My FlyLady Experiment, 11/26

Updated at 10:40 p.m.

This post may take me all day, literally, to write. Or at least, all morning. I decided to give a play-by-play of my to-do list today. As I finish a task, I will update the post. I know that means I have to take lots of little breaks throughout the day (oh, that's rough!) just to do the writing. I'm okay with that. :)

Here's how the morning has gone so far:

I had to take the husband to work this morning. He had to be there by 7:15. Since I was up a little before 6:00, I was able to get the following things done before we left to take him to work:
1. Got dressed to shoes (see http://www.flylady.net/ for more info. regarding this)
2. Made bed.
3. Hair and makeup (such as it is. I don't wear a whole lotta make up, and I definitely have a casual day hair style.)
4. Took the dog out.
5. Put away the clean dishes.
6. Did some dishes. (This is a difficulty in my house, right now, due to problems with our kitchen plumbing. Suffice to say, I'm still working on Thanksgiving Dinner dishes.)
7. Did a swish and swipe of the hall bathroom. (http://www.flylady.net/ explains what this is.)
8. Made a quick breakfast for the husband. (little ham sandwiches using leftover Thanksgiving ham and dinner rolls.)
9. Put a gallon of water in the distiller. (This is a very little task, but I am always procrastinating on it and thus never have enough to drink.)

Not bad, right? Granted, each task took just a few minutes. (I'm really quick with the hair and makeup. Not more than 10 minutes after blow-drying on a regular day. Probably 5 minutes today. And, yes, I'm aware that I probably LOOK like I spent 5 minutes on it today.)

Since we got home, I've wasted time by sitting in the recliner, almost falling asleep watching Backyardigans with the kiddos and browsing my favorite blogs on my iPod.

As of 9:30:
1. I've had my prayer time (specially praying today for young friend Hunter who is having an emergency appendectomy today after just having tonsils and adenoids out last week and friend, also a sort-of relation, Wendy, who recently miscarried a third time.)
2. I completed a swish and swipe of the master bathroom. It took me 5 minutes, 57 seconds (5:57). That's a little much, I know, for a swish and swipe, but I also emptied the trash, sprayed down the shower, and wiped up the floor a little.

As of 10:30:
1. I put the laundry in the washer.
2. I took the dog out for a potty.

As of 11:10:
1. I put the laundry in the dryer.
2. I put the newly-distilled water into icecube trays and into the freezer.
3. I did some dishes, a whole sink full! (I'm using some creative methods to keep as little water in the sink as possible, and I think it's helping. Two more rounds and I'll be done!)
4. Put rice on to cook for lunch.

As of 12:15:
1. Made lunch -- ham left over from Thanksgiving dinner, rice, and applesauce
2. Picked up the husband from work so that he could enjoy lunch with us.
3. Put the daughter in the bathtub for a quick pre-nap clean up.
4. Put dry beans on to soak for our dinner of ham and bean soup.

As of 4:15:
1. Helped the daughter finish her bath.
2. Bathed the son.
3. Babysat the ham and bean soup on the stove.
4. Vacuumed the living room, dining room, entry way, and kitchen.
5. Folded and put away two loads of laundry.
6. Did another load of dishes.
I finished this around 2:00 and stopped. I rested for a while; that's what days off are for, aren't they? Then I cuddled for a while with the kiddos when they got up from their naps.

Now, the husband is home! It's the weekend!
I feel so good about what was accomplished! I know that my house, as a whole, has a long way to go. I would be embarrassed to bring a stranger into my house still. But I know that I and my family can see the changes made, and we will enjoy it.

As of 9:15 pm:
1. Finished the ham and bean soup for dinner.
2. Served and ate dinner.
3. Went with the family on a walk with the dog. BRRR! It's cold out there!
4. Folded and put away the load of laundry I did today.
5. Finished the dishes!!!!
Meanwhile, my husband has put the kiddos to bed and is busy with his traditional day-after-Thanksgiving task -- putting up the Christmas tree!

Next up:
Shine the sink
Put away hanging clothes (I have a bad habit of hanging them over my footboard and never getting them in the closet. I will definitely have to set the timer for that, because I can do anything and endure anything for 15 minutes! Even the chore I despise the most!)
Finish my Publix shopping list for tomorrow.

As of 10:40 pm:
1. Kitchen FINISHED!!!
2. Clothes hung!
3. Coupons and list ready!
And the Christmas tree is nearly finished, thanks to the hard-working husband! I know most families put up the tree together, but we like the fascination the kiddos have when they wake up to find the tree all done. A friend recently told me of a tradition her family had when she was young; next year or the year after, I'd like to try it out for our family and see if it's something the kids would like to keep doing. We'd get another, smaller tree which the kids would decorate completely on their own with the ornaments they make at school and church or anywhere else.

Oh, what a productive day! I am ready to sleep!