Money, Money, Money

We've been using a website called Handipoints for a while now. It lets the kids check off their jobs as they do them and I get to grade the work at the end of the week. It also awards the kids points for their work which they can use to play games or 'buy' clothes for their cat (my sister says that part is like Webkinz). Anyhow, they can also earn other points that are to be awarded by Mom and Dad. Of course, Jake thinks all points should be traded for cash, and lots of it!!
So, we're trying something I read about in a magazine at the Dentist office last week. We bought some play money. For each week, they get play cash for however many points they earned doing jobs - 1 dollar for 1 point. They can spend their money to play computer ($2), watch TV ($2), get off the naughty stair ($3), and buy snacks from our Snack Shop which is open twice a day. The snack shop is my favorite part of this for 4 reasons:

1. To reinforce healthy choices, carrots, apples, celery, bananas, etc are free. Granola bars, popcorn, cheese sticks, yogurt, etc are $1. Fruit snacks and the like are $3 while the least healthy choice (ice cream) is $4.
2. They have to tell me how much change I owe them when they pay for a snack so their brains don't absolutely disintegrate over the summer.
3. I haven't had grazing problems since we started this this week. They think about it if it's gonna cost them.
4. I also haven't had friends over scarfing all of the pudding cups the day I bring them home from the store. The rule is your friends can have a snack, but you have to pay for them!

One place I need help is the leftover money at the end of the week. Again, Jake thinks that if he can avoid snacks, I'm gonna hand over $60 cash to him on Saturday. I mean, what mom wouldn't? I'm thinking about adding some fun activities like the dollar movie, slip-n-slide, library trip, the kids' gardens, etc but at our house that opens the "we can't agree on which activity we want to do" can. I just had a thought - I could charge them an absurd amount to do their jobs for them. At least the toilets would really get cleaned occasionally (not that they get that dirty in a house full of boys! HA HA)

So, I'm open for ideas on more ways for them to spend their money. Whattaya think?

blowing of steam

Sometimes I really hate computer! Ours has had a lot of ups and downs with the hard drive in the last few months. After several ignored promptings to back up my pictures, it died. They're lost. Sad day. Sad, sad day. You know how I am about my pictures.
We took it in and paid a load of money to get it fixed. Now, after Jared has recovered, I think, 1000 of my pictures, the stupid thing died again. Luckily those are mostly saved online now, but I can't edit any pictures of out trip to Louisiana or add them here ( I know you want to see the gators!)
Manda left her old computer here so we're using it, but I can't download pictures because our software isn't on it and I don't want to fill up her hard drive and I can't print anything. (I know that's a run-on, but it's my blog). Jared says it will take forever to install our printer onto this computer. Do you know how much I detest handwritten job charts when I have so many cute fonts and cliparts ?
I guess I should be happy we still have internet access. OK. I'm done whining. Hopefully, we'll have pictures soon.

Yes, they're all ours!

Well, Lib and I made it to Louisiana last Friday night. The most often asked question we've gotten is, "Wow! Are they all ya'll's?" I told one guy at a truck stop that we just pick kids up along the way. We tried to do the mom and nanny act at one store so we could really shock them and say they were all Libby's and I was just the nanny. We've cracked ourselves up trying to find the most shocking way to answer - but the simple truth (yes, 4 are mine, 4 are hers) seems to do the trick. One guy today said, " Ya'll really took the Bible seriously when it said to go forth and multiply and replenish the earth, huh?" !!

We grew up here. My mom has 4 kids. I don't remember so many people asking her if they were all hers. Maybe people had more tact 20 years ago? Maybe we weren't 8 at one time in the Hobby Lobby aged 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 9mo, 9mo, and 4mo? Anyways, I think I'm just a little frustrated with the fact that manners are supposed to be a big thing here and people are proving to be less well mannered than I remember.

Sam's 4 month Stats
25 1/4 inches tall (65%)
14 lbs 10 1/2 oz (70%)
head circ. 41.3 cm (25%)

Answers to popular questions after this appointment:
* it's ok that his head is in such a small percentile compared to the rest of his body as long as it grows at a steady rate - which it is
* compared to his cousin, James (9mo and 14lbs5oz), he is Baby Buddha! We've been adding buttered flavored Crisco to his formula
* Sam does not enjoy 4 shots at once even if it is for his own good
* the nurses did indeed ooh and ahh over him the whole time as he flashed his toothless, drooly "you want me" grin which in turn makes his eyes disappear!

I received a call from this coming Sunday's Relief Society teacher. She asked me to prepare a 'job description' for what I do. I might have to put it when I get it done! Anyways, this weeks lesson is Elder Ballard's talk "Daughters of God".

So, after thinking about it for a few days, here's what I've come up with. I think I turned it more into an ad for my job instead of a job description. Any takers? :)

Permanent position available in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication, translation, and organizational skills and be willing to work evenings and weekends as well as frequent 24 hour shifts. Extensive travel and courier hours, not to be reimbursed. Multi-tasking is of utmost importance. Must be able to bite tongue as well as give advice. Must be able to offer help without hampering independence. Must answer phone calls, maintain calendars, give verbal reminders of appointments, volunteer in classrooms, prepare meals without green stuff, coordinate production of multiple homework projects, and be entertained by endless knock knock jokes. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages a including 'fun' snacks. In depth knowledge of battery operated toys helpful as well as assembly and product safety testing. Be ultimately responsible for maintenance and upkeep of all areas of building while teaching clients importance personal upkeep. Experience with tools, toilet plungers, and Magic Eraser helpful. Must be willing to occasionally overlook physical surroundings in opting for the greater good. Financial/accounting/ magic skills a plus. Referee skills useful. Must be willing to continually try to instill values and morals, and offer faith promoting experiences for clients. On-the-job training offered continually due to the fact that previous education and experience are of little or no help.

My Missionary / Proud Momma

Jake's best friend lives behind us and is one of the few in our neighborhood that aren't members of our church. There have been a few times that church stuff has come up and Kaelen has tolerated us :) . I have tried to explain things to him in a way that would compare his church to our church. Some things, like the boys paying their tithing, though, really blow his 9 yr old mind!
Anyways, tonight Jake really showed his stuff and I was surprised and impressed by his testimony and courage. Cameron had called everyone in for scriptures and, of course, Kaelen came straggling in with Jake being that they are attached at the hip! When Jake told Kaelen we were going to read scriptures, Kaelen asked what 'scriptures' were. The following is Jake's explanation:

"The Book of Mormon is our scriptures with the Bible. It's like the Bible. See, it's got lots of books like Nephi, Mosiah, and Alma. They're prophets.They teach us about Jesus.We read some every night. And, when we finish it, we read it again. That way, we learn more. Mormons read the Book of Mormon every year, forever. And, when you go on a mission, you can get little ones because you won't have very much room in your bags."

He does listen!
He is learning!
And, he's not afraid to tell others what he knows is true!
You go, Jake!

Sappy Sappy

This is kind of jumbled this morning, but I started writing about Sam and the words of one of my new favorite songs started playing in my head:

She was staring out the window of their SUV
Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and saysAnd s "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

I've really tried to look at things with this mindset lately.
*Josh opening and eating a Hershey bar in my new car with a chocolate face and, somehow, chocolate on both shoulders and all over his pants! I'm gonna miss this.
*Settling into a pew at church as they're singing the opening hymn with my four little boys by myself. Trying not to sweat all of my makeup off and Jake wants to snuggle up to me and breathe my air. I'm gonna miss that, too, when he's too cool in a couple of years to love on me in public.
*"knock, knock, mom" at bedtime, at dinner, during the sacrament, while I'm trying to use the bathroom. Cam is the King of Knock knock jokes and it's starting to drive me crazy. I have to remind myself sometimes slow down and listen - he only needs 15 seconds! I might even miss all of these corny jokes one day when the house is too quiet. I'm gonna want those back!

Here's the original thoughts, before the mushy part of me interrupted!
I have a friend that does photography out of her home. She took these pictures of Sam at around two months. (click 'clients' password = Meiners) He's four months today - boy does time fly! I love these pictures, though. They show the beginnings of a personality that has developed even more so in the last couple of months. I love the wide, open-mouthed smile; I get that from him if I just say "Hi" as I pass by him. It's usually accompanied by a squeaky noise I like to call the 'baby dinosaur'. I love being his favorite person. I love that I can do no wrong in his little eyes. I love the feeling that he adores me as much as I adore him. And, with mixed feelings, I know that he's going to grow up and turn two and decide Daddy is cooler than Mommy.