Welcome and Blessings!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I have named this blog "Running to the Cross" because that is what I often find myself doing...running to be with my Lord Jesus! I often cover many aspects of life on my blog, as it is my journal. I used to write things down in all sorts of notebooks, but my writings would soon be lost. So I decided that it was time to start a blog and share my thoughts and ideas with others. Many topics you will find here are prayers, homemaking and organization, children and pregnancy, funny stories, and the challenges of parenting and motherhood. If you enjoy my blog and leave me a comment, you are likely to have me visit! I love meeting others and gleaning from the lives of others. May you be blessed! Your friend in Christ, Heather

Thursday, April 2, 2009

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

2 comments:

BellaMama said...

I don't think I've ever seen anyone so well organized in their scheduling as you!! I'm interested in seeing your meal plan; I'm looking for meal ideas.

Enjoy the gardening and sewing! Please show what you make:)

~Blessings!

runningtothecross said...

Thanks BellaMama,

But I'm afraid that my brain is much more organized than my home.

As far as my routine, I just sat down and started thinking through my day... and getting tips from Flylady. A routine is the place I started... and then the revamped schedule followed, kinda flowed out with the actual thinking through my day.

I knew I had to do something that worked for me better. My husband laughed and said, "Maybe this should be your new everyday schedule, not just your hectic day schedule, because everyday for you is hectic!" (He knows because he works from home.)

I actually whipped up 2 complete dresses this last weekend, and attached a skirt I made to a bodice I made this weekend... will get pictures out ASAP... just remember, my sewing is very simple, quick and easy... takes 1 1/2 hours to whip up my dress pattern.

~Heather