Domestic Command Zones aka Chores!

A few months ago, I came up with our new chore system for this house.  This system was spurred by my frustration with some children cutting way to many corners getting their chores done and the general mommy feeling of... why am I doing everything?!?  Time for me to re-visit I am a Mother, not a maid. :)

So, I started with what needs done in our home? 

Then I listed exactly what was expected for each chore to be thorougly done. 

Put them onto index cards for easy handing out, easy transport, and laminated for easy wiping off.

Sometimes, it is a chore and a command.  For example, whoever gets "Clean Room" is responsible to clean their own room and inspect the other rooms.  They are responsible to check under the beds, behind the dresser, etc.  Takes the lead off my shoulders and trains them about what it's like to be in charge.

Another example, if they get "Vacuum" then they have to tell everyone to pick-up their stuff and follow through, not me.  

They are in Command of their zone, not me.  

Curbs some of the "it's just easier for me to do it myself" attitude that I can get.  

Made pockets for each child. Early morning I may slip in their 2 chores (1 for Hannah).  Or I may turn them all upside down and have each child pick.  Or I may be in "serious business" mode and assign chores according to who will complete it the best OR who needs to learn how to do it better when I have the time to teach individually.

I use these as either consequence chores or company's coming chores or I want a thorough cleaning chores.

When you have a big family, you might be like me and find yourself  repeating yourself over, and over, and over again.  Several months ago,  I lost my voice really bad for over 2 weeks.  This was my solution to my follow through with the children.  Now, I keep it on the back of the front door, and we use it when we need to "re-visit" expectations. 

 (DCZ is Domestic Command Zone-

hey- I have boys who would rather conquer and command than keep house!)

A Cure for the "Maple Syrup Runneth Over"

I can't tell you how many times a nice and cozy morning breakfast has turned into my frantic shouts of "STOOOOOOOP POURING!!"  LOL!!  We've all been there when the ENTIRE bottle of syrup ($) ends up on one child's plate.  Or the ketchup bottle glubs out half it's contents in one hearty squeeze.  Or the kids have taken so much gravy, there's none left for... ME!

I put everything in these squeeze bottles-- Dressing, Condiments, Gravies, or whatever "saucy" stuff I'm serving.  It allows for the children to serve themselves but not to pour out the whole bottle in the process.  And, if I'm conserving, I fill it half way so that everyone will use less. (It's magic!)

I learned this from my "second mom", Frances, when I was a teenager, and crazy as I was, still enjoyed homemaking tasks and ideas.  Put the syrup in a pot, in the sink, and periodically run more hot water into it.  It warms up the syrup without having to microwave plastic.  I think about her every time I'm warming syrup, or digging under the couch cushions, or saying "this house is a mess".  I love her.

Elijah really enjoys learning how to cook and helping me in the kitchen.  French toast and turkey bacon.

We did have an injury though.  Elijah rested his arm on the edge of the smokin' hot frying pan.  He won't do that again.  Lesson learned, albeit the hard way.


"In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot and a mom."
-Barbara Costikyan


My childhood should have taught me lessons for my own parenthood, but it didn't because parenting can be learned only by people who have no children.
-Bill Cosby

Each generation has been an education for us in different ways. The first child-with-bloody-nose was rushed to the emergency room. The fifth child-with-bloody-nose was told to go to the yard immediately and stop bleeding on the carpet.
-Art Linkletter

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.
-Bill Vaughan



Fall in the House

Front door.  Our home was named after an Officer, Major George Duplain, who Administrated the San Francisco Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in the 70's and pioneered the Program for Women.  The residence for them is called Pinehurst.

I've done candles on the dining room table too. 
Also, harvesty tablecloths on the dining room and kitchen tables. I love table linens!

Kitchen Window

 

These pinecombs in the baskets are fragrant.  They smell sooo good, like vanilla and savory spices.
We've collected a lot of other pinecombs that I've added since this picture.  At this point, my shelfs are overflowing and I told the kids please NO MORE! :)


                                   

    



“The beauty of the house is order.
The blessing of the house is contentment.
The glory of the house is hospitality.
The crown of the house is godliness.”
-Author Unknown



Some Everyday Life Pics

My heart skips a beat when I see *clean and organized*, even if it's food.

I love these trays.  I picked them up over a year ago at Fred Meyer's for 75% off!

I use them for our "kid meals", usually Saturday or Sunday night, sometimes both.

Vanilla yogurt w/ sprinkles (dessert), apple slices, corn and chicken.

Dog Pile! 

Mary is on the bottom...

JK!!

I lay out the girls outfits every night for the next day.

I used to do the boys but they do it themselves now since they are growing up. (sniffle, sniffle)

See my new casseroles?? 

Paul got them for me for Christmas. 

They are Rachael Ray!

You might also notice our criss-crossed silverware.

It is Ann's new way to set the table to "help make things fancy".

Also... I just figured this out a few months ago... instead of setting the table, only to gather up the plates again to dish up food;  I now put the stack of plates in the middle of the table so I can just stand and dish up food then pass out the plates.  Get it? 

 Even those little things make a difference in my day! 

Hannah freaked out when Paul put his foot up near her.

So naturally, we all joined in.

Wait!! Once more for the camera!

Mary was far to occupied with her perogie to join in.

Often, when I go to take my shower, I put the TV on.

The other morning, I came out and just had to snap a shot of my darlings! 

Look at how Mary joined right in to watch "Sid the Science Kid."

It touched my heart to see how Mary imitates her big sissies! 

I didn't know babies watch TV!!

This is also what I often come out of the shower to find.

Just thought I'd make you jealous. Mmmm... can I make a yummy sandwich.

A common occurence in our home. 

Update and Baking Frenzy Pictures

I had a most wonderful time at our Women's Officer's Retreat earlier this week. I took Mary and Paul cared for the other children.  I am hearing story after story of all the fun they had together and the evenings full of adventure- sleepovers, Wii battles, spaghetti-o's, and more.  I was a  little disappointed to miss David's big speech and demonstrations at school, but he filled me in. 

 It is always a good thing for me to be gathered with like-minded women.  I just plain need that!  I also celebrated my 34th birthday there, by just happening to go have High Tea at the Historic Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland, joined by three other fabulous women salvation army officers. 

Now, after only being gone 2 1/2 days, I am trying to play catch-up at the Corps and at home. 

I went through some pics and forgot that I never did share much about our Christmas

.... it was a wonderful couple of days, no sickies and much rest and relaxation. 

Except for my Christmas Eve Baking Frenzy!  I think I was trying to make up for lost time!

I love my kitchen aide mixer. 

Rachel + KitchenAide= True love forever and always

Making the famous MIL fudge, also her mother's.

She gave me the fudge-pot, spoon, and recipe years ago.

THIS is one area of which Paul always compares me to his mother.

I don't mind though, he's right- her fudge is always better anyway.

 I come in a close second though ;)

I ended up freezing a lot of our goodies. 

I just went way overboard, like I do so well.

Christmas at Home

Our Jesse Tree

Entryway

Entryway table

Kitchen with little stockings from my childhood

Kid art

My happy little snowmen.

The trees on the right were a very special gift from my Paul when we were at our first appointment and I was having a most difficult time with some very mean people. 

The trees remind me of how a difficult time really pulled Paul and I together

and toughened me up for battle against sin and the ruler of darkness.  ;)

On a lighter note...

Our Gingerbread house that we made at Thanksgiving.

I was noticing that candy kept missing from it.  All the children denied it, but I knew someone was doing it!

Finally... I caught Hannah one evening with a peice of candy in her mouth that could only have come from the Gingerbread house.  She fessed up and we all were reminded that whatever sin you do in secret always comes out!!  You may be enjoying it for days or weeks, sometimes even years, but the truth always comes out.  Hannah just got a good talkin' too, after all, she's just learning about these things. 

Very cute story to tell though!

Bathroom

The kids love to play with these guys.

and these guys.

I was super excited to buy brand new bulb ornaments for our tree this year.  They were a bit costly, but I purchased 2 sets of 65, one red toned, one gold toned.   The best part is... they are unbreakable!  and will last me for years!  The sad part was that I couldn't get them all to fit!

My dear friends gave me this Alaska Nativity after I did a short-term mission trip to Alaska islands.

Mikasa Nativity

It was sad to retire Buster's stocking this year.

From left to right...

Mary, Momma, David, Hannah, Elijah, Daddy, Ann

Singing snowman given to us by my lovely MIL

One of my favorite parts of Christmas are the cards.

This year, I hope to take them down one each day starting on New Years and pray for the families.

Dining Room

Living Room