This summer our drier went on the fritz. It was making an awful sound and each time I used it I was afraid it was going to blow up or burn up. Since we enjoy a climate with hot sun and dry air, and I LOVE the smell of sun-dried laundry, AND since we had a couple other things needing our financial attention all at the same time, I decided to try only hang-drying our laundry. The only problem with this is that I only had one clothes line and it barely was enough to hold one load of laundry. I never liked the whole "laundry day" thing anyway, which was what I had been trying to make work previously.
So, something had to change. The answer for me was to do one load of laundry each day, except Sunday. If I was caught up I would skip a day or use that day to do something I normally wouldn't pay attention to like curtains or rugs. If I felt behind, I'd do two loads a day. Flexibility is the name of the game, right?
I did this for about 6 weeks and loved it! My goal is always to get it started first thing in the morning, because I tend to forget about laundry - out of sight and out of mind! It gives me the whole day to remember to finish it and put it away. I have to admit there were a few nights when I went out in the dark to collect laundry off the line!
Well, after 6 weeks of the best smelling laundry ever, we were ready to get a new drier (thank you, Craig's list). Now that it's cold outside, I'm glad not to have to hang dry the clothes, but I've kept the same system of about one load a day. It's made doing laundry almost a joy!
How do you manage keeping your family's clothes clean? Are you an "all in one day", "once a day, every day" or "whenever my baskets are overflowing or we've run out of clean socks" laundry family? I've been each of these types at one point or another!
Who does the laundry in your family? Husband or wife? Do you enlist your children's help? How so?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
#76 and counting
#76. A weekend marriage retreat (check out FamilyLife's A Weekend to Remember)
#77. first steps! Peter took 4 steps last week but he was so focused on the toy he was holding that I don't think he realized he did it. He's taken only a couple steps since then, but this is the beginning...
#78. safe travels to and from Denver
#79. NOT being rear-ended - the cars in front of us stopped suddenly so we stopped suddenly, but the person behind us was coming so fast. We heard his brakes screeching as he approached us but, thankfully, there a large shoulder that he pulled onto. His car didn't stop until he was on the shoulder next to our car!
#80. Grandparents who care so lovingly for our children so we could go away for a few days.
#81. being reunited with our kids
#82. trusting God for healing
#83. having the means and the help to butcher and process and preserve lots of venison (Thanks, again, Mom and Dad)
#84. opportunities to help a friend in need
#77. first steps! Peter took 4 steps last week but he was so focused on the toy he was holding that I don't think he realized he did it. He's taken only a couple steps since then, but this is the beginning...
#78. safe travels to and from Denver
#79. NOT being rear-ended - the cars in front of us stopped suddenly so we stopped suddenly, but the person behind us was coming so fast. We heard his brakes screeching as he approached us but, thankfully, there a large shoulder that he pulled onto. His car didn't stop until he was on the shoulder next to our car!
#80. Grandparents who care so lovingly for our children so we could go away for a few days.
#81. being reunited with our kids
#82. trusting God for healing
#83. having the means and the help to butcher and process and preserve lots of venison (Thanks, again, Mom and Dad)
#84. opportunities to help a friend in need
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mailbox Fun!
Peter received a new book in the mail today and I thought I should share with you two things that our family loves.
First is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I learned about it from a flier at our local library. It is completely free and there is no obligation to purchase or do anything. We've never received any junk mail or extra promotions from them. All you do is register your child, either on-line or through the mail, and they receive an age appropriate book in the mail each month for free. We've been doing this for about 6 months or so and have been very pleased with the books we've received. (Note: it's not available in all communities and it's only until children reach the age of 5.) Enter your zip code at the website and see if it's available for your kids!
Second is Highlights High Five. Maybe you remember Highlights magazines from your childhood? High Five is for kids aged 2-6. Cora received a subscription as a gift last year from Grandma and Grandpa B. and she loves her "mazagine". Each magazine has a comic strip about a cat and dog, a poem, a short article about an animal, a bilingual story (pronunciation guide and translation included), a couple illustrated stories, a search and find puzzle, a math or science game or activity, an action rhyme/chant, a recipe to do with an adult, and a game to cut out and play together. We have been very impressed! We also recently discovered that each edition has an audio version available for free on line. The reader has a pleasant voice and some sound effects are included. We prefer reading the magazine together but it's a great option and teaches her to pay attention to when to turn the page and follow along closely to each story.
What are some ways you encourage reading in your home? (I'm not sure comics count, but Cora enjoys looking through the Sunday comics each week and asks me to read the ones that look interesting to her. She usually doesn't get the humor...When we've both read them I stash them away to become wrapping paper, per Schippers tradition!)
First is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I learned about it from a flier at our local library. It is completely free and there is no obligation to purchase or do anything. We've never received any junk mail or extra promotions from them. All you do is register your child, either on-line or through the mail, and they receive an age appropriate book in the mail each month for free. We've been doing this for about 6 months or so and have been very pleased with the books we've received. (Note: it's not available in all communities and it's only until children reach the age of 5.) Enter your zip code at the website and see if it's available for your kids!
Second is Highlights High Five. Maybe you remember Highlights magazines from your childhood? High Five is for kids aged 2-6. Cora received a subscription as a gift last year from Grandma and Grandpa B. and she loves her "mazagine". Each magazine has a comic strip about a cat and dog, a poem, a short article about an animal, a bilingual story (pronunciation guide and translation included), a couple illustrated stories, a search and find puzzle, a math or science game or activity, an action rhyme/chant, a recipe to do with an adult, and a game to cut out and play together. We have been very impressed! We also recently discovered that each edition has an audio version available for free on line. The reader has a pleasant voice and some sound effects are included. We prefer reading the magazine together but it's a great option and teaches her to pay attention to when to turn the page and follow along closely to each story.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Endless Hallelujah
#61. Mom B. coming to stay with us
#62. her servant heart and acts of love
#63. my children laughing and playing together
#64. the gift of "firsts" - Peter stood up by himself a few times today! He was so proud of himself!
#65. delicious food
#66. wrestlemania
#67. tissues for all our runny noses
#68. a big buck for Brad on the first morning of hunting season
#69. the comfort of routine
#70. weddings, the reminder of our marriage vows
#71. the sweetness of a (my!) flower girl and a ring bearer
#72. pudding faces
#73. washcloths!
#74. firemen and fire station visits
#75. laughter streaming tears down our faces
"Through Him, then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15
#62. her servant heart and acts of love
#63. my children laughing and playing together
#64. the gift of "firsts" - Peter stood up by himself a few times today! He was so proud of himself!
#65. delicious food
#66. wrestlemania
#67. tissues for all our runny noses
#68. a big buck for Brad on the first morning of hunting season
#69. the comfort of routine
#70. weddings, the reminder of our marriage vows
#71. the sweetness of a (my!) flower girl and a ring bearer
#72. pudding faces
#73. washcloths!
#74. firemen and fire station visits
#75. laughter streaming tears down our faces
"Through Him, then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." Hebrews 13:15
Monday, November 01, 2010
The Thanksgiving Month
Me and my pumpkins
November 1! I give thanks today for...
#48. warm, Colorado sunshine on this first day of November
#49. crisp, golden leaves crunching under my feet, stroller and tricycle wheels
#50. candy corn
#51. remembering that we are sheep
#52. listening for our Shepherd's voice
#53. miraculous healing (our church friend has had headaches every day of her life since she #54. was 16 and was healed during a worship service and is headache-free!)
#55. three new pregnancies, and all couples struggled with infertility
#56. preschool songs and friends
#57. piano students -only three this year but I love teaching them to play the piano
#58. calm, simple days at home, enjoying my kids
#59. that Brad was remembered and appreciated during "Pastor Appreciation Month"
#60. returned health for my sister, postpartum
Cora with Miss Nikki, one of her preschool teachers
Cora in her "Queen" outfit for the preschool program (I was mistaken when I thought she was a princess!)
November 1! I give thanks today for...
#48. warm, Colorado sunshine on this first day of November
#49. crisp, golden leaves crunching under my feet, stroller and tricycle wheels
#50. candy corn
#51. remembering that we are sheep
#52. listening for our Shepherd's voice
#53. miraculous healing (our church friend has had headaches every day of her life since she #54. was 16 and was healed during a worship service and is headache-free!)
#55. three new pregnancies, and all couples struggled with infertility
#56. preschool songs and friends
#57. piano students -only three this year but I love teaching them to play the piano
#58. calm, simple days at home, enjoying my kids
#59. that Brad was remembered and appreciated during "Pastor Appreciation Month"
#60. returned health for my sister, postpartum
Cora with Miss Nikki, one of her preschool teachers
Cora in her "Queen" outfit for the preschool program (I was mistaken when I thought she was a princess!)
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