Well, I guess TOMORROW we'll officially be back, but we kick started it tonight.
It's been a really weird few months around here, and I am happy to say that it is over! Tonight, we had Family Home Evening for the first time in FOREVER. Our theme was routines, and having a house of order. To start, we had a reminder of how FHE is run... you know, prayer, opening song, family business, and all that. I even have a new assignment wheel, and we went over what is expected for each item. Our FHE jobs are: Conducting, Prayers, Music, Lesson, Activity, and Treat. We also will have a scripture to study and memorize each month.
And speaking of scriptures, BAM! Morning routine. The whole house will be up bright and early at 6:30 am. In the past, we have tried doing scriptures at all sorts of different times. But now that the kids are getting older, and we have evening activities, and after school stuff, and board meetings, the only feasible time that we are all together is first thing in the morning, SO, we now have this:
Morning Routine
1. Rise and Shine
- 6:30 AM = GET OUT OF BED
- Say your morning prayers
- Make your bed
- Use the restroom
2. Family Prayer & Scripture Study
- 6:45 AM – Don’t be late!
3. Get Ready
- 7:00 AM – Breakfast
- Get dressed
- Wash your face
- Brush your hair
- Brush your teeth
4. Get Your Stuff Together
- Homework signed
- Lunch packed
- Backpack zipped and ready to go
5. Ready to Go!
We also have an "Afternoon thru Bedtime Routine". It covers your options for a productive afternoon. The kids have this chunk of time when they need to get things done. There are their daily responsibilities, plus they will have to do their reading, practice their instruments, do their homework, and etc. We went over different consequences for their choices, because we needed reminders. For example, if you don't do your homework, because you decided to play with your friends all afternoon, GREAT! But you're not staying up late to finish. You can choose to wake up earlier, or you can tell your teacher that you didn't get it done. But it's not MY problem, or Dad's.
We also went over what to do when you get home. Hang up your backpack. Put your lunchbox by the kitchen sink. WASH YOUR GERMY HANDS. (Momma's body can't handle all the extra germs from the monkey bars and bathroom doors. Bleh!)
We also went over snacking and reminded people that the kitchen closes at FOUR. Snacking all the live long day does not fly. Plus, I have the weirdo kids that eat all the dinner ingredients instead of the actual "snacks" that are in the pantry. No joke, Thaddeus ate a pint of grape tomatoes and a couple of the roma tomatoes that I needed for dinner. I mean, I knew he would eat some, but I thought he would perchance limit it to one a day. Meanwhile, Taylor is eating all the carrots, Blayne is chomping down on cheese, and Daniel is eating the ham that was going to be used for our sandwiches for lunch. It's not a problem, it's just that I need them to eat the stupid granola bars already!
Anyways, I'm getting away from myself.
As we were going over all of our routines and expectations, Miss Taylor's hand kept shooting up in the air asking all sorts of hypothetical questions. Troy was sniggering behind his hand, meanwhile I am trying to keep a straight face as I answer yet another question about a possible loophole.
I tell you what, people, it is the loopholes that kill you.
Here's a perfect example, after school, you are to come straight home. But I had to put in the stipulation that you have to come home UNLESS prior arrangements have been made with a parent. But not with "A" parent. Prior arrangements have to be made, and agreed upon, with YOUR parent, as in: me and Troy, AND the other child's parent.
I swear to you people, my children would be the greatest lawyers in the world. They would find the loophole in a mass murder case.
At any rate, we will be UP and AT 'EM bright and early.,, Lord, give me strength.
