Summer

I have so much to catch up on.  It has been a whirlwind the last week.  We keep staying up later and later at night and playing more and more.  I am loving not having to get the kids out the door at 7:40 am, no HW to work on with them, no "Is it PE today or Library day?" or pajama day, or hat day. 

I don't want to let the summer get away from us, so I sat down and made some summer objectives, aside from the summer activity list that Dallin and I made the day he got out of school.  I tried to think of what I would really like to accomplish in our home and as a mother with their full influence and time.  I came up with 9 things and then made notes on what I need to do to make it happen.  Here are my 9 things:

1. Obedience. We are always working on this, but I want to really stay on top of follow through and consequences.
2. Work. The kids are doing a lot more chores lately and so our expectations are going up for what they are ready for.  I am adding a lot more work to their Accountable Kids schedules to fill in the extra time.  They actually like it so far.
3. Kindness towards one another.  I am working on teaching by example.  Quiet corrections, no yelling and being respectful is always what I am striving for. When I talk to them I am really stressing that they are each other's best friends and that we are a family team.
4. Reading. I plan on a read aloud hour each afternoon as well as quiet time while they read by themselves.
5. Sitting still.  I have never been able to get this one right with toddlers.  I will be working especially with Lily and Carter on this with a timer.
6. Summer activities (swim lessons, park days etc.).  Swim lessons start next week!  Instead of doing 2 weeks every day this year, we are doing 5 weeks, twice a week.  We will probably do another session and make it 10 weeks.  I really want to see progress in our kids this summer so it better be worth the cost of 3 kids at out of district fees!
7. Gospel Study. Now that we aren't so rushed to get the kids to bed, we are planning to extend our family prayer time in the evening.  Ideally I hope to spend at least a half hour together as a family each night reading, and talking and praying.  We already have a morning devotional time at breakfast so we will have 2 Gospel learning times each day.
8. Family activities.  Although our list is a mile long, I hope to plan at least one big event for each month. I know I am slowing down and will want to be home a lot as it heats up.
9. School time. I am just going to have them sit and do a couple of work pages a day so that they are used to HW and keeps their brains working.


Just some thoughts on motivation.  I am learning more than ever that's what it is all about.  Dallin is crazy about earning money lately (we earn bonus bucks for extra chores and each one is worth .25).  Every day he anxiously asks for more and more chances to work for me.  I am loving what he is suddenly so willing to do!  I usually give him extra chores, but lately I have also assigned him to play with Lily outside on the swings for a set time, and sit and read by himself for 30 minutes among other things.  Anything that used to be a big struggle, I just let him work for now since he is so willing and happy to do it.  Even things I used to say were just part of the responsibility of being in this family or growing up.  I realize now this isn't a bad thing at all.  He is learning to work and do chores with a willing heart.  Now I have noticed that when I ask him to do something that isn't for a bonus buck like the dishes, he just does it! And he has gained enough experience   that I don't have to walk him through it as much. He has become less of a mess maker and more responsible all around.  I think life is about motivation for anyone so I don't feel like I am setting him up for dissapointment.  Some day he will go to work everyday to support his family, just so he can bring home a paycheck.  Eden is jumping on that bandwagon to some extent too so I am enjoying the benefits.  It's been a long time coming to have some extra helping hands around here. Yay for me!