dream big.

Sleepover Fun!

During a recent sleep over my oldest brought down a magazine she had picked up from the library. It had a recipe for a face mask, so of course they wanted to make it and have a little spa party.

Luckily, we had all of the ingredients to make the face mask.

It looked really nasty, but ALL of the girls were game! Not one was unwilling to put the horrid looking stuff all over their face. The big girls decided it would be best to test it out on the little girls first though.

Little sisters make the best guinea pigs!

  This is one sleep over they won't forget ... super fun and VERY girly!
  

Sweet Summer

Today is the day that I plant my flowers.

The weather is finally nice enough for me to plant my boxes today, even if it is overcast.

At the end of our home school year this June, we had a butterfly habitat. And then we released 5 beautiful butterflies.

Natalie follwed then all over the yard.

Butterflies are simply lovely and a great part of summer.   

A couple of weeks ago we went to Seattle to the science center to see their new circus exhibit! Sooo FUN! The kids wanted me to try this...I said...NO! You go ahead sweetie! The line is full of kids that want to try. Wheh...I got out of that one!

Natalie and Olivia LOVED going up on the trapeezee apparatus! I think they might want to join the circus. The would fit in with all of the monkeys.

Ella loved the big circus tent stage and dress up area. I think the stage is Ella's friend...she takes after her mother with this. She did NOTHING else at the center and we were there for several hours.

And then just this past weekend we finished up with our dance recitals. The girls all did a beautiful job and we are now awaiting results of a leveling class Olivia took to know what she can sign up for this fall.

 

Today the sun is suppose to shine, and the girls want to go swimming...we will see how that goes! The last I checked the water temp is sitting at about 62 degrees. They again want me to come in, but there is NO WAY I am getting in any water that is not a luke warm temp of, oh say bath water!

This is my current life in a nut shell. Simply because I am a little nutty.

Summer Responsibility Program

So here it is, my summer plan for keeping things (mainly children and my home) orderly!

First I needed a system. So, I created a super simple chart to keep my kiddos organized.

Then, I needed a reward system. A reward system that put the responsibility on my kiddos and NOT me!

And since I know my children a two part reward system was necessary.

Here is how it works. First, each child must completely their daily assigned jobs, without me nagging them, or having to ask if they have gotten things done. So, this means that THEY must let me know when they have completed their jobs and I will check. Simply trusting them to be truthful...and actually have their jobs finished they way I would have them do it is NOT in the cards...yet. If they accomplish all of their jobs for an entire week,then they get to choose from a variety of coupons!

I found these downloadable coupons on the internet, and I LOVE them...and so do my kids!

Then, I inform them that there is MORE...oh, yes...more!

I was reading Family Fun magazine and saw an article that I LOVED and thought heck, I have to add this to my system as well. I created a chart with all kinds of jobs. Jobs that are on their list, personal care jobs that I am always having to tell them to do...brush your teeth, get dressed, brush your hair, wash your hands.

Plus, some bonus jobs as well.

 Next to each job is a point value where my kids get little trinkets (marbles) to put in a glass jar with their names on them.

When the jar is filled to the top they get $10 in addition to their allowance.

As we have been doing this for a little over a week now, I must say that everyone LOVES it! I have also added a few rules in regard to the jars. If children are bickering and fighting...they LOSE trinkets from their jars. I decide how many. If they don't get their jobs done on a day...they lose trinkets, plus miss out on getting a coupon for the week.

I am loving mySummer Responsibility Program (SRP) and I love how my kids are taking the responsibility to get things done. Because in my house there is no summer fun until our work is DONE! I will keep you posted as to how it is going throughout the summer!

Today I am selecting 4 summer photos and creating pages with them.

Sounds simple right?

Then join me in the fun! Take the challenge.

Choose 4 summer photos and create 1, 2, 3, heck...why not even 4 scrapbook pages based around these 4 photos and the stories that they tell! Use more photos to tell the story if necessary, but simply start with 4 photos. Write the story and THEN create the page.

I'll post mine...will you post yours?

Now that just sounds all kind of wrong!

Father's Day is this weekend! And for some crazy reason, dance recitals and graduations are ALWAYS scheduled this weekend as well.

I have been BUSY with deadlines for my fall Saving Your Sanity: Throughout the Holidays class at Big Picture Scrapbooking, so I have not had time to come up with anything creative for the kids to do, on my own. I did do the next best thing though...and found a couple of great ideas @ Martha Stewart Living!

I thought I'd share what we will be creating this week THANKS to Martha!

I LOVE these retro tags and you can download and print them right off of Martha's site!

Another free download at Martha world! Super cute coupons to download and turn into a coupon book. LOVING the fact I am not having to create my own coupons!

 
And we are making these CUTE shirt cards today! Of course there are directions as to how you can make these on Martha's site!

Thank you Martha, for once again providing me with inspiration and simple projects to create with the kids.

I am taking note that this continues to be a SUPER busy time of the year in our house...I need to plan ahead for this more next year. Live and learn!

 

I am guest blogging again over on Stacy Julian's blog!

It is my final summer tip as a guest blogger, but I have a few more tips I will share right here over the next couple of weeks!

Today, check out my road trip tip for happy travelers!

Next week is the first official week of summer break at my house!

So this week we are doing Morning Movies and Afternoon Activities. There are movies that we didn't get to watch this school year that pertain to the history and science that we studied. So on my Morning Movie list is:

1. The Man From Snowy River
2. Seven Years in Tibet
3. Chariots of Fire
4. Butterflies and Moths
5. Ghandi

Morning Movies will be shown with popcorn and drinks of course to make the morning festive.

Speaking of movies. Regal Cinemas has a free summer family movie program! We went to several last year and are planning to attend some of these this year as well!

Afternoon Activities will involve my back yard fun bin and The Adventurous Book of Outdoor Games!

Summer, I love you!

We are picking up a new swimming pool for the summer...off to Wal-mart!

The kids are excited.

I am excited.

Eric will be excited after all of the work of putting it together is done!

The girls have lots of ideas as to the type of pool toys we should get.

I am all for pool toys and a summer filled with sun (hopefully), and children playing OUTSIDE!

 

By the way my kids LOVE the outdoor games book and have had more fun playing in the backyard with their friends than they have ever had!

Today has been homeschool testing day. And I am so proud of this 5th grade girl.

spelling 6.6 grade level

math 8.0 grade level

reading 10.0 grade level

LA Comp. 6.0 grade level

Way to go girl! You make this mommy proud!