So I read an interesting fact in the Reader’s Digest earlier this month: To succeed at a goal, cut 20 seconds off the start up time. Want to get in shape? Lay out your workout clothes the night before. You’re more likely to just do it if the first step has already been tackled.

It sounds simple, but wow! it works. I’ve been using FLY Lady’s tip to wipe out your sink after each use and it’s been incredibly easier to keep my kitchen under control (we won’t talk about how monstrously-out-of-control it used to get). The first step of clearing out the sink is already done, and so it’s easier to tell myself “this will only take a couple of minutes, so just hurry and do it now.” There’s less mental energy required.

In other news Zach created a book for a school project. He titled it Zach’s Season’s and promptly colored the snow yellow, which from a kindergartner’s perspective I can totally understand; You can’t color it white because the paper’s white, and yellow is the next lightest color in the crayon box. But yellow snow. It makes me laugh.

Andi continues her quest to be a great big sister. She proudly changes Katie’s diaper (with supervision) and sometimes tackles her to change her into a cuter outfit (without supervision usually).

Josh spends a lot of time pretending to cook his wooden blocks and mini books in his little red frying pan.

Katie loves to laugh with us and likes to wave at her daddy in church while he’s sitting up on the stand. Sometimes she’ll even yell at him. I think she’s telling him to stay awake! No falling asleep during the musical speaker!

I sure love my kids.