Family Day

Today is Family Day and I have the day off - my hubby however does not and my son has plans with his girlfriend so my plan is clean my house. Really deep down all the nooks and crannies cleaning! I am quite excited about this chance to just get it all done. When the little ones are here I am almost always on the main level with them and since I can't get much done that is noisy during nap time it is hard to do more than a quick cleaning on the other levels so today is the day!

Here is the list of what I hope to get done today.

Our Room & Hallway

Empty the closet- sort, organize, clean and vac.
Clean under the bed, go through under the bed bags, clean, vac.
Move my dresser- dust, vac., empty and sort.
Empty Hubby's dresser- clean and sort
Dust baseboards
Take down valances and wash
Scrub window sills
Wash windows
Vac.
Dust

Reading Area

Take out all books- dust, sort and organize
Vac.
Dust
Clean
Wash baseboards
Scrub window sills
Wash window
Take down curtain and wash

Bathroom

Clean
Dust
Clean light fixtures
Clean exhaust fan
Sweep
Mop
Wash baseboards
Wash windows
Take down valances and wash

Spare Room

Sweep under bed
Dust
Clean out closet
Vac. area rug
Febreeze rug
Wash floor and baseboards.
Scrub windowsills
Take down valances and wash

Entryway

Take out everything
Shake and air rugs on porch
Sweep
Wash floors
Dust banister and baseboards.
Vac. stairs
Wash boot trays
Febreeze rugs

Living room

Wash afghan
Take out rug
Move furniture and vac. and wash floors
Wash baseboards
Vac. furniture
Febreeze furniture
Dust

Dining Room

Clear out desk - dust, clean, organize
Wash table and chairs
Wash baseboards
Vac.
Dust
Febreeze rug

Kitchen

Clean fridge inside and out
Wash down stove
Clean counters
Wash cupboards
Wash baseboards
Pull out appliances and microwave stand and sweep and mop

Mudroom

Take out everything - sweep, mop, sort and clean
Wash doors
Wash baseboards

Laundry Room

Clear off floors and counter area
Organize pantry
Sweep
Mop
Wash down freezer, washer and dryer

Rec. Room

This room is Andy's domain where all the musical equipment is and where he hangs out with his friends he is in charge of cleaning it and he does but it is passt time for a really deep down Mom cleaning of this area. So....
Clean
Vac.
Organize
Sort
Dust
Wash baseboards
Etc. etc. etc. etc.

And I think that should just abut do it for today!

I didn't put down washing the windows on the main level or downstairs or washing the curtains because I will do that when the weather is warmer. The windows upstairs are the old wooden kind so I will just be doing the inside today. On the main level we have all new windows which pop in so you can clean both sides so I will do those when I won't freeze!

Well, I had best get at it! I will let you know how it goes.

Happy Family Day!

Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com

Moose Cookies and Other Happenings

Inspired by this recipe I made Moose Cookies today for my son's girlfriend Jessalyn who really likes moose. I think they are cute and will be making them again soon. I also like the fact that they use honey to sweeten them instead of sugar. The little ones who are old enough to eat peanut butter will love these so I am excited to share them with them on Tuesday.

Tomorrow is Family Day here which is our new holiday. I am not sure if this is a holiday in the States too but it is nice to have a long weekend in February. I actually forgot all about it until I looked at my calendar and wondered why I had no little monkeys written in then I went to the store and saw the closed for Family Day signs! So it was a nice surprise! Unfortunately Hubby has to work but I will be able to get a jump start on my spring cleaning - even though spring is still quite a way off for us.~smile~ I plan to get some really deep cleaning and organizing done especially upstairs and in the rec room downstairs since I don't get to spend enough time in these areas when the monkeys are here.

For Valentine's Day my sweet hubby took me to my favorite Mennonite farm to pick up some eggs and a 50 lb. box of potatoes. I love to go there in the winter because these sweet ladies invite you in while they get what you are looking for and it affords a glimpse into their lives that you just don't normally get since in the mild weather they sell their items from a little building out back. They have the most spotless home I have ever seen! It was so toasty in there and smelled of the wood stove. Wonderful! I would so love to learn the skills these ladies have. I also strive to have the work ethic they do. When we arrived one of the ladies was scrubbing down the walkway to the door, outside....in the cold! Like I said the entire home is just so clean.

Afterwards we went to a pretty little town that is one of my favorite places to visit and shopped a bit. The drive there is just so beautiful and I had a wonderful time.

When we got back home my hubby made his special burgers for me - seriously the best burgers I have ever had! He offered to take me out for dinner but I asked if he would make me these instead and he said he would - so yummy!

All in all it was a perfect day with my sweetheart. ~smile~

Well I had best get a move on here and get things tidied up then I can curl up with my family and just relax this evening!

Happy Sunday!

Blessings,
Liisa

Praise God

In my morning email study I have come across these verses that really struck me...

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

James 1:2,3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience

It is not always easy to praise God or count it all joy when faced with trials. But so often I can see God's hand in things. In some instances I am going through right now I can see how God's perfect timing will come through in a delay that was really hard for me to take. I can see how another instance has brought us closer as a family, and yet another has opened up new opportunities for us. I can praise God through this and trust that His perfect will will be done in all these trials and I can trust fully in Him.

One thing I have been practicing lately is to praise God for all the little things in my life. I receive so many beautiful and perfect gifts from my Father throughout the day and taking time to acknowledge them and give thanks to God really puts my thoughts on the right track. It is hard to get grumpy or fed up when my mind is on my blessings. From tiny snowflakes catching the sun and sparkling like so many diamonds as they float to the ground to the snuggle of a sleepy little one just up from a peaceful nap. So many reasons to give thanks.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Thank you Father!

Hope you have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Liisa

Picture form www.allposters.com

Today's Craft for the Littles

Today in honour of Groundhog Day we will be making puppets inspired by this craft.

Since my monkeys are little I cut out all the pieces and I will get them to glue it together. It is hard to tell in the pictures but the top of the green felt is fringed to look like grass. Realistically though I suppose I should have used white felt to look like snow - oh well we'll just have a happy spring groundhog in the grass! ~smile~


I glued the body pieces on to a Popsicle stick and sealed the edges too, then glued on the rest of the pieces as seen. I just folded over the green piece and glued it to form a sleeve for the puppet that is open on both ends.


Then you just slide your groundhog puppet into the grass sleeve and then you can make him pop up and down peeking out of his hole.


Happy Groundhog Day!

Blessings,
Liisa

A Good Day

Yesterday when I came out of church it was near zero degrees Celsius and the sun was shining. It was wonderful! I came home and opened up every window in the house and got some chores done. Nothing perks me up and puts me in the mood to freshen things up like a mild day and fresh air filling the house after it being shut up tight for so long. ~smile~

I also spent part of the afternoon watching the Superbowl pregame show. I love to watch the Superbowl and really enjoy the pregame hoopla....The odd thing is I do not watch football at any other time of the year! I know I am strange.

My hubby came home and cooked me a wonderful fish dinner then he watched the game with me. It was fun - he was cheering for Arizona - I was cheering for Pittsburgh....the Steelers won in the last few seconds and I got to tease him - it was a very good day!

Happy Monday!
Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com