Things to get done before baby's arrival...

I am sooo overwhelmed right now with the things that I must do before this baby arrives that I thought that maybe sharing what I am experiencing right now would possibly ease a little of my tension. I would also ask that as you read through my list that you would remember me (and my family) in your prayers as we try to tackle this list (by God's grace) and prepare for a new addition in our home...

1) Spend time each day in the Bible and prayer... I really need to work on this!!!

2) Clean my home from top to bottom (yes, really!). I am expecting company shortly after our baby's arrival and I will not be doing much after the delivery. I really desire to have a clean, comfortable, and inviting home for them to stay in (and this is what my husband wants). Unfortunately, as I have browsed other's cleaning plans, they just don't work for me. I can't clean my home in a day's time, and not even in a week's time (I don't think).

We have a very large home to clean (we don't own it), not including the basement which is a project in itself. If you were to do a walk through my home, you would start at the mudroom, then kitchen (off the kitchen is the office and screened in porch), leaving the kitchen you enter the hallway, living room, and bathroom. Then, to go upstairs you leave the living room and enter the hallway(again) which houses the stairs, and come to another hallway. On the right is the bathroom, linen closet, guest room, turn corner and you have boy's room, then girl's room. You turn around and walk back down the girls hallway to our room (walking toward the stairs) on the right (just opposite of the guest room).

I have posted a few cleaning lists and they work, for a short time, but I am still struggling to get it all done. At this point and time, I am just looking for a way to get my body to obey the command to "get up and work" while chasing a very busy toddler, and guiding my older children as they do a few jobs themselves, all the while reminding them that our new puppy does not need to go out every 5 minutes....

3) Plan a menu for the next 2 months, this is an easy one for me as I have no problem figuring out what to fix. We buy in bulk, cases of food (literally) so my freezer is stocked. We also have deer meat that we can grind for tacos and such.

4) Plant my garden. I have planted my onions, I have tomatoes & peppers growing slowly in my mudroom, and I have planted a few potatoes but I have several more yet to plant. My "main" garden is ready for the tomatoes, peppers, squash and herbs (I also have another herb garden, but will plant herbs in my main garden in hopes to keep the deer out), but I have not yet gotten the other garden plots ready for the tender crops like beans, lettuce, peas, radishes, carrots, and other things... I know that many of these things need to be planted now, but with the rain that we have had it is literally impossible. Thankfully, we got a Mantis rototiller this year that I can use, as well as my boys... we got a really good deal because the place we got it from couldn't get it started!!! All it was was a lose spark plug!!!

5) Finish up homeschooling... We have another portfolio review coming up in May, so I must get the portfolios done and ready for that time.

6) Make my girls some more dresses (play dresses) as they have most certainly worn out about everything they have except church dresses, and a couple others. You see, I refuse to buy something that I already have the fabric for and my dresses take very little "time" considering the time I would take to look for more. I will also try to take pictures as I go, and post them eventually.

So I guess what I am looking for is a way to get up before everyone else does to spend time with God, clean my home totally and completely while chasing a toddler and getting my children to finish the tasks they have been given, homeschool, prepare meals & make all the bread we eat, get my menu planned, till and plant my gardens, and sew all at the same time!!!! Any suggestions? Remember, I also need my sleep or I am not good for the next day. And I can't be stressed too much or I end up with a migraine and another day lost.

Am I crazy for having so much to do? How did I get so behind? Where is Mary Poppins when I need her? (O;

I am going to put these things before God in prayer and aim to redeem the time. You will probably not see too much from me for the next couple of months as I will be busy. Please, when you think of me, say a prayer for strength, productivity and patience for the unexpected.

And all of this has to be done before my 9 weeks or whatever the time the baby comes is up.

Prayerfully,
Heather

FREEBIES From Homeschool Freebie of the DAY!!!

Here are some great resources that are available through the weekend! Here is the email I received requesting that I not only get the word out, but tell you of the wonderful resources available for the next several days...


Just a quick note to let you know that TOMORROW'S homeschoolfreebieoftheday resource on Paul Revere's Ride (the 234th anniversary of which is this Saturday) turned out to be MUCH bigger than we originally announced in this week's "Heads Up" email.
We sorta got carried away with this, and actually ended up with FOUR wonderful resources all related to Revere and the history surrounding his midnight ride. Here's the complete rundown:

Listen My Children (MP3 audio) -
FIRST UP up this a great half hour audio story about
Revere's long life and influence, including the events of
that fateful night, as originally dramatized on the radio
program "Cavalcade of America", in December, 1952.

"Listen My Children" Listening Guide (PDF ebooklet) -
Next, you'll want to use this PDF discussion guide with
background info and questions to accompany the above audio program.

Paul Revere's Ride (MP3 audio) - Next, we have a SECOND
classic audio for you: A wonderful dramatic performance of
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's classic poem,
"Paul Revere's Ride" as performed by Frederic March.
If your kids have never heard it, they are missing
out on one of the quintessential American poems. Give it a listen!

And FINALLY, we also have a neat PDF art study lesson focusing
on paintings & sculptures depicting Paul Revere (as well as
the Minutemen), courtesy of Yes You Can! Publications.
This is lots of fun and a great way to combine history
with art appreciation & hands-on activities to boot.

Again, ALL of these resources will be featured on our site
tomorrow (Friday) and through the entire weekend.

So, we're sitting here thinking "Wow. This is a really nice
package"... and "This would be a great resource to introduce some
first-time visitors to our site -- IF we can round some up."
So... we thought we'd just ask YOU, our faithful
readers & supporters, for a little favor on Friday morning.

Could you please take a moment tomorrow to get the word out
to other homeschoolers about this package of resources that we
have available through this weekend?
Just an email note to your homeschooling friends or local
support group... a post on your blog... a "tweet"
or a "digg"... or WHATEVER networking thing you you can do
to help spread the word would be greatly appreciated.
Just send 'em to http://www.homeschoolfreebieoftheday.com
-- They will thank you, and we will too.
As always, we truly appreciate your being with us, and hope
you are enjoying and will continue to enjoy the resources we
make available here.
Thanks, and have a super weekend!
Your Friends,
The Erskine Family
HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com

Quick Clean-Up List (for floors)

Okay, so here is ANOTHER LIST... Did I tell you that I am a list maker? I make list after list, usually to help my children get things done.

This list is supposed to be used throughout the house. It is a FLOORS ONLY list. I created it specifically with my children in mind.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let you know that I gave this list to my almost 12-year-old son and he went to town! What I like about this list is that all he has to do is the next thing on the list, usually when he is finished there are only a few oddball items that he has to deal with. He also doesn't always use it for EVERY room, if he is helping me clean the upstairs, then he just uses it for the upstairs rooms. I was pleasantly surprised last evening when I walked upstairs and saw the difference he had made up there.

1. Go to each room and pick up laundry to take to basement (or laundry room).
2. Take the lego bucket to each room and pick up legos.
3. Take the crayon bucket to each room and pick up crayons.
4. Collect books in each room and put on bookshelf.
5. Gather all shoes and take to mudroom shelf (or shoe closet).
6. Take the pencil bucket to each room and pick up pencils.
7. Gather all dishes in each room and put in kitchen sink (or empty dishwasher).
8. Gather all coloring sheets in each room and put in crayon bucket with crayons.
9. Gather all girls’ toys in each room and take to girls’ bedroom.
10. Gather all boys’ toys in each room and take to boys’ bedroom.
11. Take linking cubes/counting bears bucket to each room and collect linking cubes & counting bears, then take to homeschool area.
12. Gather all coats in each room & hang in coat closet.
13. Gather all blankets, fold and put in living room.
14. Gather all game pieces, puzzle pieces, marbles, and any other small pieces and put in bucket for miscellaneous items (to be put away).
15. Gather all hangers in each room and hang in coat closet.
16. Gather all old newspapers in each room and put in paper basket.
17. Go to each room with trash bag and gather trash in trash bag.
18. Gather school papers in each room and give to Mom to file away.
19. Gather up any other items that you don’t know what to do with and ask Mom about those items.
20. Finally, sweep/vacuum all floors.

There you have it, another cleaning list. I'm sure that in the next several weeks I may come up with more!!!

Blessings!
Heather

Bedroom, Bathroom, Closet & Hallway Organization

Here are some lists I just created for my own use that I thought you might find helpful. We have been working on our Spring Cleaning this week, so that I have an orderly home in time for the baby's arrival.

I am not sure I will make it to my deadline to get it all done this week as I am not moving as fast these days and the cooler weather doesn't help. But I am aiming for success, and plan to achieve it ASAP!!!

10 Steps to Bedroom Organization
1. Remove Clutter
2. Remove Misplaced Items
3. Remove Trash (including broken items that cannot be fixed)
4. Remove Dirty Laundry
5. Remove Boxes of Stored Items from Closets
6. Straighten Hanging Items in Closet
7. Make Beds
8. Place other Items that belong in the room in such a way that they will not be IN the way.
9. If needed, provide baskets for storage.
10. Sweep & Mop Floors, Wash Windows, Apply Window Treatments.

8 Steps to Bedroom Closet Organization
1. Remove all items from floor and shelves & place on a flat surface like a bed or table (or floor for shoes).
2. Wipe shelves.
3. Sort through items on flat surface only keeping the items that you WILL use.
4. Put seasonal items (for opposite season) on shelves above hanging items.
5. Sort through hanging items, keeping only things that you wear.
6. Hang like items together (dresses, shirts, slacks, coats, etc.).
7. Sweep & Mop Floor of Closet.
8. Replace shoes or other floor items back in their places.

5 Steps to Linen Closet Organization
1. Remove all Items from Closet and place neatly on a flat surface like a bed or table.
2. Sort Items by Category (sheets, towels, blankets, toiletries) & remove all other items that don’t belong.
3. Assign Shelves for each Category
4. Match up like items and replace on shelves
5. Sweep & Mop Closet Floor.

10 Steps to Bathroom Organization
1. Remove all dirty laundry from bathroom, sort in baskets, & take to laundry room.
2. Set all Shelves, Hampers, Trash Cans, Scales and other floor items outside of bathroom.
3. Clear all Flat surfaces of Clutter removing misplaced items.
4. Scrub shower wall, toilet, sink, bathtub, & baseboard.
5. Wipe Walls, Window Sills & Mirror.
6. Straighten Medicine Cabinet.
7. Wash Shower Curtain, bleaching if necessary.
8. Sweep & Mop Floor esp. around toilet.
9. Replace Items that belong in Bathroom (including shower curtain).
10. Wash Windows & Apply window treatments (curtains).

5 Steps to Hallway Organization
1. Remove all items that don’t belong in hallway and return to their homes.
2. Clear and Straighten any tables or shelves of Clutter & dust.
3. Sweep & Mop floor.
4. Wash windows & window sills & apply window treatment.
5. Hallways are a thoroughfare through your home, don’t allow the hallway to become disorganized again by taking 5 minutes a day to pick it up.

I plan to make up list for the living room, kitchen and any other room I can think of soon!

Blessings!
Heather

Gardens, Dresses & Menus....

It is very uncommon for me to make more than one post in a day... or even in a week or lately, month. However, my youngest daughter is asleep and my husband is working late in his shop, so here I am... posting again. (Besides I just baked a loaf of bread and it does have to cool before I put it into a bag ;O).)

GARDENING UPDATE...


I still have gardening fever, unfortunately I have not much energy to do the physical work that is involved due to my pregnancy (I've made it to my 3rd trimester!!!).

But, I did plant seeds in the little jiffy peat pellet green houses that we purchased from Wal*Mart, and I have seedlings!!! YEAH!!! I have already planted 6 little greenhouses that house 72 peat pellets... now that's a lot of plants, but I have planted flowers for my flower gardens, as well. Next will be marigolds, as I have 2 more jiffy peat pellet greenhouses to plant.

I read just the other day that tomatoes also like growing with marigolds, it said to put about 2-3 marigold plants right next to your tomatoes. Marigolds are supposed to keep away certain bugs, also. So I am growing a wide variety of tomatoes, peppers (from hot to sweet), several kinds of deer resistant flowers, herbs, and some heirloom "fruits" like garden huckleberries, the wonder egg plant, and also ground cherries (or husk tomatoes... tastes like pineapple?). I am still waiting on my lavendar to sprout, but I read on the label that it can take up to a month to sprout so, I still have a few days to wait and see.

DRESSES...

In the first picture (with my four silly daughters), I made the dresses that the girls with the pigtail braids are wearing. The one that is all in one print is simply a T-shirt dress (I made the T-shirt) with a gathered skirt at the bottom. That dress took me 1 1/2 hours to make last Saturday (her birthday), so that dress is the "official" birthday dress this year.

My other daughter (the tallest one) is wearing a re-made skirt, changed into a jumper dress... if you understand that. I had made the 4-tier skirt for her several months back and it wouldn't stay up even with a tie around the waist (which had to be tied so tight that it hurt). So I cut a bodice out of a short ladies denim jumper that I got for free at church (no one wanted the jumper because it was way too short, so one day I looked closely at it and thought that it could be made into something that one of my girls could wear). Then I sewed up the bodice, and used bias tape around the arm holes and neck, and finished off by sewing the bodice to the skirt. It took me 30 minutes!!! So, within one day, I had made (& re-made) two dresses. After going so long without sewing, I was elated because frankly, I LOVE TO SEW!!!

Then, when we arrived home on Sunday after church, my other daughter came to me with big puppy-dog eyes and asked me for something to wear... So, again, I thought... I can make her a dress, too!!! So I searched through my fabric scraps, found several pieces that coordinated well together, and asked my daughter what she liked. She picked out the primary color animal prints and I whipped up another dress for her. I think it took about an hour and a half also.

However, a few things to know about my dresses are:
1) They are usually quick and easy.
2) They are not elaborate.
3) The T-shirt top is made out of knit fabric and is only 2 pieces.
4) I sew the seams 2-3 times to ensure a long-life for the dress.
5) Most of the dresses I make are play dresses (or they usually end up that way).
6) I use oxy-clean in just about every load of laundry!!!

For any who are interested in the T-shirt top, I would be glad to share my secret. I will even try to get some pictures of the top before if it is sewn...it is super easy!!! However, you probably won't find the pattern in a store as i usually make my own. I seek simplicity and ease, though I can make a "real" dress but those are usually for me. CO;

MEAL PLANNING...
I have developed a system or formula that may work for anyone who tries it, just as long as you eat like we do!!! Ha ha!! But it does seem to work for me, so here goes:


Sundays: Meals vary as we have fellowship meals the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, so I plan what items I am going to take each week (usually the same thing), 1 hot dish, 1 cold dish, & 1 dessert. On off weeks, we eat sandwiches at church before going home (1 1/2 hour trip home), or if we stay home something easy.

Mondays: Roast, ham, or chicken, with potato or mac & cheese, veggie or salad, rolls.

Tuesdays: Italian or Mexican every other week.

Wednesdays: Use up the roast from Monday's meal (usually BBQ sandwich on homemade roll, stir fry, or fried rice w/leftover meat), potato salad or chips (w/BBQ) & veggie

Thurdays: Alternate Breakfast, quick pasta dish w/marinara & salad, & chicken patties or grilled chicken w/salad & potato.

Fridays: Pizza or Stromboli w/salad, soda, & movie night

Saturdays: Crockpot meal or Oven casserole w/veggie
Here is my menu for an entire month... beware this will be a long post!!

Menu Plan: April, Week 1
SUNDAY (March 29):
B: French breakfast puffs, popcorn
L: Deli Meat sandwiches, chips
D: Leftovers from Saturday night

MONDAY (March 30):
B: French breakfast puffs, birthday cake
L: Deli Meat sandwiches, chips & dip, rigatoni (for mom)
D: Chicken patties, chips

TUESDAY (March 31):
B: Crunchy Oat bars w/milk
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches, chips & dip, potato salad
D: BBQ chicken sandwiches, potato salad, lettuce salad, mac & cheese

WEDNESDAY (1):
B: Banana Muffins, milk, eggs??
L: Sausage & Noodles w/marinara sauce, salad & breadsticks
D: Tacos & Burritos, salad, chips, salsa

THURSDAY (2):
B: Rice w/cinnamon sugar & milk, eggs
L: Sandwiches, chips
D: Pigs-in-a-blanket chili dogs, chips

FRIDAY (3):
B: Crunchy Oat bar (cereal), milk, eggs
L: Leftover pigs-in-a-blanket & chili
D: Pizza or Stromboli, salad

SATURDAY (4):
B: Coffee Cake, eggs
L: Leftover pizza/Stromboli
D: Grilled Deer Steak, baked potato, salad, homemade rolls


Menu Plan: April, Week 2
SUNDAY (5):
B: Crunchy oat bars, popcorn
L: Deviled eggs, baked beans, brownies (church meal)
D: Chicken patties, baked beans, chips (or popcorn)

MONDAY (6):
B: Scones, milk, eggs
L: Rigatoni/noodles w/sauce Or Leftover chicken patties
D: Chicken, garlic potatoes, veggie

TUESDAY (7):
B: Crunchy Oat bars w/milk
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches, chips
D: Meatball sandwiches, chips, salad

WEDNESDAY (8):
B: Muffins, milk, eggs??
L: Leftover Meatball sandwiches
D: BBQ chicken sandwiches, macaroni salad, veggie

THURSDAY (9):
B: Rice w/cinnamon sugar & milk, eggs
L: Leftover BBQ Sandwiches, macaroni salad
D: Breakfast w/scrapple

FRIDAY (10):
B: Leftovers from Thursday’s nights breakfast
L: Ham salad w/crackers, deviled eggs
D: Pizza or Stromboli, salad

SATURDAY (11):
B: French Breakfast puffs, eggs
L: Leftover pizza/Stromboli
D: Grilled or Broiled Chicken, mac & cheese, salad, homemade rolls


Menu Plan: April, Week 3
SUNDAY (12):
B: Crunchy oat bars, popcorn
L: Dinner at the Church Family's home
D: Leftovers or Sandwiches

MONDAY (13):
B: Scones, milk, eggs
L: Chicken Patty Sandwiches & chips
D: Pork Roast, garlic potatoes, veggie

TUESDAY (14):
B: Crunchy Oat bars w/milk
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches, chips
D: Tacos & Burritos, salad, chips, salsa

WEDNESDAY (15):
B: Muffins, milk, eggs??
L: Peanut butter & Jelly sandwiches w/mac & cheese
D: Pork Fried Rice, veggie

THURSDAY (16):
B: Rice w/cinnamon sugar & milk, eggs
L: Leftovers or sandwiches
D: Noodles, Rigatoni, tortellini & sauce, salad, breadsticks

FRIDAY (17):
B: Old-fashioned oatmeal & eggs (or bread pudding)
L: Ham salad w/crackers, deviled eggs
D: Pizza or Stromboli, salad

SATURDAY (18):
B: Leftover oatmeal cake, eggs
L: Leftover pizza/Stromboli
D: Enchiladas, tamale pie, salad, chips, salsa

Menu Plan: April, Week 4
SUNDAY (19):
B: Crunchy Oat bars, popcorn
L: Deviled eggs, baked beans, brownies
D: Leftovers or Sandwiches

MONDAY (20):
B: Scones, milk, eggs
L: Rigatoni/noodles w/sauce Or chicken patties
D: Ham Steak, mac & cheese, veggie

TUESDAY (21):
B: Crunchy Oat bars w/milk
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches, chips
D: Spaghetti & Meatballs, breadsticks, salad

WEDNESDAY (22):
B: Muffins, milk, eggs??
L: Leftover Spaghetti & Meatball or Meatball sandwiches
D: Stuffed ham & cheese triangles, baked home fries, veggie

THURSDAY (23):
B: Rice w/cinnamon sugar & milk, eggs
L: Leftover ham & cheese triangles, chips or homefries
D: Chicken patty sandwiches, salad, veggie

FRIDAY (24):
B: Old fashioned Oatmeal & bread pudding
L: Deli Meat sandwiches, or chicken salad on homemade crackers
D: Pizza or Stromboli, salad

SATURDAY (25) (planned to be away for weekend):
B: French Breakfast puffs, eggs
L: Leftover pizza/Stromboli
D: Sausage & noodles w/sauce, veggie


Menu Plan: April, Week 5
SUNDAY (26) (planned to be away for weekend):
B: Crunchy Oat bars, popcorn (church meal)
L: Sandwiches at church
D: Leftovers or Sandwiches

MONDAY (27):
B: Scones, milk, eggs
L: Sausage & noodles w/sauce, salad, breadsticks
D: Baked Chicken, sliced garlic potatoes, veggie, homemade rolls

TUESDAY (28):
B: Crunchy Oat bars w/milk
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches, chips
D: Tacos & Burritos, chips, salsa, salad

WEDNESDAY (29):
B: Muffins, milk, eggs??
L: Deli Meat Sandwiches w/chips
D: BBQ chicken on homemade rolls, baked home fries, cole slaw

THURSDAY (30):
B: Rice w/cinnamon sugar & milk, eggs
L: Peanut Butter & Jelly w/mac & cheese
D: Breakfast w/sausage scrapple

FRIDAY (May 1):
B: Leftovers from Thursday’s nights breakfast
L: Deli Meat sandwiches, or egg salad on homemade crackers
D: Pizza or Stromboli, salad

SATURDAY (May 2):
B: French Breakfast puffs or coffee cake, eggs
L: Leftover pizza/Stromboli
D: Enchiladas, refried beans w/chips, salad, salsa

SUNDAY (May 3):
B: Crunchy Oat bars, popcorn
L: baked bean, deviled eggs, brownies (church meal)
D: Leftovers or Sandwiches

There it is! I basically print out a large 2 page calendar and fill it out with the planned meals. My husband requested that I print up a copy to post on the refrigerator, so now I also type it up to post so that everyone knows what is planned. This has saved me so much time and headaches that I actually look forward to planning our meals now! Amazing!

Blessings!
Heather

Schedules & Routines & such...

I have been quite busy lately making schedules and routines for my day. Over the course of a week and a half I have not only made my new "Spring, Hectic day Schedule" but I have also made up morning, afternoon and evening routines AND a zone-cleaning list personalized for my home. While I am not going to post my zone cleaning list (since it only applies to my home), I am going to post my new revamped Schedule for Hectic Days (which is EVERY day of spring due to gardening and my sewing projects) and I will also post my routines.

Modified School Schedule for Hectic Days*
(this would be considered my master schedule for spring as it is quite a busy time)

<>Children get up/dressed/beds made (7:15 – 7:45)
<>Morning Chores for children (7:45 – 8:00)
<>Bible/Music/Breakfast (8:00 – 8:45)
<>Breakfast Clean-Up (8:45 – 9:00)
<>Math (9:00 – 9:30)
<>Group Lesson (9:45 – 10:00) Science, History, Art, Music
<>15 minute transition time (10:00 – 10:15)*
<>Spelling, Writing, Or Handwriting (10:15 -10:45)
<>15 minute transition time (10:45 – 11:00)*
<>English Grammar Worksheet (11:00 – 11:30)
---Capitalization, Noun/Verbs, End Marks
<>Reading/Phonics (11:30 – 11:45)
<>P.E. (11:45 – lunchtime)
<>15 minute transition time (12:00 – 12:15)*
<>Lunchtime (12:15 – 12:45)
<>Scripture Reading w/Dad (12:45 – 1:00)
<>Lunch Clean-Up (1:00 - 1:15)
<>15 minute transition time (1:15 – 1:30)*
<>Inside/Outside Work Time (1:30 - 4:00)
<>Dinner Prep (4:00 – 5:00)
<>15 minute transition time (5:15 – 5:30)*
<>Wash up for Dinner (5:30 – 5:45)
<>Set up/Sit down for Dinner (5:45 – 6:30)
<>Dinner Clean-Up Time (6:30 – 6:45)
<>Outside Work/Play Time (6:45 – 7:45)
<>Come in and clean up for bed (7:45 – 8:15)
<>15 minute transition time (8:15 – 8:30)*
<>Lights Out/Bedtime for children (8:30 p.m. – 7:15 a.m.)
<>Quick tidy for Mom (8:30 – 8:45)
<>Get baby down for night (8:45 – 9:30)
<>Computer time, bath time for mom, etc. (9:30)

*If you notice, I have transition times built in to my day so that if we do NOT get started as early as we planned, we can make it up by using the transition times. Transition times can also be used for quick clean-up jobs in between subjects.


Intentional Daily Routine**

Morning Routine
Get up, go to bathroom, scrub toilet & sink
Put on deodorant, get dressed to lace-up shoes.
Grab dirty clothes (to take to basement).
Brush hair.
Get coffee for husband.
Make breakfast, start bread & coffee.
Read scripture & prayer.
Look over school stuff & get things out for homeschooling, check emails.
---Daily lessons: Music, Proverbs, Math, Phonics/Reading, Handwriting, English, Spelling, Group lesson, P.E.
Look at menu plan, lay out meat.
Start laundry.
Get children up, change baby.
Set table for breakfast.
Breakfast.
2nd oldest son unloads dishwasher while others are clearing table & sweeping floor.
Load breakfast dishes in dishwasher.
Begin homeschooling.
Put laundry in dryer.
Start new load of laundry.
Feed baby lunch.

Afternoon Routine
Put homeschooling stuff away. Avoid the computer.
Set table for lunch.
Prepare food for children.
Change baby’s diaper.
Get baby down for nap.
Eat lunch.
Scripture reading with Dad.
Get laundry from basement.
Start new load of laundry/put laundry in dryer.
Clear table & floor with children.
Put dirty dishes in dishwasher and run dishwasher, if necessary.
Finish up school lessons.
5 minute room clean-up or quick cleaning of cluttered spot.
Clear another cluttered spot (set timer for 5 minutes).
Fold and put away laundry.
Get laundry from basement.
Start a load of laundry.
Start supper.
Declutter time, set timer for 15 minutes.
Finish preparations for supper, clean up as you go.
Spend time on zone cleaning.
Get baby from nap.
Change baby’s diaper.

Evening Routine
Set table for supper.
---Food, plates, forks, spoons, knives, napkins, cups, water pitcher, condiments, bread already sliced.
Feed baby & eat supper.
2nd oldest son unloads dishwasher.
Clean up table & floor from supper.
Put dishes in dishwasher.
Put away any items left out from supper prep.
Wipe counter tops, stove, microwave.
5 minute room clean-up w/children.
Declutter for 15 minutes.
Put last loads of laundry in dryer.
Outside/garden time.
Baths for children.
Pick up bathroom laundry and take to basement.
Children ready for bed (remind children to use toilet and brush teeth).
Children to bed.
Get baby to sleep.
Computer time.
---Prepare for next day’s homeschooling, scan & print necessary worksheets for school, look over next day’s events, menu, check/delete emails, sharpen pencils, get out school things and set them in a special spot.
Zone cleaning in bedroom, sewing if able.
Brush hair.
Bath or bed.

**Also note that I have called this an "Intentional Routine," I do what I can to get things done, I intend to follow the routine, but every routine takes time and there are always interruptions.


I also have been planning a monthly menu, if you are interested in seeing this "Menu Plan" just leave me a comment and I will post it. I have almost typed up the entire menu plan for the month of April, so all I have to do is copy and paste!

Blessings!
Heather