Day One Update

I must admit that my house was not in a good place yesterday. I set the older boys at the table with one of their favorite activities (measuring cups/spoons, bowls, and a mixture of rice, dry beans, macaroni noodles, and uncooked popcorn...they will seriously play for HOURS) and spent Rex's entire napping time cleaning up. I was able to get my entire upstairs done except for the master bath and get the playroom done. I am really proud of myself. I did forget to read my scriptures though (I read with the kids just not on my own), so I'm hoping today to achieve a 100% score. I did get a 5 minute challenge completed as well. How are you doing???

October Week One

I guess I'll start this since no one else has yet!!

Weekly Challenge: Bathtubs / Showers

Five Minute Challenge:

-Clean all the hair and threads out of the roller of your vacuum.

-Post Menu to Recipe Blog

-Clean your toothbrush holders (I just read that they are one of the worst germ breeding grounds in your home)

-Wash 5 minutes worth of windows

-Dust TV and computer screens

I spent all morning cleaning my house so that I'd have a clean slate. I got the upstairs done, but still have a lot of work to do in the basement. I'm ready to win this month though!!

We can keep points for this week on this post.

Lets Go?

I am going to start this again and see how it goes. I am feeling on top of my housework enough (I feel like I am just recovering from having a baby and it has been 1.5 years already!) But I am not getting the little projects done like cleaning window sills or closets. I can make my own charts and keep track of myself if no one else is ready to start this blog up again. If you want to participate again please leave a comment! If no one comments I will just do my own thing and leave well enough alone.

My vote is to go back to the first basic system that we had, with the exception of being able to pick our own daily cleans. I think the same person should choose the weekly challenge and the 5 minute challenges though because then they could coordinate? Or we could have different people choose each. I think a monthly reward would be fun but not necessary, I could offer a bracelet for the first month. I also think a yearly or bi-yearly reward would be fun too, that way we still want to get the most points possible even if we won't win that month.

Anyway....what do you think?

All Things Kitchen!

I am going to declare June to be.......

Kitchen Restoration Month!

I worked on my kitchen all month last month and found that when my kitchen was super clean, the rest of the house just kind of followed. It felt good to get it a little more clean each week when I did my big clean. My kitchen could use another months focus so I thought I would put it on here and share my ideas with everyone.

Last month I focused on:

Computer Desk

Counter tops (de-clutter and deep clean)

Sweeping and moping more often

the first tasks I will take on this month include:

Cleaning out pantry

Cleaning out cupboards

Cleaning oven and stove top

Cleaning out the fridge

Fixing up Cedar chest

Fixing apron hanging station

Good Luck!

Pictures coming soon.......

And let all things be done in cleanliness before me.

Here is a statement issued by the first presidency of the church in 1974:

“We earnestly call upon members of the Church everywhere to clean up and beautify their homes, surroundings, farms, and places of business.

“Our homes and our buildings are showcases of what we believe. They should be attractive and give every indication of cleanliness, orderliness, and self-esteem.

“‘Let all things be done in order,’ the Lord has counseled us. (D&C 58:55.) His words spoken in the Sermon on the Mount have important meaning today:

“‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt. 5:16.)

“We suggest that priesthood quorums, Young Adult, and other Church groups organize themselves to assist the elderly, the fatherless, and the needy in improving the appearance of their homes and surroundings and in properly maintaining them.

“Parents and Sunday School and Primary teachers are asked to instruct class members in orderliness, in respecting buildings and property generally, in taking care of their belongings, and in keeping them in their proper places.

“We urge that this improvement begin immediately and that procedures be established for maintaining our homes, buildings, and surroundings so that they always bespeak the high standards of the Church which we embrace.”

I thought this was very true today and for myself. I have noticed that when my yard is clean and well maintained I am more likely to talk with my neighbors and have more missionary opportunities. I have also noticed that I am much more patient when the house is clean and the children are much more likely to play nicely without the aid of computers or electronics. They use their imaginations, build, create and build each others self esteem.

Weekly Stuff

Sorry I missed a day getting these up.  Yesterday I spent trying to get the whole house cleaned. I did my mopping and bathrooms and everything. Anyway here are the challenges for the week:

5 minutes

1. Scrub bathtub or shower stall
2. Dust shelves/picture frames
3. Laundry room/area
4. Under couches
5. Fridge

Weekly Challenge:
Craft Room/Stuff (This is the room I still haven't unpacked, so time to get to it)

Bonus
Get done one craft/project that's been sitting on your to-do list for a while.

WEEK ONE!!!

OK everyone we have arrived at our first full month cycle. We will have 4 weeks in this cycle and we are just starting week one TODAY!!

It is Charlotte's turn to assign the Challenges. For the most part I think we are going back to the basics except maybe the following changes. I think the same person should come up with all the challenges in a week, less to keep track of. I also think that the person in charge of challenges can offer 10 bonus points in their week, for example 10 points for posting tips on how to keep under kids beds clean, or bonus points if you watch conference, or write in your journal. What do you think?

Good luck. I am going to try to remember to vacuum. (the daily cleanings can also be adjusted to your person needs. I like the original ones for my house, but if you don't have a lot to vacuum, for instance you could replace it with something else...it is meant to all be personal for your own needs)

Weekly Challenge = Computer Desk and To Be Filled Papers

I figure it is tax return time and I really need to get my taxes filed, but my stack of papers to go through is mounting pretty high and I know I have some important tax documents hiding in there. My to be filed stack sits on my computer so I figured I would throw the computer desk part in for good measure. Not sure how we are doing this but Kim posted weekly challenge and 5 minute challenges last week, so I will post them both this week.

5 Minute Challenges:

TV/Computer Screens

5 Minutes of wall washing

Vacuum under couch cushions

Top of Washer and Dryer

Front Door

I too am alive

I too have been working on closets. I had to empty the one in the mother-in-law room because it is being used for its purpose. I have cleaned two and have four more to go. I am not doing the kitchen closets because it will take too much work. I will be cleaning Grandma Jo's house next week so my has to be done this week. Good luck on your goals.

5 Minute and Weekly Challenge

Here is our weekly challenge: Pick and closet and clean it.

5 minute Challenges:

*Lightswitches and Doorknobs
*Wash Windows in as many rooms as you can in 5 minutes
*Top of Fridge
*Deep clean kitchen sink
*Dust

You can record your points on this post.

I'm Alive!!!!

I must admit, the pasts 16 1/2 weeks have probably been the hardest of my life (writing that sentance makes me realize that I actually live quite a charmed life :-) With finding out we were pregnant right when Ken was called as Bishop, I kind of drowned for awhile. The first trimester is never easy, but combine that with an unexpected "loss" of your husband and ... well ... needless to say I have never been SO far behind on my housework, or life in general, in my life. Fortunately, I have a wonderful sister who has been helping me out by watching my kids once a week, I'm starting to feel better, Daylight Savings has made my children both sleep in past 7:00 every morning (that really is a modern day miracle! Abe is a great sleeper and will sleep till 7 or later most days, but Tyler is usually up between 5:30 - 6:30), and things are settling down and becoming more routine with Ken's new calling. Anyway. I have been super proud of myself the last week and a half and it made me want to start up this blog again. We've all had a break for a long time, but I'm ready for a clean house. In the last week I have accomplished:
*About 12 loads of laundry - washed, folded, put away. For the first time in MONTHS I am actually done with laundry. I couldn't do a load if I wanted because EVERYTHING is washed, sheets and all. Hooray.
*My car is cleaned. Trunk and all. It took me almost 3 hours. Ken had threatened to call Hoarders Buried Alive on me.
*Our guest room, which had not been touched since Mom and Dad were here at Christmas is clean. It had become a "throw it in there and shut the door" room.
*Ken's office is also clean. I won't discuss what was found in there.
*Ken joined the fun and cleaned my laundry room for me. I think we had enough dryer lint to build a snowman.
*My normal clothes are packed and in the attic. Maternity clothes are out and washed.
*Everyone has clean sheets and my bathrooms all have clean hand towels.
*My leather couches no longer have the "handprint" design.
*Every hard floor surface in my home has been thoroughly mopped.

Anyway, I still have a lot left to do, but I'm ready to tackle it all. Wish me luck. Join me if you'd like!

WILLN: Bedroom

I'm totally embarassed about this picture. The worst part is I took this a few days ago and it looks worse! We'll see what I can do today with this mess.