I have great kids!

I love it when my kids get inspired to help each other. While I was gone this past weekend my older two girls helped my youngest clean, organize, and re-arrange her bedroom. I couldn't even walk into this bedroom before I left because Libby is known for trying on clothes and leaving them on the floor and bringing up clean clothes and not putting them away. It was a mess and a headache for me every time I seen it. I just haven't had the time or energy to help her tackle it and it had become to overwhelming for her to accomplish it on her own. Sisters to the rescue. Anna and Kaylyn spent much of Saturday helping her sort through things that could be given to Goodwill and things that could be dumped. Bless their hearts. I am REALLY glad they showed me her bedroom and the hallway closet (more of their organizing) before I found the results of the cleaning in the laundry. It was much easier to over look the unsorted clothes all on the floor after seeing how much work they put into the closet and Libby's bedroom.

Spring Cleaning-Anna's room

Yeah! One more room to check off my list. I am losing my momentum, can you tell?

Before picture:

After pictures:

The beads hanging in the doorway are Anna's personal alarm system. She can hear from anywhere in the house if someone goes in her bedroom because the beads are making noise. Including the poor dog who Anna does not like getting on her bed.Look at all those soccer balls under her saucer chair. Just how many soccer balls does one girl need?Yes, my daughter loves to hunt. These are her own mounts. She even saved up money to pay for them herself.
Isn't this a cool wall? Anna painted it herself. I think she did an excellent job! That circle on the wall is a glare off her mirror.

Some of what was done:
-Stripped bedding and washed it
-moved bed to clean and vacuum under it
-washed window inside and out (Can't get that cling on paint stuff off her window. I think I will make the Auntie that gave it to her come over and clean it.)
-dumped trash
-washed marks on wall with the wonderful "Magic Eraser"
-organized her stuff

Want some inspiration? Visit Monica at The Homespun Heart to see how others are doing with their spring cleaning.

Smiles!

Spring Cleaning-Kids bathroom

Before picture:

I didn't dare go much further in for the picture for fear of terrible embarrassment. My husband and I both refuse to use the kids bathroom because they don't clean up after themselves and they don't seem to have very good "aim". Ewww.

After pictures:

I went shopping to Target (new rug) and Hobby Lobby today to make some fun things for the walls now that the bathroom is so shiney clean.

Speaking scripture into my children.

In case you can't read them I will type it out for you...

Zachary
That whatever Zachary does, he will work at it with all his heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since he knows that he will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ he is serving.
~Colossians 3:23-24

Georgiana
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, may Georgiana clothe herself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
~Colossians 3:12

Kaylyn
Let Kaylyn not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time she will reap a harvest if she does not give up.
~Galatians 6:9

Elizabeth
That Elizabeth will be strong and courageous, and do the work. That she not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, her God, is with her. He will not fail her or forsake her until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.
~I Chronicles 28:20

We have always had the towel hooks hanging in the bathroom but I decided to "spruce" them up a little.

Some of what was done:
-remove shower curtain and launder it
-scrub shower/tub
-empty trash and soak trash can (why can't kids put gum in tissue before dumping it?)
-wash down toilet
-wash mirror
-empty drawers, wash them, replace only essential items (how many toothbrushes can one child use anyway?)
-empty cupboards, wash them, replace only essential items (what do they do with the rocks I found in cupboard?)
-wash down walls where needed
-wash door
-hand wash floor
-spruce up a bit

Smiles!

Wordless Wednesday

See other Wordless Wednesday participants at 5 Minutes for Mom

Spring Cleaning-Master bedroom and bathroom

"Before" pictures of the Master bedroom:

My sweet husband makes the bed for me every morning so this really is how my bedroom looked the morning I started. If it was left up to me the bed might not get made until right before I crawl into it at night. Silly yes but it is nice to get into a made bed so yes if Mark isn't home to make it I do make it before going to bed.

Another view before the "cleanfest".

"After" pictures of the Master bedroom:

A partial list of what was done to it:
-stripped the bedding and washed it
-picked up the matress and box springs and everything that had found it's way under the bed and vacuumed
-removed everything that didn't belong in the room (look next to the bed on my side, pack rat)
-swiffered the walls
-removed and washed the light fixture and cleaned the ceiling fan
-washed the windows inside and out (they tip in for easy cleaning)
-dusted the blinds
-cleaned out the dresser drawers and dumped things with holes in them (I'll spare you the pictures)
-made a new bedskirt and put it on
-bought a pretty basket to hold blankets (instead of the plastic laundry basket)
-vacuumed the lampshades

"Before" picture of Master bathroom:(Note the cracked toilet seat and the new one waiting to replace it still in the box leaning against the tub. How long do those projects wait to get done in your house?)

"After" pictures of the Master bathroom:

This second "after" pictures is just to show you another tip for making the most out of your mirror. I buy suction cup hooks and hang my jewelry on them on the mirror. I just bought some more to do the same in the kids bathroom. It works really well. I even hang my glasses there while I am not wearing them.

Some of what was done:
-washed down bathtub/shower
-removed and cleaned furnace vent
-hand washed the floors and cabinet faces
-cleaned the mirror
-dump out-dated toiletries/medications
-washed the rug and toilet cover
-replaced broken toilet seat

Now it is on to the kids bathroom and Anna's bedroom to catch up on my goals. Yikes I am running a bit behind.

Want some inspiration? Visit Monica at The Homespun Heart to see how others are doing with their spring cleaning.

Smiles!

How is it going you ask?

I've got my cleaning supplies in hand and I am plugging away.

I have come to realize that I set quite an aggressive goal but I am not allowing myself to become discouraged. I would rather have each area really deep cleaned then to rush through it now to stay on schedule.

( Confession: I really would like to have that outfit. I love the look of that era's dresses.)
I have gotten through my bedroom and bathroom. If you look at the list I should also have conquered Anna's bedroom and the kid's bathroom. I may get those two done today. I am holding off on pictures because I am also sewing a new bed skirt for our bed and Anna's bed. I had already bought the fabric for ours I just hadn't gotten to making it yet. What better time to remove the old bed skirt than when I have the mattress off the box springs right? We have a king size bed so I picked up the box springs so that I could vacuum under the whole bed.

Back to cleaning...

I also just realized that it is the 8th and I need to update you on how I am doing on my 8 in 2008 intentional living goals....

1. Keep up our 1,000 Gifts List
-We (I) have been adding more things to our 1000 gifts list.
2. Work @ becoming a Proverbs 31 woman
-I don't have a tangible way to measure this but I feel I am making progress.
3. Consistant quiet time/devotions
-I am blessed by the fact that my quiet time is becoming much more consistent.
4. Memorize scripture weekly
-I have memorized a couple of verses since last month. But probably not weekly.
5. Spend 1 on 1 time with each child
-I did take Zack out to lunch yesterday since he had a half a day of school but other than that it has been a pretty busy month.
6. Complete sewn gift for Julie and Leo
-Haven't touched this because I am working on a baby gift for them.
7. Build up to run with Anna this summer
-Well this is going to be a huge challenge. I haven't done anything and summer is coming. Yikes!
8. Complete knitted gift for Crystal and Jeremy
-This one is getting really close to being complete. Yeah!

So there you go. I am so happy that this month's "check-in" was much better than last month's "check-in".
Smiles!

Spring Cleaning Motivation

I could use a little motivation. How about you?

Look what Monica from The Homespun Heart is doing.

Click on the image to check out how she plans on motivating us.

Here is my plan:
Master bedroom and bathroom - 3/6
Anna's room - 3/7
Kids bathroom - 3/7
Kaylyn/Libby's room - 3/12
Landing closet and staircase -3/13
Living room and Dining room -3/14
Computer/Sewing room -3/19
Kitchen -3/20
Back bathroom/Laundry room -3/21
Stairs and downstairs living room -3/26
Zack's room -3/27

It seems a little daunting to me but it would feel great to accomplish it. Wish me luck.

Smiles!