Posted on this category page: Homemaking Secrets from My Dusty Shelves

Laundry is a never-ending task in any family. In a large family, it's monumental. I've picked up a few tips and habits over the years that help keep this chore manageable.

SCHEDULE

Depending on how busy our weeks are, I fluctuate between two schedules for keeping up with our laundry. Having a plan is essential. When I'm home regularly and have the energy to keep up with it, I try to do 2-3 complete loads of laundry every day. Complete means washing, drying, folding or hanging, and putting everything away. I usually wash and dry throughout the day, then fold and put away after dinner. If I do 2 or 3 loads every day, the laundry does not get out of control. There's always something dirty left in the hamper, but at least the hamper is not overflowing.

If we have a busy week or I'm drained of energy, I will keep up with the washing and drying but I won't put anything away. (My hubby's good for washing and drying but he doesn't like to put away. For this particular process, he is helpful.) In this case, we stack the clean laundry in baskets in the corner of our bedroom and I will put it away 2 days a week -- usually on Wednesday and Saturday.

ORGANIZATION

Storage space for the clothing of a large family is hard to come by. Many large families have adopted the family closet. The basic idea behind this concept is to have a large laundry room or a small spare room in which all family clothing can be stored. Various ways of organizing within this room can be created, depending on the available space and resources.

We have neither a laundry room large enough to house our clothes, nor a spare room for them. I have developed a way of organizing our clothes within the closets and chests of drawers that allows us to keep them in the bedrooms. We have 3 boys in our boys' room and 4 girls in our girls' room. Each room has a closet with a top bar and a bottom bar. The top bar is very high so I hang the older children's clothes there and the younger children's clothes on the bottom bar. Clothes are hung by outfit on single hangers -- one dress or shirt-and-pants set per hanger. In the chest of drawers, each child is assigned one drawer. In the drawer they keep their underwear/panties/or onesies on the left side, socks in a small rubbermaid tub in the middle, and pajamas on the right side. The bottom drawer in each chest stores pull-ups, diapers, and/or wipes.

RECRUITS

Involve your children no matter their age. It's important that they learn to participate in the running of the household. This helps them develop the character trait of responsibility and allows them to feel as though they are contributing to the family. Older children can help with washing and drying and will usually enjoy the job. Be sure to teach them how to sort, select water temperature, measure detergent, and carefully use bleach. Posting these directions near the washing machine is also helpful.

In our home, all the children put their own laundry into their drawers -- including the 2-year-old. I usually put the clothes on hangers and put them into the closets myself. The children ages 4 and up help put wash clothes and towels away in the kitchen and bathrooms. Children can also help with sock matching/rolling and clothes folding. My sister-in-law's family has "folding parties" in which they all sit around the living room and fold laundry together.

COLOR-CODING

As an organizational tool used in many areas of our home, I have assigned each child a color. Their color is used for school supplies, sippy cups (when they were younger), schedules on the calendar, and also their hangers. This way they can identify their own clothing when choosing something to wear in the morning.

LIMITATIONS

The best way to control laundry is to limit laundry. For this reason, I have limited each child to 8 everyday outfits and 3 dress outfits, 5 pair of pajamas, 9 pair of socks, and 9 underwear/panties/onesies. If something new comes in, something old goes out. For myself, I have the same limitations except I allow myself 12 every day outfits and 5 dress outfits. I don't limit my hubby -- he's a clothes horse -- but with everyone else limited I can manage his "excess."  These limitations not only allow us to fit everyone's clothing into our limited storage space, but also keep the dirty pile do-able.

SOCKS

Sorting socks is a job that I have always loathed until I picked up this tip. Now I confine socks to one style per child. Sock-makers these days help with this by color-coding different sizes. For instance, my middle boys' socks are all ankle socks with a green M on the bottom. The other two boys each have a different style and maker so the markings on their socks are different. When it's time to sort socks, the job is easy! I have a friend who safety pins pairs of socks together before they go into the washing machine. She leaves the pins in through the dryer, then puts the socks in the drawers still pinned. She never has to sort socks!

I imagine this seems like a lot of rules, but it actually makes things much easier. If you're overwhelmed by your clothing, maybe one or more of these tips will help you conquer it!

Blessings,

Posted on this category page: Family Life in Our Blessed Home

I had another ultrasound today. We found out we will be blessed with another baby girl! Thank you Lord!

In Awe,

Posted on this category page: Confessions of an Imperfect Momma

It's rare that I go to the store and qualify for the "Express" lane. I usually have an overflowing grocery cart. Recently I had one of those rare occasions when I had only a few items and I ventured through the self-check-out lane. Wow, what an experience.

As many of you mommas can relate, I usually have my children with me. Going through the self-checkout with children is challenging. Going through the self-checkout with SIX children is a battle! One decided to walk away. One decided to sit in the bagging area and the computer nearly flipped about the "unexpected item in bagging area." One daughter sat on the floor in an unlady-like position while wearing a skirt and caused the cashier to scold me for allowing her to sit that way. (She was behind me. I hadn't noticed because I was trying to convince the computer I wasn't sneaking merchandise into my bags without scanning it first!) Then there are the light items that you scan but they don't seem to register when you place them in your bag. And there always seems to be some problem that requires the cashier's assistance anyway. Really? Is it worth it?

Just venting,

Posted on this category page: Lessons from Our Humble Homeschool

We're trying a new-to-us schedule this year and we're liking it. Just thought we'd share it with you. We began our lessons the first week of August. Our plan is to have 9 weeks of lessons, followed by a 2-week break, and do this all school-year. This gives us a break in October, December (over Christmas and New Year), and in March (near Easter). Our school year will end in late May when we'll take a 2-month summer break. This schedule allows us plenty of school days to meet our state's requirements and gives us long, regular breaks through the school year. We're completing our Autumn break right now. We were all ready for this break and we've enjoyed the time off. Now we're ready to get back to lessons on Monday!

Blessings,

Posted on this category page: Healthy Habits

This is a recipe that I've tweaked over the years. Avacadoes are excellent for balancing your body's pH so eating this topping daily is very healthful.

4 avacadoes

1/2 tomato

1/4 yellow onion

1/4 cup chopped black olives

Peel and pit avacadoes. Mash in a medium mixing bowl with a potato masher until soft. They will remain lumpy. Chop tomato and onion. I use a food chopper. You could use a food processor if you want a smoother consistency. I like my guacamole chunky. Mix tomato, onion, and black olives into avacado. Cover and chill in refrigerator for about 2 hours then serve. This should be eaten within 2 or 3 days. It may turn "gray" after a day. This is normal. Just stir well.

If you're not vegan, you can add 1 cup of sour cream to this recipe.

Hint: Ripe avacadoes are dark brown to black and soft but not mushy. Hard, green avacadoes should set on the counter until ripe.

Enjoy,

Posted on this category page: Homemaking Secrets from My Dusty Shelves

I recently started a new allowance system with our children. Up until now, they have not had an allowance. Paying an allowance to 6.5 children could get quite expensive, but I wanted them to learn how to budget and save. So I devised a more financially feasible system that has been a big hit in our home over the past month.

The first thing I did was buy a roll of "Admit One" tickets from the office supplies section at Wal-mart. These were about $5 and will last us quite a while.

Next, I made a list of their assigned chores then added a list of "optional" chores that need to be done around the house. Next to each chore, I added a ticket value. Small jobs are worth 1 ticket. Difficult jobs are worth 3 tickets. In-between jobs are worth 2 tickets. An example of each would be: Make your bed - 1 ticket. Weed the rockbed - 2 tickets. Clean up all toys in the backyard - 3 tickets.

Finally, I made a list of things they could purchase with their tickets. Most of the things on the list were no-cost items. Some examples: A prize from the treasure box (which contains small candies and small dollar store toys) costs 10 tickets. One 1/2-hour of video game play costs 30 tickets. Breakfast in bed costs 40 tickets. A date with Dad or Mom costs 50 tickets. A sleepover with a friend costs 60 tickets. They may also turn in their tickets for cash. The value of each ticket depends upon the age of the child since the jobs they do increase in difficulty with age. The older children average between 25 and 35 tickets per week.

Our tickets are treated as cash. I wear a small utility apron during the day that I carry essentials in. One pocket contains tickets that I hand out as they complete and I inspect each job. I re-use the tickets once they are cashed in. If a child loses his/ her tickets, we do not replace them. If a child finds a stray ticket lying on the floor, he/she is allowed to keep it. This is done with the intent of teaching them to be responsible with their tickets just as they will need to be responsible with cash someday.

This program has been a success with our children. Of course, the 2yo isn't on the program since she doesn't comprehend it at all. The 4yo and 5yo don't quite grasp the value of the tickets yet. They enjoy getting them and spending them, but aren't concerned about the amount they acquire. Although my 4yo has already saved up enough for a date with me. The ones who understand it the most and are using it to their advantage are the 6yo, 9yo, and 12yo. They have been inspired to complete several "optional" jobs in order to save up for their goals. I appreciate this tremendously because it lightens my housework load without nagging. They're also learning valuable housekeeping, self-discipline, and budgeting skills!

Blessings,

Posted on this category page: Family Life in Our Blessed Home

Currently we are stationed in Alabama but our orders run out in a few months. We had expected to serve another year here, but the Army changed those plans. We applied for another duty station but were turned down today. We are very disappointed and a little disoriented. We know God is in control and he will take care of us. Not sure where we'll be a few months from now, but resting in God's care. Still trying to let go of my need to plan!

Posted on this category page: Lessons from Our Humble Homeschool

The new craze in the homeschool movement is Workboxes developed by Sue Patrick. Before I get into our use of them I want to highly recommend you see her site (www.workboxsystem.com) and purchase her book if you're interested. I bought the e-book which I got instantly and was able to begin setting up our workbox system right away. There's also at least one workbox yahoo group out there. I'm a member of this one (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/workbox_fun/). (I can't figure out why my hyper-links don't work???)

I came across a blog in May whose author mentioned her use of workboxes and I was intrigued. I now believe it was no accident because the workboxes have transformed our homeschool for the better. My youngers don't know "school" any other way, but my olders tell me regularly that they love the workboxes and they prefer "doing school" this way.

I've had to adapt the idea because we are short on space. With 6 blessings and another on the way, I cannot possibly have a shelving system for each child in our classroom, or even spread throughout our home. We use a file box per child with 8-12 envelopes inside each box. We call the file box their Workbox and the envelopes their Pockets. Here's what we do:

 1. I fill the boxes each night or early in the morning before lessons start. I start with their schedule grids, schedule folders, pre-made tags, and workbox pockets. I use my lesson plan lists (by subject) and their schedule grids (by child) to fill each pocket. (Sue talks about the schedule grid in the book.) In the pockets go any worksheets or paper they need. I also include workbooks, picture books, novels, file folder games, math manipulatives, special tools like post-its or permanent markers that are not readily accessible, etc. If they are doing something that I cannot put in the pocket, I will put a note like “Meet me in the kitchen for a special snack.” When we play games, I will put a piece of the game in each child's pocket (ie, a bingo card). I do not put textbooks or everyday items like pencils, crayons and glue sticks in the pockets.

This is my spread of "stuff" getting ready for a new school day. Missing here is the schedule grid and my lesson plan lists.

This is a schedule grid. Each child is assigned a different color and I use their colors for everything.

This is my box of tags which go on the pockets and on the schedule folder. These took quite a bit of time to make, so allow yourself some prep time before you begin using the system.

2. I combined a few aspects of the workbox system into one schedule folder for ease and organization. On the front cover is the child's name and their 3 "Help, Please" tags. (Sue explains these in the book. They have worked in helping my children to be selective about interrupting me with questions.) Inside the folder is their schedule on the left and a place to collect tags from their pockets or centers that have been completed. This gives them that visual inspiration to keep working because they can see how much they've done and how much they have left to do. If an assignment requires my input (like teaching a math lesson) I add a "Work with Mom" tag to the front of the pocket. They are allowed to ask any questions they need to while they're completing a Work with Mom pocket.

This is the front of a schedule folder.

This is the inside of a schedule folder. You can see the schedule on the left. I made extra tags that I leave at each center so they can add those to the "Done" side once they've completed it. They also have number tags attached to their pockets which also go on the "Done" side.

This is a pocket with a "Work with Mom" tag.

3. These workboxes are ready for the day. (This was a light day for my kindergartners. The toddler's box is filled with different toys each day.)

4. The children check-in at the start of our lessons. They like this step. It helps them get into the mindset for learning. They also like to tease each other if anyone forgets to check-out at the end of the day that they “slept in school.” We start the day in our Morning Center. We pray here, say the pledge, look at pictures of our baby’s development, do our counting and calendar activities, and read a couple stories. Even the big kids enjoy this part of the day.

 In and Out pockets and cards.

 5. Next, the children gather their workboxes and move to our work table. They love the anticipation of seeing what's on their schedule and what "surprises" are in each pocket.

6. We've had a very difficult couple of years with my husband away from home often due to military obligations and my cancer incident last year. Our homeschool became, "Just the facts Ma'am. Nothing but the facts." In other words, the fun stuff went out the window and we focused on dry basics just to get by. What I love about this system is that it has restored the "fun" in our homeschool. We incorporate lots of centers and learning activities that we just couldn't make time for before. It also allows me to teach multiple grade levels and still have time for one-on-one interaction with each of my children. It's amazing!

Luke working on a geography center.

Lucy after completing a science pocket chart.

Leif working at the center table making a book mark.

Levi at the listening center listening to a book-on-tape.

Lily at the art center.

Leah at the listening center.

10. As they complete their work, they turn in any paperwork and workbooks to the “Done Basket” on my desk. They put their empty pockets into the “White Basket” on the floor so they’re ready for me to fill again.

I LOVE this system. It works well for my organization-craving brain. There’s a place for everything so it’s easy to keep our classroom clean. Both my children and I know what is expected for the day. Teaching my kindergarten level children, including one with special needs, how to use it has been a little bit of a challenge, but that is to be expected at their ages. Lord willing, by next year they’ll do this without thinking about it! Also, filling the boxes daily is difficult. I haven’t settled into a pattern with that yet. However, I believe the Lord led me to this because I need it this year!

Blessings,