Time Managment Envy

I've been reading about what some other people's days look like HERE, and it caused me to stop and consider what my day looks like, and what I would really like it to look like.
Currently it is still summer. Our hours go late into the night, so I'm a bit different than most people. Here's a stab at my current schedule compared to my dream schedule:

The Dream

5:16am Devos & work out
6:00am Coffee & computer
7:00am Yummy breakfast,reboot laundry
8:00am Phonics with DS,DD free play
9:00am Kids-Art Me-Fly lady zone
10:00am math games (sorting, matching manipulating)
11:00am kids-play outside Me-start lunch
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Kids-Naps Me-more Flying
2:00pm Call BFF while flying
3:00pm Snack & Circle time, Chores
4:00pm Kids-watch a show or play games Me-start supper.
5:00pm Supper
6:00pm Kids-Daddy time Me-Clean up & reboot laundry
7:00pm Stories & singing & bed time routine
8:00pm Kids-zzzzz Me-hang with DH
10:00pm Bedtime routine
11:00pm zzzzzzzzzz
12:00pm zzzzzzzzzz
1:00am zzzzzzzzzz


Reality

5:16am zzzzzzzzz
6:00am zzzzzzzzz
7:00am zzzzzzzz
8:00am DS wakes me wanting a snack and a show, me-coffee & computer
9:00am breakfast of some sort, clean up & get dressed.
10:00am Breakfast of some sort for DH, kids snack & play with toys.
11:00am park/outside
12:00pm open concession (I work in concession, DH takes kids)
1:00pm Kids-Nap

3:00pm DH swaps with me, lunch, Clean up camper, go to park or walk or shopping.
6:00pm Supper of some sort, swap with DH work in concession
10:00pm DH swaps with me, put kids to bed
12:00am DH closes concession, Hang with DH/clean camper
1:00am bed time.

9:16

So I joined the 5:16 Gals. For those of you who don't know, it's a little (actually big) group of ladies who wake up early in the morning.

"Ephesians 5:16 says, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
The literal meaning is “redeem the time.” We are seeking to redeem the time and make the
most of every opportunity to seek the Lord with all our hearts. Why? Because the days are
evil. We must prepare for battle each and every day – sometimes just to get through the
day!"

So I didn't quite make it by 5:16am. I think I got there around 9:16am. Still, I got there. For some reason I've been ignoring my bible all summer. Maybe that's why my hair is falling out. Seriously, I've been ignoring that quite voice telling me to get into the word when I'm feeling worried, or uncertain, or even hormonal. I even ignored the voice this morning when it called me to get up at 5:16,7:16 and 8:16. I finally came at 9:16. Why do I resist what I know is good? How can I have the audacity to put off the voice of God's Spirit speaking to me? Will I ever learn to obey? Stay tuned for more 5:16 Gals updates.

Solutions

Thanks to all of you who have commented and helped to put my mind at ease regarding my hair scare. I'm still just a tad worried, but there is nothing I can do about it (thanks annonymous, I won't try the vaseline trick, it is good to learn from other people's experiences! I'm also glad you're not bald). So my solution is this:I think I will start looking for those wide head bands too. I hope the hat and head bands don't contribute to the problem. Regardless I love this cute hat so much I'd wear it even if my hair wasn't falling out!

Some other solutions that have been mulling around under my hat are:

1. I need to destress. Exercise is a great way to get endorphins flowing and encourage seratonin production (happy hormones) so I thought I'd give this a try.*
2. On the bed time routine issues I am choosing to let Mike put the kids to bed as often as possible! This means I scoop ice cream late into the evening, but hey that's ok with me! As soon as I get my hands on some stickers and blank paper I will try a checklist routine. It will help me keep on track at bed time as much as the kids.
   

There is one more thing that I'm considering. I'm still too wussy to commit, but this seems like a good thing, though I know it will not be an easy thing, and I'm afraid I'll cop out and feel worse than if I'd never tried. Still thinking, but really, I know I need to do this.

*K so, I did the initial tests for sit ups, squats and pushups. I'm on week 3 for squats and sit ups, but I'm on level 2 Week one for pushups. I'm not bragging that's for sure! Just keeping track.
Also, I joined twitter and will be studying Prayer, the Great Adventure by David Jerimiah with the 5:16 Gals. Wish me luck.

Hair Scare

K, this might sound silly but, I'm afraid I'm going bald!!!
My hair has been coming out in clumps all summer, just like it did each time I had my kids. It's scary because it's definitely not pregnancy related this time.
I'm trying to rationalize that everyone loses hair, the hair dresser even told me that most women lose around 150 hairs a day, which IS quite a lot when you think of it, but do all 150 come out in one handful???
Maybe I need to stop wearing pony tails, not sure if that is a cause of thinning hair or not. What am I going to do if I lose my hair in my 30s!!!!!!!!!
I know I shouldn't be so vain, it's probably nothing after all. I always have had a big forehead, but yikes! Maybe I should go find out how much a good wig costs and start saving now. Maybe I should just chill. I hear stress can cause hair loss in women, I didn't feel that I was unusually stressed out, until I started freaking out about my hair falling out that is!!
This is a silly thing to post about, but maybe if I put it out there someone will alleviate my fears somehow, or maybe they will say "ya, we've been noticing it too, but didn't want to say anything".
I wonder if Rogain really works....

I need some order!!

Eeegads! I hate bedtime!
I'm really struggling to hold it all together and not say or do something I'll regret while my children push me closer and closer to the brink of insanity! I know every parent deals with this, and it happens every night! but somethings gotta give! I wish I understood why squirmy children insisting on help with their p.j's stand just out side of arms reach when I'm trying to get them into their clingy, twisted, one leg inside out pajama bottoms. I end up prostrate on the floor in front of them, like a peasant kissing the hem of the Queen's robes! Why does it not occur to me sooner that I am the parent and they are the children and if they want help they had better stand still and with in arms reach!? What happens at bed time that turns them into the dictators and I into a bobbing, curtsying servant? I'm desparate to stave off the bedtime tantrum, that's what. Oh you want a snack? a story? a milkshake and a back rub? Well sure, as long as you go to bed with a smile on your face. No crying. But even so, after bending over backwards, reading the Berestein Bears 3 times over and hugs and kisses all around the water works still burst forth. That's when mama gets mental! Don't even get me started on the way the blankets need to be arranged just so, and the 3 song medley I have to sing, and the potty parade that marches it's self through my quiet evening 10 minutes after I've let my gaurd down because I thought they were sleeping!

I know in order to change this problem I have some serious training to do. I need to establish a set routine and stick to it. I need to firmly lay ground rules and consequences (positive & negative). I know what needs to be done, I'm just not getting it done.

I need order. Not just in my bed time routine, but in my house keeping routing, my business routine, my everything routine. The trouble is there IS NO ROUTINE!!!! We're not big on planning in this family. I love planning but my plans are nearly always changed, post poned or trumped. I read with longing all the blogs about getting back into routine, back into school or work or whatever and my head swims as I look around me at the chaos that is my world. I know I should not compare my life with other people's lives, but it is very hard not to.

All that to say, I'm hoping to take the last few weeks of summer and get a grip, and maybe some order in my life. It will have to be order of the loose and flexible and constantly changing brand, but order none the less. If anyone has any great adivce for me I'm all ears. Specifically I'm looking for info on:

1. how to keep a travel trailer clean with 2 preschoolers in residence.
2. how to catch up on 3 years worth of business books in one month or less.
3. how to have an enjoyable, affordable tenting vacation while covering the maximum amout of KMs possible.
   
4. how to catch up with all our friends and relatives in an authentic and caring manner before Christmas.
5. how to secure full time work while looking after 2 preschoolers and attempting a major home reno project.
6. how to be patient, kind, gentle, never rude, never selfish, always hopeful, never judgemental, always trusting, always caring, always loving.

gee, looks like I have a lot of googling to do.

Celebrating Mr. & Mrs. W

There was no better way to spend the weekend than soaking up the sun in a beautiful mountian setting, with friends and family, celebrating the fact that two people love each other & their baby girl a whole lot.

Some moments from my sister's wedding:

Cousins

On best behavior


Solemn & Serene for seconds

Saying "I Do"

Tearing up the turf

Cutting the Cake

Mr. & Mrs. Aaron & Amber

Mrs & Sisses Erin & Amber


Lady & Gentleman

Wild Thangs!

Grandma & Matia get their groove on

Must have be one heck of a party!