Oh! This is so much better!

My darling friend Julie has come to your aid and had mercy upon you by sending me one of her old keyboards. So, send her wonderful beautiful thoughts and prayers tomorrow (Aug 1st) because she will be welcoming her new long awaited second son.

The birthday that wouldn't end

but finally has.
3 parties?
Is that really necessary?

My new favorite picture

Six...

Already?




*sigh*

Kids and Chores

In my house, chores are applied for and awarded according to experience and age. We have a bulletin board with a 4X6 picture of each member of the family. Next to each picture is the card for the Daily Job and the Weekly Job that has been selected
by that family member. I keep an index card box filled with Help Wanted cards.

Each Help Wanted card includes detailed instructions on how each job should be done. We have plenty of age appropriate jobs from Fish Feeder to Car Washer.
Lots of Kids has an awesome article on age appropriate chores. (My kids do a lot of the older kid stuff like folding and putting away their own laundry. They've been making their own beds since turning 4. They load and unload the dishwasher etc)

Daily Chores are done at the appropriate time of day. (Table setter at lunch and dinner. Librarian, who shelves books at bedtime) Weekly Chores are done on Saturday or whenever worker and I agree upon. I also emphasize that all materials used for job must be returned to proper place. I find the detailed instructions to be critical to getting the job done correctly and thoroughly and without need for parental nagging.

Here are some examples of my Help Wanted cards. Unfortunately, I used a Greeting Card program to make these. If I can get them into Word, I'll make the file available.
(My Dog Feeder card has not been updated.)




Now, these jobs are in addition to their regular daily routine of making beds, cleaning up after themselves etc.

Peek-In-Monday

How.to.teach.a.kid.to.ride.a.bike?
Do.not.use.a.flat.sidewalk.
Use.a.grassy.hill.

Keyboard.still.broken.
I.guess.I.need.to.suck.it.up.and.buy.a.new.one.

Grrrrrrrrrr....

Keybnoarydbactyinghbup.bspacebnarybnotybworykingh.
btyhisbwillbnebtyhebtyhirydbkeybnoarydbtyhisbtyeary.
styupid.

Peek-In-Monday

How a 40lb child plays tug-of-war with an 85lb puppy...
(please excuse the crappy video.)

and yes, we took Humphrey to the vet on Wednesday and he weighed in at 82lbs. Apparently, they gain on average 3 lbs a week. I just stood there laughing. What in the world! 82lbs at 5mos?! But, honestly he is the easiest dog I have ever owned. He loves going to the dog park. He goes to the park and on walks with us everyday. He has learned the basic commands so quickly. And he is so low key I can't believe it. He hasn't chewed up anything he's not supposed to. He has outgrown even the extra large crate, so we confine him to the kitchen at night. He hasn't had a single potty accident since the first two days. The kids are completely in love with him and even my dog hating husband plays with him every morning when he's a bit too rambunctious to play with the kids.