A New Year re-do

I spent a lot of time over my vacation writing lists and goals, plans and schedules. I had so many good intentions when it came to my resolutions.

view near my parents house the day that we left

I was happy and was excited for the new year and some changes/goals I really wanted to achieve.

So here it is, starting the 2nd week of January, and what happened? Why should I get a re-do? Here are my reasons...

view from the Hood River bridge

1.) We were on vacation for over a week. The drive is 16 hours...each way. So we spent a lot of time in the car. A lot.

2)We arrived home on Sunday the 1st and not only did we have to unpack all the luggage,do all the laundry, find a home for all the new gifts but we had to take all of the Christmas decorations down!

3.) My kids went back to school that Tuesday and I was still not caught up.

4.) One of my resolutions was being more organized with my coupons. I decided I would not set foot in the store until everything was organized. It took forever but it is done. I will not be getting that behind again.

5.) My husband had M-W off from work. He totally throws my schedule off! I love having him around (and going on lunch dates) but...

We also had appointments, church, Cub Scouts, and all those other things that make up our life.

So if I don't deserve a re-do then I don't know who does! I am "pretending" that tomorrow is the first of the month and I will start implementing all those plans and ideas that I spent so much time working on (: Here is too a Happy New Year!

girl in a whirl

The child who gets dragged EVERYWHERE!

Yep that is me. The girl in a whirl. Half the time I feel like my life is on fast forward. Things are crazy & busy and I just can't keep up.

While I love every single one of my children, and wouldn't give them away for anything,  the down side to having so many kids is keeping on top of all of their schedules, activities...

For example, activities that have requirements are killing me! 2 of my boys are in Cub Scouts and I am constantly trying to figure out (last minute of course) what can count for what." Hmmm, we went to the zoo one day, maybe that can work under such and such patch". Yeah. Let's not even mention the fact that half of their badges are in a ziploc bag just waiting to make it on to their shirts.

School work is another one. Making sure every day that all of the homework is done, reading logs filled out, all announcements have been looked at... I know that I am letting things fall through the cracks.

It is a good thing I love my car, because we are always in it!

So here is the thing, I know the answer to my problem. I need to get organized. I need to have a routine. The kids need to have a routine. It is putting it into practice every day. When I am tired. When I am grumpy. When I would rather be reading my book.

image taken from http://www.pintrest.com/

I totally need some help. Please all you organizing guru's, HELP ME!!

Back to School?

If you have watched tv, looked at a store ad, or browsed the aisles of your local stores, you know that back to school time is here. Or is it?

My kids don't start until the 31st of August, which to me is a long time!!

So while I am tired of being a referee, putting the milk away 50x's a day, and hearing "I'm bored", I am using the next few weeks to my advantage...

**Buying school supplies for the whole year, while they are on sale and cheap. By January or so, my kids school supplies are looking well...less than stellar. So I like to have lots of back ups. Not to mention, when they sneak into the schoo supply bucket and just steal things!

** Getting all back packs and lunch bags washed and ready to go.

** Getting kids on a better sleep schedule. We are very relaxed in the summer. Sometimes, the kids are in bed by 8:30 other nights not until 10! Yeah that won't cut it when school is back in! Now is the time to get ready and not 2 days before school starts!

** Going through closets and dressers. I think that my kids have grown a foot over the summer. So now it is time to go through every thing. I don't want to go buy my son new t-shirts when he only has one pair of shorts. Know what I mean?

**Freezer cooking. With school comes a much more strict schedule. One of my goals for this school year is more homemade breakfasts. Not just a bowl of cereal. So I plan to get some pancakes, waffes, french toast, breakfast sandwiches and muffins in the freezer.

**Stocking up on lunch items. 5 lunches(my 4 school age kids and my hubby) x5 days a week = a lot of lunches! So I am stocking up now. Granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, lunch meat, bread...

Do you have any goals for this school year? I would love to hear them!!

Is this a sign?

I had planned to start my challenge today. Have an automatic post set up so that you would see the weekly challenge and the winner of the giveaway when you woke up. Well guess what? It didn't happen!!

The more I have thought about the weekly/daily challenges the more I realize that they are for ME. I need to get my act together and y'all are just here for the ride. lol

So without further ado...here are the 1st set of weekly challenges. My theme will be PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION IN 2011! Catchy isn't it?! I thought so!

ORGANIZATION: the month of January will be dedicated to the kitchen aka the heart of the home. So this week we are going to clean out our tupperware drawers! If you are anything like me, you have a million and one containers. Mine fall out when I put them away! So anything that no longer has a lid, or a lid without a bottom is out of here! If you have had a container that has been sitting around and never used, it is out of here. Set a time limit every day (between 10-20 minutes) and work on it until is done!

HEALTH: this week we are going to start with drinking water! I am so bad about drinking diet soda or juice or...anything else. You can drink whatever else you want BUT we are going to drink 6-8 8oz glasses of water daily!

KIDS: Do your kids have daily routines? Or is it more of  a fly by the seat of your pants? They need to make small changes and build on those habits. We are going to start off small, making the bed! Help them succeed. The more blankets, stuffed animals, sheets, pillows etc. the harder it is to make. So simplify.

MONEY: this week take some time to look at your budget. Do you have one? Do you need to make changes? Are you happy with the balance in your checking account? (Is anyone?!)

SPIRITUAL: I love to read. It is amazing that I can always find the time to read a novel, a self improvement book, or to peruse a cookbook/magazine. But it is hard for me to find the time to read my scriptures.  Interesting isn't it? 5 minutes. Surely we can find 5 minutes a day to read out of the scripture/devotional of our choice.

FOOD: dinner. By 10am you need to know what you are going to be eating for dinner. Look in your pantry, freezer etc and make your plan.

So good luck! I will let you know how I did next week.I look forward to hearing how all of you did also! Feel free to blog it, comment, email...and let me know how you did.

I am computer illiterate but I am hoping to have a blog button for this soon. Unless of course someone wants to make me one...(:

Big Change

(These pictures are just some of the ones that make me cringe. They are serving as my "before" pictures)

So last night, I was giving the baby a bath. I decided to get on the scale. When I read the number I broke down crying.

I promised myself that I would never get past a certain point. Not only have I gone past it, I have surpassed it by more than I would like to say.

I know I need to make changes. It is time to quit talking about and DO IT!!

6 or 7 years ago, I joined Weight Watchers. I was within a few pounds of my goal weight, when I found out I was pregnant with my 4th child. Since that time, I haven't been where I want to be...or even close.

This morning, I went back to WW and joined.

I "officially" start tomorrow.

I can't wait to get started. I was inspired by Money Saving Mom, who began the P90X program, and refused to go over her budget to do it. I want to do the same.

I am "mapping out my plan" tonight and I will share once I get it figured out.

Thanks in advance for everyones support. I know I can do it. It is time to change.