Candlelight Dinners

We instituted a new tradition in our family this week. I was remembering how neat my grandmother is. Everynight at dinner she eats by candlelight. It was something I could always count on when we would stop by in the evening or when we were the guests. I've been trying to figure out how we could have better manners and keep everyone at the table while we eat. So we now have brought in this famly tradition with a twist. Whoever has the best manners, gets to blow out the candles at the end of dinner. And everyone stays at the table as long as they're lit. It's been working really well! The manners are definitely improving. We haven't had candles every night as I'd hoped. (And we had a little set back when Dad was passing a dish to someone across the table and burned his arm.) But I will settle for most nights of the week and be very content. I hope by this small gesture my kids will see how important it is in our family to have this special time every night to sit down together (even if it is just me and the kids with Dad on the road). Thank you, Gram, for being an inspiration!

Streaky Windows

Nothing like a nice streaky window to remind you that you have toddlers in the house. I know the day will come faster than I'd like that I'll wish I had these days back with evidence of little people in the house.

Index Cards

We really cycle through the job charts- but we always seem to come back to the index cards. It's a great system. It helps them see how much they get done by taking each one down when they finish.

Hope- Faith- Love Box

Grandma sent us this fun box. It became an inspiration! Everytime I catch the kids being kind to one another, doing an act of service, finishing all their chores, etc. they get to put a crystal in their jar. If they use an angry voice, talk back, fight, have a potty accident (this was another purpose in the crystals), etc. they get a crystal taken away. When they get 12 crystals in their jars they get to go on a special date with Dad and me.

The Fly Lady & Sidetracked Sisters

We started with chore lists decorated with High School Musical for Sassy and Star Wars the Clone Wars for Roonsie Boy. We got moving a little bit with these, but were still struggling to finish our chores. So, a couple days ago, we had a visit from "The Fly Lady" or "Cleaning Fairy" as we call her. Many of you may be familiar with her website : www.flylady.net . She decided to visit us in the night and leave the kids a list of jobs. She came back last night and left a treat for the kids for the chores they finished. I think she was a little over ambitious with her list- they did a great job with over half the jobs, but still have some left for today. She said she'd come back one more time tonight to check and see if they get any additional treats.
I read a book The Side Tracked Home Executives, by Pam Young and Peggy Jones (One of my other VERY FAVORITES!), where they would be "house fairies" for each other. Since, I didn't have any funny friends to come dressed up as house fairies, I was glad the FLY Lady could help us out.

Glamour Gloves

Two of my dearest friends in the world mailed me these "glamour gloves" for Christmas. I laughed and laughed when I opened up the package! I really love them- now I am dressed for the occasion as I am cleaning- truly "Queen of the Castle"! Who wouldn't enjoy cleaning wearing a pair of these? They're fabulous!

The Parenting Breakthrough

This is one of my all time favorite parenting book! It teaches you all about how to get your kids to work and be prepared to learn all the nessessities of life. Get it!! You won't be disappointed!
The Parenting Breakthrough: Real-Life Plan to Teach Kids to Work, Save Money, and Be Truly Independent by Merrilee Browne Boyack

The Monster Box

Here is a device we've had to use in years past... THE MONSTER BOX. He came out yesterday when I heard Sassy tell Roonsie Boy in a rushed, whispered tone as I was walking down the hall to their room, "Hurry, Roonsie Boy! Pretend you're cleaning!!" I then gave them 15 minutes to clean before the Monster Box came to eat up their toys. He keeps them for a week. They can pay me for items inside if they want them back (a quarter per toy) before the week is up, or they can do extra chores to earn them back. Tears were flowing when he reared his ugly head! Even the baby was crying when the Monster Box came out! I guess the growl was a little too scary.

Bowling

To mix it up this weekend, I stuck papers with the names of different rooms of the house that needed to be cleaned on the bottom of bowling pins. Then I lined them up in a row. Whatever pin they knocked over- they had to do the chore stuck to the bottom. After cleaning that room, they could bowl again. It was a success!!

Ice Skating in the House

AKA mopping the floor! We like to do it Pippi Longstocking style (just with helmets). The kids put on Dad's old socks, I dump out some hot vinegar water and they slip and slide to their hearts content. The kids beg and beg for me to do this. Really, I should let them do it as often as they like. My floors end up shiny bright! We crank up the music and they dance and slide, all while getting those nasty sticky spots off the tile. The helmets were a new addition this time. I'm glad we had them- there were a few head bonks. Sometimes we also add bubble blowing for a little added fun. Usually we use mopping the floor as a reward when their other chores are done.

Musical Chairs Chores

We stuck the kids chores for the day on the bottom of our chairs, had Daddy turn on the music, and went in circles till they landed on the job they needed to do. They loved it. :)