Weekend Update - March 22 & 23

What I got done this weekend:

• Cleaned/scrubbed stovetop, counters, dishrack & drawers. I am frustrated because although I have not seen/heard mice, I keep finding mouse poopies in my dishrack and next to my toaster oven. I am now being extra careful to take out the garbage, not leave stuff in the sink, etc., as I had been lazy about taking care of these things on a nightly basis.
  
• Took down recycling (also trying to do this daily now)
  
• Mentioned mice to exterminator, when he came by. He was not the usual guy, and when he saw the place, he was probably thinking, "Well, DUH, look at this place, surprised you don't have roaches and bats too." He put down more pellets. Then he stood around - I think he was looking for a tip!
  
• Went to BJs and bought lots of meat so we can cook at home. Also bought diapers, soap and other necessities that have been needed for a while. I then cleaned out the freezer somewhat to make room. I threw away a very old box of ice cream push pops that my kids didn't like, and some bread that I froze about a year ago. I did not throw out the McDonald's birthday cake that has been in there, unopened, for 14 months.
  
• Went to Key Food and bought some other needed stuff - just the usual - milk, seltzer, eggs, cheese, yogurt...
  

What I didn't do that I really needed to do

• Unload the laundry basket of clean laundry. We sent the laundry out last week (about 2 weeks worth) and it is expensive, but nice when it comes back all folded. The downside is, there is no urgency in putting it away - unlike when it comes out of the dryer here and is thrown on my bed in a big heap.
  
• Unload clean clothes, toys, etc. from the bassinet that has become a dumping ground since boychik doesn't actually sleep in it, preferring the mama bed as did his brother and sister before him.
  
• Clean off my dresser and nightstand like I wanted to, especially since my favorite earrings are missing and probably in the mess somewhere
  
• Laundry - which I wanted to try to keep in control so we don't have to keep spending $$$$$$$ to send it out
  
• Put together the crib - to try and get the kid OUT of the mama bed.

What else I did
Got the kids to the park. Twice. And isn't that what it's really all about?

... and losing ground...

What got done yesterday:

• Baked brownies with the kids, for J's in-class birthday celebration
  
• Listed asthma peak-flow meter on Freecycle (actually I think I did this on Monday)

What didn't get done yesterday:

• 15 minutes of decluttering
  
• garbage taken out

I guess baking the brownies was a good thing, time spent with the kids doing something fun. But I can't take the way my house looks anymore. (I say that every day. So why can't I fix it?)

My table leg keeps falling off. It just needs a nut, but I don't know what size. The bolt is attached to the leg so I can't bring it to the store to see (unless I bring the whole leg). I guess I have to take a nut off one of the other legs for comparison. Meanwhile I just yell at the kids every time they lean on the (now very wobbly) table. What I really want is a new (or used, but new to me) dining room set. I want a SMALLER table, so that (a) it doesn't get as junked up with clutter (yeah right), and (b) it fits the space better as we need to move the highchair back in there soon and there's just no room.

Also I need to tape up the electrical wires that are trailing my dining room floor (phone is in the kitchen, outlet is in the dining room) because baby boy is starting to move around!!! He's not yet crawling but he's getting squirmy, and nothing is safe from his jaws...

Weekend Update - First weekend of 2008

It was a sort-of busy weekend, I got a little done but not much.

I did list that big box of packing peanuts on Freecycle. I have someone who may want it. Better than that, when I hauled it out from under my dining room table, I also found a $30 Toys R Us gift card that I didn't know was missing, and my MIL's Chanukah present, which I had forgotten was missing. So that was nice.

Much of Saturday was spent at a party at the home of one of J's classmates. They have an apartment around the corner. It's a 3-bedroom but the 3rd is tiny and off the kitchen; I think they created it rather than it being a true 3-bedroom. I don't know that we will ever find a true 3-bedroom in Briarwood. Not that we've really started looking. Yet. That's a topic for another day, though. In any case, we stayed at the party most of the afternoon, I slapped together some spaghetti, sauce (Tuttarosa) and frozen shrimp for dinner, we made the goodie bags for J's party, and not much else got done.

Sunday was J's 8th birthday party, which was really a lot of fun and only a little stressful. Of course when we got home I realized I didn't have my camcorder on me. The place says no one has turned it in. I am hoping maybe someone took it by mistake and will return it. But what are the odds? I can replace the camera but I can't replace the disk of the party memories. I get so angry about things like this. Angry at myself for being careless but angrier at society. Even so I'm pretty calm, for me. Nothing I can do, right?

Anyway... like I said... not much got done. I've been unable to commit 15 minutes a day to decluttering - or even five minutes. Just being lazy, I know. In Flylady land, the first week of the month is dedicated to the dining room and entryway. Mine are pretty horrible these days. I still have holiday cards and decorations out, hats & gloves all over despite my attempts to corral them, and things are starting to pile up along the wall. Gotta stop this. But since we are starting the second week, it's kitchen time, and I really want to work on that. As I've said, my kitchen is pretty large, or it WOULD be if I could clear out some of the crap.

Other notes...
What didn't get done this weekend that really should have -

• my laundry (the stuff I wash delicate so hubby doesn't fry it in the dryer)
  
• kids sheets & blankets needed washing
  
• J's scarf that I promised I'd fix
  
• Partial turtle water change (slacking off already)

What got done, surprisingly enough -

• Dumped a stack of papers roughly 8 inches high, that I didn't even know I had (mystery shopping notes from 2003 & 2004)