Task Cards

The boys have started getting into the habit of saying, "I want_______!" We have started replying with "Earn it." In order for the boys to earn some "candy money", we have implemented Task Cards. These are little chores that they have to do around the house. They get one card a day, and they get a dime when they complete the task. We store the dimes in a sheet protector that was made for stamp collecting. It works great. Perfect size, and it is see-through. These hang on the wall without being in direct site of houseguests. Jacob LOVES getting his dimes. On saturdays, we collect all of the dimes that they have earned that week, and pay our tithes, and the rest is theirs to spend or save. We have this cool little corner variety store that still has individual pieces of candy for like 2-5 cents a piece.

Eventually we will start adding additional cards that they can do to earn more money. We will then phase out the paying them for the little tasks, and they will be required to "earn their keep". Then they will have to use the bigger tasks to earn their money.

Cody's cards are just words, since he knows how to read.

Jacob, since he can't read, I took pictures of all of his tasks. I used my trusty photoshop, and added words to the pictures. He can look at the card on the fridge, and he knows exactly what he has to do. He is usually the first one to be done with his tasks. I hope it keeps up. Last week, he earned more money than Cody, because Cody chose not to do some of his chores. ;)

I just uploaded them to walmart, and printed them off like normal 4x6 photos. I then laminated them so they would last a little longer. All in all, it was about $2.25 to make the cards. You could probably do it cheaper if you had a photo printer, or used contact paper or your own laminator. I don't, so I had to buy everything. Even still...for under $3, my kids do chores. Well....at least one of them does.

Time Flies.....

Well, since it has been a month, I should probably post something, so my family members will be happy. :) We have had a lot going on this past month. Natalie turned 1. :( My baby is now entering the world of toddlerhood. Even though she doesn't toddle yet. (hehe)

She was so cute at her birthday party.

She loved all of the attention, and was getting quite angry at some of her cousins for stealing her toys. By the time we got to the cake though, she had just about had it. She was so tired, she just wanted to go to bed.

She was a good sport though. Everyone had fun, and left happy. It was a good day.

_____________________________

On another note, Jared has been going to work suuuuper early in the mornings, so he is able to be home earlier in the day to play with the boys. He used to go to work around 9 am or so, and would get home around 6. Well, the boys go to bed between 7-8, so there wasn't much time to rough-house and play with daddy before we had to wind down for the night. Now, Jared goes into work about 6, and he is usually home by 4, just when Cody gets home from school. This has been great. The boys love having the extra attention around when I am trying to make dinner, and I love having the boys distracted when I am trying to make dinner. :) It is a win-win situation. Here are some pictures from one of our recent "Family Night" 's.

Jacob and Cody were wrestling. Sad to say, but Jacob really has some talent in this area, and won. Makes it pretty fair when you weigh the same as your big brother. ;) Jacob is on the bottom in this shot, but right after I took it, he wiggled his way on top, and Cody couldn't move. It was really funny, and Cody was getting REALLY upset. ;)

Natalie isn't much of a wrestler, but she is sure ticklish, and is quite the acrobat. She loves to be upside-down. Blow on her tummy, and she just goes crazy. Combine the two....

That is one happy baby. :)

I promise to post more frequently. We have coming up: Task cards, soccer games, and spelling tests. Plus some random cute kiddos too. :) Oh...and Happy Birthday Daddy. :)

Natalie's First Tutu

I finally got around to making Natalie's tutu for her birthday outfit. She loves it so far. She even dances in it. :)

Wow

Wow...I suck at this. Anyway. Nothing grand has been happening here. Well. We haven't been able to do a whole bunch, because I have been in potty training world. For the last 2 weeks I have been "PT"ing Jacob. He gets it, and knows when he has to go, he just does it on his terms. If he wants to pee his pants, he does. It doesn't matter if he just went to the bathroom or not. You can't force this kid to do anything. We still have daily accidents, and it is getting really irritating. I hate PTing....

Cousins

Well, over christmas vacation, Natalie got to hang out with one of her few girl cousins. My sister, who shall remain nameless (EMILY!!!) moved to Salt Lake with the only cousins my kids had that were their age. Well, we got together for New Years, and the girls had a blast.

Natalie would try and take all of the toys away from Kayla, and crawl to get anything that might be in reach of Kayla. It was fun though. Hopefully they will be great friends when they get a little bit older. :)

Turning 3.

Well, this is going to be a little sappy, because I am feeling sentimental. I now have a 3 year old. :( Jacob has moved from toddlerhood into a preschooler. He still acts the same, but is just a little more grown up today. He had a great birthday party, and loves all of the gifts that he recieved. I think the biggest hit was his scooter. He hasn't let that thing out of his reach since he recieved it. :) Here are some pictures, so you can reminisce with me.

Birth: January 5, 2006

First birthday: 2007

Second Birthday:2008

Third Birthday: 2009 messy face and all.

12 days of Christmas

So, Christmas is in 11 days. Well, 10(or 9, or 8..) depending on when you read this. Cody only has 5 more days of school, and then he is off for 2 full weeks. I seriously dread those 2 weeks. Yes, it is christmas vacation, and there are a lot of things to do, but honestly...I would rather him be in school I think. Jacob just behaves so much better without Cody around. I mean, Jacob is still a typical 3 year old, but he is egged on by his bigger brother most of the time. *Sigh* 5 more good behavior days....Oh well. At least summer vacation is still 5 months away.

Santa Girl

I was taking pictures today of Natalie in her Santa outfit, and Cody kept calling her "Santa Girl". I thought it was so cute. Here are some of the pics.

We also attempted to take a christmas photo of the kids. Yeah....didn't go so well.....

Bike riding

Well, my baby is growing. Not my baby girl, but my big baby. Cody has requested the training wheels off his bike. :( He thinks he is hot stuff. Well, we took them off, and let him ride his bike in the front room on the carpet to start out with, in case he fell. 10 minutes later, he was ready to take it outside. He did awesome. Never fell. Can start off by himself, and use his brakes when he gets going too fast down our little hill.

Wow....long time no post....

We have had some serious bacterial/viral crap in our house for 2 weeks. Everyone was sick at some point or another, and all of us were sick at the same time at one point I think. And of course, everyone had to have something completely different from everyone else, because we all couldn't be sick with the same thing. That would be too easy. We had to bring in pretty much everything under the sun, and spread it around to everyone for well over 2 weeks. I think finally though, after lysoling everything that was hard every night for 3 straight days, the sickies are leaving the building!!!! WAHOOOO!!!! I promise I will post more tomorrow. And post more pictures. :)