Hard lessons

Guess what? Never got to making that schedule yet. Tonight, I've started it (which has nothing to do with the list below, I'll post my new schedule another time). After being the mean yelling mom yesterday we came up with a few things that give me a twitch in my eye. Today, my children found out I meant every word I said the day before.

Here are some of my highlights yesterday:
- All items left out and not put away are trash (no digging it out of the trash either).
- Everyone will do their chores, period. End of discussion.
- All school work must be completed before the tv, ninetdo ds, or other electronic (fun) devices are played with.
- When mom or dad calls your name, you will move quickly while hollering your coming. It could be an emergency and we need you to learn to move fast without question.
- If mom or dad tells you to put something away, we don't care if its yours or not nor do we care if you didn't do it. We are wanting something done without question. The guilty party will be dealt with when we find them.
- You will bathe daily. I don't care if you don't feel like it or you forgot. Its a daily habit; its good for your body; it keeps you from being sick; etc. You've had one everyday since your birth...get over it and just do it. (Me talking to my 15 yr old who wants to become the sloth that his father is...aka my ex.)
- Bedtime is for sleeping. This is not time for playing games or staying up reading til the wee hours of the morning. No getting up to get something. No getting up to get that snack or drink. Stay in bed and go to sleep.
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Today was another hectic day. I did get off work at 1:30 pm. BUT I had to take the van in to the dealership. The engine light has been on for a week. After siting for 2 hrs, they fixed the issue for $39 and I was on my way. So this meant we got home after 4:00 pm. *sigh* School work, dinner, dog & cat wanting attention from being left all alone all day, and mom getting to pee...whew! Oh, did I tell you it has been raining a cold drizzle all afternoon too? Yeppers.

The kids did get their book work done. I found the cd that held the history unit study. Taking that baby to work to print off the note pages. Even trade I have going there. I print things for work here, and get to print school stuff there. hehe

Everyday will have a focus. Example: Tuesdays will be errand/library day. Sundays will be mom's planning/grade papers day. My goal is for my children to learn as much as they can and remembering what they have learned. If this means they take a year and half to complete and understand Alegbra 1; so be it. They will have a better graps at the subject than those that sped through it and skipped over several lessons to boot.

So for tomorrow, my plan is to have the schedule/routine written out. We will start implementing it immediately. I can't wait. I need the structure just as badly as my kids do.

Rescheduling the schedule

We, I mean me or is it I, need to revamp the school schedule. The one we have is not working. Or it would work if we did it. But we do not. Instead I sometimes get off work at 1 pm. Most of the time is later, up to 3 pm. Then my mom or grandma (usually grandma) needs something done. By the time we get home its supper time. Nothing is planned because I was hoping to be home by 1:30 pm. By the time I have time to think of school its bedtime. UGH!! So frustrating.

What I need to do is create a weekly schedule every weekend. Sunday afternoon is for getting my week ready. Getting my work clothes set out for the week, pampering me, etc. Why not include school planning? Because I get so frustrated. There is so much I want to include I get overwhelmed. Then I starting thinking about FlyLady. (Yes, I am a flybaby since 2001). Baby steps. Also remember KISS. No, not the rock band. Keep It Simple Sister. Ahh....simple.

So for today, revamp schedule. Have kids work on Math, Spelling, Language Arts, and science today. By tomorrow, we can include history, PE, and a couple other things the boys want to do. I will post my schedule when its done.

Government Bailout

I usually keep my political opinions to myself. But this bailout really ticks me off to no end. It is plain wrong and still it was vote for. Who pays for this huge ole mistake? Us, the taxpayers of America that's who. I wrote to my senators and congressman. My husband called them. So did several of my friends, family, and complete strangers. Yet these men still voted for it, even after admitting to the press that all of their emails and phone calls received from voters said to not vote for it. Looks like we'll be not voting for them in the next election. Oh, wait...that's coming up in November. *mawhahahaha*

What I'd like to know is where is the old fashioned punishment for these individuals that blindly allowed the debt to rack up as it did? You know, getting fired for being an idiot, blackballed from the business world, and sued for the money they basically stole from the taxpayers. Instead, we are in the "Its not my fault" generation so lets slap them on the wrist so we don't hurt their feelings or some such drivel.

Where has the world gone to that your word doesn't mean anything anymore? Where has the world come to when it's ok to default on your loans (debt) and only get a "its ok, you'll do better next time". Where has personal responsiblility gone? Instead the pattern of defaulting on your loans is repeated again and again and again and again. No one learns from a mistake if things are taken care for them. A baby won't talk or walk if someone does it for them. What is the difference if they are adults? None.

If I remember right, there is a war in history that stopped crap like this. Didn't the colonists start a revolutionary war because of being taxed to death? Why yes my dear Watson, I believe they did. Looks like I need to go find some tea.

DING! DING! DING!

The 2009 Motivated Moms Chore Planners are available! Woot!!! I love these planners. Last year I used the half-sized planner with Bible Study. Can one be more organized than I am after using this little planner. This size worked very well and fit perfectly in my organizer. This year I'm going to try out full-size per day planner. I'll print out a weeks worth and hang them on the fridge. As I finish up a chore, I can check it off my list. Each evening I can remove the finished day's list.

There are eight versions of the Motivated Moms Chore Planner, the full-sized planner with scheduled Bible reading (Read the Bible Through in a Year), the full-sized without Bible readings, half-sized planner with and without the Bible readings scheduled, the full-sized Page Per Day planner (with or without the Bible readings scheduled) and now a *NEW* version half-sized Page Per Day planner (with or without the Read the Bible Through in a Year option).

Click on this link, Motivated Moms Chore Planners, to learn more.

Free family fun

Friday at work my boss offered me 5 free tickets to a St. Louis Cardinal's baseball game for the next day. With them came free transportation. Woot!! Can't beat that with a stick. My dh was the most excited with the news, followed by two of my three boys.

Several things I've learned attended a major league baseball game.
- This new stadium, its huge. Not just huge, mega huge. Our seats were in section 271. We figured second level, newp. Third level because of the special CQ seats in between the levels. After hiking 6 flights of stairs, my oldest noticed the elevator next to them. *duh!*
- Don't arrive hungry. Every restaurant within walking distance is packed full. Even the restaurants farther out are filled to capacity. Why? Because in a major city one huge sporting event isn't enough. We need two or three going on at the same time.
- If you do buy food in the ball park, bring lots of moola. I have teen and pre-teen boys. We all eat a lot. We are not shy with this fact either. We only ordered 2 regular hot dogs, 3 polish sausages (better than a brat any day I say), 4 coke colas, and 1 beer. Total cost $52 and change. Not kidding. Small box of popcorn was $4. Bucket of cotton candy was $6. Bag of shelled roasted peanuts was $4. Ice lemonade (10 oz cup) was $4. You get the picture.
- Be prepared to get up out of the way for others in your row for food, potty breaks, and whatnot. Everyone is always polite which is quite refreshing.
- Cracking up with your kids at the antics of the mascot.
- Getting home after 2 am.
- Having your child fall asleep on you on the ride home due to exhaustion. No matter their age. Priceless.

All in all, we had a super time. We'd do it again in a heart beat. Well, then again maybe not that soon.