February Focus

I attempted to start some new organizational strategies in January that would hopefully help me be more efficient and I did implement some of them fully but others I just didn't really get started so I decided that February is going to be my month to focus!!!

Here are my goals:

1. Monthly Menu - I did this in January and it worked out pretty well. I preplanned an entire month's menu, shopped for everything that would keep all at once, and prepped as much as I could to make dinner less stressful for us. I made fewer trips to the grocery, spent less money not having to buy quick and easy foods, and added several new dinners to our normal routine!

2. Cut out unhealthy foods - Recently we've noticed that Kate's afternoon blood sugars have been getting high due to snacking in between lunch and dinner, usually on cookies or ice cream or other sugary foods. It's a struggle because I hate to restrict Savannah and Owen from snacks just because of Kate's diabetes but I hate for Kate to feel punished because of her health. So Mike and I decided that starting Feb 1 we would go on a sort of "family diet". No more junk food for any of us. If Kate can't eat it, none of us can....that includes cookies, sweets, ice cream, and (gasp) soda!!!! Yes, we are giving up sodas!!!

3. Stick to our monthly budget - Now that I am not teaching and we aren't sure how long it will be before Mike gets new job, it is more important than ever that we stick to our monthly budget and save as much as we can for emergencies and possible moving expenses. This should be by far the easiest goal as we have lived on a relatively strict budget for several years now :)

4. Focused time and attention on my children daily - This sounds ridiculous seeing as how I am a stay at home mom but really sometimes we as a family get so busy and frantic that I feel like I don't get one on one time with each of my kids each day. So my goal is three fold...1. Have a focused conversation with each child daily. 2. Make eye contact with each child daily 3. Touch each of my children daily.

5. Spend time reading most evenings - Since Owen came I have seriously lacked alone time/down time/relaxation. And in all the hustle bustle of life and kids, I find that I have absolutely nothing to discuss other than kids. I am totally boring!!! So now that Owen is on a pretty consistent schedule as far as bed time goes, Mike and I are committing to turning off the TV at a certain hour and spending some quiet time reading each evening.

6. Start potty training Owen - So after debating it back and forth I am jumping in! Bring on the pull ups!


So that is a lot of goals, but I feel like they are pretty doable. They will hopefully make us happier, healthier, and better prepared!! I will let you know how it goes....and how many days I cry because I want a coke!!! :)