Affordable Family Fun ~Tori

Sorry I missed last week's post. My kids were battling pink eye and ear infection, and my husband shortly after had some dental work done. As badly as I tried I just could not get the time to get on here and post. Thankfully Priddymomma and Leslie didn't leave you hanging, and as I just today got to read each of their posts I will say they are wonderful!

This week we'll be covering the topic of cheap fun.
When you have kids, budget can get pretty tight, pretty quick. Fortunately there are lots of things to do to have fun, and enjoy family time. Here's a few of the items I can suggest:

1) A picnic (weather permitting of course)

Easy to pack and you can take your family out to enjoy nature some. That rarely happens in today's world. We like to picnic at the park (but not too near play equipment as my kiddos probably wouldn't even want to eat in that case), and enjoy time. We pack some of the kids favorite things, and it's actually a lot of fun.


2) Family movie night

You don't have to go to the movies to have a movie night. Usually we pop our own popcorn, rent a movie from the library (one we all like that is fun for the kids), and enjoy. We have some other snacks, but its right in your own home so it's comfortable. We all usually have a lot of fun with this one, and it's family time also.


3) Board Games

There are probably a million and one board games out there by this time. Seriously new ones are being added daily. There is a board game for kids of all ages to enjoy at this point. And they are pretty affordable considering how much use you can get out of them. Tons of fun, and you will definitely get your monies worth by taking this route.


4) Zoo or Local Museum
These can be not only fun but so educational. When we do activities like this we call it family field trip day. It's nice to get out of the house for awhile with family, and everyone usually learns something new.


5) Pinterest
Pinterest is a website chock full of good ideas. If you don't have an account there yet, get one. I'll wait...
Okay, now as soon as your done reading this post start searching for fun crafts and games for your kiddos. You will find tons! It is an addicting website with tons of good information!


Now I've shared a few ideas for cheap fun with you, I must go. I currently hear running water and silence which is never a good combination when there's kids involved.

Our Prayers Are With Boston

We just want to each take some time out this week before our scheduled post, and say how our hearts are with Boston.
It was a senseless tragedy that happened, and my heart breaks for all the runners, families, and town.
I understand that words mean very little in a situation like this so I just want everyone to know that our hearts are with Boston, and I'm keeping all in my prayers.

Credit for image: News10 abc

Day in the Life - Leslie

Unfortunately I wasn't able to take as many pictures of my day as I'd hoped.  Sorry for the lack of visual aid, but here you go!  A typical day for me.

4:50am - Wake up, potty, shower and brush teeth.  So.  Tired.

5:10am - Get dressed.

5:20am - Brush hair and then put together breakfast to eat at work.

5:35am - Watch the news while I fill my purse with stuff.  I have a big purse, so usually I put whatever I'm having for breakfast in a plastic grocery bag and stick it in the purse.  Wallet, breakfast, book, ID lanyard, various other things.  Check.  Also have to make sure I grab my bottle of water.

5:55am - Leave for work.  So dark out.  Still tired.

6:15am - Arrive at work.  Clock in.  Sit in the driver's room trying to stay awake until time to go out on our route.

6:35am - 7:15am - High school morning route.  Everybody is tired and quiet, except for the love birds.

7:30am - 8:00am - Back at the bus garage for our layover.  Usually I just eat breakfast (hard boiled egg, feta, tomatos, and carrots) and read.  Or talk to Jer.

8:00am - 9:00am - Elementary/preschool morning route.  Quiet ride.

9:10am - Clock out.  Time to go home!  Can't wait to see A.

9:25am - Home.  Tackled by A.  Love it.

9:25am - 11:30am - Playtime with A.  Usually we read books, watch shows, or play with her stuffed animals together.  We also like to sit together on the bed while she reads her books and I read mine.  Also, tickle time!

11:30am - Lunch time.  Homemade tomato soup.  Yum.

12:15pm - Nap time for A.  She wasn't happy about it, but she needed the sleep.

1:30pm - Head back to work.

1:55pm - Arrive at work.  Clock in.  Sit and wait to leave.

2:10pm - 3:00pm - High school afternoon route.  The kids had a good day and are in high spirits.

3:00pm - 3:15pm - Short layover.  Usually just park and wait.

3:20pm - Time to pick up the preschoolers.  They are pretty rowdy.

3:30pm - Pick up elementary.  Today should be keep-your-hands-to-yourself day.

4:20pm - Last drop off.  Head back to the garage to clock out.  So ready to go back home.

4:45pm - Get home.  Sit with A.  Read for a bit or clean.  Make dinner.

6:00pm - Dinner.  Bruschetta with tomatos and feta.  Yum!

7:00pm - 8:00pm - Quiet time with Addie.
 
8:00pm - 9:00pm - Wash face, brush teeth, brush A teeth, get a drink of water.

9:00pm - Lay down with A and a book.  Read to her and then she lays with me and falls asleep while I read my book.

10pm - Sleep.  Usually.  :|

(A)Typical Tuesday~priddymomma

SURPRISE!  I get to be first this week!  Tori has some sick kiddos, so either you’ll hear from her later this week or you’ll have to contain yourselves until next week.  I’m sure you all know how it is. 

This week, we’re covering A Day in the Life.  It was an interesting day I took notes on.  I had planned to tell you all that my days aren’t normally like this and that they aren’t usually this hectic…but maybe they are.  What is NOT the usual, however, is my injury.  You see, I unwisely decided a bench in the middle of the mall at 11:30 p.m. was the perfect place for a Broadway Dance number.  It turns out that it is not.  I stepped down from said dance number and abruptly rolled my ankle.  Talk about your show-stopper!  Total drag, as I was on a date with the hubby at the time.  I’m recovering though.  Thank-you for your concern.  I’m an idiot.  I know.  Anyway, we were out late on a Monday night, so I got up late on Tuesday and had to deal with an injury.  All-in-all, I was fairly miserable.  Fun fun. 

Without further ado, here it is! 

Tuesday April 9^th, 2013

6 a.m.-Wake up after five hours of sleep.  Pee.

Injured so just remained in bed.  Hubby was nice enough to bring me food and drink.  Hubby leaves for work.  Read until Cheerio Champ wakes up

8 a.m.-Spent 1 hour in room with Cheerio Champ.  Playing, reading, and tossing around Spanish vocabulary

Got him set up to get ready and started on chores

9 a.m.-Got Princess Cheerio up and nursed.  One hour behind normal schedule.

Eat a few bites of leftovers from fridge while assembling breakfast for the kids

8:30 a.m. -Breakfast-granola, yogurt, and fruit for Cheerio Champ

Yogurt, fruit, and cheerios for Princess Cheerio

Princess Cheerio spits food in my face.

10 a.m.-Changed Princess Cheerio-poop gets on a block.  Don’t ask.

Cheerio Champ’s reading a chapter book nicely.

Cheerio Champ wants to be tickled.  Tickling occurs.  Princess Cheerio very upset she is being left out.  Princess Cheerio gets tickled.  The pattern continues until injured ankle is tapped and I am DONE.

Clean poop block

Cheerio Champ wants to sweep up stray cheerios

Take board book from Princess Cheerio.  Books are not food.

Put away dishes in drainer

Wash highchair tray and drainer of dishes and wipe down table and highchair.

Start laundry.

Sweep up cheerios Cheerio Champ no longer cares about

Give Princess Cheerio the baby doll Cheerio Champ took from her

Take Furby away from Cheerio Champ for the day for screaming the same nonsense over and over in my face. 

Thank Cheerio Champ for giving Princess Cheerio her baby doll back.  Watch kids pass doll back and forth for a while.

Cheerio Champ is upset about the cheerios he didn’t get to finish sweeping up.

Try to sneak a cupcake in the kitchen while the kids are playing

Everybody has a cupcake.

Clean up cupcake mess. 

Kids extra whiney.  Both are tired and both got shots yesterday at the doctor’s office and are not feeling their best.

Realize I need to pay power bill today.  Can’t immediately find power bill.  Find it in the bathroom…

On way back to computer desk, stub toe and jar injured ankle.  Cursing follows.  Small amount of tears.  Now fury.  Realize Cheerio Champ saw entire episode.  Now need to address behavior issue as he is kicking things and screaming a colorful word.

Fill water bottle and finally put away cereal from this morning. 

Limp to computer desk, only to have to look for the power bill again.  CHEERIO CHAMP is trying to eat it after taking it from Princess Cheerio, who was also trying to eat it. 

Princess Cheerio wants me to read Goodnight Moon and I tell her just a minute.  She begins slamming book against gate and falls and cries.  

Comfort her and read the damn book.  Cheerio Champ interrupts to tell me George Washington’s birthday (February twenty-two!). 

Put her down, only to have her slam book and cry again.  Now Cheerio Champ wants to read Goodnight Moon.  Tug-of-war.

Scold Cheerio Champ for talking meanly to Princess Cheerio.  Scold Princess Cheerio for playing with the vent.

Watch Princess Cheerio booty bump the door and giggle.  I giggle, not her.  She’s very serious about this booty bumping. 

Watch Princess Cheerio booty bump baby gate.  Tell Cheerio Champ not to booty bump baby gate.

Finally get soggy power bill paid online.

Tell Cheerio Champ to quit chewing on Goodnight Moon.  Tell him to put it back on bookshelf as he took it in his room to chew on it where I couldn’t see him.

Tell Cheerio Champ not to touch a birthday present for a friend.

Kids are yelling.

Kids are making rude noises. 

Headache.  Ankle is swelling more.

Getting set up for nap time.  Tell Cheerio Champ to leave baby gate alone.

Get Cheerio Champ set up with some presidents information he can look through (as per request).  

Pee.

Take book Princess Cheerio is eating.

Turn on lullaby music.

Come to find that I didn’t actually add laundry to the washer.  Trying again.

Ankle throbs and I almost fall.  Cheerio Champ laughs at me.

12:30 p.m.-change Princess Cheerio (finally dressed in day clothes) and nurse down for nap.

1:45 p.m.-Quiet time for Cheerio Champ

Elect not to exercise or homeschool…or do much of anything due to swelling in ankle.  Curl up in bed.

Hear Cheerio Champ in hysterics.  Rush in to find he has a new hopefully-not-hobby:  stuffing toys in his nose.  Toy comes out.  Lecture…and life goes on.

2:30 p.m.-change Princess Cheerio and curl up in bed again

2:45 p.m.-hubby calls.  Hobble my ass to phone in dining room.  Coming home early.

Finally get to shower and wash baby food off my arm from this morning

3:10 p.m.- hubby is home

3:20 p.m.- hubby changes Princess Cheerio and puts her in highchair while I assemble lunch

3:30 p.m.-late lunch for kids and no lunch for me.  Didn’t feel like standing any longer.

Hubby is nice enough to clean up after lunch 

Find out my brother and his girlfriend aren’t coming over after all.  Relieved in a way because my ankle aches, but sad we don’t have plans

Kids play/scream/beat me up while hubby makes egg sandwiches for dinner

5:30 p.m.- dinner.  I get some veggies and fruit to go with sandwiches.

I need desperately to lay down, so hubby is kind enough to allow me to.  He finishes dinner with the kids, cleans up, and bathes Princess Cheerio.  

I wake up to Princess Cheerio screaming in the bath tub.  I have napped for fifteen minutes.  Wooo!  I feel better for it though.

Hubby takes care of after bath routine with Princess Cheerio and reads her a story.  I play with Cheerio Champ a bit.  He tries to bite me during tickles.  

Nursing Princess Cheerio while hubby showers Cheerio Champ and reads to him and puts him to bed.

8 p.m.-Bedtime for Princess Cheerio.

Hubby is studying Tai Chi via DVD.  I collapse in a heap and drowse/read for twenty minutes before looking for a snack. 

Remember that there are wet clothes in the washer and throw them in the dryer.  Fold massive basket of laundry.

Play Mario Party 8 with hubby.

Feed cats.  Check on kids.  Brush teeth.

10 p.m.-bed.

10:30 p.m.-pee.

11:00 p.m.-pee again.

Can you relate?  What is a day like for you?  Any topic requests?  Comment or email us at thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com.  We’d love to hear from you!  Look for Leslie’s post on Saturday!

Cleaning Schedule - Leslie

Right.  My cleaning schedule.  Okay.  Well, I use the terms "clean" and "schedule" loosely.  What I have is more of a guideline... or merely a suggestion, really.

What I really lack in the cleaning department at home is help.  Asking Fiance to do some laundry and then coming in to find that he washed, dried, and piled it all up on the bed for me to put away.  Or do the dishes, where he'll do one sink full but leave two for me, and all of the dishes that could have been easily rinsed out after they were used are now sitting there with dried food and paper towels stuck to them.  Little Miss A is good at picking up her toys in one room and piling them up in another.

Laundry.  That's what I really hate.  I feel like it's everywhere, all the time.  Maybe this post of mine will instead be a "Help Leslie Out" post.  What suggestions do you have to get people to help, or at least make things seem less daunting for me?  I have the kind of personality where I flit from room to room trying to get things done because having to do it ALL seems so overwhelming.  Basically, I never know where to start, especially when the piles of stuff start to grow and grow.

I try to keep up with dishes daily and I do try to do at least one or two loads of laundry per day.  Maybe I just need to learn to maintain.  If the house isn't going to kill my family in some way, that's doing good, right?  Man, this post is short.  But, really, help please!


Suggestions for topics can be sent to thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com

Cleaning...Schedule?~priddymomma

WOW has this been a busy couple of weeks!  I’m typing this much later than I usually would get to it, because MY KIDS ARE GROWING UP!!!  Princess Cheerio just turned one this week!  ONE!  And Cheerio Champ turned five last week!  We’re planning a big party this weekend, we had family pictures taken yesterday, we hosted an Easter brunch at our place last weekend, there was a lot of spring cleaning, and etcetera!  Thus, last minute post.  I’m doing good to have remembered to post at all…

Cleaning!  I’m not sure I know what that even is!  I feel like my house has been in desperate need of a cleaning since I was pregnant with my first.  I found out the hard way that my husband has way looser standards of what “clean” is than I.  (Rinsing out a bowl to use a second time a day later is NOT clean, man!  What is WRONG with you??!)  He works full time, so he doesn’t have the “time” to spend on chores that I “do”.  (“apparently”  I feel like “using”  “quotations” all the “”time””?)”  He cleans when he’s feeling charitable, so I try to keep him happy.  (Is that so wrong?!) 

My house is in a state of flux at all times.  Its clutter and cleanliness are directly reflective of my inner state of mind at any given time.  If the front of the house looks great, I’m putting on a face for the world, but you can bet the bedroom is full of things to sort through and organize.  Hey!  I just sorted through some inner demons!  Time to tackle that closet!

I try to keep up with the day to day things and at least not make a bigger mess of things, though I’m finding that harder and harder the more mobile Princess Cheerio gets.  She likes to pull all the books off the bookshelves and eat them.  Literally EAT them, like a literal adorable bookworm.  I’m not sure that is the healthiest thing on the planet, so I try to discourage that if at all possible.  But, I digress.  Cleaning up after the kids 1,048,209,034,403 times a day is not helping me catch-up on backlogged chores.  Also, homeschooling and exercise dips into that time drastically, and errands, not to mention actually spending time with my family!

I read a tip once that helps.  Let’s say you are in your living room, but you need to get your kiddo a cup of water.  On your way to the kitchen, you can grab a cup someone left on the coffee table and rinse it out as you get your kid his juice.  When you head back to the living room, you have the juice, but you can also take that magazine that came in the mail to the coffee table.  See where I’m going with this?  It works, but I have one issue:  I easily get sidetracked and find myself leaving jobs half-finished or starting a project that is just not very high on the priority list.  (Yeah!  What a great time to scrub the faucet!  My face sure looks funny like that!)  Two hours of cleaning = zero complete projects.  “Hi honey!  What did you do today?”  “…I don’t know…”

Don’t believe all the tips though.  I read a tip that suggested not procrastinating anything that takes less than 30 seconds to complete.  That sounds reasonable and is all good and fine if it’s a toilet paper roll on a holder, but 30 seconds is an eternity in tot time.  Tot time, by the way, is the term for the amount of time that passes when you are not actively watching your child.  (Yes.  Coined by me.  I’m allowed to do that.  I’m a blogger.  Please don’t try this at home….unless you’re a blogger.)  You know the feeling.  “Kids are playing nicely.  Awesome!  Time to pee!”  *sits down*  CRASH!  *gasp*  “WHAT WAS THAT??!”  THAT was a tot second.  30 seconds five times in a row lands you some dead kids.  That’s all I’m saying. 

In a perfect world, I have assigned each family member (who is old enough) chores per day, leaving chores on their chore towers when they haven’t been finished.  We flip them when they are completed.  Here’s the schedule:

Sunday:

• Hubby-take out trash, wash dishes with wifey (no.  He doesn’t call me this, thankfully), dust mop floors (we have hardwoods), bathroom surfaces (main bathroom)
• Myself-bathroom surfaces (master bath), wash laundry, wash dishes with hubby, sweep and mop bedrooms and hall, wash towels
• Cheerio Champ-make bed, clean room, help sort laundry

Monday:

• Hubby-clean toilet (main bathroom)
• Myself-clean toilet (master bathroom), wash laundry, wash dishes, dust mop
• Cheerio Champ-make bed, help sort laundry

Tuesday:

• Hubby-take out trash, clean bathtub and shower (main bathroom), wash dishes, clean out van
• Myself-clean shower (master bathroom), wash laundry, dust mop
• Cheerio Champ-make bed, help sort laundry

Wednesday:

• Hubby-day off
• Myself-wash towels, wash laundry, wash dishes, dust mop
• Cheerio Champ-make bed, help sort laundry

Thursday:

• Hubby-take out trash, wash dishes, mow lawn (though not in the winter, obviously)
• Myself-take out recyclables, wash laundry, dust mop, wash Princess Cheerios’ bedding
• Cheerio Champ-dust, make bed, help sort laundry

Friday:

• Hubby-take trash cans to curb, sweep and mop dining room
• Myself-wash Cheerio Champ’s bedding, wash laundry, wash dishes, dust mop
• Cheerio Champ-take sheets off bed, help sort laundry

Saturday:

·         Hubby-wash dishes, sweep and mop kitchen, laundry room, living room

·         Myself-wash laundry, wash my bedding, dust mop

We have monthly chores on a checklist that we try and usually fail to keep up with.  I remake the list each month.  Trees hate me like that.

Like I said:  that’s the run down in a perfect world.  Usually, I run out of time in my day or collapse in utter exhaustion before it gets completely finished.  Or throw a tantrum.  That happens occasionally.  Okay, frequently.  FINE!  Every afternoon.  Get off me!  If something disgusts me enough, or if I know company is coming, I clean.  This is why cleaning businesses do so well.  I would be putting people out of their jobs if I cleaned!  They have mouths to feed!  I guess that implies that I’d hire them.  I’m too embarrassed to invite them inside!  My house is a mess…

How do you do it all, moms?  What about you, dads?  Any advice?  Stories from the trenches?  Cleaning company recommendations?  Leslie will have her say on Saturday, and we will have a fine new topic in the week following.  Good night! Zzz

Tori's Cleaning Schedule

Having two small kiddos (both boys none-the-less) makes keeping a clean house challenging. It isn't impossible, but it is almost like trying to rebuild a house while a tornado is still twisting all around you.

When I was a new stay at home mom I was so exhausted from all the cleaning I was doing. In addition to taking care of my newborn I was trying to keep a spotless house. I had no time for sleep, reading, etc. As a matter of fact I was lucky to get two hours of sleep a day for three months straight because my baby had his days and nights mixed up.
FINALLY I seen the light at the end of the tunnel and realized that I just had to quit pushing myself. And I quickly found the best thing that works for me and my family. And that is:
A cleaning schedule!
I break my chores down by day instead of trying to tackle everything every single day. And on the days we run errands, have a lot of appointments, etc., I make sure not to schedule any chores that are too hard to get done. Here's an example of my cleaning schedule:::

::Daily::

Kitchen
Clean kitchen table
Dishes
Clean counter-tops & stove
Sweep kitchen floor
Take out trash
Scrub down sink when I'm done with dishes for the day

Bathroom
Take out trash
Clean counter
Wipe out tub
Wipe down toilet seat & rim (with boys this is a must)
Clean mirror
Sweep floor
Scrub down sink

Bedrooms
Do a general pick up
Vacuum
Make beds
Straighten nightstands

Living Room
Make sure if there are toys they are put away
Vacuum
Make sure there is no clutter and if there is pick it up (there usually is btw)

::Weekly::

These are the ones that I break up during days. I may do the kitchen on a Monday and the Bathroom on a Tuesday. I may even do more than one of these a day depending on what the day is looking like, that way I'm not overwhelmed and things still get done.

Kitchen
Throw out any old food if there is any
Clean outside of appliances
Mop
Wipe down fridge inside and out
Wipe down faucets

Bathroom
Clean toilet bowl
Spray the shower with shower cleaning spray
Mop

Bedrooms
Gather laundry, wash, fold, put away (sometimes iron depending on the clothes)
Straighten up dressers and closets (because they are usually all rifled through and messy by this point)
Wash bed linens in every bedroom

Living room
Clean TV
Clean TV stand
Clean display cabinet (dust and wipe down)
Straighten closets in the place as well if needed

::Monthly::

The following are the chores I usually only do monthly. These are in addition to the daily and weekly chores.

Kitchen
Clean inside of stove, and make sure under the range is cleaned out
Scrub down inside of microwave
Dust blinds
Wipe down windowsills
Clean windows

Bathroom
Scrub down tiling and faucets
Straighten linen closet & wipe down shelves

Bedrooms
Dust blinds
Clean windowsills
Clean windows
Dust bookshelves

Living room
Dust blinds
Clean patio doors
Sweep outdoor space
Vacuum inside of couch
Pull couch out and vacuum underneath
Vacuum under TV stand


There you go, that's about the normal breakdown of my cleaning schedule. This of course doesn't include any errands, food prep, etc., that needs to be done. Sometimes I also add a few chores depending on what needs done. However, by breaking it up into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks I get done what I need to and don't beat myself up in the process. It works for our family, and gives me more time to spend with the family. Do you do your cleaning on a schedule?

Stay tuned for Priddymomma's post on Thursday and Leslie's on Saturday.
As always if you have any topic/post suggestions feel free to send us an email thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com