Hi Ho, Hi Ho, We Need A Schedule to Go...

As we get more and more prepared to start schooling at home again next week, I realize that fall is my favorite times of the year. While each season has its high points (yes, even winter - but then the Christmas season ends and you're left with the rest of the winter here - UGH!), fall is really the best time of the year. Warm days and cool nights, fires in the fireplace, the golden yellows, oranges and dark reds that decorate everything, the crunch of the leaves as you walk down the sidewalk, the quiet each day as the neighborhood empties in to school leaving us to our own family time and the routine of life as we head to the holidays makes the warmth of the season surround me. I just love this time of year!

The past few years have seen me far too busy dealing with kids, school, and surgeries to fully enjoy the preparation of the holidays. I'm going to change that this year. My Christmas gene needs to prepare for, and enjoy, a wonderfully marvelous holiday season. So I've been searching for ways to get ready on time, and yes even early. I have found two websites: www.organizedchristmas.com and holidaygrandplan.com. One of them is going to guide me through. Yes, I'll change and adapt it to meet our needs but I need someone else to help me get organized this year. I admit it. I'm open to change as long as I don't have to think it all up myself.

I'm also redoing the kids schedules, their responsibilities and chores, and their attitude charts. Starting next week Laura will get her own chores to do along with her usual 'help' that she is required to give us when we request it. She has already started helping me fold small towels and to match up some of her socks so I think she's ready. Matthew will be taking on more responsibilities as fits his older abilities, and he'll be teaching Jonathan how to do some of the things he's been doing for awhile, too. I think it will take us awhile to get in to the new groove, but it is very much a welcome thing for most of us. I'm not so sure about Laura. :)

All in all, fall is a new beginning. Ours begins next Monday. And frankly, I can't wait! The kids with their noses in books, time with them while everyone else is gone for the day, games, music, piano and guitar lessons... Yes! What a great way to spend our fall! And if it all leads to a prepared, relatively stress free holiday, I'm all for it!