My Boys are the Best

Yesterday, we had a long overdue cleaning day at our house. With all of the activities that we have going on as a family, keeping up with the house just goes to the bottom of the priority list. Eventually, though, we have to do it.

Earlier in the week, the boys cleaned the basement. So, that wasn't on the list. (that includes picking up, dusting, vacuuming and cleaning all the fingerprints off the glass doors.)

On Saturday, we tackled everyone's bedrooms, all four bathrooms, the family room and the dining room. This, again, was picking up, dusting and vacuuming. We also got a bunch of stuff to donate to a garage sale that had to be brought upstairs. My boys worked hard ALL day. They were so great and I don't recall hearing any complaints. They were each solely responsible for their room. Then Reed did the dusting in the dining room and family room, and the vacuuming. Hunter dusted Mom and Dad's room and vacuumed one set of stairs. Chase vacuumed Mom and Dad's room and vacuumed the other set of stairs. There were other miscellaneous tasks asked of them throughout the day that they did without complaining. Lucky me...I cleaned 4 bathrooms.

What did Dad do, you ask? He was working. We don't argue about his participation when he is working (however, there IS verification involved:)

So, our house is ALMOST clean. Kitchen floor and laundry room floor is all that is left, but I don't really care so much today. Mostly, I am a really proud mom today when I look around at all the work we did!

Thanks, boys, you really made my day!

Rainy Day??

So far this summer, every day looks like it is going to be a rainy day. The weather people forecast rain, then it doesn't. I have given up waiting for the rain and we are making plans and moving on with outside activities. Except for today. It really does look like it is going to rain today!!

I have a summer rule at my house. Video games and TV are only allowed on rainy days. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and the boys can "earn" game time. 15 minutes of games is earned for every 30 minutes of reading or practicing their instrument. (We only have one instrument right now. Chase is two weeks into the saxophone. This is not nearly as bad as when we were two weeks in to the violin! yikes!) Back to my thought...I have created a spreadsheet (yes, Kristie, I AM a nerd, but I know exactly what is going on) for each of the boys so we can calculate their game/tv time. Believe it or not, this is quite the motivator. Additionally, the library has a reward program for minutes read and so does their school. SO, in reality, they are getting a lot of bang for their buck on minutes read.

However, today, on a rainy day (or, I am assuming it is going to be)...anything goes. It is a nice escape for all of us. They get to play, and I don't have to hear...'I'm bored"!

Day One

Ok. So, I figure that if the boys are going to blog over the summer, maybe I should join the fun. So far, the days of summer are very busy. This summer, I am working, which I haven't done since 1997 when Reed arrived. It is quite challenging. However, I really enjoy the jobs I have so that helps.

My darling sister started the blogging trend yesterday when the boys were at her house for the day (while I was working). She is definitely the "creative one". I am the "organized" one. Or, if you ask my niece, Lucy, I am the "fancy" one. I never would have thought to have them blog as a way to keep busy in the summer.

So, day one blogging is done. I will try and be more creative in my writing and find more interesting things to blog about as the days go by!! ( I have to try and live up to the Kerr blogs!)