The wonders of chore charts

So before I was pregnant with Maeley the kids had chore charts, they followed them daily with little argument, we had a system and it worked great! Well then I was put on bed rest and well let's just say it all fell apart and honestly at the time I didn't care, I realized that the housework wasn't that important at that time, keeping my little baby cookin longer was. Anyway after she was born  and we all got use to the new routines and schedules of a new born, we were thrown another curve ball when Ellie had her accident, and again the chores just weren't important so the charts were forgotten.

It's been 5 months since Ellie came home and I am finally feel like I got the hang of all the comes with taking care of her and everyone else, I decided something that would help would be to bring the chore charts back ya know my sanity and the kids safety(kidding don't call CPS).  I found these cute free chore charts. I printed them so there was a front and a back for morning chores and evening chores, then I slipped them into a clear sheet protector, I use white board makers to write out their chores, this allows me to change them week to week. I think it's been so long since we've had the charts in place that I forgot how WONDERFUL they are to have. My kids were eager to get there chores done and to cross off each one. Kaleb even gets up early in the mornings so he can get most of them done before school. Realizing my kids are getting older, I decided to give them more responsibility by giving them bigger chores like dishes, taking out the trash, sweeping and mopping floors, laundry, scrubbing down bathrooms etc. This has not only been great for them, but for me as well, I'm able to accomplish more because I am sharing my responsibilities. I'm letting go of the notion that I have to do it all on my own.

I am finding that I have a little more me time in the mornings because I'm not stressing over getting as much work as I can done before they get home from school, I know that when they get home it will get done before dinner. The best part about this is I have been working side by side with them, no more yelling at them to get the chores done, they don't complain that it's to hard anymore because I work next to them help them when they think it is hard, show them the best way to do it, and encourage them when it isn't "mom perfect". I've actually really enjoyed my time with each kid, I'm much happier now and so are they.

Since we all work together the chores get done a lot faster, instead of taking 2 or 3 hours by myself it takes about an hr, we have so much more time to spend together as a family watching movies, riding bikes, walking etc. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I know some of you are probably saying "well du!", but like I said we had charts before and although they worked well they didn't work this well, I didn't feel the relief then that I do now. I know that my kids are capable of whatever I show them they are capable of, whatever I teach them they are capable of. It starts with something as simple as chores and grows from there, already my kids look at something that's hard and say well I did such and such a thing so I know I can do this, I just have to keep trying. They know that I will help them the best way I know how even if that means standing aside and letting them struggle a little. I am so proud of my kids and all that they do, I love them with all my heart. I am so blessed and proud to be their mom.

Road Trip-New Mexico Bound!

So this last weekend I packed up the car and the kids and drove to New Mexico to visit my brother and his family, also Grandma and Papa J were visiting so we got to see the cousins and the grandparents SCORE! Friday Dane and I packed up the car, well Dane put the queen size mattress, box spring, head board and frame that I was taking to the bro on top, and he pulled out the bike rack put it on the back and loaded up the kids bikes. I wish I had taken a picture cause it was quite the site to see! Once the kids were home from school, we said our good byes to daddy(he couldn't get the time off) and off we went!

The kids did awesome we made it to Holbrook Arizona(about 190miles) before stopping for gas,potty breaks, diaper changes, and food! We loaded back up and since it was getting dark I pulled out the glow sticks, put in a movie and soon we were back on the trail again. We made it to the cousins about 11 p.m. cause well my directions weren't right, they got me to Albuquerque fine, but the in town driving to get to Rio Rancho was all sorts of messed up, lucky for me it wasn't to late and my sister in law was able to guide me to were I needed to be. Marryne, Ellie and Maeley were all awake till the last like 15 mins of the trip then they all crashed except Maeley, needless to say they were pretty wired when they saw the cousins and grandparents! I couldn't even get Kaleb to wake up long enough to go in the house, so I hauled his butt in and the guess what!? He was wide awake! We didn't get to sleep till about 3 a.m. and of course the kids were up before 7 a.m.!

Saturday we just let the kids play, and relaxed as much possible. The weather was wonderful not to hot not to cold, the kids played outside the entire visit, and I'll say I didn't mind one bit cause by bed time they were so tired they crashed! Kaleb finally got the courage, (with a little coaxing from his cousin Damion) to ride his bike without training wheels! He could ride a smaller bike without training wheels but was convinced his was too hard!? But Saturday morning Damion got him to try his own and that was that!

Sunday Grandma J took Auntie Adreanne and me to do some girl shopping, it was so stinkin fun!! It was nice just being able to hang out and have fun!


Monday we got the kids dressed up and attempted to take some cousin and grandparent pics, her are a few outtakes (trust me there are TONS more I just got tired of editing);

                                       (Lets just pretend I didn't spell "outtakes" wrong mmmk!)


Here are the ones I picked for the ol' wall;

                                            (These ones of Cam and Ellie may be my favorite)

After our attempt at pictures the kids took a break while I packed the car. This time we went a little lighter with no bed, just the bike rack(which kept coming undone!) The kids made it all the way to Holbrook again (about 240 mi from Rio Rancho) before having to go potty, diaper changes and food and of course gas. We picked up food on the way out of town, and off we went well until the bottom straps of the bike rack came loose then I had to stop and put them back on 3 more times before we reached Payson. The trip seemed a lot faster on the way home. the kids slept for most of it (all but Ryne). This trip was full of "are we there yet"s? and "how many more miles?" there were also a few "are we in Arizona yet?", "what time is it?". We saw 8 trains and LOTS AND LOTS of COWS!

It was a fantastic trip I would/will do it again, minus the bed of course and I want to replace the straps on the bike rack. Even though we didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with family we cherished the time we did get, we had so much fun and can't wait to do it again!