22 Day Challenge - Day 1 Girls' Room

I have to tackle the girls' room first because they have so much stuff coming in and out all of the time.  I've got to get this room under control.  I wish, more than anything, that they could each have their own rooms, but that just isn't happening here with 5 people in the house.  Luke has his own room, but that's because I don't want him waking them by sharing with one of the girls and vice versa.  

Here's the LIST:

1.  Pick up 

2.  Go through closet

• have girls try on all clothes to weed out the smaller items
• remove items that are too small
• try on all shoes
• remove shoes that are too small
• organize top of closet
• organize blankets and sheets

3.  Strip sheets off of mattresses

4.  Clean mattresses

5.  Wash pillows

6.  Go through drawers

7.  Weed out any clothes that are too small

8.  Go through books and weed out

9.  Change out all pictures in frames

10.  Move hanging stuff over correct beds

11.  Clean window sills

12.  Clean baseboards

13.  Clean ceiling

14.  Clean walls

16.  Dust every surface and knick-knack

17.  Windex all glass surfaces and mirrors

18.  Make a list of items needed for their room

19.  Clean carpet

20.  Vacuum

21.  Lysol everything

22.  Febreeze

Update:  I've been going through everything all day.  This may take me two days.  Plus, the girls are playing in there as I'm going through everything.  I'll have to do it real early in the morning when they are asleep (they often end up in our bed).  I've gotten all of the clothes cleaned out.  Now I just have to figure out where to store it all until I can get a few boxes to put away Katie's clothes in order for Kinsley to have them in the future.  I'm selling all of Kinsley's clothes at a local consignment shop or at the bidding site that I participate with.  I now have to go and clean the kitchen before my dear husband gets home.  I hate when he comes home to the 3 main rooms being a mess.  Luke is asleep and I just hope he stays that way until I'm done.

22 Days To A Clean and Organized Home

I started my maternity leave on April 18th.  Had my baby on April 22nd, and summer break started for us on June 7th.  The last day of my maternity leave was June 6th.  I planned it perfectly.  All summer, so far, my house has been a disaster due to spending so much time with my new little one.  My other two have been running a muck without much focus on cleaning up after themselves.  We've had a few days here and there where the house is clean, but it is quickly destroyed again within a day due to us not following any type of schedule.  

On top of all of this, I've been preparing the girls for school by purchasing school clothes.  I've bought a lot through a local bidding site on Facebook.  I've purchased so many next size up clothes through there that now our home has 2 sizes for each girl X two.  Ugh!  Talk about overload.  

In 22 days I'll be returning to work to begin preparing my classroom for my new batch of kiddos.  I spend all of August getting ready for school, so I want my home to be ready for me to get back to it.  During the school year, all of our focus is totally on school.  We have a few weekend days that I spend cleaning out and decluttering, but it's few and far between.  

I'm going to be blogging about my 22 day challenge as I prepare my home for the return of school on August 25th.  Each day will be focused on one room or one item that I need to take care of.  Pictures will be included.  

Parenting Is The Toughest Job There Is

I have been going round and round with my two kiddos lately about picking up after themselves, following directions, etc.  I'm at my wits end.  I feel like throwing in the towel and saying, "Go ahead.  Knock eachother's teeth out over a Little Pet Shop toy.  Destroy this place.  I'm sick of cleaning it anyway." 

That's what I would say if I didn't love my children and am concerned with the women they will become when they grow up.  I want my girls to be good, hard-working, God fearing women.  It's my job to teach them this, but why is it so hard?  ::I just imagined myself rolling on the ground, kicking, and screaming...having an all out tantrum:::

The girls brought a ton of their toys into the living room this morning.  They had been playing with them all day.  I began cleaning and getting ready for my husband to come home.  I told them to clean up the living room.  I then went into the dining room to begin sweeping.  When I was done, I went back in the living room and they were still playing.  I told them again to clean up all of their toys out of the living room.  I then went to mop the dining room.  When I returned to the living room, they were both in Katie's room playing and all of the toys were still in the living room.  I got a bag and put all of the toys that were in the living room into the bag and put the bag on the top shelf of the closet.  Katie walks out and says, "I didn't want those toys anyway."  I replied with, "It's now time to clean up your room or the same thing is going to happen in there."  She said, "I don't like any of my toys.  You can get rid of them." 

My mouth literally fell to the floor and I could feel the blood begin to boil within my veins.  I turned around, walked outside, and immediately called my mom.  She had to call me back, so I did the dishes and prayed.  "Please dear Lord help me.  Show me what to do.  Tell me what to say."  My mom called back and said to have her choose her most prized toy(s), which would be The Littlest Pet Shop.  She said to tell her that since she doesn't care for the other toys, that we would be giving her very special toys to some very special kids that don't have any toys.  Kids that would take care of them. 

I didn't do it.  I came close, but I just couldn't do it.  So, right before her daddy pulled in the driveway I walked past her room and she was actually cleaning up.  I didn't say anything, just kept walking.  She came out a little later and said that her room was clean.  I went to check and the floor was picked up.  I told her that I was so proud of her for cleaning her room up like I had asked, but then I looked under her desk and her bed.  Toys were shoved under them.  I opened her toybox and dirty clothes were in there.  We had a talk yesterday about shoving our toys under our beds, so I know that she knew better.

I told her that all of the toys needed to be put away.  She immediately threw herself on the floor and started crying.  I had had enough.  Our town throws a festival during spring break every year.  We usually go 2 or 3 days and we spend one evening eating dinner there.  This was supposed to be the night we went.  She had been talking about it ever since she saw the rides being put together.  We can go outside in the evening and hear the rides, music, and people screaming.  I said right then, "We're not going to the festival tonight.  If you show me tomorrow that you are a big girl, and can follow directions and clean your room, then we'll talk about going."  It hurt me to tell her that, but I had to put my foot down.  We were all being punished, because we all wanted to go. 

She has been crying ever since.  Eben and Kinsley were heading out the door to go to the grocery store.  He asked Katie if she wanted to go and she said no.  He put Kinsley in the carseat and got into the driver's seat.  He started to back up, but Katie ran to the door because she had changed her mind.  He stopped and pulled forward and she threw herself down again.  She was screaming that he was leaving her.  He honked his horn and I opened the door for her to go.  She was crawling toward the door.  I told her to get up and go, but she just sat in a pile on the floor crying.  I asked her if she wanted to go and she shook her head no.  So, he left.  She started freaking out again. 

Once he left, she began to calm down somewhat.  She then came to me and told me that she was hungry.  I was snacking on peanut butter and crackers.  I told her that she could have some.  She threw herself down again.  I immediately picked up her, put her in her bed, and shut the door. 

She is now sitting quietly eating peanut butter and crackers. 

Dear Lord, please help me. 

My To-Do List for Saturday

So, today has repeated itself from yesterday.  We woke up EXTRA late today.  When I say late, I mean I haven't slept this late since I've had children.  We woke up at 9:00.  I'm usually awake no later than 6:30 on the weekends.  I'm now worried that when Monday gets here that I won't be able to wake up at 4:00 to get ready for work.  I'll have to go to bed early tonight to get up early in the morning.

So, I have another long list of things to do today.  Of course it's going to include the things I didn't do yesterday.  Tomorrow is my sister's birthday, so after church we'll be going to my mom's to celebrate her birthday.  I have to get everything done today.

Gather all dirty clothes (it's never ending)
Seperate and begin washing
Set timer with dryer to remove clothes as soon as they are done
Fold and put away all clothes

Dining Room
Pick up and put up
Organize desk area and change ink in printer
Dust all furniture
Windex glass
Wipe down windowsills
Disinfect table and chairs
Once table is dry, dust using Pledge
Clean art table with Mr. Clean eraser
Sweep
Steam mop
Put out Easter decor

Katie's Room
Spray bed and pillows with Lysol
Make the bed
Pick up and put up
Organize dresser drawer
Organize both closets
Dust all furniture
Windex both mirrors
Clean ceiling fan
Vacuum
Lysol stuffed animals and toys

Eben's Bathroom (I dread it)
Put away all toiletries
Take out everything that needs to be wiped down
Empty trash can
Clean vanity
Windex mirror
Clean bathtub
Clean toilet
Wipe down all knick-knacks and pictures
Sweep
Steam mop
Put out new towels

Kitchen
Clean out icebox and organize
Clean off the top of icebox and wipe down
Wipe down all sides of icebox
Do all dishes
Wipe down countertops
Wipe down stove and vent-a-hood
Clean microwave
Organize pantry
Organize spice/cooking cabinet
Take out garbage
Clean garbage can
Sweep
Mop

Living Room
Pick up and put up
Dust all furniture
Windex
Clean ceiling fan
Vacuum out couch and the big chair I hate
Fluff couch cushions and pillows
Clean Bella's cage
Vacuum floor

Girls' Bathroom
Pick up and put up
Clean vanity
Windex mirror
Clean tub
Clean toilet
Organize closet
Sweep
Steam mop
Put out new towels

Kinsley's room
Strip bed
Wipe down mattress with Clorox wipes and let dry
Pick up and put up
Clean ceiling fan
Dust furniture
Spray stuffed animals and toys with Lysol
Make her bed
Vacuum

My bedroom
Strip sheets
Spray mattress and pillows with Lysol
Pick up and put up
Dust furniture
Windex
Clean ceiling fan
Make bed
Organize closet and remove all winter clothes
Organize dresser drawers
Vacuum
Box up winter clothes and put in storage building

Finish all clothes
Pick out clothes for next week for you and Katie and iron them
Pick out church clothes for tomorrow and iron
Update class website
Work on lesson plans for next week
Clean and vacuum out car

*Update:  It's a gorgeous spring day outside.  The girls were getting antsy and wanted to go outside.  I told them that if they help me make the house look pretty then we could go and play outside.  They helped me!  Katie dusted and vacuumed.  Kinsley wiped down the cabinet doors, vacuumed the kitchen floor, and helped me put up dishes.  My neice, Abby, is staying with us.  She vacuumed Katie's room, Kinsley's room, and the living room.  They did such a great job!  I decided that all of the "spring cleaning" things that were listed on my to-do list will have to wait.  I'm ready for some relaxation.

Spring Break Laziness

I've been on spring break this week.  It's been so relaxing, but I've accomplished a whole lot of nothing.  I told ya'll that I would be posting the good, the bad, pretty, and ugly.  This is one of those bad/ugly moments.  Like I sad, I've been a tad bit lazy this week.  I'm usually going 90 mph and I've been going maybe 5 this week. 
I know that my hubby was probably thinking, "What in the world did she do all day?" when he came home from work yesterday.  He'll probably be thinking the same thing again today if I don't get off my rump and do something.  So, here are the before pictures.  I will post the after pictures once I finish.  I'm going to time myself to see what I can get done in 3 hours.  Wish me luck!!!

I haven't washed clothes in a week.  I'm ashamed.

We use the dinner table to feed the kids, and hold anything and everything that needs to be put someplace as soon as we walk in the door.  My purse is a regular on the table. 

This is Katie's room.  I'm washing her sheets; therefore, her bed isn't made.  I found a great website that gave me an idea of something to use to get the stains out of the carpet.  My $200 carpet cleaner didn't do the trick.  We'll see if vinegar does.  Oh, and this room was clean yesterday.

Eben's bathroom.  I refuse to clean this mess.  I will do it today only because I'm afraid that he'll get sick from being in here.  I have cleaned it in the past only to have him walk in it and destroy it in the same day.

The clean dishes that are on the cabinet have been there for 2 days.  There are a few dishes in the sink, but not much.  Kinsley and I fell asleep pretty early yesterday evening.  Eben and Katie ate at the festival that is going on down the road.

The living room isn't that bad, but I'd much rather not see toys and dishes on the coffee table.  Kinsley is actually lying on the couch in this picture and Katie is standing in front of the TV.  Kinsley is yelling at Katie to move.  This is going to be a very long day.

Clean clothes on the big chair that I hate.  At least they are clean, right?

My bedroom isn't bad.  I just need to make the bed and pick that little pile of clothes up off the floor.  Don't you just love the 70s style green shag carpet?  It's my fav! (hint of sarcasm)

I dread, dread, dread cleaning this.  This is Kinsley's room.  Did Kinsley make this mess?  Nope.  Katie and my niece, Breanna made this mess.  I let them play with the Calico Critters, which are cute little things with these big fancy houses that come with all of these teeny, tiny pieces.  These are special toys that only come down occassionaly.  They will not be coming down for a while until they can clean it all up themselves.

The monkey bathroom that I share with the girls.  It's also used as a laundry room because I have no where else to hang wet clothes.  I'm so ready to have a bathroom without little monkeys that seem to laugh at me when I step out of the shower.

So, that's the mess of a house that I'm giving myself 3 hours to clean.  3 hours may seem like a long time to some, but I have this OCD problem.  When I clean, I destroy, and then put it all back together again.  I like to clean everything out as I go, closets, dressers, drawers, etc.  That is not my plan today, but sometimes I just can't help it.  My husband doesn't understand why it takes me 2 1/2 days to clean this house that is just over 1,200 square feet.  He can clean it in 30 minutes (huh huh).

Well, off I go.  Time to put on my cleaning music which consists of a variety of songs.  Including but not limited to Flo Rida, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, LMAFO, CCR, Otis Rhedding, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Adele, Brad Paisley, George Strait, and even some Justin Bieber for the girls (ok, I'll admit...I have a tiny crush on him too).