We are also still in swimming lessons, so that seems to take up WAY too much time. But, I will proudly announce that Kendyll is officially a fish. She now swims by herself under water wtihout tears! I have been so proud of her. She even told Mrs. Linda yesterday that she wants to be a swimming teacher when she grows up. That meant so much to Linda, since Kendyll may have been her biggest challenge of the summer! She is doing great in the water, and I look forward to enjoying the rest of the summer in the pool.
I've also been busy with VBS organization after the tornado that hit our workroom and storage closet last week (not a literal tornado, but it sure looked like it after a crazy VBS week! And, see my post yesterday for how much I love organizing!!) A group of us also went to see Les Mis on Tuesday night, which was such a great night away. Les Mis is amazing and always a tear-jerker at the end. I had fun, girls!
So, all of that, combined with doctor's appointments, family visits, and errands, is the reason why I still haven't posted the Summer Schedule blog, that was requested. But, without further adieu (how do you spell that?) here is what a day looks like at our house:
(Please Note: The times listed are not always exact around our house, so add an "ish" to the end of each hour! Also, this will obviously be different depending on the ages of the children.
For example, our summer last year looked very different because Carlie was only a year old.)
Carlie's Day
8:00 Wake Up & Get Dressed
8:20 Breakfast
8:45 Outside Time (backyard, duck pond, park, or swim)
9:45 Playtime with Mommy
10:30 Art Time (Library Storytime on Wednesdays)
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Playtime with Kendyll (in bedrooms or playroom) or Errands with Mommy
1:30 Naptime
4:30 Wake Up / Video (usually Elmo!)
5:30 Daddy Playtime
6:00 Dinner, then "Everybody Clean-up" Time
7:00 Family Time (and baths)
8:00 Bedtime
Kendyll's Day
8:00 Wake Up & Morning Chores (make bed, get dressed, brush teeth, & comb hair--she doesn't leave her room until these are done---and she LOVES these new responsibilities!)
8:20 Breakfast
8:45 Outside Time
9:45 Video or Computer Time
10:30 Art Time (Library Storytime on Wednesdays)
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Playtime with Carlie or Errands with Mommy
1:30 Reading Time and School with Mommy
2:00 Choice Time (play with toys, or one TV show)
2:30 Rest Time
4:00 Get up & Chore Time (this varies...I give her different jobs depending on what needs to be done, and what she needs to clean up!)
4:30 Play with Carlie, Help Mommy with dinner
5:30 Daddy Time
6:00 Set Table, Dinner, then "Everybody Clean-Up" Time
7:00 Family Time (and baths)
8:00 Night Time Reading
8:30 Bedtime
I won't post my whole schedule too, but I basically decided what time I could wake up to have at least an hour of alone time before they were up too (not including getting-ready time). This is when I'm TRYING to have my quiet time and computer time. I also have specific things I try to do during their different playtimes. For example, when they're outside playing, I sit out there too and go through mail, read, etc. That way I'm still available to say "Good job, Carlie!" or whatever, but still get other things done. I do art time with them, lunch with them, playtime with each of them, so that I'm completely theirs for a few hours. During their rest times, I work on my summer projects, rest myself, or clean up the house (although I'm trying to wait until later in the day to do that, so that everyone participates and the girls learn to clean too! And, so that I actually get something done during their rest time!) Family time at night is going on a walk, going to the pool, playing games, or just playing in the playroom. Then, after their bedtime, I have computer time again and hubby time too. I guess I should have just written that schedule out after all!
Anyway, there it is for the whopping three of you who wanted it! :) As I said before, this is all in my ideal world. It doesn't happen exactly this way very often (especially on the days we're not home for more than two hours!), but it at least keeps us on a track of some kind. So, I hope it helps...and happy scheduling to you all! (And, those of you who have other ideas at your house, please share them too!!)
9 comments:
Chelsea- You have really inspired me this week with your "analness." I've been checking your blog every so often so I could see the actual schedule. When I see it written down, it doesn't seem quite so overwhelming. I am really going to try and incorporate something like this with our family. It will be a little more difficult because my boys wake up between 6:00 and 6:30 (AM) and Jeff works long hours and has a long commute. We very rarely have dinner together as a family. So sad. So- the daytime schedule might workd really well for us, but I will alter it in the mornings and evenings to fit our schedule.
What kinds of things do you do for "art time?" I am so uncreative when it comes to things like this. I was thinking maybe it would be art for my younger child and writing/math time for my older. Just don't know.
Thank you so much for this. I wish so badly I could have you down here for a day or two just so you I could learn from you. Maybe you should write a book.
You are so funny, Erin. WRITE A BOOK?! Now, I might have painted a really bad picture here...please don't think that our days run smoothly because we have a sheet of paper with some times and intentions written on it. We still have pure craziness most of the time! But, in my head, it somehow makes it better to know what we "could be doing" if everything goes as planned.
As for art time, it varies. Obviously, my younger one can't do many of the things my older one can. But, they still love this time the most of anything we do. I have supplies for painting, which is their favorite thing(everything from tempera, watercolors, paint "pens" that you squeeze, etc. to "paint with water" books). We have made storybooks by drawing a set of pictures and me writing at the bottom, so that Kendyll can read them later. (Carlie just colors if we do this.)
I also bought a book at Sam's recently that is all art and craft ideas. We are going to tackle a few of those too. I have bought foam frames, hats, door hangers, and a whole bunch of foam stickers for them to make for their rooms. Carlie even loves this!! The most recent "favorite" is suncatchers. Kendyll does it all by herself, and I basically help Carlie and she thinks she does it by herself!
Really, what I've found with my kids is that they don't really care what it is, it's just that they can be "free" with it and do what they want. As cheesy as it sounds, art is such an expression for young kids, and there's not a whole lot of time for them to be creative. So, that's how I see that time, really.
They're happy even painting or coloring a paper towel tube, it doesn't have to be extravagant. The other day, Kendyll just cut different shapes out the whole time and hung them around the dining room for when Daddy got home. So, it's always random.
Anyway, that's enough...sorry that was so long! I do agree that schedules are different for everyone. And, unscheduled time is always good too! I hope I've been clear about that. :)
I love your schedules. I have very similar ones for my boys and have since they were born... it has definitely helped me be a better mom! I like your playtime with your keeps individually- that's one thing I haven't done and I will try to incorporate that in our routine! Thanks for sharing them.
That is so great! I remember summer visits to my grandparents where we would have "camp" -- we would write out schedules like that and it was so fun to check the fridge to see what was next! Sounds like you at least have a plan - even if it doesn't always work perfectly!
Thanks for posting this! I love a good schedule!
One thing I used to do when I taught was save all odds and ends that could be transformed into a wonderful craft in only a way a child can do. I would keep empty toliet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, scraps of tissue or wrapping paper, ribbons, and any discarded scrapbooking supplies. These would all go into the "Invention Box" which I would pull out on occasion and the kids would love digging through my junk and creating something that considered incredibly special. Don't know if you already do this...just thought I would pass along the tip.
I love your schedules! They really inspire me to organize my days better. My favorite thing about you... is that I know you are so good at balancing your schedule and the sporadic needs of your kids :) What a great Mommy you are!
You are inspiring me -- as a schedule lover myself, this schedule of yours seems manageable and helpful. Thanks for the tips!
Love it! SuperNanny suggest this too and I thought it was a great idea! I am loving the art discussion. I, too, am horribly uncreative and hoping to give my girls some more creative tendencies. Thanks for the ideas!
Chels - I'm so proud of you! I love the idea of a schedule. I swore I'd do something like that this summer, but it hasn't come to fruition yet. How do you actually do it? I know how busy you are. I guess this is just for the days you are at home. I'm going to start tomorrow!!!
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