FOCUS ~ Family Time Coupons

After reading Candace’s post about creating coupons for her family, I was inspired to create my own.  I made a book for each child.  In their coupon books the have coupons they can redeem for the following:

• date w/ mom x2
• date w/ dad x2
• baking w/ mom
• baking w/ dad
• pick out movie for family movie night x2
• Family Fun Day outing the month of their birthday
• a day of Christmas shopping w/ Daddy or myself
• choosing the craft for family craft night x2

They were very excited to receive these.  In order to make sure they actually get their “days”, we sat down at the table with my planner and wrote everything down for January. 

So, for this month, Isaac has a date with me.  We are going out for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.  He has talked about this for days.  It almost makes me sad that I didn’t place a greater emphasis on this sooner.  But, it’s what we are doing now that counts.  Logan and Matt are going to see Avatar at some point this month (they both balked at writing a date on the calendar).  And, Emma is choosing this month’s craft. 

I bought the kids a Christmas tree after Christmas this year.  It will go in their playroom next Christmas.  I picked up ornaments in lots of fun bright colors for their tree.  And, I also thought it would be neat to have them make ornaments to put on the tree.  So, 6 times this year the kids will take turns picking an ornament to make.  I have saved TONS of pictures and tutorials from the blogs I read.  I will print these out and put them in a folder.  The week before “craft night” this month’s “chooser” will pick which one we will make.  I will then gather supplies and have them ready for craft night.  My plan is for each of the five of us to make at least two ornaments each each month.  That will be 10 each month.  I hope that we can use these for gifts next Christmas for their friends and cousins.

365 Photography Goal

FOCUS.  Remember that word?  It’s my word of the year.  One of the things I want to focus on is my family.  Sounds like a “duh”, huh?  Well, obviously, as a homeschool mom I do focus on my family, right?  Well, kind of.  I focus on what needs to be done.  I don’t always focus on my family as a unit.  What’s that mean?  It means I get the chores done, errands run, and food cooked.  I get school work done and kids to classes/practices.  But, sometimes I get so focused on those parts of “family” life that I forget to FOCUS on us. 

In an effort to focus more on “us”, I have set a goal to create a “365 Album” this year.  My goal is to photograph my family – events, moments, and everyday stuff – every day this year.  I found this awesome scrapbook/photo album to help me organize all these photos.  If you knew me years ago, you know how “into” scrapping I was.  That, however, was before Emma was born, and I learned to sew.  Then, I found a new passion.  I didn’t lose my desire to photograph everything, I just lost my desire to scrap those pics.  So, where are they?  On CD’s!!!  I don’t print them, because I don’t scrap them. 

That’s about to change, though.  My goal is (as soon as my album arrives) to edit and print my photos once a week.  Then, I’ll sit down one evening each week and journal the photos from the previous week and put them in my album.  As I edit my photos, I’ll also upload them to my blog in a “week in review” post so my friends and family can keep up-to-date with our family fun.  I’m excited to see this come to fruition over the course of the year. I’m excited to FOCUS on my everyday, ordinary, “just mine” family!!

**And, because I am always one step ahead of myself like to plan ahead … I’m already thinking about other ways I could use this album.  Of course, I would have to order more, but that’s OK.  I’m thinking I want one to put all of our Disney pictures in one.  This way, I can tell all of my stories, but I don’t have to embellish or cut any paper!  I’m also thinking about doing one for Emma’s dance years.  I’m thinking about a 2-page spread for each recital (so far she’s been in three) and a 2-page spread for each competitive dance season (this is our first).  As I said, I am getting way ahead of myself here just thinking aloud…**

Word for 2010

My word for the year 2010 is FOCUS. Last year was a tough year for me. After our move from Cinci to Texas, I turned into a “turtle”. I climbed in my shell and hung out there by myself for the better part of the year. I lost focus, and couldn’t focus on anything.

In short, I feel God is calling me to focus on the following things:

• HIM – I plan to do this in a few ways. I plan to attend the membership class at church with Matt, and we will join the church we have attended since moving to TX. I also plan to read through my One Year Bible this year.
• FAMILY – I plan to do this by utilizing our coupon books (more on these later) which entitle the kids to choose an activity each week or a “date” with Matt or myself. I’m also going to work on a “365” scrapbook which will help me focus on my family in an “everyday” way – not just focusing on events.
• ME – I am clearing off the treadmill, and I’m planning to run a 5K each month this year with my aunt, sister, and two boys. I am also looking into some “work” related things. One is getting my sewing business back to where it was when we moved. Also this year, I will train to become a Disney travel agent. If you have any future plans to travel to Disney, let me know!!

I’m open to anything the Lord calls me to focus on. For now, he’s got me hard at work on the list above.