Month: June 2016

We don’t let the kids have a lot of time on electronics, but they are always asking for TV, computer, iPad, Wii, etc. I got fed up this week with the asking. I created the pom-pom system. They have to earn pom-poms and only when they have pom-poms can they ask for the screen time of their choice. They can earn a pom-pom for reading a book (or chapter), good behavior, and other random reasons I decide. (They can also lose them for especially bad behavior.) Each pom-pom is worth 10 minutes on any electronic device. This has been awesome. I still have veto power on when the pom-poms can be used but the kids don’t come and ask unless they know they have pom-poms in their jar. In fact, the amount of reading has gone up significantly!

I decided the boys needed to keep working on their reading and math this summer too (and give Mom a little break during Kaitlyn’s nap time). While she naps, everyone does a math sheet and then the boys take turns reading. Sometimes they read to each other and sometimes they read to me. It has worked out nicely (in my opinion) and the boys haven’t complained too loudly!

I got a waterproof case for my iPhone and today we tested it out at the beach! Hopefully many more “dock” pictures to come!

Don’t worry. No animals were harmed in the making of these pictures (and a treat or two might have been given).

We have a little problem when it comes to the beach. We can’t seem to stay away. It’s the perfect activity that everyone (Mom included) enjoys and it fills our summer days with lots of fun!

Kaitlyn’s new favorite trick:

Picking up Alex from a sleepover always turns into a day of fun. We had planned a morning at the pool, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Instead we played at Amber’s house and the kids ended up in their bathing suits anyway!

We have a running joke going around in our family about “unimpressed” food. This occurs when you draw a face on it. I opened the egg container to find a carton-full of unimpressed eggs courtesy of Alex.

As Leah was leaving today the kids showed me their new way of saying good-bye.

Not only did we have a full day planned yesterday with Kaitlyn’s party, but when Wade took his morning shower, he realized something was wrong with the hot water. He did a little looking and realized the hot water heater wasn’t working. He spent his few free hours working on it and replaced a part, but no hot water. Knowing he was going out of town for an extended period of time, he decided to have someone come install a new one, versus doing it himself. (In case something went wrong and he wasn’t there to correct any issues.) That meant cold showers for most of us and warm sink baths for one lucky little girl.)

I debated about whether to have a “party” for Kaitlyn and we finally decided to have a few friends and a small party at the beach. We had perfect weather and a lot of fun!

We are having a little party for Kaitlyn tomorrow and cheese dip is always necessary. The kids are getting better and better when it comes to helping me make the dip.

I’m pretty sure Kaitlyn wants to be Teague when she grows up…

I had the cutest dates for lunch today.