In the past we have attempted letting our boys earn money - just pennies - to work on math skills and learning how money works. But we gave up because it merely seemed to make them more greedy!
But this year for Christmas we decided to try something new. It was a very pleasant surprise. We let the boys earn dollar coins for extra chores that they did on top of their regular chores. The only stipulation they were given for this money was that it could only be used to buy things for others. That didn't hold back their motivation whatsoever. Our house was clean in December even with all the craziness. They were each able to buy pretty decent gifts for everyone in the family and a birthday gift for a party. Plus they were almost as excited about what they were giving for Christmas as what they received!
I'm not even sure how we came up with the plan, but we're sticking to it during the year to see how it goes!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Stockings
I've always wanted to make stockings for my family and this year was the year! I barely got their done in time, but I adore how they turned out!
Arc is Active
Somewhere in the past few weeks Arc figured out that she can control her body enough to roll over! I love this action shot!
The moment she figured out that she has that control, she completely shifted in her interaction with the world! She is into toys and moving all over the place. Her personality is becoming more clear, and the boys are so pleased with her...especially Daddy!
The moment she figured out that she has that control, she completely shifted in her interaction with the world! She is into toys and moving all over the place. Her personality is becoming more clear, and the boys are so pleased with her...especially Daddy!
Artwork Glimpses
I'm trying hard to follow my friend RB's example and include "artwork" as a part of our lives.
I love how into symmetry Cpc is.
Cdc:
I love how into symmetry Cpc is.
Cdc:
The Power of Fun
After a fantastic Learning Circle about FUN last month, I felt a strong determination to take advantage of fun opportunities with the kids.
So even though it has finally gotten colder, and there is snow on the ground, we took a few trips to the playground this month when we could squeeze it in. I even encouraged the boys to not worry about getting dirty! It was so worth it! I want to remember that the rest of this winter!
So even though it has finally gotten colder, and there is snow on the ground, we took a few trips to the playground this month when we could squeeze it in. I even encouraged the boys to not worry about getting dirty! It was so worth it! I want to remember that the rest of this winter!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
It's a Great Life!
Movember
Pmc cut my hair for the first time. I am very pleased!
Pleased with his turkey from Thanksgiving.
Outings with good friends.
Cdc drew this picture when asked to draw doing himself doing a service for mom. Sweet boy!
Cpc really got into his service chart for Joy School. He wrote "cookies" all on his own - pretty good phonics!
Birthday party for a friend.
Chocolate face!
Pmc cut my hair for the first time. I am very pleased!
Pleased with his turkey from Thanksgiving.
Outings with good friends.
Cdc drew this picture when asked to draw doing himself doing a service for mom. Sweet boy!
Cpc really got into his service chart for Joy School. He wrote "cookies" all on his own - pretty good phonics!
Birthday party for a friend.
Chocolate face!
Cdc
Oh how do I even express my feelings about Cdc these days. He is still kind of in transition between babyhood and preschooler. He wants so much to be a big boy, but he is just not quite ready to give up the benefits of babyhood.
Yet it feels strange to even say that because he's been pretty independent for quite a while now! I mean he potty-trained himself nearly a year ago, he gets himself dressed daily, feeds himself, climbs in his carseat, and the list goes on and on. He doesn't even want us to carry him very often.
On the other hand:
He still needs his bum wiped (tmi?) - although he likes to refer to this as me "checking" his bum because he attempts to wipe himself.
He is so determined to get dressed by himself - yet it takes him a while and he whines through the hard parts like zippers and snaps.
He is capable of feeding himself, yet he doesn't. Therefore he either ends up whining about being alone at the table after we are all done, loses his meal, or cons us into feeding him. This has little to do with liking or not liking the food either, he will eat anything if we feed him!
We recently decided to try turning his carseat rear-facing again like Arc...which he LOVED! Then we realized he has actually outgrown his carseat altogether and had to go buy him a high-back booster. He was, in turn, thrilled about that.
But the overarching theme with Cdc is that he still "needs" us. And much of the time he doesn't know how to handle the conflict of needing us while also being independent! And that is precisely why I absolutely love two-year-olds! And Cdc is my very favorite two-year-old so far. No offense to Cpc (I might have enjoyed it more with him had I been getting a decent amount of sleep though! :)
Decorating his cookie, and wiping his tears with his doggy's ear.
Yet it feels strange to even say that because he's been pretty independent for quite a while now! I mean he potty-trained himself nearly a year ago, he gets himself dressed daily, feeds himself, climbs in his carseat, and the list goes on and on. He doesn't even want us to carry him very often.
On the other hand:
He still needs his bum wiped (tmi?) - although he likes to refer to this as me "checking" his bum because he attempts to wipe himself.
He is so determined to get dressed by himself - yet it takes him a while and he whines through the hard parts like zippers and snaps.
He is capable of feeding himself, yet he doesn't. Therefore he either ends up whining about being alone at the table after we are all done, loses his meal, or cons us into feeding him. This has little to do with liking or not liking the food either, he will eat anything if we feed him!
We recently decided to try turning his carseat rear-facing again like Arc...which he LOVED! Then we realized he has actually outgrown his carseat altogether and had to go buy him a high-back booster. He was, in turn, thrilled about that.
But the overarching theme with Cdc is that he still "needs" us. And much of the time he doesn't know how to handle the conflict of needing us while also being independent! And that is precisely why I absolutely love two-year-olds! And Cdc is my very favorite two-year-old so far. No offense to Cpc (I might have enjoyed it more with him had I been getting a decent amount of sleep though! :)
Decorating his cookie, and wiping his tears with his doggy's ear.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Quote from CPC
When we knelt down tonight for prayer to end family home evening, CPC said "I don't want to say a prayer, I don't want family home evening to be over."
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