Summer Jobs

We are only four weeks into summer, but I am already feeling a little stir-crazy.  It may be because we live in AZ and instead of being able to play outside for the summertime, we have to play inside.  I love having Nathan home with us, but I have had to be creative to find things to do.  I always begin summer with these great ideas of things I am going to accomplish with the kids, too.  I want them to be concert pianists, readers, and caligraphers by the time summer is over (ha, ha).  Some things work, and some don't, and we learn as we go.

One thing that I have come across is a great, free, online job chart.  It is called http://www.myjobchart.com/.  I heard about it last summer, but I think the kids were too young to really use it.  However, this year, it is a huge hit! The kids just get on in the morning and they mark off their jobs. The thing I like about it is that I can put point values for different jobs so they know they have to EARN movies, TV time, video game time, computer time, etc., etc.  Then I don't have them begging to watch movies all the time.  They have been practicing piano, cleaning their rooms, doing laundry, and dishes without much fuss at all.  We'll see if they keep it up!  Try it and let me know what you think!

Dino Easter Eggs

I don't think I have dyed Easter eggs since before I left for college.  But I found this darling idea and am now dying (ha) to try it!

Bedtime Stories

There is nothing quite as fun as Daddy reading bedtime stories.  With our daddy gone so much the kids really love when he sits down to read them stories.  We've been on the hunt for good "chapter books" that a 6,5,3, and 1 year old would like.  Tricky.   However, our current reading is this:   

Who hasn't read this series and loved it?  I bet very few. It is a classic. Matt even named his childhood dog "Boone" after one of the characters. It has been around for a long time and it's perfect for bedtime because the chapters are short, but lots of fun. 

Any other suggestions you may have for bedtime stories for older children?

-Heather

Kids Crafts: Pinwheels

I am always looking for little crafts or things to do with my children. I have a 4 year old who LOVES to do anything crafty, and a 2 year old who loves to do anything the 4 year old does. 

As spring is coming upon us I found this super easy idea that my kids will love. 

I love that they are so versatile you can use them as cupcake toppers or decoration or for a fun toy for the kids to play with.
-Megan

Baby Quilts

I am going to try a new baby quilt this week.  I love the soft and silky, but am going to add a new twist.  Maybe I could call them "sweet expressions" or something.  I want to quilt a sweet phrase or poem or something inspirational or funny in the middle of the silky side.  I have found some great quotes and thoughts on the "fabulousness" of a new baby.  I will pick my favorite so far and quilt it into the blanket and see how it looks.  I have some really great fabric, too.  I have this one with really cute dinosaurs and I thought maybe I could even do something silly like:  Dinos are scary, dinos are big, you don't scare me, my daddy works a rig!  Actually, I had something more clever than that, but I can't remember what it was.  Living in "oil country", I may be able to sell something like that around here, as the oil rig workers really have the last laugh.  If you have any "expression" you think might work, PLEASE share.  I will post a picture when I get one done.  If I can remember how to do that.  Ah, technology!  I wish it came a little faster, and stuck a little longer!  

DIY Hanging Bookshelf Tutorial

So my little H has become quite the avid reader. Every morning I find stacks of books on her bed and floor. We don't have a bookshelf in her room, but I came across this idea:

found here

Isn't it darling! I cannot wait to try it! It's cheap, so cute, and I can pick whatever fabric I want and can change it up whenever. Maybe it will help with the mess all over her room too. :)
-Heather

Chores...Jobs...Chores

Growing up, we always called our responsibilities “jobs” instead of chores. I’m not sure why, but it seemed that calling them “jobs” made them less horrible.  While our friends had to go home and do “chores”, we just had to do our jobs.
The first jobs I remember doing were ironing Dad’s handkerchiefs (with a very cool iron), folding washcloths and towels, and washing and drying dishes.  Scrubbing our little kitchen floor on hands and knees was a fun one too. I couldn’t have been than five years old when mom included me.  She must have known it would take so long to teach me responsibility!
To me, one of the most memorable attempts Mom used to get us to help around the house was a simple poster board. She had drawn a picture of a house on it, and each window was a little envelope with our pictures on them. When we came home from school, we were in charge of the jobs in our envelope. As I got older, the poster board ideas weren’t so cool, and Mom just simplified things. Every afternoon we came home to a jobs list. She wrote our names and our responsibilities down and we could check them off.
Mom was always creative. We’d turn the timer on the stove on and try to beat it. We’d have partners to work with. If we were really luck she’d put in a little surprise, like “eat a cookie” or “get a drink”. This way we never knew what we were going to get.
Now I have begun the task of teaching my own children to work. Our most successful attempt thus far, is the Saturday morning “JOB JAR”. I put little jobs on pieces of paper in a quart jar and they love drawing them out one at a time. We always work as a team because it makes things go quicker and I can keep tabs on what is happening.  Any little bit of encouragement can go a long way.
If there is anything I’ve learned from Mom, it is “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try (and try, try, try) again.”  Something will work. Not for very long, but it will sink in eventually.  Then you’ll try the same tricks with your own kids all over again.
-Heather

Magic Yarn Ball

I was cleaning out some old yarn awhile back and decided to make a little yarn ball for each of the kids.  They loved them! They played with them for hours and hours, very cheap entertainment.  Teach them to wind and unwind it. Challenge them to make letters or shapes with the yarn. Finally, don’t forget to see how far down the stairs, or across the room, the yarn can stretch.  If they’re anything like my kids, they’ll want to keep the little ball forever in their top drawer.