What could make your household run smoother?

For me, it's more (and better organized) storage and a husband who does things for himself (and stops asking me to do it for him!).

How about everyone else?

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

Putting things away in their place right when we're done with them. When I do this, things run pretty well. When I don't (which is too often) things get bumpy pretty quick.

Lou

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Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

for me getting the clothes ready the night before, in school time, uniforms, sports kit etc. The day I dont do it or get the boys to do it, there is usually a problem.

Keeping needles treaded with different coloured threads, and dropped hems loose buttons fixed as soon as clothes are taken off. Its literally a few stitches saving time

I organize mine for the week every Sunday, right down to tights, underwear, jewellery for whatever occassion I have during the week.

School lunches planned on Saturday, and as much as possible put into the freezer/fridge, then made the night before

Table set for breakast every day, holidays or not.

Once a month cook up a batch of basics for the freezer,

somewhere in the day or before I go to bed Ill hit the garden and do 10 mins weeding that usually means I can stay on top of them

Just a few things I do to keep this "zoo" on the road

Anne

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"When we know better we do better" Maya Angelou

I have posted these rules for my kids and husband and put it on the refrigerator(I copied them out of a book--I can't take the credit)
1. If you take it out, put it back
2. If you open it, close it
3. If you throw it down, pick it up
4. If you take it off, hang it up.
.....Because if a home doesn't make sense, nothing does!
(I read these to my family (while they smirked) - and put it up the fridge)

My DS is in Disney right now with his two helpers. I cleaned my house all day on Monday, everything scrubbed and it is still that way.

I firmly believe that not having a child in my house is what keeps it clean. Really it is clean but I would rather have a messy house and my son here than not.

I miss him more than I can say and pray for everyones safe return.

I make a to do list the night before, so with the distraction of the kids I can just look at my list when I get a free minute to do something. I write everything on the calendar including milestones reached so when I have the chance to write it in the baby books I don't have to try to remember. I also have a list of the days of the week and one clean up for each day (ex. monday-laundry, tuesday-sweep and mop)*I'm a little list obsessed*

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

My kids are 11 & 9 & i've drafted them into helping. And if I have a list out, dh will help with it sometimes or go do some of the things he needs to get done.

For me, it would be spending less time on the computer with you all! But it's just so much fun, that I have a hard time with it!

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I think I posted this before but there is a great site called Large Family Logistics It is for mothers who homeschool and have LOTS of children but I find it helpful. You create a notebook for your family and each day of the week is assigned certain tasks. Check out the site to see what I'm talking about.

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Alicia (Tree-hugger wannabe)
mom to Shawn, Jake, and Toad
"Chick" out the Scrapbooking Forum for great handcrafted Occasion Ideas!!

If this worked with husbands I'd be better off!

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* Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy.

~Ron Paul

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
- James Madison