Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Home: Clean

Good morning, how did you do yesterday? I feel good about what I accomplished! However, I will admit that it was a rough day at times. Being a mommy is hard ~ some days harder than others.

Let's see, what did I do:

Dressed and ready for the day including a fun apron and my fuzzy slippers! We enjoyed our breakfast, some reading, began "O" for Octopus this week and did some morning chores plus washed and changed the little ladies sheets.

By lunch time, I had gotten everything on my pre-lunch list done plus did some decorating on the porch ~

oh, and a little more decorating ~

After all I'd gotten done in the morning and handling numerous squabbles, whining voices, and more - I was a bit stressed (I nearly always am a bit frazzled by lunch time) so the little ladies had a little tea party by their pink tree (thank you, Wal-Mart after-Christmas sale last year!)

and with Samuel in his high chair right next to me - I felt the tension fade away as I looked at and read this:

Oh, now I am relaxed - I felt so much more at rest after just eating my lunch and reading this book and suddenly I wanted to get up and cook a huge dinner. But, back to my list!

After everyone got settled for quiet time - I decided to keep at my tidying. I started at the front door and just worked my way into the dining room and kitchen. Once I got the table cleaned off, I had myself a little treat (thank you, free coupon in the mail!).

Now, to get some banana bread in the oven and get back to my tidying!

Here are my after pix:

The Christmas boxes are still waiting to go in the attic - but I did finish getting what I wanted out of them!
The top of the washer and dryer - will I ever find all 26 letters for the puzzle? :)
The other side of the counters still looks like this - I did go through most of it and it really is things I need to do or deal with - hoping to tackle more of this later in the week!
I did not do any sewing - other moms involved had sick little ones, and I thought I might just sew at home - but I was too tired!

Let's see - what is up for today? Now that my spaces are cleared of clutter, I'm ready to start some cleaning.

Clean master bath
Quiet Time
Assign chores for little ladies (they did great yesterday!)
Breakfast
Start Laundry
Baths/clean bathroom while littles are in tub
Morning chores (teeth brushed, beds made)
School time
Switch Laundry
Make paper chains
Snack
Vacuum
Feed birds (part of a December calendar with activities for each day)
Dust
Lunch
Sweep/Mop dining room and kitchen
Clean kitchen
Post Office and Staples when David gets home
Dinner: One Dish Chicken and Stuffing Bake, Salad, Corn
Work on garlands

Another very ambitious list - maybe even impossible. But, setting low expectations doesn't work for me - I have to aim high and even if I don't get all the way to that I still have done better than I would have if I hadn't aimed high!

Thanks for all your comments yesterday - would love to hear what you are up to today as well!

23 comments:

Ginger said...

Nice---and I love how you added the pictures of the bread making, including the eggs. It just added something.

Thank you SOO much for the garlands. Did your hubby tell you I tried to argue with him??

Lecia said...

Monica,
You had a very productive day! I have to be out of the house most of my day today so I know I won't get much done, but I did get four loads of laundry that had been cluttering my bedroom folded and put away yesterday. Today we have co-op, then I need to run errands, and my son has a basketball game tonight so I don't think I will get much done around the house today. Looks like you have another busy day ahead in your home! Praying you will get it all done!

Dayna (Spear) Guenther said...

Wow! Great job! Now I'm ready to tackle my list this morning!

Wendi said...

Great job! You got lots accomplished. My day didn't go as well as planned. Most of the laundry is done. Megan is catching a cold so I spent most of my time sitting with a snuggle bug.

Today it is off to the grocery store, finish laundry (not that it ever seems finished!), mop the kitchen, vacuum, worksheets with Megan, and I hope to craft.

Hope you get many things accomplished today!

Jennilee said...

Wow! You got a lot done yesterday!

Today I have to go TJ's and the yarn shop. Tuesday is kitchen day, so once home I will tackle that. Lunch with a friend :)

Grace said...

Wow Monica I am soooooo proud of you. I think all I accomplished yesterday was getting the kitchen cleaned up and getting cross with the children sigh!!! but today is a new day right. thank the Lord for fresh starts. I think today is going to be laundry day for me.

Michelle said...

Good job! Wow, you got all of that tidying done plus made banana bread and had a tea party. Good for you! I got most of what I had aspired to do, done. Thank you for doing this and inspiring me to do my own cleaning and readying for Christmas. Posting the before and after pics for the world to see is quite an incentive to get things done, I'm finding. LOL!

Tracy said...

Monica that was so much fun to read! The PW cookbook was on my list. My mom ended up getting it for me and I told her she could read it before she wrapped it! Today is my day to clean and I've decided to put on an apron and make it fun!

Kristyn said...

Great job on getting so much accomplished! My goal is to clean bathrooms, catch up laundry and finally finish sorting outgrown baby clothes to store in the attic. Have a great day!

Bonnie said...

I love when you have these challenges, but for some reason, I can never participate! Throes of morning sickness, or a new baby, and this week, DH is on vacation. I love having him home, but things are NEVER normal routine, as we are all trying to be around him as much as possible.
Any way, I going to try what I can, so my goals for today, are to keep things clean while doing some Christmas baking, sewing , and decorating.
I also have a mountain of laundry to tackle, and my goal there is to not forget half way through that I'm DOING laundry, and to have ALL of it folded and put away before bed tonight.
Great job for all you did yesterday!

Lauren said...

I'd love to hear about the December activity calendar!

Michele said...

I've had my eye on that book!! Let me know if you like it.

Anonymous said...

I had to laugh about the puzzle. One year I had a puzzle "hanging around" that was missing ONE piece. Guess how I know I was searching for the piece for a WHOLE year? I found it in the Christmas tree box. Yeppers, my new walker had dropped it in the year before. I had a good laugh when I realized how long I had held onto a puzzle with a missing piece. It was a Melissa and Doug, REALLY nice puzzle! I'm sure another mama would understand! ;)

What a great job tidying your home. It always looks like such a warm and welcoming haven.

Lauren said...

Wow it looks like you accomplished quite a bit yesterday!! Hope your cleaning goes well today too. Here is my update from yesterday and my list for today.

http://homewitholivia.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-my-home-haven-clean.html

LynnMarie said...

Great job and you did A LOT! Don't get too tired there and make yourself sick. So glad that you took a few breaks during the day.

Shannon said...

I'm finally getting my week planned out. Flitting from one thing to another was good yesterday - I got lots of things started and got a better idea of what needs to be done. Now I can get orgnaized and start finishing things! I'm going to focus today on "preparing my winter kitchen" - that sounds so much nicer than just cleaning the kitchen, doesn't it? I want to get it very organized for all the cooking I'kk do this winter and very clean and cozy so that I'll enjoy all that cooking!
I also need to get school done with the kids, make lunch and supper, do a few loads of laundry and go outside with the kids to walk while they play.

Heather said...

I got a lot done yesterday but not everything. After spending (too) much time ordering a free photo book today on the internet, here are my plans for a "Clean" day :)
Lunch
Girls' laundry
School (fingerpaint and read)
Clean bathroom
Advent activities with girls
Tidy living room
Dinner - Balsamic steak, polenta and roasted tomatoes
Homework
Read and bedtime

Unknown said...

Very productive! I spent all day yesterday scrubbing my old apt. Scrub the floors, kitchen, laundry room and two bathrooms. Spent almost an hour on one tub. I will deffinately benefit from this series of post. I need to be more proactive on my cleaning :o)

Nystral Djo said...

we are missing the O to that puzzle! i think i'm going to have my dad make a new one ;) any other letters you wanna order from the woodshop teacher??

MameyJane said...

Impressive!!!!
By 10:00, I had cleaned out all three kids' closets/drawers, but I didn't get to the decorating because I couldn't find my box of decorations! However, while searching for said box in the attic, I decided to go through and clean out the boxes of outgrown clothes that were up there. I found a lot of things I can use now that I had forgot about, plus freed up a big plastic tub! Yea!

Ruth said...

I had a very productive day yesterday, too. It was busy but it felt so good to get so many things accomplished. I am trying to get some more crossed off my very long to do list today.

I completely understand feeling frazzled by lunch time. With two older ones to homeschool and trying to keep up with corrections I am usually running around all morning. I haven't been able to order that cookbook but did put it on hold at the library and am anxiously awaiting my turn.
Ruth

Amanda said...

You must be oh-so-efficient! What time do you get up in the morning? That's my problem, I'm dragging out of bed at 8. Then I get phone calls that last an hour, and the morning's gone.

Jennie Shutt said...

You have done a great job. I got alot done these two days but I still have a log list for the week left. Here is my list of accomplishments for today's Clean Theme:

Take out the Trash

On the Road: Take daughter #2 to babysitting job

Quiet Time: Tea Time with God pg 10&11

Breakfast: Chocolate Silk Coffee (Folgers)

Tidy, tidy, tidy! I walk around my house and put everything away that is out of place each morning and again before bed.

Computer: check my blog and check in at Monica’s blog.

On the Road: Pick up daughter #2 from babysitting job

Lunch: Leftovers

Computer: Check email

Laundry: Wash, fold, and put away 1 load of laundry- a mix of towels, and husbands & I

Living Room: put things away, and do a detailed cleaning. (Remember it is looking bear because I put away my fall decorations yesterday)

School Room: put things away, and do a detailed cleaning.

Kitchen: Pick up the kitchen and put things away.

Baking: I baked 2 dozen oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from dough that I had pre-frozen.

Dinner: Homemade pizza at husband request.

Computer: read blogs and blog.

Tidy, tidy, tidy! My before bed routine.

Visit my blog to see the pictures.

http://awelcomingheart.blogspot.com/2009/12/home-clean.html