Ran Over By a Tuesday

Man, some Tuesday's just kick my butt!
Some mom's love the running around all day, I'm not one of those mommies!
Here is a little rundown of my day yesterday.

-Get up, get bigg's breakfast and to the bus stop.  I did get a break here.  I like when they both want hot lunch... doesn't always happen!
-Come back and jump on the treadmill for a quick workout, no time to really stretch after, jump in the shower.  Get ready... mostly.
-Get two little's dressed and fed then off to preschool.  (Took a quick scan of what I needed to refill in the basement storage.)
-Drop off little's.  I also dropped some clothes to friends, but dang, forgot the extras sitting by the door, oh well.
-I headed to Office Depot first, for labels. 
-Then Dollar Store where I bought frames and dry erase markers for our AD activity, also got some party favors for Q's upcoming spa party.
-Party City few things for Q's party.
-Target for some new sheets. 
I was chatting with some mommy's about how often we 'really' change bed sheets.  I'd love to say I did this once a week, especially because I have 3 boys, and boys just stink!  However I cannot say this!  Think I'm gross if you want, but I really doubt we all change our sheets weekly! 
My kids make their beds each morning and the thought of tearing beds apart, doing laundry, remaking beds, just isn't fun for me. 
Solution = Saturday mornings part of our new routine will be them pulling off bed sheets and me putting new sheets on, then they can continue making their own beds!  Additional laundry goes in the pile, a few more things to fold... no biggie!
So, I needed a couple more sets of sheets for my 3 boy beds.

I deter, I realize, from the list I got ran over by, but let me tell you I deterred at Target by the small stash of Christmas stuff for 90% off.  Most people would walk past, I dive right in.  I had picked up a few of these felt ornaments thinking they'd make a cute necklace.  They had a bunch in the stash and at $.33 I loaded up.  How cute would these be for a Vday garland!  Heart be still, I love stuff like this!


Of course a few other things ended up in my bag!  How could they not... it's Target!  Love me some Target!
Back to the list...
-Of course check out is slower than anticipated as the lady told me 'this is how I shop', she examined everything in my cart!  Oy!  I never leave enough time for the register.  I called dear Laura to grab my boys from preschool!  She's helped me a couple of times... thanks lady! 
-Off to BJ's.  (better than Sam's, nothing is better than Costco!)
The boys and I ate lunch here for the first time.  I figured it would be best to feed them before we start the marathon, then I don't have to do it while I'm trying to fit a whole new store into my house later!
We enjoyed some less-than-average pizza, and chicken tenders, which were good!  A quick bathroom break then off we go!  This takes forever it seems!
-Home to unload!  Caution: war zone ahead!  The thing about these trips is not only does it take forever to shop, but it doesn't stop there... home to put it all away, then downstairs to restock my shelves!  Worth it?  Of course, but it takes some doing!
-Work on AD yearly line up.  Wanted to hand this out to the girls tonight...
All of the days we are meeting, the hostess, and treat gal.
The hostess is in charge of calling all the girls to remind them tonight is the night.  My leader calls the girls to remind them they are hosting.  Using the phone is a great skill to have!  I know it's a challenge for my Q, she's not comfy... it's great practice. 
I printed these off on neon paper, laminated them and put a magnet on the back.

-Q home, oh yea, G stayed after school today!  I never remember until just one kid gets off the bus!
-Put Q to work getting her party bags put together, we'll show that later, she was thrilled!
-Pick up G.
-Next door to the church.  I grabbed all of my stuff, made copies, we headed home so I could put binders together and prep for later that night.
-At home sent kids off to play for 30 min... don't bother me!!!
-Worked on binders for new AD girls.  For more info on what in the world I'm talking about see this post. 
Each new girl that comes in gets a binder and a bag.  I can't take credit for finding this... only for continuing it.  Here is where we found the bag and binder cover... Faith in God. 
In each binder the girls have a phone list, The Family Proclamation, The Living Christ, Articles of Faith, Gospel Standards, Journal pages, and a couple of blank pages to write their testimony on. 
As we have activities that include info they can punch the page and keep it in their binder.
The last few girls that came in need a binder.  I got these ready for them.  In the next couple of weeks I'll go ahead and get a binder ready for all of the girls that come in 2013.
-Get homework done.
-Folded last bits of laundry (delicates)
-Start dinner... Monday I was going to make enchilada's.  I made the innards only to find that I was out of tortilla's.  Got those today at the store.  It was nice to have that prepped.  Dinner was a breeze to make.
-C kids arrive.  Molly had a thing so I watched the kids and then took the girls to AD w/ me.
-Feed a million kids.
-Get ready for AD.
-Head out... I'll post our last few activities we've done.  I have two helpers, I got them busy laminating our year schedule, and copying items while I did binder clean out w/ our girls.  We have 20 some odd girls.  I love that our girls bring friends, some of them have become permanent friends complete with their own binders and Faith In God Booklet.  Yea! 
-Home, drop off neighbor, C kids are still here. 
-They play and I finally check all my stuff... fb, emails, etc.
-My house is a mess, of course, can't even think about it yet... must sit down and calm my brain!
-Get about 2 minutes to read my scripture prompt.  So glad I have these, it's the only thing I had time for today... but I did it, even just a little!
-Get kiddies in jammies, teeth brushed, visit w/ Molly for a minute.
-Kids in bed, after prayers...
-Sigggggghhhhh.  Mind you it is after 9pm.
-Did some work on the computer for a while.
-Finished the last episode of Project Runway Allstars, watched last episode of Grey's Anatomy, still hadn't seen the last one from December.
-Brush and floss (I am totally religious about this no matter how tired I am)
-Lay flattened out on my bed... run over by my Tuesday.


Here are some recent activities from our Activity Days
Goal setting.... last night.
How do I achieve my goals?
From “Do Things That Make a Difference,” Ensign, June 1983, 69, 71, 72.
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares some of his thoughts on this subject.

We have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves. (love this part)
When you set a goal and commit yourself to the necessary self-discipline to reach that goal, you will eliminate most of the problems in your life. Spend your energies doing those things that will make a difference.
If your goals are righteous, then go for them.
You must cultivate a desire to develop the skill of setting worthy and realistic goals.
 
I created a 4x6 page with this quote on it.  Also a spot for the month and goal.
I bought cheap picture frames for each girl at the dollar store along w/ a dry erase marker.  We put them together yesterday.  They can write on the glass w/ dry erase.  They can keep these close and make a new goal each month, or more often if they'd like. 
 
Here are some of our December activities of years past...
cookie sheet countdown and rolled paper tree
 
 
This year we decorated our ward tree for an activity.  The girls made an ornament to put on the tree.
We also made snow globes.  Here is a great tutorial.  We found Mason jars work the best. 
 
I found this simple silhouette, created a page of many of them!
We laminated each one and the girls used this with glitter.  They turned out great, minus the few leakers we had, still nothing a little hot glue couldn't fix!