Our daily flow

Whether due to my personality or a simple lack of self discipline, strict schedules don't seem to work around here. I'm always a bit jealous of the moms who seem to have everything wonderfully planned, starting at 5 am sharp. Is being super organized truly the best way, something that everyone should strive to achieve? Or does it just sound better and in reality only work for people who are actually wired that way? Maybe when I'm older and wiser I will have the answer to that one:) 

Currently at our home, every day looks a little different and I modify things greatly based on my energy level, the fact that we were out late the night before, the fact that everyone is grumpier and needier for no apparent reason, etc. Also, children younger than one seem to have constantly evolving sleeping and eating patterns, so trying to write that down takes more time than it's worth (at least for me:). 

However, that being said, we do have a flow or rhythm to our day and I have found that having it posted on the fridge helps ground me when I'm wandering around, wondering which pressing need should be attended to first. It also helps remind me to fit in a couple events, like circle time and art time, that I would, in theory, consider highly important and yet seem difficult to make actually happen on a daily basis. Having each day of the week assigned to a particular household task has also helped me greatly. I'll try to write about that sometime soon. 

Without further ado, here is our current daily flow: 

Breakfast by 9: clear table, take vitamins and water, get dressed, make beds, wash faces

(Usually I'm up by 7 but I'd rather leave this wide open on the off chance that everyone sleeps in)

Morning housework time: 9:30-10:30 : housework focus of day; children help and free play

Circle time: 10:30-10:50: scripture memory, songs, catechism, abc's, etc. 

Art or outdoors play: 10:50-11:30

Make lunch, eat, clean kitchen: 11:30-12:30

Nap time: 12:30-3 : living room toy pickup, read stories, nap or quiet time in room

Wake up/snack time: 3-4 wake up, have snack, free play

Open time: 4:00-5:30 : play outside, make dinner, dad home

Dinner: 5:30-6

Fun with dad: 6-7:30: walk, play outside, work on project, clean kitchen

Bedtime: 7:30-8:30: baths, brush teeth, read stories, bedtime 

We have tons of open time in this plan because that is how our life is. One day we may be at the grocery store all morning and then circle and art time happens in the afternoon (or not at all:). If someone isn't feeling well or is just needy, then we spend lots of time sitting on the floor reading together and/or watching netflix. If we are having company and everyone is playing happily I may spend more time cleaning than the allotted one hour in the morning. I don't plan any screen time into our day because that seems to happen enough without having any time reserved for it. I try to save it for whenever I really need it. That means that days may go by without watching anything or one day we may watch several shows. I believe strongly in the importance of free play and outdoors play, so we have lots of time for that. 

I love reading what other moms do so thought others may enjoy seeing what we do. And I'll enjoy reading this in a couple years when I've totally forgotten the details of these years:) 

Life as five

Life has been very sweet here since Emma's arrival. I am stretched thinner than I ever have been but it's a good kind of stretch...most of the time:) Despite the moments in which I have wondered what I got myself into, in some fundamental way I feel that this is what I was made to do and I'm loving it. 

Because I'm a bear of very little brain I need to record the little doings of our lives right now or they will all be forgotten. 

Brett is adjusting to his new job at the CDC. The regular hours are wonderful and have allowed him to complete some projects around the house. He has time to relax and just enjoy being with us. Recently he finished building a beautiful kitchen table with benches. We can now provide seating for guests other than the sofas! The wood for built in bookshelves around the fireplace is already in the garage. We have big plans for this summer including remodeling the kitchen and some painting too. I've recently requested that a fort/swing set be moved near the top of the to do list because I'm tired of rescuing children out of the upper branches of small trees. 

When I am not caring for immediate needs, I'm trying to get my horse (and myself) back into a bit of shape. I'm focusing on eating healthy (THM:) to lose this baby weight! Along with that, I've been experimenting with baking with sourdough and coconut flour, and other ways of cooking that are new to me. Aforementioned house projects, with a little gardening thrown in, are also on my mind. We have 5 new chicks because sadly we are down to 3 hens after a hawk discovered us. 

Nate is growing by leaps and bounds!! He still loves to snuggle though, especially when he has just woken up. He recently learned how to climb trees (yikes!!) and pedal his tricycle. He still loves any vehicle, especially emergency vehicles. We have been reading a book series based on the alphabet and he knows all of the letter names and most of the sounds. He and Evelyn play together fairly well but he loves to play by himself too, lining up cars, building with Legos, doing puzzles, and recently playing more imaginary games too. Since Emma's arrival he has begun to drop his afternoon nap (mourn with me) but we still have a quiet time and he is very good about playing quietly in his room (after a little instruction). 

Evelyn has suddenly developed a huge vocabulary and is trying new words daily. She loves to sing and dance, play with her dolls, "read" books to herself, and try to climb trees as high as Nate (even though she can't get down). She calls Emma "Em-Em" and alerts me if her Em-Em needs anything. Her blonde bouncy curls are precious and she prefers for them to be floating freely. Any attempt to tie or bow them is ripped out as soon as I'm not looking. 

Emma is 9 weeks old! She is such a sweet easy baby, for which I am immensely grateful. I probably have just forgotten how intensely I loved my other soft squishy newborn bundles, but it feels like I've never enjoyed babyhood as much as I have this time around. Maybe it gets better and more precious each time? Of course, the enjoyment factor is greatly enhanced by the fact that Emma is a great sleeper and generous giver of smiles. She prefers to be carried or worn, but will sit in her bouncy seat for short periods. Just this week she has noticed the toys hanging over said seat and has started reaching for them. She is quite strong and holds her head up with ease. She especially loves daddy singing to her.