I just updated our chore chart (dinner helpers had to be switched around due to David's B-Ball schedule) and thought this would be a curious thing to see. I'm always reading others' when I visit their home to see how they do it and gleaning ideas that would work for us. Here is the Chouinard one. Basically the same over the last couple of years, but with adding capable children. (Mine is layed out and color coded, but the cut and paste didn't follow through with that.) I do the stuff that is not specifically assigned to a kid (deep cleans, kitchen, etc.) When I keep up and don't fall behind, then I don't have to spend hours every day "cleaning". Also for me, the biggest things to keep up on are MEALS and LAUNDRY. Life can't go on without those, so those are two things I always (try to!) stay ahead on, though not always as successfully as I want! Our goal is a loving and happy home first, but it is also important to us to keep it clean, organized and efficient!
Sunday -Everyday chores only
Monday
Deep clean-mom/dad’s room and bathroom
Elijah- bathroom
David- glass tables and patio door
Ann- wipe down kitchen cupboards
David -help cook dinner
Tuesday
Deep clean-downstairs and bathroom
David- vacuum living room, hallway
Elijah- vacuum dining room
Ann-help cook dinner
Wednesday -Everyday chores only
Thursday
Deep clean-living room and dining room
Plan weekly menu/ make grocery list
David- bathroom
Elijah- glass tables and patio door
Hannah-help cook dinner
Friday
Deep clean- kitchen and mopping of all floors
Grocery shopping
David- vacuum dining room
Elijah- vacuum living room, dining room
Ann- sweep foyer
Elijah -help cook dinner
Saturday
Elijah and David- Bathroom Ann-Bathtub
Everyday
Whatever is asked of you
Everyone make your own bed, put books away
Homework and Reading
General tidying up
Meals, Dishes and Cleaned Kitchen
Laundry
David, Elijah, Ann, Hannah
Put away all toys and clean up bedrooms before dinner, vacuum when needed
Ann & Hannah feed Buster
David, Elijah, Ann, Hannah -clear the table after meals
Monthly
Wash beds
Deep Clean refrigerator
David, Elijah, Ann, Hannah- Clean walls
Allowances -.25 penalty and/or loss of entertainment privileges
For arguing, complaining or a half-hearted job
Fridays
David 3.00 Elijah 2.50 Ann 1.25 Hannah .50
This is our standard, something we aim for and keeps a routine. It is definately not adhered to every single waking day, life happens, but we are about an 8 out of 10 with keeping these disciplines. We are better off aiming for something than not aiming at all! That's what goals/standards are all about.
Also, we try to be generous with the allowances (they are not "payments") so that they have money to work with in regards to giving, begging for stuff, and saving up.
Overall the kids do great at helping out. We tease about how grateful they should be for each other, if we only had one kid, he'd be stuck doing all this on his own! I estimate that they spend about 20 minutes a day doing chores, plus some extra for cleaning up after themselves. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesdays- God Saw That It Was Good TWICE
Tuesdays are a doubly blessed day. Read through the creation account in Genesis and you will find that on the 3rd day, "God saw that it was good" two times. On the other days, he "saw that it was good" once. Now I know, some say the week begins on Monday, but I am with the majority that say the week begins on Sunday, so that makes Tuesday the third day. I think about this almost every Tuesday and try to plan my day accordingly, no matter how mundane it can get. It gives me hope!!
So my Tuesday is only half over and I stole a moment (I'm a fast typer!) to blog while I'm downstairs sorting laundry and doing my Tuesday deep clean which is the downstairs. Hannah is napping, Ann is at my side getting in trouble for wiggling the mouse and the boys should be home in about 20 minutes.
It's kind of a boring day. I don't do boring well, but I continue to at least try to be content in all circumstances, even boring! Did my usual "go to the office" Tuesday routine. 7:30am-12:30pm. That's what I do Tuesdays. Pretty productive there. Ann got to go to school, but not Hannah. I brought her with me because although her fever has been gone, she still has a rash and is SUPER DUPER crabby. The Doctor told us that yes, she did have diaper rash, but the weird speckly things are a form of a Strep infection. How in the world did she get that?!? The Doctor said it's not contagious, just appears. Hmmm. Anyways, we got her a prescription ointment and it should clear up within 3 days. All of this in the middle of potty training. She is set back for sure. She was doing so well too! This will have to be a do-over.
I picked up pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner tonight. It's been a while and I thought... hey why not have a pizza and movie night. After 5 years, we quit Netflix. We just weren't using it enough to get our money's worth and we're really watching our money. So I rented "Marley and Me" at Hollywood video. It cost $4.79!!!! I haven't rented a movie in there for maybe a year or more, but since I only had a sleeping Hannah on my shoulder, I went in. I refuse to take the other kids in there. It is disgusting with all the movie covers and titles. Especially with kids who can read the horrible titles and summaries. We've done Redbox a few times here and there and that's a good deal. Only 1$. And of course, the library is free. I still like to see new releases though. We're waiting for that Tom Cruise one about the Hitler assasin.
BlessingS on your Tuesday!
So my Tuesday is only half over and I stole a moment (I'm a fast typer!) to blog while I'm downstairs sorting laundry and doing my Tuesday deep clean which is the downstairs. Hannah is napping, Ann is at my side getting in trouble for wiggling the mouse and the boys should be home in about 20 minutes.
It's kind of a boring day. I don't do boring well, but I continue to at least try to be content in all circumstances, even boring! Did my usual "go to the office" Tuesday routine. 7:30am-12:30pm. That's what I do Tuesdays. Pretty productive there. Ann got to go to school, but not Hannah. I brought her with me because although her fever has been gone, she still has a rash and is SUPER DUPER crabby. The Doctor told us that yes, she did have diaper rash, but the weird speckly things are a form of a Strep infection. How in the world did she get that?!? The Doctor said it's not contagious, just appears. Hmmm. Anyways, we got her a prescription ointment and it should clear up within 3 days. All of this in the middle of potty training. She is set back for sure. She was doing so well too! This will have to be a do-over.
I picked up pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner tonight. It's been a while and I thought... hey why not have a pizza and movie night. After 5 years, we quit Netflix. We just weren't using it enough to get our money's worth and we're really watching our money. So I rented "Marley and Me" at Hollywood video. It cost $4.79!!!! I haven't rented a movie in there for maybe a year or more, but since I only had a sleeping Hannah on my shoulder, I went in. I refuse to take the other kids in there. It is disgusting with all the movie covers and titles. Especially with kids who can read the horrible titles and summaries. We've done Redbox a few times here and there and that's a good deal. Only 1$. And of course, the library is free. I still like to see new releases though. We're waiting for that Tom Cruise one about the Hitler assasin.
BlessingS on your Tuesday!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Baby Ramblings...
My sciatic (sp?) nerve that runs down the right side of my body was KILLING me yesterday after church. It was soooo bad. I could barely walk up the stairs. I layed down for a while, Paul massaged it, Ann kept my feet covered (she wanted to help) and the boys were really worried about me. I hate to scare them. I've never heard them so quiet and they kept checking in on me. It was feeling much better after laying down for a while and is feeling much better today, though I'm purposely trying not to lift or move real fast.
The only cure is delivery of this baby! Although, if it were all up to my own timing, I'd like to wait until after Easter Sunday. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and Family First, then on the 11th is David's birthday party (he only gets a big one every other year, and it's time!), then of course is Easter Sunday and breakfast, which is busy at the Corps. And I'd like to squeeze in one more Advisory Board meeting on the 16. Plus be ahead in other areas so I can take a week or two and hole up in my house! THEN... I'll feel all ready to have this baby! But really, I know he/she will come when it's time and I don't have any say. I'm not due until the 18th anyway, and I've been induced every time from going a week or more over my due date. Pitocined the first two times and cervical pilled the last two times.
The thing about a husband/wife running a church (or anything together for that matter!) is that whatever I don't get to, my poor hubby who is already overloaded, has to make up for. That is why I want to take care of all my responsibilities before baby comes or else, he'll be the one juggling me, new baby, and the kids AND my side of the church stuff, on top of all his other work. Talk about marital strain! But we've done it 4 times before and it only seems to get better and easier! God's not going to drop a child into our lives and then say "Your on your own now". If anything, another child drives me to Him even more. His strength is perfect in my weakness. All the more for Him to shine!
On Saturday I got all the baby stuff disenfected and washed up (Bassinet, Car Seat, Bouncer Seat and blankets). Ann and Elijah helped make up the Bassinet and Car Seat. All of the kids are so excited and getting so anxious to meet this one. I love that and am so glad for it. The Bassinet is in our room now and Hannah keeps checking it and asking "Baby?". It's so cute!
Speaking of Hannah, Paul is going to take her to the Dr. this afternoon while the kids and I take David to Baseball practice. Hannah had diarhea for a couple of days and has the worst looking but unusual diaper rash plus yesterday afternoon started getting a fever that has stuck. The poor little thing has been sleeping most of the day too. I packed her with me to the Corps this morning (she can rest just as well there) and she rested a couple of hours on the pew or in Paul's office downstairs while I cleaned up from VBS. Paul even put a movie on for her and she just sat there, eyes glazed over.
Petite Sirlion Steaks, Potato Au Gratin, Salad, and Pears for dinner tonight. Maybe dessert. Mondays need a little help in the excitement area. Maybe I'll make a cake or brownies. Time?!
Oh yeah, one more thing... we've been getting asked a lot lately what our baby's name will be. A boy will be Daniel Joseph and a girl will be Mary Ruth. No use offering opinions now, our minds are made up, save it for next time.
Bye all!
The only cure is delivery of this baby! Although, if it were all up to my own timing, I'd like to wait until after Easter Sunday. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and Family First, then on the 11th is David's birthday party (he only gets a big one every other year, and it's time!), then of course is Easter Sunday and breakfast, which is busy at the Corps. And I'd like to squeeze in one more Advisory Board meeting on the 16. Plus be ahead in other areas so I can take a week or two and hole up in my house! THEN... I'll feel all ready to have this baby! But really, I know he/she will come when it's time and I don't have any say. I'm not due until the 18th anyway, and I've been induced every time from going a week or more over my due date. Pitocined the first two times and cervical pilled the last two times.
The thing about a husband/wife running a church (or anything together for that matter!) is that whatever I don't get to, my poor hubby who is already overloaded, has to make up for. That is why I want to take care of all my responsibilities before baby comes or else, he'll be the one juggling me, new baby, and the kids AND my side of the church stuff, on top of all his other work. Talk about marital strain! But we've done it 4 times before and it only seems to get better and easier! God's not going to drop a child into our lives and then say "Your on your own now". If anything, another child drives me to Him even more. His strength is perfect in my weakness. All the more for Him to shine!
On Saturday I got all the baby stuff disenfected and washed up (Bassinet, Car Seat, Bouncer Seat and blankets). Ann and Elijah helped make up the Bassinet and Car Seat. All of the kids are so excited and getting so anxious to meet this one. I love that and am so glad for it. The Bassinet is in our room now and Hannah keeps checking it and asking "Baby?". It's so cute!
Speaking of Hannah, Paul is going to take her to the Dr. this afternoon while the kids and I take David to Baseball practice. Hannah had diarhea for a couple of days and has the worst looking but unusual diaper rash plus yesterday afternoon started getting a fever that has stuck. The poor little thing has been sleeping most of the day too. I packed her with me to the Corps this morning (she can rest just as well there) and she rested a couple of hours on the pew or in Paul's office downstairs while I cleaned up from VBS. Paul even put a movie on for her and she just sat there, eyes glazed over.
Petite Sirlion Steaks, Potato Au Gratin, Salad, and Pears for dinner tonight. Maybe dessert. Mondays need a little help in the excitement area. Maybe I'll make a cake or brownies. Time?!
Oh yeah, one more thing... we've been getting asked a lot lately what our baby's name will be. A boy will be Daniel Joseph and a girl will be Mary Ruth. No use offering opinions now, our minds are made up, save it for next time.
Bye all!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Daily Life Pics
My Hannah, give her a wet rag and she'll clean anything!
Ann asks for chores to do. Here she is wiping down the outside of the fridge. She does a great job getting the details.
Mommy's chore. Every couple months or so I fall this far behind. The boys dumped the laundry hampers downstairs for me. 6 people times 5 days, not including towels and such which I did keep up on. I'm estimating at least 8 loads here. 
My little guitar guys. David has been taking lessons for almost 6 months. Elijah was evaluated, but his hands need to grow a little more so he's not frustrated with the process. Hopefully, he can start after he turns 8 in Sept.
Ann and Hannah LOVE to sit on the counter and watch Daddy shave. Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Ho Hum
Not much exciting to blog about today.
Children, laundry, memory verses and game prep for VBS, breakfast, clean-up, dishes, lunch, clean-up, dishes, put dinner in the crockpot. Went to my OB apt. this morning. STILL pregnant, nothing new, but all is well.
The kids are downstairs with me piled up on the floor watching a cartoon. The boys' friend, Orion, got to spend the night last night. They had fun. It's a treat for them to have someone spend the night. It's hard sometimes to fit that kind of stuff in.
We're leaving soon for the Corps when Hannah wakes up from her nap.
Children, laundry, memory verses and game prep for VBS, breakfast, clean-up, dishes, lunch, clean-up, dishes, put dinner in the crockpot. Went to my OB apt. this morning. STILL pregnant, nothing new, but all is well.
The kids are downstairs with me piled up on the floor watching a cartoon. The boys' friend, Orion, got to spend the night last night. They had fun. It's a treat for them to have someone spend the night. It's hard sometimes to fit that kind of stuff in.
We're leaving soon for the Corps when Hannah wakes up from her nap.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Spring Break and more
We are focused on Vacation Bible School this Spring Break. It's hard to believe this is already our 5th one in The Dalles. My how time flys!! God is soooo good and faithful! I remember the first Spring Break VBS we did here in 2005 and I was basically on my own, expect for our few precious Home League ladies who served the snacks. Our DC's even came to help me teach one morning! But each year, we've had more help (more kids too!) and now this year, we had 10 people really helping last night! That may not seem like much to other churches, but to my friends in The Salvation Army out there... you can appreciate it, can't you!
The kids and I and a couple of ladies decorated the building yesterday morning, and my own kids were so helpful! Ann and Hannah helped Zeronda and Pallas stick up a ton of littler decorations. They sat and taped and the girls ran all over sticking them up. The boys helped me carry a few heavy things up and down the stairs and helped move equipment in the gameroom. They are thrilled every year at VBS time and love to be an "insider" helping get ready and reading the material a day or two ahead.
But I was still feeling crabby after a few nights of really bad sleep... SO, my friend, Stacie decided to have her baby so I could feel better. (HA!HA!) She had a baby girl who is so, so, so, precious and at less than 24 hours old looks EXACTLY like her other children. Good thing she has a different name than them, Lilly, that way we can tell them apart. We had just had a great Friday night with them too plus plans for this week. God definately appoints the time to be born!
And Sunday was also good. Our Divisional Commanders came to visit and Major preached and it was really good. It is nice for Paul and I to sit next to each other and get preached at. I loved it.
Also good to visit over lunch. I like being reminded that we are not alone and that there are many, many other Officers out there that face the unique challenges that we do.
We all stayed home this morning to catch up on chores and such. Get some play time in, etc. We'll head down to the Corps soon for afternoon 2 of VBS, which also runs into the evening for us (clean-up, lock-up, drop offs, etc.) AND Paul cooked up a fabulous breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast.
The kids and I and a couple of ladies decorated the building yesterday morning, and my own kids were so helpful! Ann and Hannah helped Zeronda and Pallas stick up a ton of littler decorations. They sat and taped and the girls ran all over sticking them up. The boys helped me carry a few heavy things up and down the stairs and helped move equipment in the gameroom. They are thrilled every year at VBS time and love to be an "insider" helping get ready and reading the material a day or two ahead.
But I was still feeling crabby after a few nights of really bad sleep... SO, my friend, Stacie decided to have her baby so I could feel better. (HA!HA!) She had a baby girl who is so, so, so, precious and at less than 24 hours old looks EXACTLY like her other children. Good thing she has a different name than them, Lilly, that way we can tell them apart. We had just had a great Friday night with them too plus plans for this week. God definately appoints the time to be born!
And Sunday was also good. Our Divisional Commanders came to visit and Major preached and it was really good. It is nice for Paul and I to sit next to each other and get preached at. I loved it.
Also good to visit over lunch. I like being reminded that we are not alone and that there are many, many other Officers out there that face the unique challenges that we do.
We all stayed home this morning to catch up on chores and such. Get some play time in, etc. We'll head down to the Corps soon for afternoon 2 of VBS, which also runs into the evening for us (clean-up, lock-up, drop offs, etc.) AND Paul cooked up a fabulous breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
6 years in Iraq
Thursday, March 19 marked the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War. There was a memorial display in The Dalles which consisted of over 4000 flags, each naming a Soldier killed.
I thought it was important that the kids see it. Nothing in life is free, not even freedom. Everything comes at a cost.
Thank you to our Soldiers and their families.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
