C.H.A.O.S.

So, my house is usually in a state of what The Fly Lady refers to as C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anybody Over Syndrome)!  I go through phases where I work really hard to keep everything neat and orderly and then something throws a slight kink in my routine and everything falls apart.

 I am not like one of the people you'd see on hoarders or anything.....in fact I am quite the opposite....I am pretty adamant about throwing crap away.  I freecycle, I give to Goodwill and those lovely people who mail out the cards or leave bags on your doorknob and come pick up your excess crap from your front porch (God bless those people!), and we recently had a huge garage sale and got rid of more junk.  But somehow my house turns into a disaster area on a daily basis. 

My two girls can get out every toy they own and have them strewn about the floor faster than I can even get the words "Get one thing out, play with it, put it away," out of my mouth!  Ahh, those words, "Get one thing out, play with it, put it away."  I must have heard those words 2,000 times a day as a child...and it never sunk in!  And now, here is my payback!  I have two little "me's" running around! Sorry Mom and Dad for all of the headaches I caused you!!

Anyway, the point of this post is to announce that I am getting back on the "Organized Wagon."  I WILL keep my house in decent shape.  I WILL make my bed everyday.  I WILL make sure the dishes are done before I go to bed.  I WILL empty the dryer when the clothes are done (and remember to move my clothes from the washer before they get stinky and I have to rewash them...a common problem).  I WILL make sure my girls have picked up their toys before bedtime.  I WILL, I WILL!

Routine/Chore Charts

In my constant effort to get organized and 'get it together' (especially with the school year drawing nearer) I have made routine and chore charts with the girls' help and input. 

We made night time routine charts:

This one is Anna's.  Macy's is the same except she does not yet pick out her own clothes for the next day.  And yes, right now we only do baths on Wednesday's and Sunday's.  My girl's both have extremely dry skin, so bathing too much irritates it. 

Here is Anna with both of her charts.  The girls got to help hang them up in their rooms.  Anna's chores are to pick up her toys (Ha!), put away her clean laundry (something she is meticulous about), and feed the dog.  Macy's chores are to pick up her toys (again with the 'Ha!'), and put the silverware on the table for dinner.  I didn't do morning routine charts, because I have tried those before and really everything on them was pretty common sense and the girls basically did them anyway, without the chart.   Hopefully these charts will help to keep us on track and get us a little more neat and organized.