Update on the new routine and cookbook project

So, the first week of running according to the new routine to schedule in rest went pretty well. I had a bit of meltdown on Friday, but I think I am learning something here. God knows how stubborn I can be, and it is definitely taking some refining to mold me into the sort of mother/wife/sister/daughter/friend I should be. I am starting to see the benefits already, but I am having to learn to let go of certain ideas I hold about my house, schedule and the like. I think cleaning just certain areas each day will work well, but in the meantime I feel like the house is a pit. A lot of that is due to the fact that I haven't gotten done with a lot of deep cleaning and decluttering, and only letting myself work on certain areas each day to do that means it is getting strung out a bit,but I am not nearly so grouchy and tired at the end of the day. I still feel like making a big dinner and spending time with my family. Meal planning is working out pretty well. I can always tell when I start to let it slip, because our grocery bills skyrocket. It has been interesting seeing what Andrew and Liv pick for their dinner days, and I am excited to see what Asher chooses, when he is old enough. I will plan the new revised plan for this week at the end of the post. I saw a few areas that could be improved upon, but altogether it looks pretty good. May marks our first month with only one debt payment-the mortgage-which is awesome and I am excited to see how our budget works out. I do know we have a bad habit of eating out too much, but the meal planning should help that some. I think we are going to make Sunday evening a night with Harold, which will serve both the purpose of spending time with him, easing our grocery bill a little, and giving me a break on Sunday, which is the plan anyhow. The cookbook project is coming along-I do make more than I often remember, and will definitely benefit from space being freed up and all my favorite things to make in one place. I am wittling away at the pile, and thought I was making some serious progress until Asher found a stash of books I had forgotten about in the kitchen...oops :) I am also getting better about keeping my palm pilot charged, which greatly helps with remembering tasks and being able to still keep up an internet presence when I am trying to limit my time sitting down at an actual computer. So, in all, it looks good, but will be a long process of incorporating new and forgotten habits back into my everyday. But I like all the skills involved in doing so, so it will be fun as well as challenging, which is always good.

Monday:
*Dinner-Liv's Choice: Portabella Burgers
*Three loads laundry washed and hung out
*One load dishes washed, yesterday's put away
*Vacuum, pick up living room and dining room; dust, mop front entryway
*Feed and water chickens, gather eggs
*9:30 chiro visit
*Bank
*Post Office
*Library
*Lunch with Andrew
*Asher naptime: general decluttering
*Put folded clothes in rooms
*Take out trash
*Make bed

Liv Duties: Make bed and put dirty clothes in basket

Tuesday:
*Dinner: Andrew's Choice-Hot Sausage Bread
*One load dishes washed, yesterday's put away
*One load laundry washed and hung out
*Feed and water chickens, gather eggs
*Playdate with SWG in town
*Babywearing group
*Put clothes in rooms
*Take out trash
*Make bed

Liv Duties: Make bed, put away dirty clothes

Wednesday:
*Dinner: Swiss, Potato and Sausage Soup (since I forgot the Swiss last week...)
*Groceries
*One load dishes washed, yesterday's put away
*Three loads laundry washed and hung out
*Vacuum, mop and pick up kitchen
*Vacuum, mop and pick up master bed and bath
*Feed and water chickens, gather eggs
**Possible visit to Ebersole Ranch if it is raining and chores get done
*Take out trash
*Put clothes in rooms
*Make bed

Liv Duties: Make bed, put dirties in basket

Thursday:
*Dinner: Pizza & Salad
*Two loads of laundry washed and hung out
*One load dishes, put away yesterday's
*Vacuum Liv and Asher's rooms, hallway and main bath. Mop floors, wipedown surfaces, clean toilet
*Wash all slept in bedding
*Feed and water chickens, gather eggs
*Take out trash
*Put clothes in rooms
*Make bed

Liv Duties: make bed, put dirties in basket

Friday:
*Dinner: crockpot night-Pulled Chicken Tacos
*One load dishes
*One load laundry hung out
*Feed and water chickens, gather eggs
9:30 chiro visit
*Garage sales with Auntie
*Nice weekend, may camp
*Hiking
*Take out trash
*Put clothes in rooms
*Make bed

Liv Duties: make bed, dirties in laundry

Misc: talk to local restaurants about composting chickens idea...will post about this later if it pans out

Saturday:
*Catch up
*Dinner: grill out-burgers
*Make bed

Liv: make bed

Sunday:
*Rest
*Dinner with Harold
*Sample Sunday in Woodward
*Catch up on checking accounts, blogs and internet stuff (cause I can sit down and I like to do it...)