The schedule

I haven’t blogged in forever… and its not that I don’t have things to blog about… I have a million things that I have wanted to say but the last month we have had a lot going on…

When we first moved, I kept trying to figure out a new routine for us in the new state. But things just didn’t seem to mesh… its hard when you are in a new town, 3 little kids, new house, new friends, new schedule. About the time that I finally figured things out again, Ethan finished school and it was summer time. The weeks of summer have been pretty relaxed with lots of fun times.

But over the last few weeks I started to notice we were all acting out. Haha. Me, Brent, the kids… things have been intense in Alcoa world, I started to be a consultant for Thirty One & do worship regularly at our new church. I knew it was time to move to a schedule and make sure everything was getting attention and stress was being relieved.

I have a friend who has helped me a lot as mom because she is SUPER organized... where I am a 6-7 she is a 10. She recently wrote a note on facebook about her families new schedule and trying to find balance in her life-- its really what spurred me on the make my own new schedule. You can read about hers here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=900710505#!/note.php?note_id=10150262556773683

It took me a week to try to figure out everything in our life and how to fit it all in. Now we have been doing the new schedule partially for a week and already things are MUCH more peaceful around here!! I had to make a daily and weekly to do list, I have started a project list where I just mark down things I need to do (example clean out kids closets and switch clothes, sell Ava's baby bedding on Ebay), I have made a staple food list so that I always check it on the day I run errands and am not making 3 trips to the store during the week. Sticking to the times in my schedule are a way for me to give quality attention to everyone and everything.

I should tell you that the main things that I stick to are my To Do list / work and house times. The rest is really an outline for the day but I am not rigid about it… I can't be. I am not wired that way. Although last night I said to Brent, we HAVE to be rigid about bedtime, he’s such a softy after he hasn’t seen the kids all day but he doesn’t get any quiet time if he lets the kids stay up later. Which = more stress for him in the long run.

		Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
		Vacuum/ clean upstairs	Play/ linens	Errands	Laundry/ Garbage	Clean downstairs/ vacuum	Fun	Church/ Family
6:15	wake/ dressed/ quiet time
6:15	Emails
6:45	Dressed/ Breakfast/ clean up
	Devotions
7:30	Leave for school
8:00	Room time/Daily to do		strip beds, wash			put away laundry
9:00	playroom/ mom play
10:00	outing/ learning time	Play	Library 10:30	Errands	Play	Play
11:00
12:00	lunch time
12:30	Book time
1:00	nap time	clean/ 30 min weekly to do	work/ to do- grocery, meal, errands list	work/ to do	Laundry/ 30 min long term to do	clean/ 15 min weekly to do
2:00
3:00	snack time
3:30	Art time		make beds		do garbage
4:00	Basement or outside
5:00	TV time
5:30	Dinner/ Clean up
6:00	Family Time
7:00
7:30	Bath/Clean up
8:00	PJs, books,  bed
8:15	In bed
9:00			Errand list	Sort Laundry		Date night in	Date night in	Weekly prep

So, there you have it. I do what I can in the time frame given and then I move on. Heres to a great year with all of us focused, balanced, at peace and in love with God/ each other. Hope it gets you thinking on how to make your life flow better!