Pools, Yard Work, House-Cleaning Oh MY!!

With Rob being on vacation, we are really making a dent in our to-do list. It seemed to be growing in length instead of getting shorter, until this week. We've been able to do quite a bit. Now if we can just keep the motivation going for the next couple of days..... Maybe the list will be done!!! OH wait, a to do list never gets done, right?!
The pool is almost ready to go (the ladder needs to be put in), the lawn is mowed, trash is out and the house is really coming along. The 10 minute rule of everyone helping for 10 minutes a day, is really helping! IF you have issues with getting the kids to clean up, try this. One laundry basket for each member of the house and set the timer for 10 minutes. Have everyone take a different zone of the house, (ie kitchen, living room, mudroom, bathroom etc) Anything that is not in its correct place, goes in the basket. At the 5 minute mark, everyone gathers in a central location and all of the out of place items are divided up and given back to their owner or put away (if its a household product). Everyone is responsible for their own bedrooms. It is not part of the 10 minute clean up plan. Give it a try! It works for us:) Have a great day!