Thursday, June 30, 2011

Goals Progress Report : a post to help you feel very good about yourself :)

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.
Victor Kiam

As Heroine Worshipper so tactfully pointed out in his comment on my post, um. . .<cough, cough> 5 months ago, the blogging thing hasn't been working out so good.

I love the story about Sis. Hinckley's personal scripture study project. She reported to her daughter: “I have a new project to read one chapter a day from each of the standard works. I’ve been on it four days and I’m only three days behind.”  Gosh, it helps to know I'm in good company. :)

But rest assured, I have not given up! Never, never, never!

goals logo

 

I want to share with you just how progress on my goals has gone through this mad, wonderful year so far. You will leave my blog greatly encouraged, I hope.

(Plus, I spent a lot of time on that gorgeous graphic to the left, and darn it, I want it to get USED!)

What can I say? My charity never faileth. :)

 

 

~ Daily scripture study and prayer

This is perhaps the ONLY goal going well. And, oh crumb, I just realized I haven't done it yet today. . . arg.

 

~ Develop my romance with DC – ENJOY :)

Hmmmm. . . . things are going better than a year ago. It is awesome to have Exacto old enough to babysit--we've started going on REAL dates again! Still plenty of room for improvement. DC has a funny quote: "We interrupt this marriage for the raising of children." It's not THAT bad, but I think we are at the peak of our family's parenting demands right now. Any suggestions for how to stay close when you're both up to your eyeballs in real life?

 

~ Consistency in time with Exacto, Fluffy, and Hummer – ENJOY

Super Kid dates, piano lessons, one-on-one time after school (stations), reading books together, paydays, etc.

Doing pretty well here, too. My friend Suzanne asked about how we do the "stations." After school is normally insanity here. If any of you have more than one child in school you know exactly what I'm talking about. Why is life such that dinner must be made at the same time as a toddler's natural fussiness which is also the same time that one must go through reams of paper daily, signing, deciding where to put, checking calendar, etc. etc. plus deal with homework, practicing, etc.? It is the bewitching hour. ('Cuz I get be-witched! Get it? :)

Anyway, we have a little system that has helped. It's a little OCD, but the boys seem to enjoy it, and I definitely do. They rotate through stations, and we set the timer for 10 minutes per station.

Station 1 = chocolate milk and rest (IF you finished your chores before school)

Station 2 = show Mom your papers and tell her about your day (this is awesome because it's one-on-one and I can really look at what they've been doing)

Station 3 = play with Rosebud (this is the most brilliant part - fun for both of them and frees my attention)

Any homework needs to be done before or after this time. Practicing starts at 4:30pm, and finishing that is your ticket to dinner. (We follow Suzuki's credo that you don't need to practice everyday, just on the days you eat).

~ Spend some time “with” Benjamin once a week, either visiting his grave or working on one of his scrapbooks

Ouch. Ever since our church meetings switched to 9-12, we are STARVING after church and Rosebud is near exhaustion, so the cemetery tradition has fallen by the wayside. I do try to head back out there in the afternoon while she's asleep. No scrapbook progress. Zero. It feels okay, though. I'm not worrying about it, just a little wistful.

~ ENJOY Rosebud – Help her get on a sleep/daytime routine. Start reading to her and singing to her regularly.

Woohoo! I am happy to report that after a ludicrous amount of time (months, literally!) studying and preparing using Sheyne Rowley's Dream Baby Guide book, I implemented the system in March, and it worked like magic. I could kiss Sheyne Rowley, and I fully intend to if I ever meet her. Rosebud went from 5-6 wakings per night and sometimes no more than 20 minutes of napping for a whole day, to 12 hours solid sleep at night, and a nearly 3-hour nap like clockwork every single day. The reading and the singing are part of the routine now.

I plan to do a whole post on this (don't snort! I will! You just see!). The book changed my life, changed my parenting for the better--I wish I could have read it when Exacto was a babe.

~ Consistent exercise program / Reduce waist measurement by 8”

I have a specific plan for this (complete with rewards!) that I will share soon. . . .

Oh my goodness. I am ashamed and humiliated to admit publicly that this goal happened for all of about 2 weeks. And the worst part is that my "specific plan" included built-in fancy rewards every 4 months. Like flying to UT for the Carl Bloch exhibit and a couple of family events. I was to hold myself STRICTLY to 90% success rate, or no go. And guess what?

I went anyway. Naughty spanky me.

Is it even possible to take off 8" by the end of the year now. . . .?

It really is necessary to make progress on this. Heart trouble and high blood pressure are knocking at my door, due to some strong genetics, and my waist just keeps increasing!

~ Personal history / writing / blog

Write daily in journal, write weekly family letters

Come up with blog routine that I am happy with and can maintain

Journal and family letters, yes. Blog routine, nein. Much to my sorrow! To my credit, the sleep thing with Rosebud cleared up in March, but only a few days after that, I pulled Hummer out of public school to homeschool. Any regular time to myself that I had just gained went out the window immediately. It was wonderful and worth it. Just not good for any serious writing.

~ House – Declutter, Organize, Decorate as if to sell

One area per month – have notebook, make wish list, use budget

Jan: Downstairs closets,½ bath ~

Feb: Rosebud’s rm, closet ~

Mar: Boys’ rm, closet ~

Apr: Master br, bath, closet ~

May: Living rm ~

June: vacation :) ~

etc.

Oh, this one is classic. Want to know which month's project I'm on? Yep, January! Aren't you wishing you had joined me in my motivational house project schedule?

And yet, I am undaunted! Onward and upward!

Just for fun, though, I hope to show you soon the progress on January's. (I'm ridiculously proud of my little powder room makeover:). Almost done, having worked on it sporadically for the past 6 months. . . stay tuned!

 

 

 IMG_8967 edit

Rosebud, 18 months old last week

13 comments:

Amy Kay said...[Reply to comment]

Michelle, you are an amazing lady. I love getting the emails when you blog. I understand the time thing. I have very little these days, and more things keep piling onto my ever growing plate. My day starts at 5:45 am and I don't get to bed until midnight. I am learning not to worry so much about certain things. Live your life, enjoy your children and your husband. Don't have any regrets, live your life to the fullest. Your goals are great, keep trying, and you are right...never give up. Have faith and stay close to the Lord. Love you girl! Miss you so much. I love the photo of Rosebud, she has amazing eyes and is as beautiful as her mother.

Vauna said...[Reply to comment]

Michelle, you are making progress on the things that really count. Sometimes day to day life dictates that we have to prioritize. I also know that you spend time with Benjamin every day in your heart. He knows that and is more interested in you doing the things that you are doing than finishing his scrapbook. That day will come.
I took a parenting class over a year ago and we made me a daily schedule. I wrote down all the things I should be doing and they made me throw almost all of them out so I could actually accomplish the most important. She actually wrote on the top of my daily schedule: "no shoulds". It sounds to me like you are taking on way too much right now. It's good that you have your priorities in order and are letting some things step aside while you focus on the things you need to right now.
You are such an inspiration. Thank you!

Andrea said...[Reply to comment]

great post Michelle. I always learn so much from you. It sounds like you have made great progress.

I love the station idea. I can't wait to steal it. Thanks for sharing.

I can't wait to see the powder room. I am sure it is beautiful.

As for hubby relationships. Texting has really helped us. We carry on converstations all day through texting. It is so nice because kids can't interupt a text.

Deaton Adventures said...[Reply to comment]

I did join you on your cleaning projects and I did finish them before we moved, now I have to start all over again finding room for 10 people's stuff to fit into this house!!
I am glad you posted all this, I am going to set SECOND HALF goals and we can motivate each other on them!

Becky Rose said...[Reply to comment]

I'm glad your back! Rosebud is Darling! So my gosh that dress and hair bow is darling with the blond hair! You have so many goals(over achiever) and the fact that you have even some of them done are so great. You can do it! Keep going! You

David and Kaitlyn said...[Reply to comment]

What a beautiful picture of Rosebud! Can you believe our Roses are so big already? I haven't even kept up with my day today life lately! I'm so behind I haven't even MADE goals!

llamitanan said...[Reply to comment]

Sounds like you are accomplishing what is most important. I LOVE your post! Sure miss you and your sweet family. It is way too quiet here.

heroineworshipper said...[Reply to comment]

A smaller waist reduction would be more realistic. 8" is just too discouraging.

There's no better reminder of the perils of obesity than online dating. They pretty much all have bad backs, bad joints, & diabetes at this age.

S. said...[Reply to comment]

Actually, I think you're doing marvelously!! No condescension from any of us gals, we're all living out here in the real world where a powder room can languish for years and years...it's fun to hear your voice coming through the internet again, though. If I get around to emailing you I could comment on each little thing, but way to be an example of optimism AND productivity :)

Karrot Soup said...[Reply to comment]

(Oops, it's me, not my husband. Sorry about mixed-up identities.)

Becky Rose said...[Reply to comment]

I found this page and thought of you for your goals. I need to loose about 40 LBS!

Andre said...[Reply to comment]

Rosebud is absolutely beautiful!!!

I'm glad you're not worrying about not getting your goals done on time. I had the same house project, work on one room at a time, do serious cleaning. I started with the kitchen first because I knew I wouldn't complete the entire house. But my house is tidy, and my time with my kids is priceless. I am not going to teach piano lessons anymore because I was feeling really guilty about not being available for my kids after school. They need me.

Happy kids are more important than a perfectly clean house!

Michelle said...[Reply to comment]
This comment has been removed by the author.