Just thought you'd like to know about these freebies!!!

I get weekly emails for these freebies, this week is especially interesting to me so I thought I would share the link once again:

Here is (most of) the email:

If you've ever been stressed out over your homeschooling and never seem to be able to get everything done that needs doing in a day, you're gonna love this week's resources.

This week on HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay, we're giving you 5 ebooks from our great "Homeschoolers Time Management Toolkit", in which you'll get all the "real life"
advice and encouragement you need to finally get control of your time and make it work for you.

Here's the rundown:

Monday, March 30: Finding Time To Do It All:
Homeschool Moms Share their Time Management
Woes and Solutions

Tuesday, March 31: Calming The Chaotic Life:
How to Get Your Time Under Control

Wednesday, April 1: 97 Motivators to Help You Get Things Done

Thursday, April 2: 77 Time Saving Tips for Busy Parents and Families

Friday, April 3: Great Time Management Tips & Ideas FOR YOUR KIDS!

Each of these resources will be available on their respective days at: http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

Please take a moment to pass along word of this week's "time management"resources with your homeschooling friends and support groups... they'll thank you for it!

------------------------------------

Also this week:

If you enjoy gardens & growing things, don't miss this.
For just seven more days, we have our hugely popular GREEN THUMB FAMILY TOOLKIT available at 75% OFF the normal price - it is just $5.95 (instead of the normal $24) until next Monday.

This toolkit is perfect for
anyone thinking about a garden this spring...
AND/OR incorporating the kids and
homeschooling into the great outdoors. This package is chock full of wonderful resources for you to keep the learning and growing going... all Spring & Summer long.

http://www.greenthumbfamily.com/members/

If you haven't already taken a look at this, do so now.
It is WELL worth your consideration.

Again, it is only available at this price for the next
7 days.

I hope you enjoy these freebies, remember if you subscribe to their newsletter, you will get an exclusive "subscribers only" freebie as well, but I'm not allowed to share that link.

Have a great week in the Lord (that is, if I'm gone again for a while, busy times, busy times).
Heather

Happenings....

Well, things have been busy as usual. Life is very full with everything there is to do, as many of you know and have experienced.

First off, my dear 8-year-old daughter, who is an animal lover, injured herself a couple weeks back. She was playing with her brothers upstairs in her bedroom and jumped from one of the top bunk beds like a FROG!!! Yes, no kidding, a frog. One of my boys came to get me and told me that she had hurt herself badly and was crying. So, I waddled upstairs (my hubby likes to raz me about the way I walk when I am pregnant)... and checked to see if the emergency was really worth a trip to the hospital. She was crying, a cry that I rarely hear her cry, and complaining that her heel hurt and she could not wiggle her toes or put any weight on her foot. I could not carry her downstairs... so, I went to the freezer, got out an icepack (one of those that is squishly and flat) and wrapped that around her heel stablizing her ankle & foot so that she could at least scoot across the floor. Then, she was able to get downstairs where I could better tend to her.

I, then, called my husband with the wonderful news. I waited until he got home (also making sure that my diagnosis was correct) to take her to the ER. Thankfully she wasn't in a lot of pain and was able to stand waiting a little while. He got home and shortly after we went to the ER.

Unfortunately there was no parking places in the ER parking lot (ugh) and I had to back our 15 passenger van out of the parking lot (because I couldn't turn it around). I, then, dropped her off to the ladies at the ER desk, and had to go find the parking garage for the hospital (which also included a bit of a walk to get back to where I needed to be).

After the x-ray, we were informed that she did indeed break her heel bone, close to the growth plate, and she needed a splint (half cast) until we could get an appointment for the orthopedic doctor. So, after our visit to the ER, we went to see the orthopedic doctor who put a full cast (to the knee) on her leg & foot.

Now the problem is how to keep an active 8-year-old busy with indoor activities that involve sitting. So far, she has learned how to crochet, she has been making bead necklaces, and she has been doing her latch-hook kit (of a golden lab puppy). Of course, there is also school (which has been extremely challenging these last couple weeks) and she also has been doing a lot of drawing. I am not sure how she is going to stand the next 3 weeks with a cast, but only time will tell.

GARDENING

Now for other things going on...

My boys are helping me to garden this year as I am not up to digging and using my garden claw, etc. Interestingly enough, one day I had asked my oldest son to dig a hole for me in the garden to hold all of our coffee grounds, egg shells and plant matter (for compost)... He was thrilled that I asked him to do this. SO... I made the comment, "You know, you can dig up my whole garden if you would like!" and this thrilled him even MORE!!! So, these last several weeks he and his brother have been digging up my garden plot for this year's garden, YEAH!!!

So yesterday, I gave him instructions to get some leaves and put on the garden as well... Leaves are not a problem with us anymore... as you can see in the picture below, we have an abundance of leaf matter where we live now as this whole plot of land is COVERED with trees. I will continue to have them get leaves until I have enough leaves to cover all of my garden plots. They also get the privilege of digging all of those plots up this year as our tiller is in need of repair. And the best thing is, THEY LOVE DOING THIS JOB!!!




Also, in regards to gardening, I have been learning about what plants to plant together as some plants actually benefit from others! This is called companion gardening (or plant pals) and there are several articles on the internet that talk about this. A few things that I learned is that tomatoes like to be planted with basil and carrots, strawberries do NOT like to be planted with cabbage, beans like to be planted with celery and cucumbers, and garlic keeps the aphids away from roses... It also recommends planting herbs around your garden to keep away common garden pests. But, my advice to anyone who is gardening this year for the first time is to DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! That is the only way you are going to have any success at all.

I am hoping to have a MUCH better garden this year, than last... though I did enjoy our tomatoes and squash, I would really like to have many more veggies than last year. However, one thing I have learned with all gardening is that you start small and work up to the garden of your dreams.... I don't know if I am starting small enough this year or not, but I have the will and determination to have a better garden than last year. My biggest thing this year is to keep up with those weeds, use the leaves, and lay newpaper down around my plants before the weeds take over.

So far, our expected crops are going to be strawberries (planted last year), blueberries (will plant this year in March), blackberries (growing wild), wineberries (like raspberries, growing wild), peaches (from the peach tree at the edge of the woods), herbs (from my herb garden planted last year) and hopefully many more fruits & veggies... like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, peas, carrots, radishes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, pumpkins, canteloupe, watermelon, onions, beets, several varieties of squash, potatoes, and the list goes on.

I have already ordered the seeds and they should be arriving any day now. I plan to start my tomatoes and peppers immediately upon receipt and any other veggie that can be started indoors. The secret to that is to have the soil stay at around 65 - 70 degrees, I learned that lesson last year when my seedlings didn't do so well. I also plan on starting several flowers indoors as well... now is the time!!! I probably could have started a bit earlier, but our home doesn't stay as warm because we use wood heat only which means that the only room that really stays warm is the kitchen. This is fine for us as we have learned to layer clothing, but seeds DO NOT like it AT ALL!!!

Okay, that's my spill on gardening...

OTHER HOME MATTERS....

As far as everything else, this week our dishwasher died. That sure was disappointing as I had loaded it, as always, and went to start it and nothing happened.

So this week I have washed dishes 3 to 4 times a day by hand... I do this because I know how many dishes we go through with each meal. If I wait till the end of the day to wash them, I will be there for 1 1/2 hours. So, I basically take 15-20 minutes after each meal to wash up the items we used for that meal and "WOW!" everything is done in about 30-35 minutes (that includes putting food away, clearing the table and washing the dishes). If I included the floor sweeping, too, we are now talking about 10-15 minutes longer as my boys are not as efficient at sweeping as I am yet.

So, the good news is that our dishes pretty much stay clean all the time and the kitchen looks nice most of the day... the bad news is that my arms and hands are covered in a rash that itches and burns due to my sensitivity to Ajax handwashing dish soap. Sorry, haven't gone to homemade soaps yet as that requires a trip to the store and time that I just don't have these days. Maybe someone can offer me a quick solution to making my own soap FAST.... and with what I have on hand, I don't know. I just do what I know and have known for years... you can teach this old dog new tricks, but it has to be dropped in my lap so that I can stop long enough to notice it!

Well, that's my update for now! I think that lunchtime is calling, as are my washers begging to be emptied so they can be filled again... haven't had much time lately to do laundry, wonder why that is??? ;OP

Blessings!
Heather

FREE Ebooks and Audios!!!!

Well, I have known about this site for a while now... just having the time to blog about it sometimes seems overwhelming with everything else I need to do, but they are asking for some advertising on our blogs so that we can get the word out...

Here is what they are offering this week:

Monday, Feb 16th:
Great President's Day Resource Links! (links)
Want to make the most of President's Day? Check out these Lesson Plans, virtual tours, poetry & the actual papers of presidents Washington & Lincoln!

Tuesday, Feb 17th:
A Chinese Wonder Book (PDF ebook)
This fascinating collection of Chinese stories and legends, edited by Maggie Hogan of Bright Ideas Press, is a great literature-based introduction to the rich history and culture of China. Includes a read-aloud guide.

Wednesday, Feb 18th:
"Harriet Tubman & the Railway to Freedom" (MP3 audio)
A classic old time radio dramatization of the story of
Harriet Tubman and the activities of
the "underground railroad" during slave years.

Thursday, Feb 19th:
Blessed Is The Man: High School Unit Study Sampler (PDF ebook)
"Blessed is the Man" is a wonderful High School Unit Study
geared to Christian young men, and based on Psalm 1.
Today's resource is this extensive 74 page preview
of the complete four year curriculum - normally $10 on the
publisher's website - but yours to download today!
If you have growing boys in your household, DON'T MISS THIS!

Friday, Feb 20th:
Creatively Simple: How to Make Butter in the Blender (PDF ebook)
Learning to make butter is something everyone should do at least once.
This simple ebook by Penny Raine can teach you how, using items you
probably already have in your kitchen. Detailed instructions and lots of
pictures.
You can get all of these on their respective days at
www.HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com

And if you are a subscriber you may get an extra bonus ebook or audio!!!

Hope you enjoy!
Blessings!
Heather

Yeah!!! They Passed!!!!

I am celebrating today (in my heart) because the portfolios that I turned in to the school district last Monday for my 5 school-age children PASSED!!!!

I had never done a portfolio before, so I was a bit anxious about the whole idea of having someone "approve" of the school work that my children are doing... Sometimes I just don't feel "qualified" as a teacher. I wasn't a education major in college nor was I one to read on my own, so I finally feel somewhat accomplished at homeschooling. But this Art Major did something right and I am so thankful to my Lord and King, Jesus Christ.

But from this experience, I did learn a few "tricks of the trade." One being that I have to file all school papers away so that I don't have to go searching anymore for the "right one," I mean I dug through everything that we had trying to find what I felt was most appropriate for the portfolio. My 6-year-old daughter was so enamored with the idea of having a "folder" of her own that all the papers from the first part of the year she got into, emptied, and put new papers in... ugh. Thankfully I was able to gather those important papers together and file them away for the "real" portfolio, but if I hadn't been on my toes I would have struggled to find everything.

I can't remember if I explained the system in my last post or not, but now I have a much better system. Instead of filing things away in a 3-ring-binder, I have this paper bin from Sam's Club that I file all the children's papers in. Now I don't lose that "all-important" test that I want to use for the portfolio because it falls out of the binder before the school semester is up... the holes in the paper don't get worn out either.

I think this unit has 12 slots for paper, so I have 6 slots that I am using for each child... even my 3-year-old because she really likes to do school, too! I am hoping to have her writing her letters by next year (or maybe even this year), but I won't rush things as I want her to remain open to the whole schooling thing.

My other daughters ( 5 & 6-year-old) are really starting to "catch on" to letter recognition and phonics, as well. It is so wonderful to see them writing on their own, writing their names, numbers and letters... and for phonics, writing the symbols (letters) for the phonetic sounds.

Unfortunately, trying to stay completely on the schedule that I have created isn't as easy for me as it may be for others... you see, I am a finisher not a "stay on tasker".... I want to be able to let the schedule guide me, but I think, "What if I don't get it done tomorrow? I must do it today!" or "The lesson has to be finished!!!" You see, I have had the unfortunate experience of not being able to finish the book in a year... last year for example... We moved, and so we are just now finishing our math books from last year, ugh!

But I believe that my children need to learn to finish things that they start, else they may never get it done!

Well, again... time is short these days for blogging, for me, it just isn't the right "season" for blogging to long!

Blessings All!
Heather

Have I told you how busy life is?

I'm sure that I have! This school year has been extremely challenging and busy!!!

As far as the pregnancy... things are going well!

I did get to see the baby at 14 weeks by ultrasound due to an unfortunate trip to the ER for bleeding in December, but everything looked good and the doctor really had no clue as to what happened. But our holiday season was extremely busy and I DID overdo it. I made dress-up princess outfits for my 5 little princesses (a "gift" from my MIL...she bought the fabric and I sewed up the outfits).

Just yesterday I delivered our homeschool portfolios to the Public School Superintendent... Boy! I never knew that making a portfolio of school work was so time consuming!!! But I did it and now I just have to wait to see if it is acceptable. I'll tell you what I did learn... ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS file things away so that the children cannot get into their schoolwork. I have a daughter who just loved going into her school folder and snatching things.

But I did come up with a system. I have one of those $20 paper organizers from Sam's Club that I stash the children's school work in now. For now, my daughter hasn't figured out that I have done this, but when she does I will have to put this filing system up higher than she can reach.

She was enamored with the fact that I was making a portfolio of her work and I had to be really firm with her that she was NOT going to get into it. She didn't, thankfully.

I am so thankful for all of your sweet comments lately! They just keep coming in from time to time and they make me smile! For those who are new readers... sorry I haven't dropped by yet, I just don't have the time, but eventually (hopefully) I will get the time.

We just cancelled our Satellite service, partly due to the addiction that our children have to the TV and partly due to the financial burden it places upon our family. I'm fine with it, it just means that I will be making more time for Bible reading, sewing, meal planning, and all those other things that I have intended to get to.

My brain is hurting from thoughts of gardening!!! I want to start tilling the ground NOW!!!! I am so itching to get outside and pull weeds and plan my garden for this year. Last year was sort of a flop, but that was due to my hesistancy to plant not knowing what the deer were going to eat. Now I know where to plant things and I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE!!!! But much of the work will have to be done by my boys and hubby as I am not allowed to do the heavy work due to my last pregnancy with the early delivery.

Anywho, my time is up!

TTYL!!!
BLESSINGS!!!!
Heather

News....

Yes, you saw it at the top! We are expecting... my due date is June 23, 2009. And that is partially the reason why I haven't been around much. I have been dealing with morning sickness and fatigue. I have known for a long time, but my fears got the best of me and I kept it to myself.

I am thankful for this blessing and am grateful for the morning sickness because it means that my hormones are doing their job.

Other news...

Our baby girl is walking!!! EVERYWHERE!!! Loves to play in the toilet... ugh. Loves to climb stairs. She is a very busy little girl these days! Hope I can keep up with her!!!

That's all for now!

A big, "DUH!" moment....

Now as the owner/moderator of Home Management for Large Families, you would think that I have it all together. I do, in my head. Ideas just seem to flow out of my head, and when reading my schedules, to-do lists, and other things, it SEEMS that you WILL end up with the clean and tidy home/organized schedule that you have always dreamed of! But reality strikes when you realize, most things take more time than that!

Anyway, to get to my point...
I enjoy reading other blogs that inspire me to get it all together, make things tidy, and give me hope that, I CAN DO IT!!!

So, I'm reading along... and it says, "Today we are going to wipe and dust everything in sight!"
Okay, that's easy, I can do that! But then as I look around, I find my, "DUH!" moment... No, I can't wipe everything down because I can't see a clean surface in sight! "DUH!"

So, I can print out all the ideas that I want, but in reality, I have to find my way by myself.

For those of you who are in the same boat that I am in, I sympathize. However, I did sit down the other day and write up a cleaning schedule that goes above and beyond normal cleaning so that we can find peace for Thanksgiving. I will share that here for any of you who DON't want to join a group right now, but do want to find organization waiting at your doorstep on Thanksgiving. ****Note: This schedule has already began, but most of the jobs can be added to the next several days so that you CAN potentially catch up... and I am behind as I find most evenings that I crash at 8:30 p.m. on the couch in front of the roaring fire in our fireplace. Something about the sizzling and cracking of burning wood that just sets me up for a peaceful slumber that I can't avoid without leaving the room.


****UPDATED: I did just realize something else that takes a lot of time... two things actually:
1) I have a very needy baby that requires a lot of attention. She is content quite a bit of the time, but she is only 15 months and learning to walk and getting in to things, she has discovered my cabinets and the things they contain.

2) I also have a wood stove to BABYSIT... meaning that I am constantly adding to the fire, trying to keep it going, if it has gone to long without wood, I have to get it going again which can take up to 30 minutes of my time.


Thanksgiving Planner
Sunday........Monday ........Tuesday ........Wednesday .......Thursday .........Friday......Saturday

9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27 Thanks- giving DAY!	28	29

Monday 11/10/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…17 days!

¨ Try to do at least 4-6 loads of laundry. Follow all steps: Sort, Wash, Dry, Fold, Put away.

¨ Room Focus: Kitchen, make it sparkle!

¨ Straighten your computer desk. Clean pantry floor.

¨ Plan your menu for the week. Lay out any frozen items that you need for you meal today.

¨ Add any grocery items to your grocery list as you think of them, esp. any items needed for Thanksgiving.

¨ Have children keep floors clean, including their bedroom.

Tuesday 11/11/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…16 days!

¨ Continue doing laundry, my goal is still 4-6 loads. Set your goal and press toward it! Follow steps!

¨ Room Focus: Living Room/ Hallways, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Clear counter tops & cabinets in your kitchen or living room that has attracted clutter.

¨ Look at menu, and soak beans, lay out meat, brown meat, make bread…something to assist you for meals.

¨ Continue working on grocery list.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and straighten their bedroom…make sure you do yours, too.

Wednesday 11/12/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…15 days!

¨ Laundry (an everyday task for us), my goal remains the same, 4-6 loads. Follow steps as above!

¨ Room Focus: Bedrooms/Stairway or Porch, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Clear a table or dresser somewhere in your house! Then clean out your refrigerator!

¨ Make sure you are ready for today’s meal, get things started or put them in the crock pot!

¨ Yes, grocery list time… keep it going so you won’t forget ANYTHING!

¨ Children, as always, need to help clean the floors… Want it done really good? Help them out!

Thursday 11/13/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…14 days!

¨ Take a break from laundry (if you can)…clean off your dryer, and wipe down washer/dryer, also take a vacuum and sweep out the lint from the inside of your dryer!

¨ Room Focus: Clean Office and wash windows, clean up and clear the clutter!

¨ Since today we are doing the windows, go to every window sill and remove all clutter!

¨ Do you have a meal in the crock pot yet? Maybe you can brown your meat and prepare it, and put it in the crock pot on low.

¨ Do you remember something that you needed? Write it down on your grocery list! Maybe today is errand day…things are starting to take shape, so go run your errands!

¨ Children should have this down by now, but make sure that do their part in cleaning the floors!

Friday 11/14/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…13 days!

¨ Laundry: Wash Sheets! Make Beds! My goal is again, 4-6 loads…large families make large laundry messes!

¨ Room Focus: Bathroom(s)…make them sparkle AND dust, dust, dust!!!

¨ Rubba Scrubba Scrubbing day! Once children have cleaned the floors, time to scrub them (and/or vacuum to edges), wipe baseboards, vacuum cobwebs from corners and walls!

¨ Do you have leftovers to serve from your refrigerator? Make something new, serve up those leftovers, or freeze them and order pizzas for Movie night!

¨ We should have everything under control as far as groceries are concerned, but nobody’s perfect… Write down a new list or add to the old!

¨ Children need to quickly clean the floors…this should be easy since it was already done today! The floors need to be ready for this evening so you can enjoy a movie as a family! I suggest watching the Waltons!

Saturday 11/15/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…12 days!

¨ Laundry…make sure things are ready for church tomorrow. Everything laid out and ready to wear down to the shoes! Washing shouldn’t be necessary if you have kept up the rest of the week, but if not…catch up today!

¨ Room Focus: NONE!!! Today we focus on Preparing for the Lord’s Day!

¨ Family Fun Day OR Baking day! Make you breads, desserts, and snacks for tomorrow and the following week! Or have a fun day with family!

¨ Get you meal in the crock pot for Sunday and plan a picnic for Family Fun Day!

¨ Don’t bother yourself with your grocery list today!

¨ Tidy up before your day of baking or fun! Then clean up when done!

Sunday 11/16/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…11 days!

¨ Lord’s Day! You should be prepared for church so that your getting ready goes smoothly and peacefully!

¨ No activities planned for this day except to plug in your crock pot before church (or the night before).

¨ Spend time fellowshipping with friends and family.

¨ Meal clean-up should be a family thing today, to ease one another’s burdens!

Monday 11/17/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…10 days!

¨ Wash weekend laundry so stains don’t set in (from Sunday’s meal). My goal 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Is your kitchen still sparkling? If not, make it sparkle! How is your entry way? Shine it up too!

¨ Make things easier Day!!! Today we are going to hunt down and gather those items that keep us from keeping things tidy! You know what they are! Mine are toys! Today, I will gather up extra toys and put them away until our family has enjoyed Thanksgiving with friends!

¨ Plan menu for the week and get things laid out for today!

¨ Keep that grocery list going!

¨ Children, get after those floors! Many hands make light work.

Tuesday 11/18/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…9 days!

¨ Continue doing laundry, my goal is still 4-6 loads. Sort, Wash, Dry, Fold, Put Away!

¨ Room Focus: Living Room/ Hall ways…dust, wash baseboards, straighten shelves, vacuum furniture!

¨ Clear a cabinet, fireplace mantel, or piano in your living room that has attracted clutter.

¨ Look at menu, and soak beans, lay out meat, brown meat, make bread…something to assist you for meals. If you have fresh pumpkin, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, bake it in the oven at 350º in a large dish cut sides down with a little water in the bottom for about an hour. Then when it is done, scoop it out of the shell, puree it, and freeze it for Thanksgiving!

¨ Continue working on grocery list.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and ask them straighten their bedrooms…make sure you do yours, too.

Wednesday 11/19/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…8 days!

¨ Laundry, my goal remains the same, 4-6 loads. Follow steps as above!

¨ Room Focus: Bedrooms/Stairway or Porch!

¨ Run through the house and clean the cluttered spots, that is dressers, tables, exercise equipment, hanging mail baskets, and sewing areas! Then clean out your refrigerator!

¨ Make sure you are ready for today’s meal, get things started or put them in the crock pot!

¨ Yes, grocery list time… keep it going so you won’t forget ANYTHING!

¨ Children, as always, need to help clean the floors… Want it done really good? Help them out!

¨ EXTRA JOB: Straighten pantry so it is ready for cooking for Thanksgiving!

Thursday 11/20/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…7 days!

¨ Take a break from laundry (if you can)…clean off your dryer, and wipe down washer/dryer, also take a vacuum and sweep out the lint from the inside of your dryer!

¨ Room Focus: Office… straighten desk & shelves, then dust!

¨ Clean off top of refrigerator & microwave. Didn’t finish the panty? Finish it next!

¨ Do you have a meal in the crock pot yet? Maybe you can brown your meat and prepare it, and put it in the crock pot on low.

¨ Grab grocery list and make a run for the door! Make sure you have the fixings for THANKSGIVING!!! OR stay home and tidy up!

¨ Children should clean the floors!

Friday 11/21/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…6 days!

¨ Laundry: Wash Sheets! Make Beds! My goal is again, 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Bathroom(s)…make sure they sparkle!!!

¨ Rubba Scrubba Scrubbing day! Once children have cleaned the floors, time to scrub them (and/or vacuum to edges), wipe baseboards, vacuum cobwebs from corners and walls!

¨ Use those leftovers & LAY OUT TURKEY!!! (in refrigerator)

¨ Groceries: Write down a new list or add to the old!

¨ Children need to quickly clean the floors…this should be easy since it was already done today! The floors need to be ready for this evening so you can enjoy a movie as a family! I suggest watching the Waltons!

Saturday 11/22/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…5 days!

¨ Laundry…make sure things are ready for church tomorrow. Everything laid out and ready to wear down to the shoes! Washing shouldn’t be necessary if you have kept up the rest of the week, but if not…catch up today!

¨ Room Focus: Guest room…usually I focus solely on getting ready for the Lord’s Day, but due to Thanksgiving, I make sure things are ready in the guest room. Dust, sweep, mop, freshly made beds.

¨ Prepare for the Lord’s day!

¨ Make cranberry sauce, & cheese ball for Thanksgiving. Make a few loaves of bread for M/T/W.

¨ Get you meal in the crock pot for Sunday and make your easy meal for today!

¨ Write down any last minute items you need for Thanksgiving!

¨ Children, tidy floors! Mom, clean up kitchen mess when finished… must keep kitchen CLEAN!

Sunday 11/23/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…4 days!

¨ Lord’s Day! You should be prepared for church so that your getting ready goes smoothly and peacefully!

¨ No activities planned for this day except to plug in your crock pot before church (or the night before).

¨ Spend time fellowshipping with friends and family. OR rest up for the busyness of this week!

¨ Meal clean-up should be a family thing today, to ease one another’s burdens!

Monday 11/24/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…3 days!

¨ Wash weekend laundry so stains don’t set in (from Sunday’s meal). My goal 4-6 loads.

¨ Room Focus: Keep that kitchen sparkling, entryway sparkling, and living room sparkling.

¨ Today we make sure things are tidy and stay that way! Find something you missed and attack!!!

¨ Plan EASY MEALS for the week and get things laid out for today!

¨ Forget the groceries! Make pie crusts, lay out cool whip, chop veggies for stuffing.

¨ Children, get after those floors, tidy rooms and clean up the yard!

Tuesday 11/25/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…2 days!

¨ Do minimal laundry, we should be caught up by now!

¨ Room Focus: Make sure bathrooms are sparkling… including a clean shower curtain for guests!

¨ Dust all surfaces!

¨ Get that meal ready early, THEN make up veggie tray, make corn bread for stuffing, and make pumpkin pies.

¨ Clean up kitchen as you go! Wipe cabinet fronts while waiting for pies.

¨ Encourage children to keep up on the floors, and straighten bedrooms. MOM, make sure you do yours, too! We are preparing for company!!! Yeah!

Wednesday 11/26/08: Countdown to Thanksgiving…1 day!

¨ Do minimal laundry, if any!

¨ Room Focus: Quick tidy of entire house!

¨ Thanksgiving prep: Make crescent rolls, remaining pies, mix mushroom soup into green beans for green bean casserole and put back into refrigerator, cook sweet potatoes.

¨ Eat up those leftovers or make something super easy! Make & bake a breakfast casserole.

¨ Keep cleaning up your cooking messes!

¨ Help children do a super job cleaning the floors.

¨ Set time for your Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, then plan to have turkey done one hour before so you can cook your green bean casserole & pan of stuffing at the very last.

Thursday 11/27/08: Thanksgiving Day!

¨ Get up early and put turkey in oven! Once finished, make gravy from broth.

¨ Cook potatoes for mashed potatoes, mash and put in crock pot.

¨ Room Focus: Be prepared! Rooms should be tidy, but make a quick check! Make sure bathrooms have plenty of soap, towels, and toilet paper!

¨ Make sure dishes stay washed!

¨ Clean up breakfast mess quickly, THEN set the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

¨ Warm up sweet potatoes and prepare them as desired, remember you can put them in a crock pot if you have an extra one. If they have a topping, it can be added at the end and placed in the oven for 15 minutes to crisp up!

¨ Light candles, put on some light music & set out veggie tray & cheese ball or other appetizer just before guests arrive.

¨ Children should help where needed.

¨ Finally, enjoy your day of thanksgiving!

Last year’s Menu

Appetizers

~Cheese Ball with Crackers

~Veggie Tray with dip (celery, pickles, olives, carrots, pretzels, ranch & French onion dip)

Main Meal

~Turkey

~Dressing

~Candied Sweet Potatoes/or Sweet Potato Casserole

~Rice/or Mashed Potatoes

~Gravy

~Crescent Rolls

~Green Bean Casserole & Regular Green beans

~Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

~Pumpkin Pie w/whipped topping

~Pecan Pie

~Pumpkin Streusel Cake

Making a Thanksgiving Menu is helpful to keep you focused and on task. It also helps when you begin to set things out so that you don’t forget anything! One year I forgot to set out my cranberry sauce!!! Boy, was I embarrassed! Ever since then I have made a list of my menu!

***If you need recipes or instructions on how to prepare any of the items I have listed, just leave me a comment!

Blessing!

Heather