a little productivity

With Ballet class before school on Thurs, it seems I'm able to get a little more done. It's always really hard to get up and out the door an hour and half earlier. But the reward is that I have an extra hour to get some house work done or even errands. This morning I worked on my kitchen. It's still not as neat and tidy as I'd like it but it's better. I hope that one day I will master a neat house all the time. (probably not but it's a nice dream.)

I'm hoping I can keep up with the laundry starting this week. I did a lot better when I washed a load every day whether how large or small it was. It seemed like I was able to get it folded and put away that day. Lately I wait until the baskets are overflowing and then it sits clean in baskets until we've taken out all the clean clothes to wear. I should probably go back to my daily cleaning schedule too. I had certains day to clean bathrooms, change sheets, mop the floors, etc. I was able to keep up with everything more that way. Usually I only spent an hour or 2 a day cleaning instead of taking an entire day to get things done. The house stayed picked up more too.

I better get off of here and put this burst of energy to good use.

Things we've done today

• Ate breakfast
• Got dressed
• Dropped Aynslee off at school
• Mopped kitchen floor
• Taken trash out
• Put recycling out
• Washed 2 loads of clothes
• Payed bills
• Made beds

This new schedule is very productive for me. It seems as if I am actually getting a few things done around here. Maybe my house will stay some what picked up and in order with all of this. I'd say that is definitly something positive.

And to think yesterday I felt like I had nothing to do, I found some useful things for my time.

Since I've been so productive this morning I think I'll reward myself with some knitting before we have to go get Aynslee.

a little mommy time

Both girls are peacefully napping. We had a playdate at a friends house this morning and they were so tired. Aynslee really needed the nap she woke up at 6:15am. She laid down quietly with me for about an hour then I turned on cartoons for her.

We have a busy week ahead. My mom flies in tomorrow and she will be here for 2 weeks. Josh's parents get in on Friday. Then Sat we are having a little cake for Avery's birthday. So if I disappear over the next two weeks that's why.

I have to get my house picked up and cleaned good. I did a little bit yesterday. I had planned on getting some stuff done on Sat but we ended up going to St Augustine to get some supplies for me to make Avery's cake. We also make a trip in the Stride Rite store to get Aynslee a new pair of white shoes for the summer. I just love their shoes for her.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Quiet Time

Aynslee is now in a big girl bed. We moved the twin size mattress into their room and took her crib down. I didn't think I'd get so sad to see the crib come out of her room. It's low to the floor so we don't have to worry about her falling out but naptime became a problem. Since she is able to get out of bed.

So I am trying out "quiet time" I told her she just had to stay in her room until a certain time. She could either read books or play with her toys but she wasn't to come out until I came to get her. I am hoping she will fall asleep she really does need an afternoon nap. But if she doesn't nap then I guess we will adjust her bedtime to an earlier time.

*************************************

This morning while Avery took a 2 hour nap. I cleaned up my room and decluttered it. The mess really never bothered me. But not it does. It makes me grumpy. So I am trying my hardest to get my house picked up and hopefully stay that way. I'll work on one room at a time and then just do a quick declutter a few times a week as needed. It's so nice walking in to my room and seeing nothing on the dresser/nightstands and a clean freshly vacuumed floor.

Next up on my to do list today is cleaning up the kitchen. I have to wait for Avery's afternoon nap for that but it has to get done. We were invited to a super bowl party yesterday and I didn't get a chance to get all the dishes cleaned up from lunch. Then Josh made a pot of chili for an MWR fundraiser at work. He didn't clean up his mess.

I'll try to get the pictures of Aynslee in her "big girl bed" posted soon.

Time Management

I am working on my "time management." Aparently that is the reason why my house always looks trashed. Most of the mess isn't from my toddler it's mine. I will admit that. Things seem to pile up and before I realize it there is a moutain on top of the entertainment center or end tables.

So last night after the girls were in bed I cleaned the kitchen and folded some laundry. I had the energy to do it. If I make myself take the extra 2 seconds to pick up after we have breakfast it's worth it. The kitchen might just stay neat and tidy. I declutter the table and buffet top on Sat. Last night after I picked up all the dishes and put them either in the dishwasher or were they belonged. I worked on the counters a bit.

I have also realized to get any "Me" during the day. Which right now consists of exercise I have to take Avery's morning nap time. So this morning while she napped I was able to sqeeze in a 20 minute work out. I know that I won't be able to do this every morning because some days we have things to do but on the days we stay home which is at least 2 or 3 I can work on making this a habit.

We shall see how this all goes.

****************************************************

I was invited to join a playgroup. I am not really sure how it works but I emailed whomever is in charge of it. I'll let you know how it goes. I already attend one of their weekly meet ups. I probably won't do everything they do. I think they meet up a few times a week. We already have our church playgroup that we rarly attend. I only go to the ones I think Aynslee will enjoy. I stay away from the indoor play place at McDonalds and the one at the mall. To many germs for me. A lot of times that's were that one meets. This week it's at someones house so we are going to try to attend. I like my days at home.

*****************************************************

My potty training boot camp is working out well for Aynslee. She is now telling me when she has to go potty and has minimal accidents. She still isn't pooping in the potty but at this point I glad not to be going through 6 + pairs of panties in a day.

Both Josh and I have realized her problem is the TV not only with potty training but with her additude. So we have been limiting the TV a lot. When it's just me and the girls during the week I rarly turn it on in the morning. I am working on cutting it during the afternoons. On Sat. I didn't even turn it on in the morning like we usually do. She was fine. She plays so well without it so really she doesn't need to watch it.

Avery is being her fussy self so I need to end this.

Until next time..........................

We are hanging out at home. I am trying to do some picking up. Aynslee has taken off with the remote for the DVD player. It will only work with the remote so we can't watch movies in the LR, which is a pain. So I am picking up in an effort to find it, even though we have looked every where in that room, the kitchen, her bedroom, the guest room and our room. We still haven't found it.

I am going to enjoy the little bit of quiet time I have right now. Both girls are napping well at least one is, Avery. I put Aynslee down for a nap but I hear here in there talking.

There is laundry to be folded a more cleaning to be done.

Until next time.................

Free movie my favorite kind

Yesterday, we went with our church playgroup to the movies. On weds. for the entire summer they have an already released movie they show for free with half off kids packs. I was leary at first about going with out another adult to help me with Aynslee but I went anyway. I knew it would be a theater full of children and no one would notice if mine was acting up.

She did well. I got her a popcorn, drink and candy. (which she didn't eat) I wish I had my camera she sat in her sit and watched most of the movie that way. Then she walked around a bit then sat down and watched the rest of the movie. We are going again next week with a friend and her daughter. I already have the tickets.

Afterwards myself and another lady went into JcPenny's. Right now we are having no tax for the back to school stuff including clothes. I got 4 shirts and 2 skirts for $30.00. Although I think she didn't charge me right for one of my skirts. The rack I got it off of was 70% off. I think she did 40%.

I didn't have the double stroller jus the umbrella one for Avery. I ended up having to put the leash on Aynslee because she wouldn't stay next to me. I was trying to look through lots of clothes racks to find the right size. She makes me nervous. She will just run in the opposite direction on me without looking back. She was walking so slowly, the best word to decribe it is "farting around," she trips then lands head first into one of the display poles. I heard her head hit and it sounded like it was hard. I picked her up felt her head, no bumbs, asked her if she was ok, which she tells me she is and we went on our merry way. I was worried about her head but she played fine all day long.

Both my kids were in bed by 7:30 pm. Avery was asleep. Aynslee took a little longer to fall asleep. She missed her nap so when that happens I put her to bed early. I was so beat from the days events and heat. I did manage to stay up for, "Last Comic Standing."

I had an terrible night sleeping. Which is becoming a habit, I am fine until I wake up then I have trouble going back to sleep. Avery was up at 6:00am talking to herself. She finally went back to sleep but both of them were awake by 7:30am. I could have slept longer.

There are things I would like to go out and do today. However; we will be staying home. As to avoid the heat and get some things done in the house. I have the usual laundry to do, cleaning to get done and meals to prepare. Along with the taking care of small children which is a job all on it's own. Especially my oldest child, if you have met her you'd understand what I am saying. She is exhauting all on her own.

Until next time..............

It's Mine

This is the newest phrase in our house. I have no idea where Aynslee got it from. It's either, "It's mine" or "It's Aynslee's." It doesn't matter what it is either even if it's not hers.

It's been a while since I updated everyone on my progress with Weight Watchers. I am down 4.2 pounds. Last week wasn't a good week for me. The weekends are whats are getting me too. We have things going on either we've been out or we've had a party to attend. Instead of being good I give in and "treat myself." I am hoping this week I can get back on track. I want to try to integrating exercise in this week. I know I tried this a while back until I hurt my toe then was to lazy to start back when my toe was healed. I am thinking pilates and walking. I need some serious toning on my lower half and pilates will give me my desired look. I have all the tapes so it makes sense. My only problem is that nursing I get 10 extra points which is a lot of points for me to eat, by adding in exercise I earn more points that I have to eat so it might be harder on me. I have trouble eating all my points some days. I struggle with what to eat. Raw veggies are usually no points so even with it being a healthy choice I still need to find more things to eat. What happens most often is I get frustered and don't snack anymore. The key thing with loosing weight with the point system is eating all the points because if you don't you won't see the results you want.

Since we were running around all weekend I have some catching up to get done around the house. Hopefully I can get things done since I have no plans to go anywhere for a few days. I am trying to stay home as much as possible.

My oldest child is whining and being difficult. I must go for now.

Until next time...........

Very Behind

It's Friday and I am wondering what I did all week besides my daily load of laundry. I didn't get much done at all. I will be playing catch up this morning.

We had to drove over to the base where Josh works yesterday. It's about an hour away. I wanted to check their Exchange to see if they had the car seat for Aynslee. It's a smaller store but they tend to have more things in stock than the one near us. I also wanted to go because we had gotten one of the scratch offs in the mail. I hate to waste those. They had the seat I was looking for and the new Vera Bradley large backpack in pink elephants. I have been looking for that bag for about a month now. You know as soon as I saw it I grabbed it up. No wallets though but my bermuda pink matches it for the most part. I got 10% off the purchase what is nice.

I still haven't taken Avery out of the infant seat. She has a bit more room before we will really need to, now I have the seat ready for when I will need it. I took the one Aynslee was sitting in, which is the one that is rear facing or forward facing, and I put her in the new seat I got her. It goes up to 100 pounds so we shouldn't have to worry about a new seat for a long time. It's also a little booster the back comes off. I got 3 for the price of one which is always nice. I think Aynslee made it to 4 months before she was to long for the infant seat. I am hoping I can get another month or so out of the seat before Avery must come out of it. It's just sad to put away the baby seat and use the bigger one.

My weigh in days will now be on Friday instead of Monday. I figured that would be better. Then I could recover from the weekend before weighing in. So I lost a pound since Monday, which is good. Now only 27 to get to my goal, my pre Avery weight isn't that far off only 6 more for that. The other 20 is weight I had gained over the years of being married.

Ok, I need to close this post for now. My children are fussy this morning.

Until next time...............