Seeking Assistance....

Chris and I are looking for a new computer... possibly two. He really wants a laptop and I can go either way. I really want to know what you use and are you happy or do you have a preference? I can get a discount through my school on Dells but are they really all that?

Also... I need to really organize my life. I now know that I am NOT Wonder woman and can not do everything. Katie and Jeff have their chores and for the most part they do real well at keeping it up.
However I still feel incomplete as far as the house STAYING clean. I thought that maybe I should do a little bit everyday but I am finding myself so damn tired by the time I walk in the door. What do y'all do to organize and maintain a functioning household?
I still have to have time with my school work and of course some time set aside with my family. We still do the family dinner thing which for the most part is how we stay close. I do not want to give Jeff any additional chores because he works his butt off and maintains his grades at school. I want him to have a life outside of the home. Katie on the other hand is getting older and although she does set and clear the dinner dishes I was contemplating having her load the dishwasher also. Which means she would be rinsing the dishes as well. She is 8 years old. You think she would be ready to take that on?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

Hump Day

When I was much, much, much younger I used to giggle when I heard an adult use that term. Not that I am older I am understanding the true meaning of why we call Wednesdays, Hump Day.
I have a vision in my mind that when we all begrudgingly go back to work on Monday mornings it's almost like we have to climb a imaginary hill to make it to the end of the week. It is only when Wednesday comes around that I get the feeling that I have "made it" to the middle of the week and the last two days is like running downhill, like the week will be over faster.

I am not quite sure why I think like that because to be honest with you my work days are not that hard to muddle through. My weekends however are the hard days. That's when all the little necessities that have been ignored all week need my attention. I think it is definitely time for a lifestyle overhaul. I need to find a way to muster the energy needed after putting in a nine hour workday to come home and take care of what's needed so that I can start enjoying my weekends and not dreading the impending doom.

And with school starting in less than two weeks... we all have to get into the early morning routines and establish the organization that my kids have tossed into the wind on the last day of school only a few short months ago. I am already exhausted just thinking about it.

I would like other's take on how they keep the organization flowing... short cuts taken and what not.