-old (almost)

Here are the jobs:

Group 1 does these jobs on Monday & Thursday, Group 2: Wednesday & Saturday, Group 3: Tuesday & Friday

• Unload Dishwasher
• Feed & Water Chickens (3 times daily), Gather eggs
• Pick Up & Sweep Living Room Floor
• Pick Up & Sweep Mudroom Floor
• Set Table for Breakfast & Clear food and dishes when done
• Pick Up & Vacuum Stairs
• Take ALL trash out & Replace trash bags
• Make Ice for drinks (which included emptying trays)

Group 1: Tuesday & Friday, Group 2: Monday & Thursday, Group 3: Wednesday & Saturday

• Load Dishwasher
• Help Potty Train 3-year-old
• Clean & Sweep Kitchen Floor
• Set Table for Lunch & clear food and dishes
• Fold Laundry
• Clean & Sweep Bathroom Floors
• Scrub Shower & Tub
• Pick Up Laundry in ALL Rooms

Group 1: Wednesday & Saturday, Group 2: Tuesday & Friday, Group 3: Monday & Thursday

• Changes baby's wet diapers
• Clean & Sweep Hallway Floors (upstairs & downstairs)
• Set Table for Dinner & clear food and dishes
• Make ALL beds (if not done yet)
• Changes Sheets (of assigned rooms once a week)
• Put away folded laundry
• Clean & Sweep Porch (our outdoor dining room)
• Scrub Toilets & Bathroom Sinks

I have made my own job chart, but will have to share that later...but one of my jobs is to help one group a day with the middle jobs (that starts with Load Dishwasher).

So far that is the plan and if my children do their work, they get paid a little something and earn special privileges. But if I end up doing the job, they pay ME for it... $.25, unless I have been assigned to help them.


This new system is still a work in progress, and NO we NEVER get it all done, but hopefully we will eventually get the hang of it and finish our daily task lists.

I am one of those people that is organized in the brain, but not too organized on the outside...so I am working on this.

And if you were to put me in a class, the groups being "Cleanies or Born-Organized people" and "Messies ," I'm afraid that I would fall into the "Messies" category... Just being honest here, as I can't boast about my ability to tackle the entire house in one day, one week, or even one month. I am a work in progress, and I will be until my children are grown and able to help me more efficiently.

But those are the goals, I hope it helps you somewhat.

Blessings!
Heather