School

Last night we had entrance conferences with the kids. It so surreal that school is starting in a week. I feel like I was just picking the kids up form their last day of school. This mommy is getting kind of weepy knowing the summer is ending. The fights drove me CRAZY. The begging to get my kids out of bed to get to activities was a pain in the butt. BUT...I have completely enjoyed this summer with my kids. We had a lot of time together. We enjoyed the pool and the lake immensely this summer! It was great to meet their teachers. It is going to be a fabulous year with great teachers. Braeden wishes that he could go in a time machine to be able to start school faster. I am so glad that my kids enjoy school. I HOPE they will always enjoy getting up to go to school. Emma's teacher is in Patsy's old classroom. That just means there are good bones in there and she will excel this year!! Braeden got a fabulous teacher that taught Uncle Zak when he was little. Braeden of course brought it up to her immediately. I get one more year of my Charlie home with only preschool. I don't think we talk about Kindergarten for him until the day of. He gets to meet his preschool teacher on Wednesday. Ahhh...we are going to enjoy this weekend with time at the pool with cousins and days at the lake to water ski and go on boat rides.

Chore Chart

This week I finally made chore charts for my kids. It has been a long process of finding the right one and what would work for my kids. I searched the web and put together a few ideas into one amazing chore chart.

First I started with a cookie sheet and glass gems from the dollar store, magnets from Wal-Mart, 1 inch punch, mod podge, foam brush, glue stick, E6000 glue and fun paper

I then printed jobs to punch out and glue on the back of the gems. Here is the website I used here. I cut them out with the 1 inch punch and glued them face up to the back of the gems with the glue stick. I then spread mod podge on the back. I laid them out to dry for an hour.

 

After they dried I glued the magnets on the back with the E6000 glue. I let them dry overnight. While they dried I made up how to distinguish if the jobs need to be done, were done or are jobs that can earn money. I came up with this:

Then instead of gluing the sheet to the cookie sheet I decided to just tape it. I like change and know that I will want to change out the paper based on the time of year or just when I find cute paper I want to use. By gluing it, it makes it harder to change.

I put it all together and then remembered I had to drill holes in the cookie sheet to run ribbon through it.

Then I ran ribbon through it to hang it up on the wall.

 

Here are all the chore charts completed. They turned out better than I thought. The kids enjoy being able to move their jobs around. It has worked well to tell them they have to get them done before they can do other things for the day. The money jobs are great too because they can earn a little bit during the week during jobs that are over and above their normal day to day jobs. We didn't want to pay them for making their bed, brushing their teeth, cleaning their room or the normal jobs they have to do. They get paid to empty the dishwasher, clean the sink, dust, vacuum, etc. It is working great so far but it has only been a week!

Eventful Week

We have had the most fun week of the summer. Monday Braeden learned how to water ski! Hard to believe at 9 he can get up on skis. He looks so little skiing behind the pontoon boat. He doesn't need the speed boat to pull him out of the water because he is only maybe 60lbs soaking wet. My little boy is growing up. He went back to the lake Thursday night and got up without a problem! My kids are such water kids!

Emma had dance tryouts on Thursday. I am proud to say we have now entered a new stage in dance. She made rec team and hip hop team. I am so proud of her!! Her best friend tried out with her and they both made the same hip hop team. Emma is a year younger than her so they are on different rec teams. The girls were pretty bummed because they have danced together for the last 3 years. Her friends mom and I are bummed as well but excited that they can at least dance hip hop together. We will do play dates and it will be perfect!

Charlie has started putting his face under the water! This is HUGE! He has been so hesitant because he hates getting water in his ear. Friday my neighbor, Jen, and I took our kids to the pool to play. Charlie hangs out in the kiddie pool and the other kids get free rain of the pool and diving boards. Maddie, Jen's daughter, was swimming around in the kiddie pool and Charlie started copying her. He even held his breath and swam towards Jen and I kicking his legs! What an accomplishment. I couldn't be more proud.

My kids have had the best week!! Tonight they are staying at the lake for the night and I get a much needed alone night. Nick is in Madison on a golf trip with his brother. I am catching up on uploading pictures, updating my website and all other work related things that can never get done!