Happy Birthday Gracie

~Gracie Wolfley~

My big girl turns 7!!!!

Happy Birthday! We love you so much.....

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

The Night before Christmas for Moms

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode.
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds, While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."
"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."
"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?
Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."
The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,Same double chin.
"She'll cook, she'll dust," She'll mop every mess.
"You'll relax, take it easy, Watch The Young & the Restless."
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered.
"My dream come true!"I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.
"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.
"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said,
"Sorry, Santa, no deal. "That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said,
"To me it is clear, "Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.
"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time.
"With the clone by his side Santa said,

"Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

-Author Unknown

Pregnant = Parking permit

I am a firm believer that pregnant women should get Handicapped parking permits.

Why you have to ask??? ARE YOU MAN????

I see you....with your Grandmas parking permit....I see you....miss I lost one finger...I am entitled to a parking permit.....

I want one....AND I think I am damn well MORE handicapped with my bowl full of jelly and 4 kids running aimlessly through the Walmart parking lot.... then you Mister, "I have a hurt back."

Have you tried to take 4 kids, pregnant into the store 3 days before Christmas??? I am tired before I even get to Walmart. Let me explain.......

My day...starts the night before.....Husband says...I need my Rx....I think.... NO WAIT.... I start to "ANXIOUSLY FREAK OUT" at thought of my up coming day. I toss and turn all night wondering which child I might lose in Walmart....and if that one lady is gonna be there? Again for the 18 time.....and do I think this time she might call CPS????

I wake up...after my 2 two hours of restless sleep, and I start by telling my kids first thing.....

"we are going to the Walsmarts today.....

YOU.....

(Looking directly at the BOY)

will hold on to the cart....If you let go... YOU (BOY) will go inside of the cart and sit on your bum.....I am bringing the duct tape!!!

I don't care if there are 4 of you inside of that tiny cart...You will be smashed and it will suck.....

BUT YOU will listen...

Not touch....

and you stay beside me at all times....

DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND?????

Everyone smiles and says "yes" BUT.... the boy adds a "I love you so much mommy" WHICH BY MY DEFINITION MEANS... TROUBLE. So I get 4 kids up, fed and Dressed. With Esther being the last one the I get totally dressed, hair done, shoes on...just waiting on the winter gear. I sneak off to get myself dressed....at this point I am not caring to much what I look like, I just want to get this over with. By the time I come out dressed....hair thrown back in a pony tail....Esther has totally undressed herself. To the point of no diaper, and ponies out....only socks left on (which she was working on getting off when I caught her).....

OK ....So I re dress THE GIRL and proceed to winterize me and 4 kids....gloves, coats, hats, and "the Bscarfs"... BUT only because the 6 year insists...which then turns the crowd into a mutiny and now everyone must have a "bscarf" on.....(Which BTW later will be drug on the ground...soaking wet....only to have all four children ask mommy to carry them....)

anywho...

I then shove all of the kids outside to load each child....make sure they are buckled.....there the GIRL #4, throws a monster tantrum because she no longer wants to sit in her car sit.....she is screaming BO BO SEAT....

Here is my conversation with a 21 month old.....
ME: Do you want to walk????

THE GIRL: NO....BO BO.....

ME: No BO BO SEAT....YOU SEAT OR YOU WALK......

THE GIRL: tay

Why I start to talk in baby language....who knows...but it works

Everyone buckled I finally get into the driver seat...to back out the driveway....ONLY then to hear.... half way down the street....

"Brodie is unbuckled"......From #2 "Our informer"

I immediately do a BREAK CHECK to see "THE BOY" fly to the front of the car. HIM NOW Crying...I explain to him why seat belts are so important.... stopped in the middle of the street I re-buckle him and am now on my way....The ride is peaceful....Until we hit the WALSMARTS.....

It is now snowing....Not normal snow...More Like freakin' blizzard type snow....that kind you have no idea where its blowing in from. Its just blowing from the the 4 corners of the world. You can't see your hands in front of your face or 4 children about to run over by the stupid hill-Billie Walsmart shopper....

NOW STOP....at this point my job is not over....I still must go inside where the real hell will began.....

But what could make this so much better????

OH YES.....The fact that I wouldn't have to waddle my large load....drag 4 kids through a blizzard, prevent them from slipping, falling, purposely rolling in the slush or being run over from some redneck driving a huge truck with gun racks and fake bullet hole stickers.....AND all from the BACK of the parking lot....

But if I could park right up front...UN-load everyone and only waddle a 1/4 of the distance....Dragging would not seem so unreasonable.....and

Really....Makes alot of sence right???

Why did know one think of this before.....

I need a law maker here......One that will fight for the rights of the abnormally large for 10 months.......

Plus.........

I will gladly pay a SMALL fee....for the printing of that little blue pass that would hang in my car window so proudly....

OHHH......The joys that would come of a Handicapped parking pass!

Someone Get working on that....

I have a cold...

For the last week or so I have been feeling like crap...IE MY LAST POST.....I woke up on Sat. with the crud...The OH.. my head hurts, My nose is plugged, but every time I roll over my snot drains to the other nostril kinda crud, I even had the rolled toilet paper shoved into that nostril to stop the drips, and dang my head hurts.....I am sure that I look good....I post a picture, but well you know....I wouldn't really do that...

I knew something must have been wrong cause usually I am no soooo grumpy, and man I have been grumpy. Honestly, I am surprised that my kids didn't pack there bags and try to run away.Mike has been working some extra jobs, so lucky for him he didn't have to be around me..... But with being pregnant and huge, and now sick. Plus the stress of Christmas looming, grace's birthday, the basement and everything else. I think I have just gotten myself too run down and I am doing to many things and once.

So I have to apologize to all of my friends and family that I have been so crusty to....Just pray that my kid don't get this....cause then the crustiness lives on! BUT I DO HAVE Some good news...I went in for my ultrasound and they told me that my previa was moving up!!! So at this point no c- section.... which I am grateful for! and my basement is close to paint!

Only 3 days till Christmas! And I yet have anything for my most picky person on my list....You can guess who I'm sure!

My perfect family.....

Every few months or so I go through this anti-blog phase. Most of it is due to the fact that it seems that my blog is more about the things that are wrong or how naughty my kids have been. As you might already know I get really sick of people that have, what I call "my perfect family" blogs....I hate those.
Don't get me started...Refer to past posts.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

The OTHER's BLOG
I have been wanting to blog about this for a long time and I have put it off because I did not want to hurt any one's feeling's. Its hard to blog about people, places or things when you see them all of the time and you know that they may read your blog...Then you have to deal with the "I hope I didn't offend you " aspect of things. So I have decided.... I don't care....I mean I care about you or them or whoever, in general, I am speaking of! But I am writing this blog for me.... Not you! I mean them, not you in general....BUT Everyone that blogs like this......Whatever...Sorry if I offend you or them or whoever.

I know that in my blog I complain a lot.....or I verse my fears, my smashed dreams or things that my kids have done wrong. I have been reading a lot of other blogs lately.....They go a little like this:
My family is great, my kids are angels, I love everything...and did you see the sun today it sure was bright! :)I love to do fun projects with my kids, I never have a messy house, and MY husband has never even farted in front of me!We did this and went with our whole 1 kid and he was an angel! I love my family and my husband and my dog-who never sheds all over the carpet-the couch-or my new little black dress, the cat-whom would never get locked in my car and pee and Poop ALL OVER IT!I love My gold fish-that I have had for like 20 years "Do goldfish even die?" and I really love the neighbors cats-dogs-birds and fish, they never cause any problems or knock over trash cans. I am really glad my husband gets off of work at 10am every day so we can be a family . Plus having every friday off, really helps him get those Projects done! Because my husband always finishes what he starts!I so grateful for my calling " I love to be in the Primary, the kids are so wonderful.... right now I am the primary president, the music leader, achievement day leader and the pianist. Nothing is ever to much for me. Our family home evening is great...We plan a 2 hour lesson every Monday and my 12 month old sits through the whole thing! I made gluten/ sugar free treats, My kids loved them and wanted seconds! Would you like the recipe?Did I tell you that I am making my kids Easter dresses...I made 5 and it only took me 15 min, shorter than the amount of time it will take me to make my gourmet Easter dinner I am serving for my whole family!Oooooooo And did I mention that the sky is SO blue....I Just..... I have a wonderful uncomplicated life and everything is like Beavers house!(I even wear an apron on those not so messy days!)

BULL SHINIKEYS! I want to see others post about there 1 year old eating poop out of the toilet! or wearing 2 different shoes to the preschool ! I want the goods...NOT the GOODS..... but the real goods.....The ones that make you a Mom....Not the I so perfect "I make cookies with my kids everyday....And I have never found a egg shell" ever kinda stories! I want know your trouble..... so mine don't seem so bad! I have a few blogs that I am boycotting for a while.....just until I can get some self esteem back!
Posted by Heather Natzmyrelnam

Friday, March 21, 2008

But no really, as I said above.... I wanna know the dirt along with the rest....I am glad that you think your kids are perfect....But humor me once in a while.

I have been contemplating also doing a my family is perfect blog....and also a "this is the real Wolfley's so deal" blog, and making it private. But the truth is I am who I am...and I am glad that my life is utter chaos 23/7, Minus the 1 hour of sleep I get a night. I do love my kids....

I write things that I think are cool or things I need to vent about. It's not for you....its more of a remembrance for me to see that slowly my life will be slightly normal again...(well as normal as we can get).

I got this email today from a friend in Portland...and it made me feel so much better. Read it, its good.....its hits close to home for me.....and if this doesn't apply to you.....Well.....you may be one of those blogs I am vetoing....

Jk....
No really...
well maybe....
heck I'll never tell....

My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby.I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother,love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.The next year God blessed us with another son.The following year,He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty.We now had four children,and the oldest was only four years old.

I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me,"If you pray for rain,make sure you carry an umbrella."I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start.God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.I tried to be understanding...

When they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog,I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers,never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time,I still thank God daily for my children.While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother -I didn't even come close...I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God,and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to"wash up" Jesus, too.Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.My daughter was playing Mary,two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man.This was their moment to shine.My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line,"We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said,"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel,who bent her halo and lost her left wing.

I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll,wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.My other son stepped forward wearing a bath robe and a paper crown,knelt at the manger and announced,"We are the three wise men,and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter,and the pageant got a standing ovation.

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one,"laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes "

For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."

"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree,yet they called Him Teacher .
Had no medicines,yet they called Him Healer.
Had no army,yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles,yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime,yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb,yet He lives today.
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us.

Its true God answers prayers in funny ways...I always wanted a big family...growing up I was a only child...(now you can see where my issues run from). I may have never expected to have things be so crazy and loud but I wouldn't trade things (but they are for sale, no trades allowed...cash only!) And its is true what your parents tell you...someday you will have a child just like you! I happen to have 4...with the 5Th on his way.

I am grateful for my life....My husband....my kids and all of our many blessings. I know that I don't write that often enough..but most days its lost in the the mess of PB & J and homework. But its always with me, I know that we are truly blessed.

Cheap....me....well sometimes....

OK wait....Erin...Smith??? Are you reading????...I totally thought about you when I posted this blog...you know from your comment at the craft fair...You know, The whole...
Me: I want to learn to make soap...
Erin: UMMM I thought I wanted to craft with you....But I just changed my mind...Make soap???
Me: yeah It sounds neat...
Erin: um no... Blah blah blah something about sensitive skin????

Just so you know....This laundry soap recipe is recommended for people who have "sensitive" skin....It has no harsh chemicals or ingredients that the big name products have....and just so you know.... you can wash those gross diapers that you were thinking about making...it this and it is totally safe and all natural....) ;)

OK START....

So as most others in the U.S we have been looking for ways to save money...As most of you know I hate laundry and feel as if I am a owner in my own personal laundry mat.

I have taught my 6 and 4 year old to do laundry. Really I have deiced to show them now the harsh reality of laundry at this early age...and maybe by doing this they won't assume because they wore it for 2 Min's...that it is dirty...It so far has not phased them...

I put them into color coordinated baskets and then let them do the rest....With a little help. They put in the soap and the clothes and rotate all of the laundry from the washer to the dryer, then to the basket and then to the couch to sit...It has been nice to just have to separate colors ex..... and fold....
(of which I don't even fold my kids clothes, OK you may think "how lazy"...BUT I have been there and done that....My kids have fold able, light weight, cloth laundry baskets (Thanks to Mel) and I had been folding them and then had my kids put them away.....

But what I found was by the time my kids took that basket down stairs....

NOTHING stayed FOLDED.....

They either spilled the basket or one child in particular...has to look at every single piece of clothing she puts in her drawers...and so everything would get unfolded. I was wasting so much time. It is just much easier to right side all of the clothes and then have them put them in the drawers. Eventually, MY HOPE is that one day they will fold them correctly and place in the right drawer. But for right now, I am out numbered and I can't do it all.)

Back to being cheap....I hate spending 20 bucks or more every 1- 2 weeks on laundry soap. We have a front loader and I felt the pressure of buying the HE soap, which and some point can cost up to 24$. But I have made a new discovery.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP

I like it.... so here is the recipe

Ingredients:

*5.5 oz bar Fels Naptha

(I choose this because it's all natural (ERIN) and has been around for 100 years. You may use a soap of your choice, such as Ivory)

* 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

* 1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

* Water

JUST A NOTE: I could not find thing ingredients at Any of the big name stores..IE..the "Walsmarts", or Freddy's...But if you try your local "home town" type stores...you will have better luck. Try true value...But I would trying calling around. I found most of the the ingredients in the laundry isle by the fabric softeners and stain removers, usually top self... I know that Winco sells most all of them.

Tools:

* 5 Gallon container

* Knife

* Pot large enough to hold 5 cups of water

* Long stirring stick/spoon (for 5 gallon container, IE A BUCKET W/ LID)

Instructions:

Shave the soap into small strips and place in the pot with 5 cups of water.

Bring the water just shy of a boil and stir until the soap is completely melted. When the soap is just about melted, pour 3 gallons of hot water into the 5-gallon container and let it sit until the soap in the pot is totally melted.

Once all of the soap shavings are melted, pour the mixture into the 5-gallon container and stir.Once the soap and water are thoroughly stirred, add the 1 cup of washing soda and stir until dissolved. Once the washing soda is dissolved, Pour in the cup of borax and stir again until dissolved. Fill bucket 3 inches from the top with hot water.

Optional: Essential oil for fragrance. If you like fragrant detergent, now is when you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oils.You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled.

Some ideas Lavender, tea tree oil, rosemary, orange or just about anything you like.

Now you've got a huge container of hot soapy looking water. Cover the container, place it some where out of the way and let it sit overnight. Once it's cooled it will gel. It will not gel uniformly so it will be lumpy and watery. Sorta like egg flower soup...If you can get around this...were good. It is not very attractive, but it works. It's best find smaller storage containers for convenience and something with a lid that will stop the kiddos from playing in the super slime!

Usage: 1/4 to 1/2 cup per laundry load is adequate to clean your clothes depending on your washer. I have been using 1/4 cup in my front loader. and it has been working great. I added about 55 drops or so of the essential oil (lavender) to give it a smell.

This homemade laundry detergent works well in High efficiency washing machines since it is low sudsing.One word of caution, if using a high efficiency machines: Before pouring the lumpy gel into the detergent receptacle, stir it to break up the lumps. Very large lumps may not fully dissolve, stirring the detergent with a spoon, pencil, or whatever you have available (or your finger), works fine.

The breakdown......ARE YOU READY?????

THIS IS BASED ON 1/2 cup per load for a top loading machine.

Yield:
This recipe yields 442 oz of laundry detergent, of which 4 oz are required per laundry load. With this recipe you should be able to wash 111 loads of laundry.

Cost break down:

As of May, 2008, the purchase price for the ingredients in the Northeastern area of the United States are as follows:

* Borax: $2.50 for 70 oz.Cost per batch: .28 (8 oz needed for recipe)

* Washing Soda: $2.50 for 55 oz.Cost per batch .18.(4 oz needed for recipe)

* Fels Naptha: $.99 for 3 3.1 oz. Bars.Cost per batch: .33 (1 bar of soap needed for recipe)

Cost to make:

.79 Yield: 442 oz.Cost per oz. = .00178 Cost per 1/2 cup

½ cup = .007 or rounded to .01 cent per load

The cost to wash 111 loads with homemade laundry detergent is $1.11.

How does that compare to your store-bought detergent?

For another cost saving cleaning tip, why not try making your own liquid hand soap , Dish washing soap or fabric softeners.

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes
Recipe 1:

1 Cup White Vinegar

Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.

Recipe #2
1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener

4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.

I also posted some dishwasher soap recipes below....

Dishwashing soap recipes

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes


Powder Recipes


Powder Recipe #1
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax


Powder Recipe #2
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax


For the above two recipes:


Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 TBS per load.

Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue


Try adding 2-3 drops essential oil


Powder Recipe #3
1/4 cup Washing Soda
1 TBS Liquid Dish Detergent


Use the above for each load of dishes.


Liquid Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
1 part baking soda
1 part borax
1 part water
1 drop lemon or orange essential oil per cup of detergent


Mix the ingredients thoroughly and store in a sealable jug.

Use 2 to 3 TBS per load.

If you’re having a cloudy dishes problem after using the homemade detergents:

Try adding a few drops of liquid dishsoap to the powder compartment when you add the powder.

You could also try cutting back on the amount of soap used (if you’re using 2 TBS, try cutting it back to 1 - 1 1/2 TBS).

Make sure to use vinegar in the rinse cycle

OK OK Here is the last 2 weeks in a short but long post...Minus thanksgiving

So many things happen in 2 weeks that it is hard to keep up....So here are a few things I took pictures of....


This is what you get when you tell your 3 yr old (mini Mike) that I am sure has ADD to get dressed.
(BTW, I had to bribe him with a rice krispie treat to get him to stand in one place)

This is Shirt #1

Shirt #2


Shirt #3

Shirt #4

Shirt #5

Shirt #6

Anytime I ask him to get dressed this is what I get...and as you can see that by the time the krispie was eaten he was starting his sugar high....and could no longer stand still.

Esther:

Esther went from being my sweet angel baby...to just like all of the rest, trouble...Oh She is cute and it is a dang good thing that she is....I would trade the cuteness for goodness....
She loves lipstick.....could you tell? Look at that smile....naughty.....

She also likes tootsie rolls....

Guess that is what happens when your kids are born in Idaho...

(no offence meant to my idaho born friends.....)

I have no new news to share about this pregnancy...

Besides that my love of hot dogs still rages on. I wake up and want them, I go to sleep wanting them, I dream about them and I only eat them every once in a while because when I do my feet do this!

Besides my feet are so swollen that I no longer have shoes that fit me..... and they hurt like a.....Well lets just say they hurt really bad.....I saw these pictures and did not recognize my own feet. (they look like and ole fat ladies feet) I had to go to the walsmarts and buy clearence size 9 1/2 shoes....I am normally a 7 1/2 - 8. They are almost too small.

Lets go back to the hot dog subject....

Here is my new love....Go ole' Maverick sells my dream dog....a jalapeno cheese dog called a Bahama mama....oh how I love them....Covered with everything only a pregnant women could love....Jalapeno's, saukraut, chilli sauce, mustard , ketchup, onions, tomatoes, and relish. Only once a month I allow myself the temptation, I count the days....

Our new chore chart.....I have tried to find a chore chart that is compatible for 4 plus kids....of all different ages and I have not been able to find anything so I decided that I could make my own. This has been a long process of finding something that works for our family.

I laminated everything (so every thing diden't get ruined the first day they used it) and they are all on magnets so I can move them around easy.

Here is a closer view....they have daily duties...1 chore each day that

rotates weekly....

Then they have a weekly chore....One big chore that they do all week....

Then one weekly room duty. (I have gotten really sick of asking my kids to pick up a room and have them fight with me that they did not make the mess...and that means that they do not have to clean it.....BS...."do you think I made that mess, get your butt in there and clean.....NOW")

I don't pay my kids to do family duties....But down at the bottom of the board I do put extra chores that they can do to earn money.....It is now on a first come first serve basis...(Grace has asked for these so she can buy christmas presents for her sisters and brother, which has now lit a fire under Hannahs butt to do some too...I AM NOT COMPLAINING)

They do get points, that they can redeem to have one on one time with Mom or Dad or to stay up 1/2 later, to have ice cream after dinner and so on.....

Here at the bottom of the chart is our weekly Kitchen duties plus a family home evening chart which we rotate from week to week.

I love it!!

It has been working out great... I have everything on my computer and it has taken me hours to find just the right clip art and to figure out how to make it work...so if you are interested let me know and I could download everything for you....I also have cute kid clip art that you can pick out your kids with.

There is also this kitchen chart....for the little ones....

Ok I posted! I am tired now and I have tons of stuff to do....so I must now go....

Oh don't be sad I will post sooner than later.....