Ben's Water Wall

Each child is working on a building project. Here is Ben's water wall . Thank you for the idea "frugal fun for boys". It was too hard for us to nail the bottles on after our layout-so luckily Rhet got home early before our interest dropped. Unfortunately, it was right when I was holding his new nail gun and air compressor. Uh oh. Who was I to know that you don't use a nail gun for this kind of project?

Good job, Ben! Colby absolutely loves it! Now for Ben...lets just hope he enjoyed making the wall because apparently the water hose to fill up the bucket is always more entertaining:)

Chatanooga Aquarium

You better believe that the best part of the aquarium was passing by Baskin Robin's on the way to the car and realizing it was FREE ice cream day!!!

Don't worry, Colby. You'll grow up to be as big as a turtle some day.

Is this the same Ben that didn't want to touch pudding because it was "too slimey"?

Daisy- I know you saw dad break out the camera- but the fish we are here to see are BEHIND YOU!

Who let Colby in the tank with the giant crab?

Apparently, Daisy is the only one mortified that Jaws is about to attack.

Side note: we were having technical difficulties trying to get the right lighting for the camera. Daisy held that pose for exactly two minutes:)

This is close enough to "fishing" right, kids?

Who knew the Emporer penguin literally towers over Colby. So much for the sweet, mild tempered, small image that cartoons depict. I feel lied to.

I'm ready to go!

I AM DRESSED AND READY, MOM!...

For preschool, or grocery shopping, or visiting friends, or church, or picking up my siblings, or eating lunch with daddy, or playing outside, or taking a nap, or...

Spring break camping

I don't know if Daisy is more excited to finally have sugar (smore's) from our "treat break" or that she gets to play with caterpillars and slugs to her heart's content.

Leave it to Colby to find the alternative to tree climbing at the state park. No dirt, no splinters, no bugs, and no surprise chasing squirrels...

Just a mom that is about to have a heart attack cause her other three never dared go that high at the age of three!

Great job, Rhet! Now where are we going to put the kids?

Oh, I'm sorry. Did I get here a little too late to help take the tent down?

It was supposed to be a simple slip knot.

Great. Dad taught our nine-year old how to start and maintain a fire.

While mom cooks dinner...

Apparently, it is time to clean the garage if Colby found that this was his only free spot to relax.

Fishing Time

Colby and Emma sitting in a.. swing. Who needs fishing when you have your big brother to push you for hours?

Miss Daisy Maizy grabbing a cricket. Our animal lover sacrificing a poor, defenseless Jimmeny Cricket? All in the name of "daddy bonding" time!

Our natural. Caught THREE brim!

Go team. Get one for mom. (Meaning, get one and say it is from mom- NOT get one so mom can eat one!)

Rhet? Rhet? Where are you? Aren't you supposed to be helping the kids?

Valentine's Day

I knew there was a reason we painted the girls' room pink...it goes great with my Valentine's decorations!
Oh, Daisy- if you were just a tad taller! Sorry- but no points for the chin.

Alexis- you should put the lipstick on BEFORE you put on the blind-fold! And close that mouth- you can't try to increase your odds of hitting a target heart by making your mouth as big as possible!

Who needs "store bought" Valentine's Games when you have this crazy lady that can create one with her face?

And the winner is...

Rhet can find these lips anywhere and anytime!

Hide-n-seek

Colby, did you fall asleep in there waiting for us to find you?

Daisy? Or is it the one-eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater?
Kids, should I ask where all my pots and pans went?

Yes, Rhet- that was an awesome hiding place... but it was kinda easy finding you considering the closet was completely clean before playing this game!

At what point is the price not high enough to hurt every muscle in order to "win" the game? Doesn't that just mean that you are the one that has to stay in position longest?

Gatorade, apple juice, water, kool-aid, kisses, starbursts, stickers, charts, snacks, mints, 20 pairs of underwear, board games, card games, coloring pages, books.

Let's get this party started!

Today's lesson for...Colby?

Some of the skills that Colby has acquired in the last semester:

*identifies colors, shapes, and numerals 1-5
*categorizes groups by color, shape, or size
*identifies items that don't belong, or that belong together *writes name legibly
*completes simple patterns
*names opposites
*separates and categorizes objects up to 10
*completes mazes
*completes simple puzzles
*Sequences events
*connects dot-dot #1-10
*identifies groups with more or less
*cuts and pastes
*completes weekly chores
*manipulates Wii controls

Today's lesson: correctly using "If...then" statements.

Mom: "Colby, IF you are able to accomplish all of these tasks, THEN you should be toilet trained." "Do you think you can try one?"

Colby: "Of course, mother. I would be absolutely delighted to demonstrate my understanding of this concept..."
"IF you would buy me the regular sized candy bars as "potty treats" instead of one pointless M&M, THEN I might use the restroom correctly".

Mom: "Well, OK... good. I think you have it."
"Would you mind taking my phone messages and setting the table? I need to run to the store real quick."

I LOVE my gym!!!

Why do I LOVE my gym?

#1 The staff are fast to respond to any improvements needed. I'm sure that any day they are going to fix the mis-calibration of the scale.

#2 The members are thoughtful. For every Nautilus machine I use, the previous member graciously moves the pin down to a weight that matches my increased strength ability. I don't have the heart to tell them that they are slightly over estimating.

#3 The lay-out is convenient. If I need a quick break, I can sit in the bikes that are positioned right in front of the TV's. Great way to keep up with concise, important current events.
Totally off topic, but did you know how funny Kelly Ripa and Ellen Degeneres are?

#4 My gym combines fun and fitness. My gym is filled with distorted mirrors. So silly and fun. It's just like going to the fair's fun house.

It reminds me of a fond childhood memory: When I was five, my grandmother was going to take me to the fair. I must have read a scientific article that stated it was safer to drive a car without a seat belt. I was taught to stand up for my convictions and not surrender to peer pressure, so Mama and Amber went without me. I wasn't bitter, though. I actually served my sister by giving all her barbies updated hairstyles.

#5 The treadmills are fantastic. There are a few treadmills that have some glitches in their display, but mine is always properly working.

Some examples of the display errors:
*The lady next to me has her mph listed as 7.3. Any functioning treadmill couldn't possibly go up that high.
*The same lady has a time displayed as 40 minutes and she isn't glistening. Although the sign is severely scratched up, I am almost positive that it reads "Please limit your treadmill use to 10 minutes." I always try to follow gym etiquette, as I'm sure she would if her screen time was correct.

I appreciate the positive feedback of the display. There is a part that counts the number of breaks you take during your work-out. I am proud to announce that mine is always at "0". I am embarrassed for my neighbor whose number is 4 or more. I'm not sure what the acronym stands for, but the initials are I.N.C.L.I.N.E.

There is a large capacity water bottle holder. It also works well for half-empty mini water bottles that you might find under the car seat in a forgotten lunch box.

#6 There is no fashion/dress code standard. They understand when mornings are tight and you show up in pajamas, flip flops, and under eye mascara. Although, I personally like to keep up with the trends. Just the other day a lady in hot pink spandex and a pink and brown sports bra was running next to me. After my cardio, strength training, and shower there happened to be another woman with the exact same outfit on that same treadmill. I'm sure Target or Walmart will carry a similar style for me.

#7 My gym is inexpensive. I choose to spend my saved money on healthy food. These items are usually grouped together in the aisle labeled "convenience". I do find it disquieting that my fellow gym buddies spend their saved money in quick fix schemes. It is obvious that pills, suctions, enhancements, and surgeries are aiding in their physique- "real" women can't look like that.

#8 Trainers are ready to assist you. I specifically remember the advice of the training team to loose weight slowly for it to stay off. To make changes gradually. I missed the rest of the class, but I can easily deduce not to throw out all the junk-food, stop eating after 10, or watch portion control for every meal. Since studies show that small steps equals success, then surely teeny tiny baby steps would be even better.

#9 Free trial membership. I am a regular that would love to show you around. Just disregard the front desk staff that looks up my name in the computer- I believe she suffers from short-term memory loss.

If you would like to meet me, just remember to bring a charged ipod. Without it, you may find that you are forgetting to increase your speed in your interval training session... because you are mentally blogging all of the reasons why you love your gym.


Disclaimer: I didn't cut the dolls' hair on the same day as the fair. I don't just wear a sports bra.

Ready, set...GO!

Date:Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: Peachtree Mall. Columbus, GA

Mission: Complete as many items as you can in 45 minutes, with digital documentation.

Teams: Jess, Daiz, and Ben vs. Dad, Lex, and Colby

Upon Completion of task: Meet in food court for ice cream of choice.

Rules:

One point deducted for every minute tardy.

An adult can only participate in two tasks.

Starred items are bonus items due to the bravery or difficulty required.

Rotate photographing.

Five points deducted for running.

Try on a funny t-shirt.

Eat a piece of chocolate chip cookie.

Find a scarf and try it on.

Spray on some apple scented body spray.

*Try on some orange shoes.

**Find a gold diamond ring and try it on.

Listen to a classical song.

Find a 50% off sign.

Read one sentence of a Dr. Seuss book.

*Find purple finger nail polish.

Find Wii Sports or Mario Galaxy.

Pick your favorite cell phone.

Try on a pair of fitting tennis shoes (boys) or high heels (girls)

*Try on a black jacket.

Buy a gumball.

Find something "Disney".

Find something "Cars" or "Spiderman".

*Find something Christmas related.

Buy two purple things for $2 or less.

Find a pair of colorful knee socks.

Find a card.

Buy the biggest thing for under $3 (extra point if your thing is biggest)

**Get a bag from 5 different stores.

Try on a pair of glasses.

**Pose like a manaquin in a store window.

Wash hands in a bathroom.

Wear a feather boa.

****Sing "Mary had a Little Lamb" to a stranger.

*Plank on a bench.

*Plank in a store.

***Give ketchup or napkin to a stranger in food court.

*Ride a kiddy ride.

*Ask someone for the time.

Look in a mirror.

***Spell out "YMCA" with someone at a store.

*Get a menu from a restaurant.

Get a credit card application.

Try on a pair of glasses.

**Salute someone coming out of Old Navy.

Eat a food sample.

**Get a stranger's autograph.

How many shoe stores are there? ____________

How many restaurants? ____________

How many high chairs in food court? ____________

How many entrances? ___________

The winning team is?.... Mom and Dad tallied the score and amazingly it was a tie! (Like every other team game we play.)

Bingo!

The family is playing "Goal Bingo". First to get "bingo" gets an amazing date with a person of choice.
When the whole family "Black Cards" it, we are on our way to a mini- vacation.
Wish us luck...we'll need it!

Here is Alexis' bingo sheet as an example of how this works...
Most of the boxes are self explanatory- but the numbers underneath usually means one straight week at a time. So if you miss a day, you have to start your week over.

Most kids' goal sheets are the same, except Ben also has "eating fruit everyday" and "10 books" instead of 1.5 million words. He also has exercise goals instead of journal writing ones.
Sorry, I'm not posting Rhet and my goal sheets. You aren't taking a look into our lives with those magnifying glasses!

What? More goals charts?

So... a far off vacation is hard for a child to work towards; hence, this weekly chart.

For each day that the children complete all of their goals, they earn $0.50 -Every two weeks, they get their "allowance" in cash. I have learned that it is much more effective with a tactile, tangible reward to equate the behavior with the positive consequences, instead of just "buying it for them on my card"... although, it is so much more of a pain!)

They no longer get money for doing chores- if they don't do their chorse, money just gets deducted from their over-all amount. (Which is why $0.25 is deducted on Tuesday. I am no longer going to be the "wet towel on floor nag".

So far, the kids have been extremely motivated. They make their own charts at the beginning of the week, they fill in their own bubbles, and don't have to be reminded of any goals. Oh, I wish I would have added so many more :)

The problem I forsee... one day they may realize that if they forget to brush their teeth in the morning, that there would be no point in completing any of the rest of the day's goals. Another one; they may realize that on a "hard" day (journal writing, preparing family night, and being reverent throughout all of church)... they may decide that it isn't worth $0.50 when they can easily get the money other days for less work.

So far, so good- so I won't tell if you don't tell. Besides, they are too sweet and obedient for that, right?... or they just want as much mula as possible. Yah, that's it.

For those of you who don't agree with rewarding behavior that you inherently expect... try rewarding yourself for a week of eating healthy and exercising everyday (no treats, though). It gives incentive to do your best and really work towards achievement... and then along the way it becomes a habit and a way of life. That's my philosophy anyhow; mine as well test it out and experiment on my kids! Hopefully, they won't be thirty calling me on the phone to send them some goodies for doing the dishes!

The handsome men in my life...

I love this picture. I wonder if the golfer waiting behind them is as impressed.