Christmas All Year Plan

I was too busy this December, staying up too late and not having enough fun, so I thought I'd try another way.

I made a year long schedule to try and break up the work of Christmas, doing a little each month so maybe December can be mostly baking bread and enjoying the season.  I always try to shop all year long, but this past year I didn't have much time at all, and everything seemed a little leaner because of it.  Hopefully I can sneak into some stores this year.

January:  Shop clearance for: Flannel Sheet set to make jammies, ornaments, stocking stuffers, etc.

February:  Make better Christmas Spreadsheet with all of the required columns.  Ask MJL for help.

March:  Choose and plan Tree Skirt and gather supplies.

April:  Make Tree Skirt, gather ideas for gifts to make.

May: Make gifts.

June:  Make gifts.

July:  Choose ornament to make for the year, gather ornament supplies.

August:  Make ornaments at cabin, ask about Christmas lists, choose first pictures for calendar.

September:  Shopping, make jam, spend coke points, spend credit card points.

October:  Final Shopping, DOUBLE CHECK SPREADSHEET! Start making PJ's.

November:  Wrap all gifts, spreadsheet, Quicken report for Dad, finish jammies by Thanksgiving.

December:  ORDER MJL BDAY CAKE! Bake Bread, take photo of kiddos in jammies, order calendars on good Shutterfly sale with mug, ornament, etc.

ENJOY the season.  This is the only Christmas when Anna is 12, Katie 6, Jimmy 5, Teddy 3, and Harry 1.  The only one.

It still feels like a lot to do, but considering I have been doing most of this in December, surely it will be more manageable if I can spread it out a bit.

Any other tips for making life more efficient and fun?

2017!

My 2017 resolution is No=Yes.

We had the "Summer of No" and said no to everything and it was Anna's favorite thing about the year.  I paid attention, and this year, every time I said no to something, and we stayed home, it was good.  I didn't regret missing any of the things, because what happened at home was so much better.  Kids making things out of boxes, working together, building, reading, baking, thinking, singing, etc.

I am calmer at home, the kids are more relaxed, we all get along better.  So.  There are millions upon millions of amazing things to do, and we are going to do just pert near none of them.  No to everything else means yes to time at home together and that is what this year is all about.

I also made three little wishes for the year--not any big deal, just three little wishes.

1.  Every other month, I would like 3 hours alone in town.

2.  I would like to see 2 movies in the theater with MJL.

3.  I would like to sneak away one weekend with MJL (and probably Harry).

Any resolutions or wishes or intentions or goals for any of you?  No one is reading blogs anymore, I think, but they are still my favorite online anything.

Winter List

Winter's here!  Time to check in on my lists, and make new ones.  Perhaps the only thing I'm really using the blog for anymore, but I still find it very helpful so there.

What happened in the Fall?

1.  Put the garden to bed for the winter.
2.  Can some tomatoes.
3.  Clean up the front porch for the winter.
4.  Mow the yard (have Anna mow the yard)
5.  Harry Announcements!!!  (goal is by 10/18/16-but probably not until MJL is done)
6.  Quilting machine set up (also after MJL is done)
7.  Make many Christmas gifts.
8.  Cut out Lillian's Quilt
9.  4 H Record Book!  (9/30/16)
10.  Halloween Costumes--Anna Mother Teresa, Jimmy Entomologist?
11.  Go Back to School
12.  Switch kids clothes to Winter
13.  Go through toys and clothes and donate many of them for St. Nicholas' day 12/6/16
14.  Make a Project List and Plan for Anna for 4H 2017
15.  Make Christmas PJ's for kids by Thanksgiving.
16.  Finish Anna's Thank Yous!
17.  Make Pumpkin Butter
18.  Make Jam with Anna

Those things that didn't get done really do need to be done, so I'm just moving them on to Winter.

Hooray for the rest of it!

Winter 2016/2017
1.  Harry Announcements!!!!! This. is. happening.--IN THE MAIL!!!
2.  Quilting machine set up.  Thanks to my wonderful darling boy.
3.  Cut out Lillian's Quilt.
4.  Make a Project List and Plan with Anna for 4H 2017.
5.  Christmas Thank You notes.
6.  Thank you gifts to parent volunteers.
7.  Katie Birthday fun.
8.  Enjoy Abby while she is here.
9.  Finish Bathroom in the basement.
10.  Do something for Spring Break.
11.  2016 Year in Review sheets with kids.
12.  2017 Schedule
13.  Develop a Yearlong Christmas Plan
14.  Try to make a sweatshirt for myself.  Put it on the list-did it!  Been thinking about it for years...
15.  Put away Christmas
16.  Start email book project.
17.  2016 8x10 album
18.  2016 Hall Photos
19.  2016 Filing move
20.  Box
21.  Tidy Basement
22.  Sort toys to prep for Crawler
23.  Start Anna Jacket
24.  Think about office arrangement.
25.  Quilt something simple on the new machine.--Actually need to make "leader cloths" first. 

Comparisons

Everyone at 3 months old...

Betsy

Matthew

Anna

Katie

Jimmy

Teddy

Harry

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

I've been wanting to write a post about this for over a year, but haven't found time.  This one will have to be super quick, but something is better than nothing!

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day is November 15!

I love this "Holiday" because you can turn a chore that everyone puts off into a celebration, and it's so lovely to have a clean fridge.  Put on party music, get some hot water and a few rags, and have fun cleaning and throwing out!

Then last year, as a special treat for myself, I got some fridge coasters.  They cover the shelves and are absorbent so a leaky milk jug or tipped over sippy cup is no big deal.  I honestly love them.

They sent me a coupon code this week in my email- 20% off with code Fall4it

 http://www.fridgecoaster.com/


My clean and pretty fridge has made me happy all year long.  Let me know if you celebrate!

Call for tiny items

I want to make these for Christmas.

http://www.artcraftsandfamily.com/i-spy-bottle-diy-seek-and-find/

I have a few tiny items that I've been saving-things that you know aren't trash, but you don't know what to do with them-game pieces, etc.  I know I have more squirreled away but at the moment this is all I've got.

I figure lots of people have tiny items laying around.  If you do and you'd like to get them out of your house and into a fun I Spy Jar for one of my children, send them my way!  

Or just comment with some more ideas of what I could put inside.  ;)

Fall 2016

Fall!  Everyone loves it.  It's probably my 4th favorite season.

Here's what I hope to do.

1.  Put the garden to bed for the winter.
2.  Can some tomatoes.
3.  Clean up the front porch for the winter.
4.  Mow the yard (have Anna mow the yard)
5.  Harry Announcements!!!  (goal is by 10/18/16-but probably not until MJL is done)
6.  Quilting machine set up (also after MJL is done)
7.  Make many Christmas gifts.
8.  Cut out Lillian's Quilt
9.  4 H Record Book!  (9/30/16)
10.  Halloween Costumes--Anna Mother Teresa, Jimmy Entomologist?
11.  Go Back to School
12.  Switch kids clothes to Winter
13.  Go through toys and clothes and donate many of them for St. Nicholas' day 12/6/16
14.  Make a Project List and Plan for Anna for 4H 2017
15.  Make Christmas PJ's for kids by Thanksgiving.
16.  Finish Anna's Thank Yous!
17.  Make Pumpkin Butter
18.  Make Jam with Anna

Summer's list-

1.  Get out the baby stuff.
2.  Have baby.
3.  Kid photo shoot
4.  Baby Announcements and CD
5.  FAIR
6.  Big Lobmeyer Party
7.  Cabin
8.  Keep up with the garden  ish
9.  Start kids back to school.
10.  Can some things.
11.  Finish lesson plans for August.
12.  Finish Jules' Blankie!!!
13.  Go through big boxes of fabric.
14.  Go through box under table.
15.  Go through big basket.
16.  See the Art in OKC.
17.  Make baby shirt for Big Lobmeyer Party
18.  Read that book from Susan.
19.  Mail things in the big pile.
20.  Make something for me or for house.  Made myself a rug for outside the door to my office, a new dishcloth, and a cover for my mixer.
21.  Green Box I've been avoiding this project for a year!  Took only 90 minutes.  Woohoo!
22.  Bonnie's Birthday gift.  I didn't even put this on the list because I was kind of dreading it.  but it's done and wrapped so I'm adding it now.  :)

Summer List 2016!

Hooray!

Here's what we got done in the Spring:

1. Plant flower bed
2. Plant flowers in pots on the porch.
3. Plant vegetable garden.  
4. Help Anna finish 6 projects early:  
1. Photography  Pictures are on their way here, so this one is ALMOST done.
2. Cross Stitch, 
3. Quilting, This is going to have to be a two year project
4. Crochet,  She decided to skip this one
5. Visual Arts, Maybe 1/2 done?
6. Clothing Construction.  Recycled done and one other, still working on the "main" one.
5. Sew something with Joela for Clothing Construction.
6. Green Box
7. Reconfigure Sewing Room to fit new machine.
8. Bind Lauren's Quilt
9. Switch the kids' clothes and eliminate some. 
10. Finish Jules' blankie.

And here's what I need to do this summer:

1.  Get out the baby stuff.
2.  Have baby.
3.  Kid photo shoot
4.  Baby Announcements and CD
5.  FAIR
6.  Big Lobmeyer Party
7.  Cabin
8.  Keep up with the garden  ish
9.  Start kids back to school.
10.  Can some things.
11.  Finish lesson plans for August.
12.  Finish Jules' Blankie!!!
13.  Go through big boxes of fabric.
14.  Go through box under table.
15.  Go through big basket.
16.  See the Art in OKC.
17.  Make baby shirt for Big Lobmeyer Party
18.  Read that book from Susan.
19.  Mail things in the big pile.
20.  Make something for me or for house.  Made myself a rug for outside the door to my office, a new dishcloth, and a cover for my mixer.
21.  Green Box I've been avoiding this project for a year!  Took only 90 minutes.  Woohoo!
22.  Bonnie's Birthday gift.  I didn't even put this on the list because I was kind of dreading it.  but it's done and wrapped so I'm adding it now.  :)


Probably way too many things-I always think that there will be SO. MUCH. TIME! when I'm on Maternity leave and there is not.  I know that.    But it feels good to have things I want to do recorded somewhere.

This is going to be a great season.  :)

Birthdays

For the past couple of years, I have had this funny reaction to my birthday.  I feel kind of overwhelmed and frustrated when someone asks me what I want.  I tend to think things like "I don't have time to want things for my birthday", which I realize is a ridiculous thought.

So yesterday as I was checking in books I thought about it and figured out a couple of things.

I don't want stuff, because I spend so much time dealing with stuff.  If I get, for example, a new chair for my office, (which makes sense because it's not the best chair in the world and it's pretty uncomfortable for months 6-9 of pregnancy) I have to deal with the packaging from the new chair, moving the new chair, deciding what to do with the old chair, etc.  That is a lot of work.  I would rather just sit on a pillow or just not sit in my office for a couple of months than add more work to my life.  Stuff = work.  Even things that I do really want-either mean that I would have to find a place for it, or find time to use it, or do something with the old thing, and the thought of adding more work to my life feels like the opposite of a present.

What I do really want, really, is help.  Just help with any of the things that I have to do, or especially help with the things that I want to do, but will never get to because of all of the work.  This was a wonderful thing to figure out.

So I asked Dad to get me gardening supplies-the plants and the mulch, etc. and Susan and Steven to come out and help me and the kids dig up and plant the vegetable garden and get it all set up.

I asked Katrina to help me plant flowers on the porch.  She'll bring me flowers and potting soil and help me and the kids plant together and it is perfect.

It's a much bigger gift though-because it costs both money AND time, and I realize I'm a hugely lucky girl to have these people in my life.

Anna is still not convinced-I remember my Mom telling me she wanted things like "for you all to be happy", "for you and your sisters to get along", "for you to remember to wipe off the counters after you do the dishes" and being so frustrated.  But it's true.  I want those things more than anything else (except maybe hard floors in the house.  I do want that a whole lot).

What sorts of things do you want these days?

Anna's machine

For Science, in their study of simple machines, the kids each had to design a Rube Goldberg machine.
It was a LOOONG, but really fun project for Anna and Daddy to work on together.

Spring 2016

Time for a new list!  Thanks to a perfectly wonderful Spring Break, I got a lot of these things done.  

Winter 2016--

• Banquette seating/Benches
• Bathroom in Basement
• Cut out Lauren's Quilt
• Katie Birthday
• Try to make Toffee
• Peppermint Bark
• Put away Christmas
• Figure out Spring Break
• Teddy Baby Book
• Hall Photos
• 8x10 Album
• Christmas Card Display
• CATCH THAT MOUSE!!!
• Prune and Fertilize trees
• Thank you notes  From Christmas but we're still working on Katie's birthday...
• Portraits
• New Schedule
• Take Recycling
• Go through house again,  A few things, but not too many.  
• Go for walks as a family.

Now for Spring!  2016

1. Plant flower bed
2. Plant flowers in pots on the porch.
3. Plant vegetable garden.  
4. Help Anna finish 6 projects early:  
1. Photography, 
2. Cross Stitch, 
3. Quilting, This is going to have to be a two year project
4. Crochet,  She decided to skip this one
5. Visual Arts, and 
6. Clothing Construction.  
5. Sew something with Joela for Clothing Construction.
6. Green Box
7. Reconfigure Sewing Room to fit new machine.
8. Bind Lauren's Quilt
9. Switch the kids' clothes and eliminate some. 
10. Finish Jules' blankie.

Hooray for lists.  I look forward to this every time the season changes.  :)

Overheard in the Elementary School-Election Edition

4th grade boy:  What will you do if Trump wins?
4th grade boy II:  Move to another country. 

......

4th grade boy:  ...Tom Cruise is gonna win.

4th grade boy II:  No, he's a cheater!  He said Ben Carson was not gonna run, but he was still.  So he's a cheater, I don't like Tom Cruise. 

4th grade boy:  He's better than Trump.

4th grade boy II:  No.  He's a cheater.  A cheater can't be president.

Podcast Recommendations for Kids

We love listening to things in the car.  Sometimes it's a book, sometimes podcasts, sometimes (but more rarely) music.

Here are our kid podcast favorites at the moment.

Brains On! is a Science podcast for kids.  They answer questions sent in by kids, each show is co-hosted by different kids, they incorporate a "mystery sound" sent in by listeners (kids).  We love it.

Story Time is short 10-15 minute bedtime stories, read by someone British.  We have tried lots and lots of different story podcasts, and discovered that I dislike most of them. Either the stories are poorly written, or I don't like the subtext, or they're not well delivered.   I'm really picky about it, but I like this one!

On Wednesdays, my two favorite podcasts come out, and the kids know we're listening to those first.  The rest of the time they get to pick.  (Unless Katie is having a particularly bad day, and then we all agree that the best thing to do is to let her listen to "quiet classical music" which is what she demands requests on particularly bad days).    My two favorites are not really kid podcasts, but are fine to listen to with kids in the car.

Happier  You can tell I'm a Gretchen Rubin fan.  I love this podcast with real life happiness tips.  Gretchen and her sister Elizabeth are from Kansas City, but live in New York and LA now, and I think it's interesting to hear about their lives, in such different places, and I love practical happiness tips.

Three Dogs North  I've probably mentioned this one before because I love it so.  Two seminarians and a priest, talking about faith and life and all sorts of things.  The last episode of February discussed St. Ambrose, and how his kindness to St. Augustine was important to his conversion, and how St. Augustine is a huge figure in Christian History.  And how it ALL MATTERS.  EVERYTHING MATTERS.  I love that.  We are not all Augustine, but that's not the point-Ambrose's kindness is just as important as Augustine's writing.  It's not up to me to figure out how it's all going to work, it's just up to me to do my best and to do what I can, where I am, with what I have.
{We listen to all of these using the podcast app on my iphone.  It's the little purple icon.  Find your podcast, subscribe to it, and it'll pop up with a notification when you have a new episode.  Click on "feed" to listen to old episodes.}

What podcasts do you love?  I'll try them out!  And let me know if you try one of these!

Energy Update

Remember last month when I was thinking about Energy and making grand plans?

Here's an update:  

I made myself some notes so that I wouldn't forget.  

1.  I am tired.  I just have to admit that I am ACTUALLY tired sometimes. And that is OK. So now what do I do with that?

2. Read more books. That way I still feel like I'm getting something done, and there are lots and lots and lots of books that I would like to read. I'm just reading fun things, the sort of productivity stuff that I find fascinating and helpful and like to think about. Here are a few I've enjoyed lately:

The Happiness Project: Gretchen Rubin

Happier at Home: Gretchen Rubin


The Secrets of Happy Families: Bruce Feiler

3. More acceptance:  Different stage of life equals just less time in general.  

4. BUT--the sewing mindset really does help. I was thinking for awhile that the only time I was going to actually sew was on a Snow Day. But then we had some good weekends, and MJL played Kings Quest with the kiddos, and I've gotten quite a bit more sewing done. I have to have a project ready in mind, have the office tidy, and know what step comes next. When I only have 15 minutes to sew, I can only sew if I know exactly what I'm doing next. I don't have the mental space to think and plan when the kids are awake.

5.  Taking a project for the car is good.  I can get a little dribble of some kind of hand work done and that feels good, like time redeemed. Better than looking at my phone for 5 minutes.

6. Don’t sit down by the fire if you can avoid it.  

7.  Some days you are too tired to avoid it.  

8.  Just go to bed early.

9. Go outside! It helps that we've had warm weather the past couple of weeks, it really does boost my energy and spirits. Even shuttling the kids out to the van and back is remarkably nicer when the weather is warm. (But I still want some snow! Or something. It's been really dry this winter).

10. The cycle is interesting. Equal parts "accept that you are tired" and "there are some things you can do about it".

Any other energy boosters you can share?

Leap Day 2016

Monday is Leap Day!

I haven't figured out what all we'll do-hopefully I can make a plan.  Once every four years can't pass without a celebration!

Here are a few ideas from around the web:

29 fun things to do on Leap Day

29 activities that require little to no planning

Really involved Leap Day things-if you have a lot of time and motivation and energy.

I'm really liking the idea that it's an extra day-with a free, bonus, absolutely extra day, what would I want to do?  So we'll do some jumping activities, but also maybe something along those lines.  We'll see!

Let me know if you have things planned-I'd love some more ideas!

"The numbers match!"

Remember when Jimmy was getting up in the middle of the night to play with puzzles?  We solved that!  And it was really easy, and I wanted to share it with you in case you know someone who doesn't sleep enough.

I remembered reading this blog post a long time ago-I probably saw it on Pinterest or something, and so I googled something about kids sleeping longer and found it right away.

How to Teach your Children to Sleep Longer

In a nutshell-you tape a number (in our case a 7) over the minutes on a digital clock in the room, and tell the child that he or she has to stay in bed until the numbers match.  I'd say it took two or three days of asking Jimmy in the morning if the numbers matched, and putting him back in bed if they didn't, and after that, easy peasy!  He stays in bed until the numbers match, and then happily gets up.

Sunday during our weekly meeting (that's another new thing I'll tell about sometime) his contribution was that the numbers were always matching-when he went to bed and when he woke up-as his good thing about the week.  That means we're getting to bed on time, and he's waking up later, and not needing to wait in bed for the numbers to match.

It was such an easy solution-and that is a joy.

Please let me know about solutions you've found!

Katie's Conference

I asked Katie "What will your teacher say to us at conferences?"


Here is her wonderful answer. (She moves back and forth, hope it doesn't make you seasick!)

P.S.-I'm beyond annoyed with the difficulties I'm having editing videos.  I used to always use Windows Movie Maker, and it was easy and quick, but my last couple of cameras shoot video in .mov, which I can't use with Movie Maker.  AND, I've been using Zamzar for a free file converter for years, but it's an annoying extra step and this movie was too big anyway.  Grrr...  I love having videos of the kids, but I don't have time for nonsense.

I need a simple video editor for .mov files.  Can anyone help me out?

Audrey Assad ~ Inheritance

MJL gave Jules a new CD for Valentines Day, because Jules can hear now (20 weeks).

 

Inheritance by Audrey Assad.  It's a collection of hymns.



I've been playing it on repeat in the kitchen.


I give it my highest recommendation.  I'd buy one for all of you if I could.  Available on itunes and Amazon and probably your friendly local bookstore could order you one.

Ingleside 2/2/2016

I took these pictures a long time ago...

This is one of the first quilts I made.  It came back to me, and the girls are enjoying having it on their bed.  I'm still working out the happy/sad mix I feel when I see it.  I guess in a divorce you don't take the things your sister-in-law made for you.  

Puzzles on the floor ALL THE TIME.

I made MJL this blanket from old flannel work shirts and jammies for his birthday.  He likes it!  And I like seeing the familiar fabrics and having more homemade things in the house, and gifts that are free and use up "trash" are my favorite things ever. 

These are supplies for the bathroom downstairs!

This is where the bathroom is going to be!  It still mostly looks like this though.  

We were incredibly fortunate to have this great couch given to us!  I would never, in a million years, have thought to spend money on nice furniture for the basement, but it is amazing what a huge difference it makes.  Who knew?  Nice furniture makes a place really a lot nicer to be in!

We cleaned up MJL's office, and some days, when it is the only tidy spot in the house, I'll just go in there to look at it and take a deep breath and enjoy it.  

I set these pumpkins back here the day after Thanksgiving to toss outside.  They were still there until Mid February, when I finally took the 30 seconds necessary to toss them into the bushes.  

I "finished" Teddy's baby book!  That means I did enough to say 'OK-good enough' and put it on the shelf.  None of them are completely filled out, and that's just fine with me.  Done(ish) is better than perfect.  

Jimmy language answers

Here's what it all means!

1.  Banana
2.  Police
3.  Giraffe
4.  Pillow
5.  Airplane
6.  Airport
7.  Penguin
8.  Pray
9.  Play
10.  Alert

How'd you do?