Keeping Home Clean

 In the early days of parenthood it can be hard to find the time to keep the house clean and organised, yet alone get out of your pajamas on some days. We have the option to "let it all go", but this only leads to feeling a little 'down in the dumps' and feeling that we are unable to cope. There are a few sure-proof ways to keep the sanity in your home when it comes to cleaning.

• Clean as you go
• Make sure that everything has a "spot" and it goes back there once you have finished using it.

10 Little Tasks To Do Each Day:

1. Make the bed (2 mins) - It's amazing how the rest of the bedroom looks much cleaner and organised when you have a well made bed.
2. Put away clothes (2 mins) - Fold and put it away if clean. Take clothes straight to the laundry and place in the hamper if dirty. This way you won't have a table or chair piled with clothes by the end of the week.
3. Sort the mail (3 mins) - As soon as you get the mail, open it and throw out what you don't need. Action anything that can be done straight away.
4. Tidy the Living Area (5mins) - This is the area where families spend the most time and also guests. So take away items that do not belong there, straighten the pillows on the couches and straighten the book pile.
5. Wipe down the Bathroom Bench - (2mins) - I keep a sponge in my bathroom and each evening I wipe down the bathroom sink, bench and mirror. Take off anything that doesnt belong on the bench and straighten your lotion and soap.
6. Scrub the toilet (1 min) - Give the toilet a quick scrub and wipe with disposable wipes.
7. Clean spills (1 min) - As soon as something spills or splatters when you are cooking, wipe it straight away so it doesn't turn into a huge cleaning project later.
8. Tidy Toys (5 mins) - Before the children start their evening routine put 5 minutes on a timer and get them to clean up their play area.
9. Do the dishes and wipe down benches (10 minutes) - after each meal wash all the dishes and wipe down all the benches and put away anything that is not needed. Your kitchen will be a happier place to work in!
10. Sweep or Vacuum (5 mins) - A quick clean in the high traffic areas of the home will keep it looking clean and will minimise the mopping at the end of the week.

5 Bigger Weekly Tasks:

1. Laundry - Depending on the size of your family will determine how often you have to wash. Each evening I load the machine and let it run during the night and then first thing in the morning I can hang it. It gives me enough time to do another load in case I need to.
2. Clear and clean all surfaces - Nothing makes you feel more overwhelmed then clutter on the dining table, benches, dressing table, desks, heaters, etc.. Give a good dusting too.
3. Ironing - Have an ironing evening which you can set aside. this way you won't have baskets full to conquer. Minimise ironing by shaking your clothes well before hanging on the line, or placing things in a dryer which don't need crease lines.
4. Mop - The weekly mopping is what makes the house *sparkle*. 
5. Scrub the bathroom - this wont take long if you have been wiping it down each evening.

Homeschool Curriculum 2013

I can't believe that we are already half way through Term 1 of 2013! Where has the time gone?! It has taken quite some time to get my head around schooling both the boys this year and working out a schedule that fits around Raphael (6 months old now!) and the rest of our busy life. We are also still figuring out the best curriculum options, but we are getting their slowly. We also made the decision to go through Groves Christian College which has an Distance Education Department and so far we are counting the blessings of this decision. Groves runs workshops, excursions, BBQs, etc... for all the students and the boys always look forward to the next event. Our next event is a 'Survival Workshop', the boys are so eager and think that they will come out fully trained to combat and survive in natural disaster or situation they find themselves in. So with no further delay, here is our curriculum choice for 2013:

Danny our 'Rescue Helicopter Man' - Grade 2:

• Phonics and Reading - 'Rod and Staff' Bible and Nurture Reader Series. The reading program is just awesome. It has worked so well for Danny and he continues to amaze me with his reading skills.
• English 
• Groves Creative Writing CUR
• Rod and Staff English
• Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting (Manuscript A)
• Spelling - New Spell of Words
• Math - Horizons (Alpha Omega Publications)
• Science - Abeka (I think we will have to find something else as it is a little to easy - maybe 'Apologia')
• Christian Living - My Bible First - This program is just fantastic! Sooo nice and easy to follow and the boys are memorizing their verses each week. The worksheets which go along are just great too.
• Art - This is definitely one of my weak points. I love art but I am not so good at it, so Praise God that we now have a close friend of mine (who is an Art teacher) doing Art class with them once a week!
• Language - The boys have both started Arabic Classes with our very dear friend Amu (uncle in Arabic) Nader. The boys are soooo excited to think that they will be able to speak Arabic to each other and no one will understand what they are saying -- cheeky boys!
• Music - Danny is participating in his first Eisteddfod playing the piano so we are looking forward to that.

Yes there are plenty of other extras that we do each week: SOSE (Study of Society and its Environment), Geography, Technology, PE, etc.. the list goes on and on and on.. but we are having fun!

Mighty Machine Marco - Prep:

• Phonics and Reading - Rod and Staff (again), but I may be changing my phonics program to 'All About Spelling' as we need something a little more hands on and visual. Will definitely stay with the reading program of R&S though - great stuff!
• Handwriting - Targeting Handwriting
• Math - Horizon; we are already half way through so may go up to the next grade or look at other options once we get there.
• Science - Abeka; but again its a little to easy so we are just doing the same as Danny.
• Christian Living - My Bible First - excellent!  He is actually remembering his memory verses!
• Art - Our wonderful friend is doing Art Class with the boys - can't count my blessings enough!
• Language - Arabic with Amu (uncle) Nader
• Music - We have just started Piano lessons - he is enthusiastic as ever. I love watching his chubby little fingers move over the piano :o)

And yes, he too completes a mountain of extra curricular things each week.By the end of the week we are ever so thankful for the Sabbath, and to spend a day in nature and learning more about our loving Saviour and Lord.

I will review our curriculum options half way through the year and so how we are running with it all. Hope that your school year is running ahead smoothly - Blessings!

RACKED Day 10

We had sooooo much fun this morning. We wrapped a gift for the rubbish truck driver and the boys colored in pictures for him. The man was soooooo happy!!! It is truly blessed to give then to receive. Share some kindness today!

RACKED Day 5-9

My best friend Tash has been soooooo good to us. She has made so much yummy food when I have been unable to with my precious Raphael. So we surprised her with a new kitchen appliances she needed.

We have a lovely elderly couple here in Toowoomba who have been through some difficulties the past couple of months, so we picked some flowers from our garden for them.

RACKED Day 4

Our good friends 'The Thompsons' left today so we gave them some traveling gifts to make their 12 hour drive back home a little more enjoyable. We hope you liked it all!

RACKED day 3

The boys friend Johann spent the afternoon in emergency with a badly cut toe. So all the children made him special 'Get Well' cards (we hope you will come to visit again).

RACKed Day 2

We have been blessed with such lovely neighbours, so we took over a gift of caramel cookie slice to them.