Team Edwards

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Summer Chores Experiment

So, I went into this summer with this idea that if the kids were super busy every day they wouldn't have as much time to fight with eachother or whine about bordeom. Plus, I really don't like the TV/Computer and I could just see them spending the whole summer on one or the other. So I came up with a chore list that requires up to 5 hours/day of work! That's right...5 hours, and no it's not child abuse.

Isabelle and Jack rotated by week with Kitchen, Laundry, and Bathroom duty (Christopher and I did the third). And that includes, mopping the floor on their hands and knees, scrubbing behind the toilet, folding/putting away laundry, switching loads, and starting new ones, cleaning all the dishes after every meal even if it meant they were up till 11pm. Lots of work, plus they each had four other DAILY chores, piano practice, read a chapter book, bedrooms, and lawn/garden chores. The point was to keep them busy, and it worked. However, it also kept me really busy because they are unable to accomplish all of these alone and needed adult assistance, so I had to do all the chores every day at a brutally slow rate (I could've accomplished all of it in 1 hr/day, instead I was doing 8 hours or more helping out all 3 kids). Over all however I think it has worked wonderfully. And lest you think I'm putting the kids to work as slaves, I should mention that they were being paid in Monopoly dollars.

$50 for a good week without too much complaining, $10 for a bad week. And $5 for extra chores (taking out the trash, cleaning the toy room, etc), $2 for helping with meals, $2 for exercising (basketball games, tennis practice, yoga at the Y), and many other ways to earn extra cash. There was however also a list of ways they could loose money. $5 for fighting, $5 for property damage, $2 for whining, $2 for sassiness, etc.

You may be asking yourself, what good is Monopoly money, how does that motivate hard work? There was a third list! One that allowed them to 'spend' their money. $100 bought them a $5 toy at Toys R US, $75 bought them an ice cream date with Mom or Dad, $50 bought them some candy from my secret stash (a combination of candy confiscated after parties and other events and candy that I've gotten doing couponing), $25 got them a $2 book at Half Price Books (my favorite book store). So as summer has gone on, has my system worked? Surprisingly well!

The kids love to spend their money, so the cheapest thing, is the thing I'm happiest to spend my cash on BOOKS! And the thing they want most, requires saving up. Yesterday each of the ninos had enough cash saved to buy both a toy and a book so I decided to brave the stores with all 4 of them (I have an 1 year old that I watch every day and Christopher was taking his GRE). First we hit up Toys R US, it was the best trip to that store I've ever had. Because it was 'their' money they were so careful in choosing just the right thing, they each took a turn and we walked through the aisles until they found just the thing they most wanted. They helped eachother choose by offering opinions like "well, I think you should choose the blue, because I know that's your favorite color." No one begged for anything that was beyond their $5 and everyone came out happy! We ended up with a Zooble for Isabelle, a small doll with three changes of clothes for Eva, and a set of 5 Hot Wheels muscle cars for Jack. It was lovely. On the way out the door I thanked them for being so good in the store and Eva said "That's the most wonderful store, I really love it."

Then we were off to Half Price Books. We had an equally good experience, except that Zoe was ready for a nap and needed a diaper change and therefore, royally cranky. Jack picked up a Magic Tree House for his collection, he's got about 20, Eva bought a cute book called Princesses Are Not Quitters (really cute story about working hard, love it) and Belle bought a Jewel Kingdom book, she's working on the whole collection.

In the end, the kids have been able to spend their money on things they've wanted throughout the summer, they love books, they only buy small inexpensive toys, they're learning the value of hard work, and they don't have time to fight with eachother. Best summer ever!!! What a way to beat the 100+ degree temperatures we've been enduring for the last 33 days.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Summer Piano Recital 2011

Isabelle started taking Piano in September of 2010 from one of my friends in our ward. She caught on pretty quickly and is doing very well. Jack started in June after school got out, and he, too, is doing well. Karissa decided she wanted them to have the recital experience so they, and two boys from the ward, Bradley (Jack's best friend) and Ethan Farnsworth, who are taking from their mom, had a recital together at church on June 19th.

They each played 3 songs, then Karissa handed out some medals that we'd ordered with their names on them, and we enjoyed punch and cookies. The whole thing took about 15 minutes but it was loads of fun and I really enjoyed seeing them play like this in a 'formal' setting (it was at church).

They are using the Alfred's books, Jack is in 1A, and Isabelle has moved on to 1B. He played Old McDonald from memory, Lost my Parter, and Sailor Jack (of course). She played the Indian Song (from 1A) from memory, I've Been Wishin', and Hayride.

Six Flags

Isabelle and Jack both earned free tickets to Six Flags for reading 6 hours in January and February. The both read independently, no help from Mom or Dad, and did a great job. Christopher also got a ticket because some of his students participated as well and I got to pay 'kids price' to go with them. So for a whopping $35, all 4 of us enjoyed a day at six flags. Besides the vomiting that started at 4pm and didn't end for a whole week, we had great fun. We think we actually had food poisoning, although we originally thought we'd gotten sick on the rides, that is until Eva got sick too, since she didn't go with us to Six Flags, we knew it wasn't the rides fault. Most of the time we did the rides together, but we split up a few times, there were some the kids wanted to do that adults weren't allowed, one that Jack and Dad did together and one the Belle and Mom did together. We had a great time.

Jack's Basketball

Jack has played for the Rockets for 2 seasons now. He scored his first basket during a game on June 29th and I cried. Yes, I actually cried a little bit. It was so beautiful. I couldn't understand why everyone else wasn't appreciating the moment as much as me, I mean seriously people, why weren't you all crying too! He has so much fun playing, the hardest part for Christopher and I is not getting so into the game that Jack thinks where yelling at him instead of for him. I hope he stays on the same team for a while, Coach Marcus works really hard to make sure that he is an included part of the team. We love going to his games, they can have as much energy as a Mavs game.

The 4th of July

On the 4th we decided to go to Joe Pool Lake with the kiddos, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Kadi, Uncle Dave and Aunt Dana, and Cage, oh yeah, and we brough Bella and Chief (Dave and Gabe's dogs). We brought a grill and cooked, played in the water, and stayed to enjoy the fireworks show...so did everyone else in Dallas, or so it seemed.

Christopher's Birthday, 32!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Travels in the 4 corners region

Enjoying the Indian dancing at 4 Corners. We happened upon a yearly event between the tribes of the four states, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It was great fun to watch.