Doings

Papa is away today, gone to the semi-annual presbytery meeting. He left before anyone was out of bed, so we decided to get busy while he's away. The December meeting is our yearly chance to ready the house for the holidays and the coming crafting (already begun) and neaten things a bit for Mama's sanity. I've read my usual motivational posts, and we're geared up and ready!

Today's List:

• Clean boys' room
• Clean girls' room
• Clean Eve's room (storage room)
• Clean master bedroom
• Clean bathrooms
• Straighten downstairs
• Straighten outside

There. I do believe that covers the whole house.

There's also the decorating...simple and homemade. Pinecones lightly (LIGHTLY, CHILDREN!) dipped in white paint for garlands for the windows. Mixed nuts in bowls. Snowflakes and Swedish stars here and there.

And there's the kitchen work... readying the dough for

• Cinnamon rolls for Sunday
• Swiss Sandwich Cookies
• Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps
• Spritz Cookies

BUT! To keep us focused and the house smelling less like lemon cleaner and more like Christmas, we will be employing the oven timer as our taskmaster. When the timer rings, we move on to the next room.

AND...when the timer rings, we take one of the following out of the oven:

• Gingerbread (only, we don't bother to melt the chocolate chips; just toss them in)
• Chocolate Panforte
• Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

At least, that's the plan. I will be busy nursing and delegating and choosing the Christmas music. I've got a great team, and we can do it!

Brothers who lost teeth late the same night. Hmmm. Gideon (6) and Jon-Jon (8).