Family night and Family Chores

So, in my attempt to gain some control and instill some responsibility in the children we had a family night to introduce our new system!! At first the kids thought it was all a joke. I quickly convinced them that I was not kidding. This is our new chore chart and weekly calendar! This is not the best photo of it but it was taken before Greg put it back on the wall. There are lists of all their morning and afternoon responsibilities and what is expected of them each.
These are the reference cards for them to ensure they are completing their tasks completely without having to ask a parent.

The favorite for all are the signs I posted randomly around the house to remind them all of the things they should be doing but obviously are not hence the reminder. This is a family favorite. Greg is taken back each time he goes to the restroom and sees this reminder in EVERY bathroom!! Laugh all you want!! I have flushed far less unflushed toilets in the last few weeks!!

My personal favorite and as of yet the least effective!!!Still a lot of laundry on the floor!

I will admit, I had my doubts about this whole system. We have helped each one of the kids with their weekly chore to teach them how to do it correctly and surprisingly they have been excited about it. The most surprising part is I have yet to offer them any award for their duties!! I thought they would want a "prize" but they just seem happy to help!! This makes Mom happy. We all know a happy mom makes for a happy home!!

Painted Fingernails!!

Today while Maddie was in the bath, I was painting my toenails. She was very interested in what I was doing. When she was done in the tub she asked to have hers painted. So for the first time, Maddie had her fingernails and her toenails painted! He hair I suppose could use some help!! That was not the focus!!Maddie's painted toenails and fingernails!!!

Pinewood Derby

Yes, that is right!! My least favorite time of year is definitely Pinewood Derby!! I am pretty sure I would rather go to the dentist than the pinewood derby!! But, we managed to put another year behind us successfully! (success is measured by how stressed I get, how many tears are shed, and how many coats of paint we mess up!)

Zack was very proud of his car! Greg was home and able to help him this year.

The competition!

Everyone gets an award!

Zack really did have a good time and it was very different this year. Everyone was pretty laid back about it and there wasn't this crazy competitive feeling like in the past. It was a good time and we are proud of Zack!!

Our most recent family addition!

Christopher has developed this amazing interest for all things nature!! He is fascinated by all the bugs and frogs and anything else outside that makes me cringe!

He recently found this little guy (who I will admit looks very cute and fuzzy) and Chris wanted to keep him! We gathered up some supplies for the little guy to have a house. Thanks to the internet we figured out what exactly a Woolly Bear Caterpillar prefers for a home and there we had it. A new addition to our home. (Because apparently we don't have enough chaos!)

While we were on our trip to Omaha for Spring Break, the Caterpillar made a cocoon in his habitat and Greg kept us up to date on it's progress. Nothing. When a caterpillar is in a cocoon, it does NOTHING!! Well, we made it back home and on Mother's Day, I noticed there was a small hole in the top of the cocoon. Our caterpillar was done cooking!(or whatever it does in there)
Christopher wanted to release the Moth
(yes that is right, our caterpillar turned into a moth not a gorgeous butterfly!) on a sunny day. So, here he is releasing the moth!!

He was a little discouraged because it didn't just spread it's wings and fly. As a matter of fact, it pretty much just flopped onto the ground like it was dead!! It wasn't dead so Chris picked it up and I talked him into leaving in the tree on a brach until it got enough "rest" to fly. (I have no idea when it got enough rest to fly away but thought it was better that way!!)

Since we released that little guy, Chris gathered about 7 more caterpillars that I have no idea what they are called. Most days they appear dead to me but just as I am about to dispose of them, they surprise me and crawl as far away from me as possible. One made a cocoon and it has since hatched. Although I have no idea where the butterfly/moth went!! Don't want to know at this point!!