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.