Teachable Tuesdays: Homeschool Series Part 3 - Why Block Scheduling Works for Us

When we started our homeschooling journey a couple years ago, we pretty much did papers everyday. Not many, because he was in Kindergarten, but we had some paperwork every day. While working on writing it was very important to me that he did it daily. Now that we’re past some of that we’ve revised our schedule.

Another reason we block schedule is that my son hates …despises …er loathes paperwork. I mean with a passion!! It was fit throwing, meltdown city and drama every. single. day. Seriously! So, it got me thinking…maybe we should try to do a block schedule of sorts and see if that helps.

So, here’s how we structure our Block Schedule.

Monday, Wednesday & Friday – Reading. All kinds of reading. That means reading from our text books (Science, History & Bible), reading on his own, read-alouds – anything that pertains to reading, we do on these days. This can take us anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on his cooperation and what we’re discussing that day. Some days he has a lot to add and talk about and some days he doesn’t. I usually let him dictate that aspect of his schooling.

Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday – Paperwork. This includes Spelling, Handwriting, Geography and Math. He usually has no more than 6 papers on these days. Then, we’ll play some fun, educational games to reinforce one of these subjects. Sometimes we even do flash cards, which he actually likes! So, it’s not all easy-peasy.

Now, you may be wondering why we do school on Saturdays. Well, right now we’re playing catch-up on our school days. We normally take most of December off and then with my Dad’s illness and death it pretty much shot January and most of February. Under normal circumstances we do not school on Saturdays.

However…with the crazy work schedule The Hubster has we might think about keeping it this way. The Hubster gets off work at 7am Wednesday morning (he works overnights, Fri-Tue) and doesn’t return to work until Friday night. So, other than his sleep on Wednesday, we see him most of those two days. We usually take “field trips” on Thursdays when Daddy is with us.

I’m toying with the idea of taking all Thursdays off next school year (which begins in June) and having those free for Daddy-days, yard work, field trips, etc. And, if we do that, we’ll probably do some paperwork on Saturdays. It’s not much work to do and it does help keep him on a routine, which seems to work well for him and truth be told…me too!

Trying to read several pages a day in Science, History and Bible plus doing all the paperwork was just overload for him. And honestly, by the time we finished with all the drama and meltdowns it was a rush to try and finish his work.

Another reason I like our Block Scheduling is because it frees up more time for me to devote to the Middles for their school time. Come back next week to see how I plan to transition from schooling only 1 kiddo to 3!!!!

What tips do you have for homeschooling a wide range of ages? Feel free to share your tips in the comments below or leave a link to your post where you share tips and ideas on homeschooling!!

My new blog site is up and semi-running, just working out some technicalities. It will officially become my only site on Sunday, May 6th. So be sure to visit me over there this week and subscribe via email, "Like" my facebook page and just browse around. I will double post here and there this week just to give everyone a chance to transition over! Thanks for your support!!! And let me know what you think of the new site! See ya over there!!

www.inallyoudo.net

  

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up to these wonderful parties:

What Joy Is Mine

Teaching What Is Good

Far Above Rubies

Raising Homemakers

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Deep Roots At Home

The Imperfect Housewife

Raising Mighty Arrows

Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling

52 Fridays: Weekly Update #16

Here goes this week’s report. You can read more about my journey beginning with Week 1. Feel free to join me and Crystal in this journey.

1. DAILY quiet time: I have done better this week. Even if I haven’t gotten up early, I’ve still read my emails each day. Oh…maybe I missed a day. Nevertheless I am determined to make this a priority for me! I get my emails through biblegateway.com and a women’s devotional through Proverbs 31 devotions. Such great tools – be sure to check them out! 

2. Weekly weight loss: I’m feeling a little discouraged in this area. But, from what I read and hear from people who’ve been down this road…this is par for the course. So I will persevere and push forward. 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: I finished the food pantry sheet this week!!! YAY!!!! Man oh man do I have a LOT of food in there!! Working on meals over the next few weeks that will clear it out. And, when something is gone, we’re replacing it with a healthier option! YAY!!! 

4. Homeschool Fun: This week has been more about getting it done for my son. He’s been feeling that Spring bug and wants to be outside most of the time. So, we’ve been doing our best to get school done early so he can have time outside. 

5. Organization: Not much to report here. I’ve got great ideas, but lack either the funds or the time! Working on new, inexpensive options!! 

6. Staying caught up: Did really well this week! Laundry is almost done for the day/week and my dishes are caught up!! I’ve done really well at keeping up. Now let’s see if we can make it 2 weeks in a row! 

7. Blog changes: Look for the changes coming May 2012!!!! The design is being re-vamped and I’ve got such cute blog buttons to share…I can’t wait!!!! More work to do on it this weekend!!! It’s getting there!

What are your tips for keeping your busy home running smooth throughout the week?  Feel free to share your tips and ideas in a comment or link back to a post!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a blessed weekend!

Blessings,

Annette

Maid for Monday: How the Leftover Chart has saved our marriage!

Most people I know, physically or through the blog world, who cook for their families every night of the week have a leftover night. Whether it’s a weekly thing or every other week when things get piled up in the fridge, they have a leftover night (or some call it a FIY night…fix it yourself).

So, how do you organize your leftovers? I’ve been pondering that question for months now. I have been working to organize my pantry and freezer, so I can be intentional with my meal plans and work towards Whole Food eating and the organization sheets got me thinking. I could use one of those for my leftovers!!

I don’t know about you, but I love lists!! I love making them, looking at them, crossing things off of them…I just love lists. In fact, it might be an unhealthy obsession I have. I have been known, on rare occasions, to make a list that told where my other lists were. Yes, I realize that makes me a nerd, but I’m over that fact and I fully embrace it now!!

You can download the PDF version here. 

Especially, when this list has saved our marriage! Okay, not that our marriage was in trouble to begin with, but leftover nights were quite stressful around our house. The Hubster would look at the meal plan and see it was leftover night and then proceed to open the refrigerator and stare into it like it was a blank canvas waiting for paint. Then, he would calmly ask, “Where are the leftovers?” SERIOUSLY?!?!? You mean, all the Tupperware/Rubbermaid storage containers didn’t give it away?

Okay, don't completely cringe at my fridge. It needs to be cleaned out badly. However...do you see the containers? Kinda hard to miss, don't ya think? And not just because the red arrows are giving them away to you right now, but even without them wouldn't you be able to see the "leftover" containers? And don't mind that I have an un-healthy obsession with buying pickles. Whether we're out of them or not I always have to buy more. I don't know what that's about. OH...and that nasty "cheese dip" on the top shelf...yeah...I didn't buy that - just for the record!


We probably ought to move on before our marriage takes a downward spiral.


So, once he's located the containers and pulled them out comes the all important question…”How long ago did we have this? Is it still good?” And let me tell you, when I’m trying to wash up the littles and get them in their chairs all these slightly annoying questions (since the meal plan is neatly posted on the front of the inside refrigerator, of which he is currently staring into!!!) were simply not good for our marriage. Not to mention the kids are usually getting quite antsy by this time and are talking to me trying to carry on a conversation complete with unrecognizable words (you know those 2 & 3 yr old words that no one on earth understands) all the while their stomachs are wasting away into nothing (the 6yr old is quite dramatic these days) and the babe needs to be fed (something only I can cure at this time). Needless to say, meal times can get a little hectic around here.

So, I created this handy-dandy Leftover Chart to help save our marriage. I laminated it and use a sharpie (it’s okay…it wipes off as long as its not left too long) to write in the meals. I post it on our freezer door in the garage (so it’s not unsightly in our kitchen). It works like a charm!! You can download the PDF version here.

And while I was at it, I made another Weekly Meal Plan page. Feel free to download and print as many as you like! I'm working on some other ones right now, so I hope to have those done soon! Stay tuned!!!

How do you keep track of your leftovers? Do you have a specific night planned for leftovers at your house?

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up with these wonderful parties:

The Better Mom, What Joy Is Mine, An Original Belle, The Prairie Homestead, Raising Arrows, The Straightened Path, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife, Deep Roots At Home, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, The Imperfect Housewife,  Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Our Simple Country Life, Holy-Spirit Led Homeschooling

52 Fridays: Weekly Update #12

Here goes this week’s report. You can read more about my journey beginning with Week 1. Feel free to join me and Crystal in this journey.

1. DAILY quiet time: This week I’ve not been getting on the computer daily. It’s been a rough week. I’m not sure why this week was worse than any of the past two months, but it was. I know that’s when I need to be in God’s Word even more, but I haven’t. I will do better! I get my emails through biblegateway.com and a women’s devotional through Proverbs 31 devotions. Such great tools – be sure to check them out! 

2. Weekly weight loss: Well, I still haven’t figured out when the best time to do the Wii Fit is, but I did get on it the other night and weigh myself. I have lost 1.1 lbs. in the last 13 days. Not much. A little less than I wanted to lose in 2 weeks, but at least it’s a loss and not a gain, right?! I guess cutting back on my portions has helped! 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: Printed a food pantry inventory list from here. Plan to work on that today. Here’s to hoping! 

4. Homeschool Fun: We had a rough week in this area. We did find some great online math games to help him. I also bought a math game for him. Saw some great experiments to try, but they didn’t fit our lesson. Hoping to do some of them in the next couple weeks. 

5. Organization: Not much to report here. I’ve got great ideas, but lack either the funds or the time! Working on new, inexpensive options!! 

6. Staying caught up: Kept up pretty good this week. Finishing my laundry today to get caught up again for the weekend. Dishes have been caught up all week!!! YAY!!! 

7. Blog changes: I am still working on the design of my blog and getting things just the way I want them before we go live. But, I hope to have everything up and running for a reveal on April 2^nd!!!! I will give you all fair warning before hand so you can be ready for the launch! I can NOT even tell you how excited I am!

 Are you a homeschooling mom? What are some of your favorite ways to “mix-it-up” a bit during the week to make it more fun and exciting?

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a blessed weekend!

Blessings,

Annette

Homeschool Series: Making a Homeschool Schedule that works for your family!

I know when I began my homeschool journey just 2 short years ago I was completely overwhelmed by everything. The amount of curriculum choices, the conventions, how I was actually going to school a Kindergartner with two babies at home. And the list goes on and on!!

But one thing I found very helpful for us was a schedule. I work so much better on a schedule. And I quickly found out the only way to juggle two small children (18mos and 4mos) in the midst of school was to have a schedule.

I found this book at a local homeschool re-sale bookstore and fell in love with the ideas it had. This book helps you learn how to set up a working schedule for your family on the day-to-day things. Here’s what my first personal worksheet looked like (about 2 years ago)…

Click on the picture to enlarge it

 They also have several other books you could use to manage your chores and manage your homeschool. I personally found all I needed was the Managers of Their Homes book to get me started and I was able to create my own schedule for homeschool based on the principles in that book.


My kids function on an internal clock. Anyone else have this issue blessing? They seem to know its 6am and mom’s sleeping quite nicely, so it’s time to get up! But, they also know when its naptime, so I guess it’s a trade-off.

After several weeks of working up to starting our formal homeschooling, I realized my son worked best when he could see a schedule. He attended a preschool from age 1 (I was working then) until age 4 and they had daily schedules posted. His teacher’s said he paid close attention to the schedule and was fine as long as they followed it. So, I decided this approach might work for us too.

Now, I made worksheets like the one above for each of my family members. Then I put them into a spreadsheet all together and made things fit. I realized that I could read to the oldest while Mr. Mouse was napping and I was feeding the baby (who is now almost 2yrs old!!). I also realized that I needed to maximize our schooling during the afternoon naptime, because both littles were down. It gave me something to work with. 

However, after several weeks of schooling, I found most of the time frames went out-the-window. He would stress out if we weren’t on time, even though he was still working. So, I had to do away with that method.

But, I knew he still needed an idea of what he was doing. You see, he does really well with schedules and lists. If I was to tell him we have laundry, dishes, mopping, cleaning up toys and on and on, he would literally flip out!! My mom actually tipped me off and said I should write down our list of chores (2-3 a day) and maybe that would help. (One of my brother’s needed a visual list too.) And you know…it did!! With a verbal list it seemed to go on forever to a 5 yr old, but with a visual list he could see the end in sight!

So, I came up with a daily, weekly and monthly chore list for our family. It changes periodically, with seasons and as the kid’s age and grow. But, here’s how it looks for now.

Click on the picture to enlarge it

I have incorporated our younger children into the chores appropriate for their age. (This list gives chores for ages 1-12!!) My daughter loves to help mommy by putting the laundry into the dryer for me. She giggles even!

Although the road may be winding and frustrating when trying to find what works for your family, the JOY that comes from teaching your own children Christian values at home and a work ethic from a young age is so rewarding!!! I couldn’t imagine my life any different. Maybe less hectic at times would be nice…nah!!!!


So, how does all this help you with managing your schooling? Well...all I can do is tell you how it helped me. Before I ran around like a chicken with my head cut-off trying to make sure I got things done. I had no plan. These two charts have allowed me to manage my time better and give me daily goals. Rather than tackling all the housework in one day (which is not practical when you homeschool, really), I now have it divided up.


And, after seeing how well the chore chart worked for us, I did the same for our schooling. I found a free downloadable school planner that allows me to print out his assignments daily, weekly or even monthly. He can then follow along and check them off to see his progress. He loves it and it has considerably lessened our meltdowns. 


NOTE: I did a weekly chart on my own for Kindergarten, but quickly realized I needed to keep grades for him starting in First grade. That is why I went with the program.


I hope that all makes sense and doesn't confuse you! Please leave a question if it does! I'll try to make it more clear!!


NOTE: Okay...maybe I should clarify that I don't expect everyone to be this organized or even want to be. But, sometimes even a rough schedule of the day or week is necessary!! I simply wanted to give you some tools that I found helpful to aid you in your journey.


Happy Homeschooling!!

Blessings to you!

Annette


Linking up to these wonderful parties! Be sure to check out some of the other GREAT links for more ideas!!
Teaching what is good, Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers, Raising Arrows, The Straightened Path, The Imperfect Housewife, Raising Homemakers, Raising Mighty Arrows, Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling, What is Joy

52 Fridays: Week 10 Update

Here goes this week’s report. You can read more about my journey beginning with Week 1. Feel free to join me and Crystal in this journey.

1. DAILY quiet time: I have been reading my daily emails, which I signed up for in January. I signed up at biblegateway.com to help me stay on track. There are several different programs to choose from and I am super excited to get into God’s Word this way!!! I have been enjoying these daily emails as they seem to give me a wonderful, but quick escape to my crazy, busy life with 4 kiddos! 

2. Weekly weight loss: After being sick most of last week, I have managed to keep my portions under control. I find myself not as hungry anymore and find myself not going back for seconds. I am careful not to eat too many sweets (this is my real problem area). This past week we had our semi-annual Just Between Friends sale here and I found a Wii Fit Plus with the balance board for $45!!!! I was beyond thrilled! I have wanted one of these for quite a while now, but just couldn’t bring myself to pay the $100 for it in the store. I’m so glad I waited!!! I’ve set up my profile and done it once (we didn’t even hook it up until Thursday night) and I hope to make time in my day or evening to do this every day! BONUS: My oldest thinks this is just about the coolest “game” ever! 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: Still getting rid of other foods so I can get started with this. It’s going to take quite a bit more planning than I originally thought. So, I hope to sit down this week and plan out some new meals that I think will transition the family smoothly. And with 4 young, picky-eater kiddos that’s no easy task! 

4. Homeschool Fun: We started back up with school this week. It was slow going and a lot of drama, but we made it! We even did a few fun experiments this week. I saw on Facebook where you could get a broom to stand up all by itself because of the Vernal Equinox (First Day of Spring) approaching on March 20^th. So, we thought we’d try it! And…IT WORKED!! Then, we tried the egg trick too. And it worked! Now, to be fair, I looked it up on the internet and it said that it is quite possible these both could be accomplished during other days of the year, so we’ll have to test that theory. Read more about it here. 

5. Organization: I have fallen off the bandwagon in keeping up with my weekly emails from Home Storage Solutions. BUT…the good news is I have been organizing away this week! I have completely gone through all our summer clothes to finish getting them tagged for the next JBF sale I am consigning in. I also went through the winter tubs I had in the garage so they could be moved to the attic. Whew!! What a workout that was! I also completely cleaned out the girls’ closet of all clothing items and have moved all their toys in! Just one step closer to moving out some bigger furniture in their room that I was using for storage! And one step closer to moving in a twin bed for Miss Priss. Ugh!! I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that yet because she’s just growing up so fast! But, alas…it must happen. 

6. Staying caught up: Have I mentioned how much I love my central closet? Oh I do!!! I don’t know what I would do without it!! It really does make laundry go so much smoother! I am not running around the house trying to put things away between nap times and around kids, etc. This week I had some added loads of laundry with the purchases I made at JBF. But…because of my handy-dandy central closet it was really a cinch! I have stayed caught up on laundry and dishes. Not to mention the other housework too!! I am actually impressed with myself! 

7. Blog changes: I am still working on the design of my blog and getting things just the way I want them before we go live. But, I hope to have everything up and running for a reveal on April 2^nd!!!! I will give you all fair warning before hand so you can be ready for the launch! I can NOT even tell you how excited I am!

So, how are you doing in your quest this year? Are you becoming more DISCIPLINED or ORGANIZED? What steps are you taking to be more organized? What tips can you give those who are struggling in this area?

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a blessed weekend!

Blessings,

Annette

Maid for Mondays: The GREAT Clothes Swap

Well…it’s that time of year again. The time when us Mom’s get to drag out boxes and bins of clothes to sort, organize and pack or un-pack.

Is it me, or do your kids’ clothes multiply over the past season? I pull out boxes labeled with the size and gender I need (at least I’m that organized…or mostly anyway) and start the sorting process. Sometimes this takes days upon days at my house.

I have nearly finished this daunting task at my house. (I’m still a little nervous about completely packing away winter just yet! Oklahoma weather tends to get a little crazy in March!) This year it took me a little longer than normal to put away winter and bring out spring/summer.

These are the one’s she didn’t wear much.
Dresses on top, long-sleeve shirts on bottom to left.

As I was putting away my older daughter’s dresses, I realized she didn’t wear half of them. Some of them fit smaller than others, some just didn’t fit her body (she’s kinda thick through the chest area, so empire waists don’t do well on her at this age). But, more than that…she had probably 35-40 dresses!!! And, that was only 24m-2T!! OH. MY. WORD! Can you say overboard?

Remember this? The dresses she wore
the most are in these 2 stacks!

So, I decided that as I packed Winter away and brought out the Spring/Summer items I would be more intentional in my choices. I mean, seriously…my 2yr old daughter does not need 45 dresses! Now, keep in mind she also has some skirt/shirt combos too!! I mean, really?! Can you tell she was the first girl?? Of course, it doesn’t hurt that there are so many cute dresses and skirts out there! And don’t even get me started on the bow situation! ugh! 

So, I made a list of what we thought would work number-wise and went through the bins very intentionally. I made sure every shirt and skirt had at least one match and more was even better! Then, I had to sort through those cute, adorable dresses and pick out the ones I thought she got the most/best wear out of and the ones that were my favorite on her. WOW was that tiresome! I had a hard time letting go of some things, even if she never wore it! But, I did.

Not only am I conserving space by only having ONE bin per size/gender, but I’m also learning to be more frugal with our money and what we buy our children.

The other reason I did this was to get ready for the semi-annual Just Between Friends (JBF) Sale here. I do two different sales each season, which has given us a little re-imbursement on our own purchases. I usually go with a list of what each child needs, but my numbers were mere guesses. This year I decided to get specific and spend only what I had to spend. So, I went through the clothes I already had for each child and wrote down what else was needed. I went shopping on Saturday with a very specific list in hand. My mom and I did GREAT!!!

The white outline shows you what we purchased!!
Just don't look at my mess behind it!!

Let me tell you…shopping for all 4 kids in ONE location in under 4 hours is absolutely priceless!! I was able to get everything on my list too! I am so pleased with what we found and the prices I was able to pay!!

Now…don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably still scout out some garage sales this season and look for more deals. But, I know that if I find nothing its okay! My kids’ are going to be clothed anyway! Whew! Isn’t that a relief?! I know you were sweating that one, right?!

So, now my bins are back in their rightful place until late July/early August. That’s when I start going through the Winter clothing for the Fall/Winter JBF sale! (Be sure to check for JBF sales in your area by visiting their website.)

This system of organization and shopping seems to work for us right now. But, I am always open to new ideas!!! What other tips do you have for organizing a “large” family’s off-season clothing?

Don’t spend all your time indoors sorting clothes though! Be sure to get out and ENJOY this lovely weather!!!! Hmmm…I guess that depends on where you live, doesn’t it? Nevertheless…Happy Sorting!

Blessings,

Annette


Linking up with these parties:
The Better Mom
The Prairie Homestead
A Wise Woman Builds her Home
The Imperfect Housewife
Growing Home
Far Above Rubies
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Our Simple Farm
Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling

52 Fridays: Weekly Update

Since Sunday night I have been battling an intestinal virus only compounded by my Crohn’s. I am so glad that today (Thursday) was a MUCH better day!!!! I have done what I could this week between an ALL DAY trip to the ER Monday and the weakness and tiredness that goes along with a virus. So, here’s my weekly update for what it’s worth.

1. DAILY quiet time: I have not been keeping up very well this week. Spending most of my time either in bed or in the restroom proved more tiring than I thought. Starting fresh again Friday morning!!! NOTE: I’m so thankful we serve a merciful and gracious God. We may falter and fail at times, but when we can call on His name and pick right back up where we were. And…it’s like we’ve never left. Praise the Lord! 

2. Weekly weight loss: I’m not sure this week is a good judge! Haha Although, I’ve probably lost some weight, I know it’s not due to healthy eating…but lack of eating all together! So…we’ll keep moving forward with this once I’m back to a more normal eating program. 

3. Vintage Remedies 8 weeks to Real Foods: The next few weeks are being spent cleaning/clearing out the pantry and using up foods we have already purchased. Then, I hope to replace those foods with more “real” foods and healthier choices. 

4. Homeschool Fun: Again…not much schooling going on with Momma down and out. We did have several teaching opportunities though that we seized the moment with. Right now those seem to have escaped my mind…ugh…I dislike getting old!! 

5. Organization: I’m working on my pantry. It’s proving to be a bigger project than I thought, but I’m so happy to get it going!!!! I’ve got a vision and I can’t wait to make it work! 

6. Staying caught up: Even though I was sick the better part of the week, I have remained quite caught up on laundry. I only have 2 loads to do tomorrow, which is right on track! YAY!!!! And, I’m pleased to say the dishes are caught up following dinner Thursday night! Double YAY!!!!! 

7. Blog changes: I am still working on getting everything in place. But, hopefully in the next 2 weeks I’ll be rolling out the red-carpet to my new website!!!! I am so excited!!!! 

What are some of your favorite “Real” or “Whole” food recipes? I need some GREAT inspiration to get me motivated!!!

Blessings,

Annette

Linking up:

Created For Home

Maid for Mondays: The Pantry Blues

Do you have an area of your home that you just hate? One that would completely embarrass you if anyone saw it? Well, I do and for me it’s the pantry. I would like to say my pantry looks like this...

Photo Courtesy

Isn't it just blissful? I actually think I'm in love with this pantry! No...really, I am!!  But since I cannot tell a lie...in reality it looks more like this…

Ugh!!! It’s just hideous! How do you like our overflowing trash in the bottom right corner? Nice, huh?! Very little organization to it. I do have my canned goods grouped together (mostly), my baking items in the same general vicinity and my spices all together. Other than that though it’s pretty much a MAJOR mess!

But, I hope that will change in the next few weeks. My goal is to completely clear out the pantry, take some measurements and get planning. I can NOT even tell you how excited I am about taking on this project!!!

I figured if I posted pictures of my ugly pantry, then maybe…just maybe that would push me to get it done!

Do you have a major eye-sore in your house? What is it?

Do you have any tips or favorite organizing items to use in a pantry?? If so, share them below or link back to your post! I would LOVE to hear your thoughts and ideas!!

Blessings,

Annette 


Linking up here:

Teachable Tuesdays: Homeschool Curriculum Junkie

Since we officially decided to homeschool our children (about 2yrs ago), I have done a lot of research online. I have researched curriculum, teaching styles, learning websites and so much more! I have “interviewed” friends who homeschool their children and I have prayed so much more than I ever thought I would (at least about homeschooling).

Our first year of homeschooling (last year), I had no idea what curriculum to go with or even what I wanted to use. I didn’t like the idea of one entire set planned out for me. The strict-ness bothered me, which is weird since I love to be organized. I guess I’m just a rebel like that! So, in an effort to be diverse in my curricula, I gathered anything and everything I found. I searched at garage sales for books, math manipulatives, science experiment items and the list goes on and on.

  

Top Shelf: reading books (not in the curricula). Middle shelf: larger books that lie down & a  craft bin.
Bottom Shelf: Another Craft bin and science supplements.

Quite frankly, it has gotten out of hand. I have an entire cabinet FULL of books for my kids!! I have purchased games…numerous games…in an effort to be more fun in our learning. (I’m still working on this!) I am overflowing with books, puzzles, videos, craft supplies (which rarely get used) and actual curriculum that I can hardly stand it!!!

Here are most of the games we have. Some of them are hidden behind others.

The problem is that I don’t know how to weed through these things. How do I choose what books to keep and what books to give away? How do I choose what puzzles to keep? Games? Craft supplies? UGH!!! It’s just too much!

These are the puzzles we have.

I think I’m too afraid of throwing out something my girls might like that the boys could care less about. I don’t want to go searching for things again in a few years. I have an almost irrational fear of getting rid of things I might…someday…use in the future. It’s silly, I know.

The right side contains all our Brainy Baby books, videos and flashcards.
The other side is overflow.

So, now I must figure out how to sort through everything and not feel guilty when I get rid of things. And that…that’s going to take some time!

These buckets contain curriculum we use daily/weekly.
One bucket per child, my teacher's bucket and a craft bucket.

So, how do you weed through your curriculum? Do you re-organize every year? Do you have a method for cleaning out old curriculum? Share your tips and ideas!

Blessings,

Annette

Maid for Mondays: Buried Alive? Creating a Central Closet in your home

When you’ve had difficult weeks, like our family has the last three, how do you keep up with the laundry? I find keeping up with almost everything else is easy (dishes, cooking, etc.), but the laundry is the most difficult. Especially with 4 little ones and a husband who wears a uniform to work. So, how do I keep up? Well, let’s just say that my new and improved system is working wonders for keeping up with the laundry!!

First, let me explain how difficult I found it before. I would be okay getting the washing and drying done. But, then came the folding, sorting and putting away. Now, with two little ones under 3 at the time it was more than difficult to fold laundry while they were awake. I could fold laundry and have it piled and ready to put away, then turn my back for 5 seconds and *POOF! It’s all.on.the.floor! AAAAHHHH!!!! There were days I would do this over and over and over. And I thought to myself, when would I ever learn?! This is crazy!

Once I figured out my scheduling, I moved laundry time back a little and started folding while the kids were either in their high chairs for lunch or napping. But, then the trick became when could I put all this neatly folded laundry away? The kids were napping and when they wake up, they’ll need diapers, a snack and attention for a while. When am I going to be able to put their clothes away? UGH!!! More frustration!

So, I began to seek out options and alternatives. I wanted tips and ideas on how to tackle this obstacle from mother’s with large families. And, after reading many blogs about organization for larger families and watching The Dugger’s on TLC, I realized I really wanted a central closet. So, I started to draw up some plans and gather ideas for what I thought would work best for our family.

Now, we’re still working out the kinks and working on clearing out more of the laundry area, but this set-up is wonderful. I have all the kids’ clothes (shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, tights, unders, etc.) all in ONE location!!! It’s wonderful!!! I honestly never thought I would almost enjoy laundry! But, with this system in place (albeit not completely, but manageable), my life is so much simpler!! I can’t believe I never thought of this before!

Okay, now before you look at these photos, please understand this is still a work in progress and its messy! But, I hope you'll get the idea.

Each bin holds specific items. Then I have clothes arranged on the shelves according to person. My plan is to eventually have a rod to hang the shirts and dresses on, but for now this works.

My washer and dryer are nothing fancy. We got these as a wedding gift 8.5 years ago!! They still work great (although secretly I occasionally wish they would break, so I could justify getting new front-loaders!). I have cabinets above them that hold my homemade laundry detergent, vinegar, and other various cleaning products. In between the cabinets is a hanging rod for those shirts I do not dry. I love having these items right at my fingertips when doing laundry.

Also in the laundry room area is our changing table. When I was processing everything in my head I realized how difficult it was to change diapers on three different kids at various times during the day. Inevitably someone would be asleep when I needed to change a diaper, so I moved the changing table to a more accessible location. This area works great for a couple reasons:

1)        No more sneaking in to get diapers while another child sleeps.

2)     We can change their clothes, dress them and put laundry away all at ONCE!!!!

So, there ya have it. No, its not complete yet and I’m still working out a few logistics, but if you’re looking to simply your life and you have room for a “central closet” system it’s worth it!! If (or when) we move, that is going to be key for us!! I don’t think I could go back.

You may be wondering what I’ve done with the kids’ closets since I’ve moved all their clothes out. Well, they are being re-vamped right now, but eventually they will hold their toys, so their room is not so cluttered. It will help for their toys to have a specific bin/space in the closet to be put up rather than sliding it under the bed (in a bin of course) or stack it over here, etc.

What have you done to simply chores in your house? And more specifically, laundry? Do have any tips or tricks you’d like to share? Leave me a comment so we can all benefit!!

Blessings,

Annette


Today I'm linking up to these parties. Check out some of the other posts for more GREAT ideas!!!

       








 

52 Fridays: Week 5 (update)

So, this week I have actually been working towards more organization. I know I should've started this long ago, but...leave me alone…It’s only week 5 of the new year! haha  I have my recipes gathered and ready to sort, organize, hole punch and place in a binder tonight and tomorrow. I have bins of clothes that I have sorted through and continue to sort through.

Some of my bins that I've been sorting through

More bins!!!

Okay, so I realized this past week that my kids have waaaaay too many clothes!!! Let me take a minute to talk about this. First, I’m not sure how it got this out of hand, but it has! (Maybe it stems from the fact that we, as adults, feel the need for tons of choices!)  My oldest daughter has 35-40 dresses in her closet!!! And that doesn’t include her skirts/shirts! OH.MY.WORD!! If you’re like me (and most mom’s are), you have your favorites on your kids and they tend to cycle through maybe 10-15 outfits total! I noticed this was the case with my girls’ too. So, why in the world does my daughter need 40 dresses? UGH!! This was not on the “docket” for this week, but we realized she was getting too tall for the size she was wearing…as in her tushy (albeit cute) was showing! Yes, she is still in diapers, but we are instilling modesty in our children from the time they are young. Not to mention the fact that she does have two older brothers who can see her tushy too! So, we felt it was time to move her up a size. What better time to sort through the clothes in her closet as well as the ones I have already purchased for her in the new size!!

What did I tell you? This is ONLY my older daughter's side! CRAZY!!!

This process is also coming at a great time because the Semi-Annual Just Between Friends sales are coming up in my area! I try to sell our gently used clothes, toys, games, etc. for reasonable prices at these sales. They have been a wonderful source of clothing items for us over the past few years. BUT…whatever I do not sell, I will donate to a church closet. I do not need them back!! It has been GREAT to see these boxes of clothes diminish. I have such a great sense of accomplishment! Now, if I could just finish them (going through clothes & bins for 4 kids takes a bit of time) and get them stored away I would feel even better!

Okay, so back to my 52 week goals…

I am doing better with my daily quiet time. It’s not always super quiet (since my kiddos get up at 6:30am most mornings), but at least I am able to read God’s Word (most days). I still struggle with getting it done everyday, but I’m getting there.

I am staying on top of dishes for the most part anyway. Sometimes I end up a half-day behind, but I’ve been able to catch back up and get back on track easily.

Laundry got piled up this week more than I like. But, today I’ve been able to catch back up (almost completely)!! And that includes sorting, folding and putting it away!!! (More on how I do this coming in Monday’s post!)

I have kept to our meal plan really well this week. I love it when that happens!

I feel more in control of my home (chores, meals, etc.) since I have become more intentional in its organization! It’s amazing how free you feel when you’re not stressed about what’s for lunch or dinner…or the HUGE pile of laundry in front of you…or the fact that you’re not sure what you’re going to eat on tonight because the dishes are stacked so high! This has allowed me more time to write posts, play with my kids, share with the Hubster (we have to be a little more than creative to get time alone between his schedule and our kiddos). It has been GREAT!!!

I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for the rest of this year!!

Blessings,

Annette