Spinning out of control!

Sometimes I feel as though things are spinning out of control.  I have been having a week (or maybe a few weeks) like that lately.

February 1st starts the birthdays in our family.  We have February 1, 3 and 26, and March 11.  This year included a First Birthday.  So we had the first birthday party back home, first birthday pictures, and parties for the older kids.  We were birthday-ing all through February and the first 2 weeks of March!

My sister was moving the end of February.  So I drove down to help her pack and move every weekend I was available that month.  Throw in opening day of trout season for Jackson, a full week of work for me and 4 snow days for the kids, and you get a pretty crazy month and a half!

Now that our calendar has fewer things, you would think my life would feel on track.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  I have gotten so behind on things.  Jackson is great at cleaning on his days off, but the days he works, things just fall apart.  I feel like I am running in circles and not accomplishing a thing. 

The problem... I am being thwarted by a one year old.  I spend so much time picking up after Paxton, I can't get much done for myself.  Gray came home sick from school the other day, and when he got home he said, "Every day after school, there is new mess".  That day it was cereal on the floor.  Right now, there is popcorn that Pax dumped on the floor behind my chair.  I will sweep it up as soon as I finish writing.  He digs things out of the trash and recycling.  Yesterday I caught him eating a biscuit I had thrown away after breakfast!  I keep all of the doors shut, or he will throw things in the toilet and pull things off my dresser and night stand.  We have locked almost all of the cabinets, but he still finds things to get into.  If I sit down to work at the desk, he cries until I pick him up and then starts grabbing things... anything he can get his hands on, stapler, pens, pencils, anything.  Now that he is walking, he can reach higher, so I have to keep things off the surfaces he can reach.   I don't remember the other kids being such mess makers!

My to-do list is never ending.  I need to go through the kids clothes for spring.  Gray just pulled out 3 shirts that no longer fit, and I know the other kids have things, too.  I need to find things to sell in a garage sale and plan the sale.  I need to work on plans for my 15-year class reunion.  I need to work on planning our vacation.  Find time to exercise, read, scrapbook...

I will try to take Jackson's advice and focus on one thing at a time.  Though I am often interrupted by someone needing something.  Maybe I will focus on a few things at a time.  It seems to work better for me that way.  I will also remind myself of my accomplishments.  Maybe I should keep a running have-done list instead of, or in addition to, a to-do list, since I have never been very good at crossing things off my to-do list.

I have just had an ah-ha moment!  This may be the answer to my frustration.  Right now I am starting my have-done list for the week.

• I attended the Parent Advisory Committee meeting and the PTA Meeting
• I remembered to take the stuff for the planting activity after the PTA Meeting (this is something I was really worried about)
• I cleared most of my desk yesterday and finally feel like I can sit down at it without being in utter chaos.  
• I have caught up with the laundry.  
• I did some major grocery shopping and bought most of the Easter outfits last weekend.  
• I have found a chance to write a bit, even though I have had to stop about 10 times during this short post.    

I am sure I can think of some more things, but it's a start.  I'm glad I started writing today.  I may never have thought of this otherwise...I am going to try to keep a have-done list for the next few weeks.  Maybe it will help me feel like I am back on track.

I left them in this room for less than 20 min. while I was cleaning the kitchen.