Job Charts...

We have used job charts for about six years. Mainly because I forget what I had for breakfast more or less who did dishes yesterday...So to remain sane and fair in most respects I have used different job charts. The last couple of years it has become INDUSTRIAL due to the size of our family and house.

My advice about making a JOB chart is to see what bothers you at the end of the day...look around your house...what is a mess? What didn't get done...

The next if not first thing to do is to see what bothers your husband? What would he like done before he gets home? Or what things bother him about your home...or "his castle"?

My list looked something like this to start:

1. upset that I didn't get to read to little ones

2. didn't get to play a game with ...

3. didn't have time to work on...with...during school

4. needed to do this...but, was too busy doing...

So I established jobs like:

1. read to kids

2. play game with kids

3. teacher helper

4. helper

Than I looked at what I wanted accomplished before my sweetie got home, because I knew it would make him happy if...

1. the front yard didn't have 4 bikes, 5 helmets, 2 car seats, 3 balls...

2. when he walked in the front door to coats,clothes, and shoes...

3. someone who greeted him and showed excitement

4. dinner being prepared

5. kitchen not destroyed

So I came up with these jobs to help:

1. Front Yard

2. Front Entrance

3. Greet Daddy

4. Dinner Prep

5. Kitchen Helper, sweep, counters, kitchen check

6. Wife being wrapped up in saran wrap to await lover boy...(that's for you sweetie...now everyone knows why we have ll kids!!!)

So It has worked pretty well the last couple of years, with the key being flexible...

You have how many kids???

That is a frequent question I get. People just think that because I have 11 children that our home is some kind of day care or crazy house. What they don't know is the more the merrier!!! "They are not all going to be two years old at the same time", as I reminded the woman I worked with 19 years ago when I said I wanted 10 kids she thought I was nuts. I love seeing her today around town and smiling...up to 11 now!!! She just giggles...

Well you would never know today that we have so many lovely blessings. It is Sat afternoon and as I was cleaning I had a grateful moment and smiled...who would of guessed that I am here with just the baby. Two of the kids play quietly (for now) upstairs, my husband is running with the two year old, oldest out shopping, second oldest away at school, next son on a youth group retreat, one daughter out with her grandmother birthday shopping, the other daughter with her aunt and other grandmother, two out to a ANNIE play with a neighbor...Well, that was short lived...here they come. +JMJ+

EASIEST COOKIE RECIPE IN THE WORLD...

THE EASIEST COOKIE RECIPE IS: 1 Cake mix, 1/2 cup of oil, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup anything (chips, nuts, raisins, etc...) Be creative with mixes and addition. cook 350 for 7-12 min-they will look undercooked but are good and chewy.




COOKIE BARS: 1 carrot cake mix, 1/2 cup oil, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of vanilla chips. Cook for 15-25min on 350.

Todays small accomplishment: exercised for 1/2 hour on treadmill...and 10 minutes of doing Denise Austin's BLAST AWAY the pounds indoor walk, while holding my two year old-wow was that a challenge!!! Does that count extra? I figured it did, so I had a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup for a treat!!!

I did it!!!

It all started with my six year old asking, "mom, where does paper come from?" Remembering my daughter asking that question years ago before I utilized the computer...I had my husband bring home something he found online. This time I was going to answer it all by myself.

Little did I know that we were going to stumble onto many different projects for kids to make paper. Well, it was very easy and fun. When I figure out how to post links and pictures I will show you.

Hug your little ones today!!!

Light for the day: keep becoming interiorly decluttered

Exercise: 45 min on treadmill

Accomplishment: I threw away a half eaten Pb&j today!!! Baby steps to losing weight!!!

CLEANING...

All of you don't know me...I am totally new to this entire blog stuff...but if you did you would know how much I hate cleaning, especially after my 11 kids. Well, since we aren't doing school this week I decided to do some cleaning. It started with the big bathroom mirror, I hate cleaning windows and mirrors...within seconds one of my sweet children touch them, shake their wet hands on them, kiss them, or decide to touch with their grubby hands. So I usually let them stay that way until company. I remembered I bought some glass wet wipes at the Target $store and thought, "what the heck" it can't hurt to try...so I did the mirror and it turned out great!!! Than the windows in the living room...pretty good-just as good as the other stuff I used. It was well worth the $ I spent.

Then I started wiping down the walls behind the dinner table-yuck! I was using a rag with soap on it and scrubbing away, when I remembered my sister gave me a box of those eraser sponges. I had heard they worked great but never seem to find extra money for stuff like that. Well, I did the walls-worked great, tried the white trim-worked great, why not try the wood floors-wonderful...than off to the cabinets-still worked, than to the dishwashers (both of them) still worked great!!! After getting a new sponge I went to the ovens, than the refrigerators, wow, I couldn't believe it. Then off to the scuffs on the front door-no way they could get that...yep, they did!!! Even the outside shutters!!! OK...I got to go and clean some more...HEY HONEY, can't wait till you see the house!!!

Day 2 with my Brawny eraser sponges...gunk off bottom of dishwasher...kick marks off bathroom door: from siblings in need of a potty-quick...marks off wall where green leather chair hit, Christmas tree scrape marks off new kitchen ceiling..GONE-GONE-GONE...Now off to see if I can do commercials for this product...

http://www.frugalfun.com/cleansers.html

Cleaning tip of the day: Open mail in front of the trash can so you can throw away most of it...

GOALS and CHALLENGES...

SPIRITUAL:To say yes to our Lord and not be afraid of what gifts He has for you.

SPOUSAL:To think of ways to spoil you spouse.

PARENTAL:To be a compassionate mother like Our Lady.

HOMEMAKING:Beg the Holy Spirit to detach from the junk in our homes.

SCHOOL:Enjoy this Easter Week.

EXCERCISE:Got an hour on the tredmill again...yeah!!! Also lost my Easter weight!!! Detach from eating my kids leftovers...

TIP OF THE DAY:So excited, those Target Dollar Store glass wet wipes really worked...clean mirrors too!!!

Feast of the Annunication

Thy Will Be Done...

Luke 1:26-38


The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth , to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her: “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

She was deeply troubled by his words, and wondered what his greeting meant. The angel went on to say to her: “Do not fear, Mary, You have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I do not know man?”

The angel answered her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the holy offspring to be born will be called Son of God. Know that Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived a son in her old age; she who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary said: “I am the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” With that the angel left her.