Within the Lines

Spring Cleaning

I LOVE our school schedule!!  I just have to say that again -- after 4 years of working out what works for us, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our school schedule!!!  We began January 2nd, have completed our first term of 12 weeks, and are now on "spring break".  The kids are happy, I'm happy; this is just so, so good.  And the timing of this break is perfect, a perfect time to start some seeds and do some spring cleaning. 

Spring cleaning has thus far been kind of overwhelming to me, an impossible list of must-do's.  Several years ago, I made a spring/fall cleaning checklist to remember each area needing cleaning in each room.  That helps, but it also makes me feel like going back to bed with a good book (not that I do, just plenty of wishful thinking).  This year, I tried something new that I'm really enjoying.  I decided to follow our regular weekly cleaning rotation while adding more detail.  Thus, Mondays are bedroom day.  So the kids did their regular bedroom cleaning chores and then reported in for deeper cleaning assignments (closets, drawers, shelves, etc).  I meanwhile did the same in our room.  We were done by nap time leaving the afternoon free for me to rest a bit, do laundry, work on some anniversary cards, and make dinner.  Tuesdays are assigned downstairs.  So yesterday after regular chores (which generally don't take more than half an hour), the kids worked on dusting and picking up in the guest room and tv room while I dusted the office and did laundry.  Then while I tackled the office desk (which had stuff in the drawers that was 7 or more years old!!), the kids cleaned their desk drawers in the school/craft room.  We were done by lunch, making it possible for me to focus the afternoon on starting our onions, peppers, tomatoes and some flower seeds.  Wednesdays are upstairs.  So today the kids did some extra dusting and cleaned out the games cupboard that desperately needed it.  Then while I dusted shelves and the hutch, I gave the kids a break from cleaning to play in their rooms.  My son joined me in the kitchen when I began cleaning the grease layer off the tops of the kitchen cabinets and trimming dead leaves off the plants I have in baskets all around.  He loved the job of gathering up the leaves to throw outside.  Now I have laundry half done and want to clean the kitchen cabinet fronts and trim a few more houseplants.  Tomorrow is bathroom day, so we'll do some extra deep cleaning in the bathrooms.  And Friday will be sit-back-and-enjoy-it day.  (Then we'll leave for the library.)   AAAAHHHHH.  It just feels so good to bring order without utterly killing ourselves off in the process.  And all this cleaning will make us really glad to get back to school next week!  LOL!!

Oh-- I gotta get going.  I forgot to start the french bread to go with lasagna for dinner tonight!!