Just Another Typical Day...

Today was a typical day here at our house. What is a typical day? Our days always start bright and early with kids ready to go first thing. They are dressed, beds made, rooms cleaned, and outside feeding their animals first thing and bringing in wood for the day. It is a rule that the kids have to feed the animals before they get fed. (You should see how fast my kids can do their chores!!!) Breakfast is next (this also is a quick event--the first ones are done before I even give the last kid their food!!) Inside jobs, as the kids call them, come next. Each of the 10 oldest children have one job they are to accomplish each morning such as floors, sweep, dishes, clothes, laundry, etc. The wonderful thing is, with that many kids doing jobs, they only have to do that particular job once a week. Jobs usually take us about 10 minutes. The little ones are so anxious to be big and get a job. I usually end up giving them each a baby wipe, and have them wipe down the fridge or the white door way trim, this being where all their cute little sticky hand prints show. After is school time. The little kids go upstairs are happy to have out a different bin of toys to play each day. They are pretty content doing this for a couple of hours, minus a squabble here and there. This is easily resolved with a quick yell upstairs to "play nice guys!" with all 3 replying "we are mom!" Morning school consists of Handwriting, Spelling, Math, and Language, and a timed Reading Comprehension. Monday's we have a word of the week (this week it is "vivacious"). A quick clean-up with the younger kids upstairs, and lunch is then begun. After lunch the younger school kids are on the computer doing their lessons, while the 3 little ones watch and pick up on a few things. In the meantime, the older kids are sent to their desks to do their History, Health, Science, and their map of the week. This usually takes an hour or so. After this they all get free time the rest of the day to do whatever they want. They usually play games, draw, or play Lego's etc. Or if it is nice out, they will go out and play (not as much anymore). Towards evening, animals need to be done once again, and then we double up with 2 kids in a room to straighten up a little before dinner. After dinner, they get ready for bed, quickly clean-up their room if needed, and brush teeth, etc. They know now to bring down their blankets, because they get to watch a short movie before bed. After the movie, or at 7:30 pm, whichever comes first, we gather for family prayer. Prayer is said, and songs are song (favorites include "As I Went Down to the River to Pray", "Book of Mormon Stories", and "Who Stole the Cookies From the Cookie Jar". A few times we have even went on a Bear Hunt!! We read the little kids a quick story, and at 8 pm it is off to bed for the younger group (under 8 years old). The older ones have an extra half an hour to stay down and talk with me about things that happened that day, or about the goings on of the next day. This is a fun time to find out their feelings about things, and get them involved with the family life. They seem to enjoy the older people talk! At 8:30 pm they are sent upstairs to read. It has been a tradition in are family since Elijah was just little to read each night for an hour. It has been happening for 11 years now. They are allowed to stay up till 9:30 pm if they are reading. If we hear goofing off, then lights are out early. They are usually really all good about it.........all the kids enjoy reading! Finally about 10 pm everyone is safely tucked away for the night. I get a few minutes to check email, clear tables, turn out lights, load the stoves, take some Advil, etc. before John gets home. Then I talk to him for a bit and fall asleep while thinking about doing it all over the next day. Now yes, we do alter our routine here and there, depending on activities.........but this is the typical day! Now you know what we do, and how we do it.