Smart Habit Saturday!

This has been an interesting week. I have been so busy-with what you ask? Well, cleaning the dreadful pantry! I worked on this mess for most of the entire week! It was a monumental task. It is almost finished! I am not going to post pictures until it is totally complete, however, the floor is empty! I also have some empty containers and totes!

Because I am going on my big trip this week I am not going to add a new habit.
I have a huge list that has to be accomplished.
These are the things that will be on my list , they have to be done before my trip!

I have thought about my Smart Habit Saturday goals. I really looked at my huge entry from last week. (it was long!) I really managed three of my habits well.
* I did amazingly well at keeping my counter clean. It makes a difference in my day!
* I finished listening to conference on my ipod. I need to read the Priesthood session(not available on audio), before tomorrow night.
* The big kids did so well practicing the piano this week. Boy has been trying to do it in the morning. That works alright, we struggle with getting up. I hope that this is a sign that we are doing better!

My other two(exercise and scripture study) habits did not fair well. I will try again! Obviously they are not habits yet!
I am planning on taking my ipod with me and I have 1/2 of the Book of Mormon on it. Hopefully, I will start to get better about actually listening to it!
Reading as a family has always been a struggle for us. We were doing really well a few weeks ago. Must recommit and go for it!

I am in the beginnng thought processes of designing a "division of labor" chart! While cleaning the FOUR bathrooms of my house today I decided that each of the three bigger kids are going to be in charge of a bathroom. They all live in this house, we all work together to keep it clean! I am going to really make it official--like we are a business. I am the CEO and they all have responsibilities. I am doing more work than I should--that is my fault. Hopefully, I can get this to help them take responsibility.

This motherhood stuff is hard. We were having one of those money conversations in the car. The Boy said that "it's Dad's money". I said that it is my money too, he and I work together to help take care of our family. Little Missy said "Mom's job is to take care of us!" At least one of the children understands that I do have a job, a job that is 24/7, with no sick leave, vacation pay or health plan! I get no pay raises and usually no one notices what I do!

I am taking all the "baby kisses" I can get. I think that those little sweetnesses must be what is to hold me over until the grandchildren come! I am also keeping many a little love note--to remind me that someone does notice me occasionally!

A cleaning first!

This was a first for me. I vacuumed my jetted tub! I know that sounds crazy but we have been having an infestation of boxelder bugs. Our window faces south so the bugs loved the heat. It hasn't been very long since I had to clean the windows, sills, blinds, etc. because of these disgusting things. Well, once again it looked awful! However, there were tons of dead ones in the tub! I actually got the vacuum to suck them up. It is all shiny and clean, perfect for a good long soak. Hopefully, now that the weather has changed the little icky things will stay outside!

He was here!

Here is the proof that a little boy lives in this house!

Doing what?

I am going on a big trip--to Germany--in one week. What am I doing to prepare for this trip? Cleaning my pantry! I think that must be about the wierdest thing to want to have done before I go. However, it is almost done! I have made huge strides. It has been a massive project. I have been working like a crazy woman. I stayed up much too late last night trying to actually find my counter again. I did it. Today, I decided to finally tackle the two big craft/junk boxes. I went through every plastic grocery sack. I condensed two large totes into one smaller tote! I put every type of goodie in a clear ziploc bag so we know what is in it. I need a few more baskets and need to label every basket, in hopes that if they are marked things will be kept in better order!

What is on your list?
These are the things that will be on my list next, they have to be done before my trip!
*Clean fridge(Looks so nice, icky sticky gone)
*Clean garage/coat mess (This was yuck! We could hardly walk)
*Take piles to DI(like goodwill)
*Clean bathrooms (4) (contemplating how to turn this responsibility over to someone else)
*laundry-this is never ending! (did 6 loads) (laundry up to speed! All folded and put away!)
*vacuum (for today at least!)
*dust (one down! Hopefully, will get it again before I leave!)
*mop
*grocery shopping
*clean guest bedroom/scrapbook studio so Grandma can have a place to sleep! (this is a huge job that really will take more time after I get back--however, she deserves to be able to walk to the bed without killing herself)
*Go shopping for some shirts and shoes.
*Buy camera batteries
*put up Easter decorations! (Spring,spring-now I need some daisies!)
*Buy some new underthings
*clean-up basement
*Easter shopping(I will be in Germany)

Happy Thursday! My pantry is getting better!

Kudos!

Maybe I am not such a bad Mom after all!

Is This Progress?

Have any of you ever had a project that you put off for much too long because you haven't wanted to deal with the mess? That is the story of my pantry. It is a catch-all in our house. I am the worst offender! It has been bothering me for a long time. I really went through it a year ago, and tried some new ways to organize things. Some of those have really worked great, are still working. Others didn't work. So, I started a few weeks ago. Yesterday, I hit it with a vengence.

The PROBLEM? Now this is the mess that is now in my kitchen! I am now committed! I have to actually deal with this mess! I am going to have this straightened up by tomorrow(I hope today but I have scouts at the library and tumbling so I might need more time!)

Shopping or Torture?

This is my story and I am sticking to it! I need long pants-desperately! It will still be cool in Germany so I don't want to freeze to death in capri's. So---I made arrangements for the little guy and went on a shopping trip. This is how it went.
I went to the pants section of my size(or there abouts). I went through and grabbed 15 pair in each of the two sizes that I range in. I then grabbed a few tops, skirts, and sweat/yoga pants for the airplane. All in all I had about fifty items. Well, where I was shopping you can only take in 8 items. So, I started the torture! I tried on 30 pairs of pants and came home with 2 pairs of jean's in two different sizes and a pair of sweat pants that are capri's but on my short legs they are more like floods. Two hours and 45 minutes later I left the store. I had planned on doing more shopping, for some tops, perhaps some Easter--I was exhausted after trying on that much clothing.

Do you all now understand why I never have enough pants?

How Small?

Do you ever wonder if you should pray about something? What if it is a simple thing? Something that only matters to you. Perhaps a simple item that is lost, do you ever feel silly praying about it? I know that I do. However, I am learning that my Heavenly Father is aware of me and my life. I am learning to trust Him, even if it is a simple, stupid thing that is lost.

Smart Habit Saturday(updated)

*Updated* My friend suggested that I look at my habits and really see where I am. Those small habits that when used effectively make a big difference in your life. So, I thought about these;
*Clean off my counter before going to bed---I am actually doing quite well with this. I would say that I am probably doing this 5 out of 7 nights. I think that it is a habit that will always need a bit of motivation. However, my morning is so much nicer when I walk into a clean kitchen. It also seems that the messes don't add up as quickly throughout the day if I don't start out messy!
*Read my Church magazine-I have been listening to these talks on my ipod-I was trying to listen to at least one talk a day. I have not done as well this past week, however, I am almost through!! That is appoximately 48 talks! I will finish these talks this week because we get a new set this next weekend--I am excited for our General Conference!
*Exercise--this is a habit that has to always, always be thought about! I had a week that had me quite busy so I honestly didn't make it to the gym one time. I can feel it in many ways--my pants, my gi track, and my mental health.--So, I am trying to have a less hectic week, I am hoping to go at least 3 times to the gym and then try and run at home the others. The weather is so nice!
*Read scriptures-personally and as a family-we have always struggled with this. My little Missy is a big helper on this. I am going to try and read my own(or listen) every day. I am also going to try and read as a family at least five days. I think that if I have Missy make a chart and have her be in charge of it, we might do better!
*Have big kids practice piano enough-we struggle with this, they don't want to do it so they won't if I don't remind them. I am thinking about some type of chart for this also. Not sure-any ideas-these are big kids-stickers don't help!



Here we are at Saturday again! The weeks go too quickly for me! I have really been focusing on my Lifestyle goals this week. I have made progress for Smart Habit Saturday! It may be a tiny, tiny improvement but it is still significant!
I have purchased more baskets for my pantry declutter project.
I have purchased the materials for the built in desk in the big girls bedroom!
I have gone through one large rubbermaid bin full of old coloring books and gotten rid of most of them!
I have gotten rid of three years worth of scrapbooking magazines!
My house still looks like a train wreck but it is getting better!

My friend Lara had a quote on her blog today that I really liked. I have often felt these sentiments but I struggle daily with the day to day. I feel so behind that I don't do some of the "other" things that I would like to do, for myself or the kids. Here is the quote.

“Waiting for the chores to end before I take time to teach, mentor, plan, prepare, inspire, and study is like standing at the banks of a mighty river waiting for the water to finish going by so that I can cross to the other side!” Diann Jeppson

Here are Lara's thoughts on this;
Are you waiting for the river to pass before you cross over to become the brilliant, inspiring, competent person you were meant to become? No!!! We know you are building a bridge and already on your way to the other side because you are participating in Smart Habit Saturday. We are all working together here, pulling each other along, to make simple and often mundane daily tasks a little easier by creating life changing habits. This will give us more time to find our greatness within. Whether you want to become a great mother, wife, teacher, or leader, thank you for taking the time to inspire me!

So here is my list! It is not in any order-of importance or of need. It is just a random list that I worked on all week. I had a paper by my phone and I would write the thoughts down. This is by no means a complete list. This list also has nothing to do with personal improvement goals. These are things that need done around my home to make me feel less fragmented so that I can enjoy my life and be a better person!
I hope that by doing this list it will help me to actually start accomplishing some of these things. This will be an ever evolving list because I know already that I didn't include any of my outside needs on this list!!!

*Move washer and dryer downstairs
-call for cement cutter
-get long exhaust hose
*Put all decorations away in furnace room. Christmas/February/Easter etc.
Make sure they are all marked well.
*Move both freezers
*Build Desks in bedrooms(one almost finished!)
*Completely go through pantry-everything put where it goes. (This was major-I worked on it for an entire week)
-containers-label all baskets
*Studio/Scrapbook room-go through all the piles, dejunk, put everything in working order.(this is a huge project) (can see floor-a start)
*Clean garage-
-Winter stuff put away
-shoes-throw away old
-snowboards/skis up on brackets
*Re-organize hall closet
*Coat closet
*Clean fridge (looks so nice, icky-sticky gone!)
*sort toys-parts with parts(donate many)
*Go through each child(4) bedroom and sort all clothes and toys
*Hang up shelves in kids bedrooms
*Hang up name plaques and letters
*Sort books
*Clean off bulletin board (This has to be done ALL the time, it is the catch all and art gallery)
*Back up photos
-burn cd’s
*pictures into albums
*print digital photos
*go through lazy susan
*sort/discard old scrapbook magazines (my friend was thrilled to have them!)
*go through craft boxes in pantry (I went through every sack-reduced from 2 totes to 1)

If you are still reading you deserve a medal! Stay tuned and hopefully together we can make progess!!

70's Child!!

You know that you were a child in the 70's when you come across things like these! These coloring books were in the huge pile that I went through for my pantry declutter. They make me laugh! I remember all of them!

Bell-Ringers of Spring!

Look at what I found in my flower garden!!! Happy little crocus flowers! They are the earliest thing that blooms around here. I was so thrilled to see these little bell-ringers of spring!

Tuesday-already?

It is Tuesday-does it ever seem that the week goes so quickly that it has passed before you have caught up to it? I do all the time! So, because of my SHS lifestyle goals I am trying to overcome my procrastination habit. Just do it! Well, my friend Lara came by yesterday and we discussed how to do a built in desk, measured etc. I am hoping to go and get some of the supplies soon. I would like to have it finished before I go on my trip-if I just DO it instead of waiting until I get back I will have made progress!
I have also made a tiny bit of progress in the messy pantry. I bought some larger baskets that hold more, so that they can stay a bit more organized(I hope). I need to go and get some more, I bought all they had-baby steps!

What projects are you working on? I am going to write one of those longs lists--then perhaps it will make me want to finish them!!!!

I posted another picture of my awful pantry so that when it looks better I will have proof!

Sick Wee One!

Today was a strange Sunday. I got up and showered quickly, got kids moving, etc. We were on schedule until I went and got Little Boy blue out of his crib. He had bright red cheeks and was feverish. So, that changed all of my plans. I did manage to get the other three out the door to Grandma's so she could drive them to church. Little one and I just held each other all morning. I hope that he will be doing better soon. He was warm again tonight, he has been doing the motrin rollercoaster. Poor little baby! I miss church when I don't go. I also really enjoy going to the singles ward. It is a different feeling where they are not so family oriented yet.

My big sweetie came home from church today wiped out. It was a rough day as Bishop(congregation leader-LDS church). I wish that there was something that I could do to help him but there isn't really. So, I keep praying, and making sandwiches. He is such a good man. I am often reminded about how lucky I am to have him in my life. Now, don't get me wrong, he isn't a saint or anything. He has a few faults, but all in all I got one of the really good guys out there.

I am going to Germany very soon! I have many things that need to be accomplished before I go. I am not really worried about clothes or that type of thing(although I need some pants badly). I am more worried about getting this house so that it isn't so difficult for my Mom. Also, Easter will be while I am gone- So, there are just a lot of things that we Mom's just do.
I have thought about writing one of those lists--you know, the ones that list every project you want to accomplish. I have done these lists before and I don't think that they really help. I am such a procrastinator! However, I have plans to make some progress! Lara is coming over tomorrow to help me figure out a desk in the big girls bedroom. Lara is so handy with tools and she won't procrastinate if it is at my house! So, tomorrow it is!

What plans do you have? A paint project, a pantry declutter(oh, yeah, that is mine also). My garage is also in desperate need of some attention. I have 7 chairs that need painted(Shh, don't tell Lara) and the list goes on and on and on!

One step at a time!

Beautiful Saturday!

Saturday already! It is hard to believe that we have been home from our fabulous vacation 2 weeks already!

A few weeks ago I wrote about Saturday and how I needed to use it to prepare for Sunday. Well, here goes again! I hope that I can get better at this--you would think after almost 14 years of parenthood that I would feel better equipped!

Smart Habit Saturday has rolled around again. What to do, what to do? I am still working at all the habits that I have set up to this point! Perhaps the things that I have selected as habits are not truly habits but a lifestyle. So in light of that, what lifestyle do I want?
*Peaceful
*Healthy
*Happy
*Orderly
What do I need to do to maintain or achieve these four things?
Peaceful-Invite the Spirit of our Heavenly Father into our home. Try to maintain that Spirit. Sometimes that is the hardest thing of all.
Healthy-exercise,exercise,exercise and eat healthy. I also need to help my children learn about healthy eating-that needs work!
Happy-this goes along with peaceful. "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" that old saying is so true! I have to be the guide to my own happiness--my entire family almost always follows suit(the teenagers do not follow these rules!)
Orderly- this is my weakest link. I feel that all the others are affected by my lack of orderly skills. Almost all of my habits thus far have been based on this aspect. I read a thought once,
"If my outsides(house) are a mess my insides are a mess" That is how I feel. When my house is more orderly and neat all the other aspect of my life seem to flow more smoothly.

So, by looking at those things---the messy house is still my weakness! So off to work again! Smart Habit Saturday---work on those four things with an emphasis on getting more orderly.

Anyone have any suggestions about really getting children to want to help---they know how!!

For more ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Bits of JOY!

What brings you joy?
(in no real order)
1. Little Boy blue! He is sweet and yummy and is becoming a tease.
2. Sunshine
3. Clean clothes(put away is even better)
4. My sweetie(he just smells good)
5. All my angels tucked into bed at night.
6. Budding plants
7. Puppy greetings
8. Giggles
9. New Crayons
10. New scrapbooking tools that I hope to someday use!!!

Just a few totally random thoughts on this beautiful day.

What are some things that bring you joy? Write them down.

SUNSHINE!

I have flung open almost every window in my house! SPRING-GLORIOUS SPRING! I need spring. Every ounce of my being needs spring! I need to sweep out the cobwebs, out of my house and out of my soul! Every surface, closet, drawer, etc. needs some spring cleaning.

What are you doing for your spring cleaning? I am also feeling much more motivated to do some personal spring cleaning. You know-those things that we want to do, need to do to improve us but we wait. Why do we wait?

So, one of my Smart Habit Saturday goals for this week was to keep my house tidier, be more motivated and finish things. There are others but I will save that for another post. So I have been going through rooms of my house with a garbage sack and a laundry basket. All sheets have been stripped from beds, the washer is running and my house is a mess! I purchased some baskets for my pantry so I am working on that mess also. It is a happy, motivated mess! I feel progress!(that is a good thing)

What are some ways that you teach your children to work? I have often(daily) felt that I have not taught my children how to work. Well, that isn't true. They know how they just don't want to. So, my question and quest is this--How to get the ability to work to move to the desire to help because it needs done, not because Mom told them to do it.

Okay, off to the mound of laundry! We all need clean sheets to put back onto the beds tonight!!!

Miracles

I looked out my kitchen window and saw this. It is no small miracle.

These two fight, a lot. The big one is too big for the little one and the little one just wants to belong-no matter how loud she gets.

I had to go and get my camera to remember that occasionally, they do get along.

Dentist Woes!

My poor little Missy had to go to the dentist. She had FOUR baby teeth pulled out. The dentist had to really numb her up. She was so brave but she still screamed because it tasted yucky! She is in bed with a very numb, fat mouth. She tried to drink some chocolate milk and it ran down her face. Poor little toad!

THE FAT CAME BACK!

My pants have turned against me! I attempted to put on my smaller jeans today. I have been wearing these jeans for six months. They are a smaller size than I have had in years. Well, today, they just didn't fit! THE FAT CAME BACK! (yes, Mom I can imagine the roadshow of that song years ago!)
This is the first time since I started really exercising over a year ago that I have had a real big set back. I have vascillated up and down a pound or two but it was usually on the down, even if only by an ounce. I really haven't lost much weight in the last year but I dropped 3 pants sizes. Muscle weighs more than fat I guess!
Well, my body rebelled! I feel like a fat blob!

How do you get remotivated after a huge setback? I need suggestions! Yes the first one would be to STEP AWAY FROM THE TABLE!

Now that spring is here it should be easier, the dark, dreary months of Jan, Feb. are behind us. The overwhelming craving for carbohydrates(the more refined the better) is hopefully on the downswing with more sunlight.(did you know that men produce twice as much seratonin as women and that is why women crave sweets/chocolate-to increase the same feelings as serotonin-which sunlight also creates.)

Well, I better go and drink some water!

Reality bites!

Reality hit at the gym today! I got on the scale(first mistake!) I have gained at least a solid five pounds. The cruise did it to me this time! I told my sweetie and he didn't feel sorry for me at all. He told me (truthfully) that I didn't do anything! Well, I did do something, I SLEPT IN every single morning! On our previous cruises I did go walking on the upper deck a lot and last year I even used the ship's gym. Well, not this year!
So, instead of beating myself up I am hoping that I can drop this load quickly and not let it make permanent residence on my butt! I will also have to actually exercise! Two weeks + without exercising is murder on someone who has been exercising almost daily. It does prove that those calories burned while exercising DO add up---quickly!

On to a more positive note. SPRING HAS SPRUNG! There is just a change in the smell of the air! The sky is a beautiful blue and things are melting. I looked out my kitchen window at my flower bed and was anxious to go and cut down the old growth. I haven't seen any little tulip head yet but I am sure that they will be out soon. I need to go out front and see if my little crocus have popped yet, they are always the very first.

So, go and find some proof of Spring-it will certainly brighten your day!

Smart Habit Saturday!

Habits, Habits, Habits! I am often feeling that mine are all bad-that I don't actually have any good habits. So--to get back into gear for Smart Habit Saturday(a bit early) I am going to review my positive habits.
*going to the gym--a pretty solid habit(sick baby this week-so feeling flabby)
*brushing my teeth-(okay I know but I am trying to be positive with myself)
*making my bed-I am actually really good-it is almost always done. Suprise to my mother, I never did it until the day I went away to college!
I am sure that there are others, just can't really think of them! What are some that I want to work on?
*exercise harder
*eat healthier
*have kinder thoughts
*be more generous
*notice the positive
*read my scriptures
*play more
*keep my house tidier
*finish things
*be motivated
That is just a few-so what to start with?
* I have been trying to keep my counter clean--that is a never ending job. It gets dirty pretty quickly, but I am trying to look at that as a blessing-we have food to eat and a place to gather!
*I have been working on the bathroom-it is NOT a habit yet.

*I can't even think of all the things-so I will just start again with baby steps!! This week I am going to renew my exercise, reduce the sugar intake, try to be motivated, and actually pick up my own stuff(hoping that someday my family will realize that they have arms and they can pick up their own dirty socks).
I am also going to try and listen to one talk a day from General Conference(The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints , LDS or Mormons) I have them on my ipod and want to get through Sept. conference before April conference!

What are you doing to improve your life? If we just keep doing what we have always done we will have what we have always had. We have to make concious decisions to change.

Write it down!

For more ideas about Smart Habit Saturday check out my friend Lara's site.
(for those of you new to blogging, when you look at a post and it has a word that is highlighted, if you click on it, it will link you to another post-just a little info!)

Love Notes!

Just a little bit of love! It seems to me in this hustle bustle world that often it is too easy to overlook the tiny little joys that come into our lives. I know that I am often telling my sweetie that I don't "feel the joy". Well, sometimes that is true but others I just need to acknowledge the bits of joy that come my way.

So today-here is some "love notes" from little Missy. I am trying to really love these because they will soon start to get fewer and fewer until the only thing they write is a note that they need money!

Try and find some little bit of joy today. Perhaps a cute mug that your cocoa is in or the blossoms at the grocery store(which I think we should buy ourselves more often). Just be aware of the little love notes around you!!

(I don't want to take the time to re-scan the picture the other way-so, turn your head!)

One big mess!

Oh where to begin? I have been home from our fabulous trip for almost an entire week. One would assume that that would be enough time to get caught up. Well, I keep working but it doesn't ever seem to change! My friend Lara and her family came by last night and got to witness the mess first hand. She looked in my messy pantry to help with organizing it.

Do any of you just wonder how those other people seem to keep everything neat all the time? I do? I keep trying but basically just keep my messes at a dull roar, ready to burst into flames at any moment!

So, with that I am going to go and try and get something accomplished. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to actually keep children(and parents) doing the things that they have been taught? Mine are getting worse, not better!

We Are Back!!

What a great week we had! It was perfect weather--WARM!

We went snorkeling, on two catamarans and PARASAILING!!! That was so fun! I was really scared but it was great! I actually got to go up twice!!!!

So now I am back to real life. I have a very messy house that smells like burnt plastic(easy mac in micro with no water-bad combo!) and a little boy with a gooby nose. He looks like he grew a foot while we were gone!

So, trying to get back to "normal" (whatever that means around here)