summer organization

We started a new system this summer. Actually it's one my parents used for me as a child and I remember loving it and so we gave it a go. I wanted an organized summer, lots of fun, but organization!

So we started the "Bean System"  It sounds kinda lame and not exciting at all but it works for our kids because they are instantly rewarded for getting things done. Here's how it works:

 

 

I compiled a list of about 50 chores of things I wanted the kids to do around the house. They range from wiping down base boards, to organizing dresser drawers all the way to mowing the lawn.

I wrote all the chores down on individual strips of cardstock with a detailed explanation of the chore if needed and I gave them a "bean" value of either 2,3 or4 beans. I put the strip of paper with the beans they are worth in baggies and put them all in a jar.

 

When it is chore time the kids get to go pick their chore. THEY decide how many beans they want to earn by picking easy, medium or hard chores. After the chore is done, they come tell me and I check it off (make sure they did it). When it's checked and ok'ed they get the beans they earned out of the baggie and it goes right into their bean jar.

 

The kids keep a tally of how many beans they have and when they have enough they get to pick a reward from the reward chart.

Each reward group has two options they can pick, for example when they have saved 40 beans they can either have breakfast in bed or a large soda from Burger King. (My kids don't ever really get soda so this is huge to them)

 

This system is working like a charm in our family! The kids are excited to do chores and try to do as many as they can in the hour they are allowed to do chores.

 

We also started a slew of other new systems in our house, and to be honest I wasn't sure if they would go over well but it has turned out to be the best thing I've ever put into action!

 

We have a new weekly schedule.

Every day has a theme. Granted, we have a lot going on this summer and sometimes we don't stick to this chart because we are out of town or have guests. This has been fun for us to get creative at our house and try new things. Love it.

 

We have a new daily schedule.

As I was making this....I did realize that I was coming across as a crazy schedule lady but after doing this for even a week I was so happy we tried it. Life happens but if we don't have other plans that day we try to keep to this schedule. We did have to

 tweak it a bit as you can see. I found that because of this the kids play outside so much more and are reading instead of watching TV.

We have a new reading system.

The kids have a set 30 min a day to read but can also choose to read at other times in the day. They have a goal of a certain amount of books to read by the end of August and if they meet that goal we get to go to the Redding waterslides.

 After each book they read they do a book report on them. I was hand writing a book report form out for them with their name, book title, Summary of book, favorite part, how many pages, ect.  but then I was at Target and found a reading book log that had all that in it and more!

 

I posted this because I wanted to remember it for next year and because it has helped our family work together smoothly. They kids stay motivated and things get done!

Sunset Bay ~2013 Part 2

Sunset Bay is located next to big overlook where sea lions come and sunbathe. If you look close you can see a ton of them on that little rocky island. The kids loved that they all bark together so it got so loud.

 

Sunset Bay is also right next to Shore Acres. An awesome historical site that was once the grand estate of a pioneer timber baron named Louis Simpson. He planted beautiful gardens with plants and flowers from all over the world. Something is in bloom almost every day of the year.

 



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It was gorgeous! They have an impressive Japanese garden and plants and trees that Scott had on his mission in Chile.  

 

 

 

Macie loved how big the leaves were on this wild Chilean rhubarb. 

 

 

 This place has a huge rose garden. This picture does not do the size of this rose justice. It was the size of her head!

 

 

It was a beautiful end to our first fun family vacation of summer!

Can't wait to go back. 

Sunset Bay~2013 Part 1

In the middle of June, (over Macie's Birthday), we went camping over at the coast. We stayed at Sunset Bay which quickly became our favorite camping site EVER.

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The campground is awesome but the best part is the fact that it is on it's own personal beach. It has kind of a little niche that comes off of the ocean and is surrounded by bluffs and beautiful hiking trails.

 

 The first day we were there it was a little drizzly. They have all sorts of things for kids to do there. This picture was in front of an outdoor movie screen where they also have activities for kids.

 

 

Next to the beach is a little stream where the kids collected all sorts of shells and dead crab parts. Fun.

 

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The kids loved it. And because the waves weren't 4 feet high and there was no undertow I let them go out so much farther than they ever get to. 

 

 

More dead animal parts....

 



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 The next day was Macie's Birthday and the weather was beautiful. SO warm. We were on the beach from 9am-3pm.

 

 

This boy was so happy.

 

 Like, SO happy!

 

 

We had the whole place to ourselves until about noon.

 

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yet another creepy animal find.

 

we have a ten year old....

On June 2nd our first baby turned 10!

It is a friend party year this year and Ellie choose to take some of her friends bowling. All the girls were given long silly socks to wear as they bowled their hearts out.

 

Then they came back for ice cream cake playing outside and presents.

Just to clarify, I swore to myself I had already purchased a number 10 candle...but in my frustrated attempt to find it Scott decided we would make the candles equal ten. It is a 6 plus a 4.

 

 

 

 

 

We love our Ellie so much. It is so much fun watching her grow up and become the woman she is going to be. She is really becoming so much fun to pal around with. I use to be a little afraid of her becoming a teenager but I have realized that I am more and more looking forward to it!

She is so caring and thoughtful to her siblings. She tries to be a peacemaker and teaches others to be as well. She is a fantastic helper. Ellie loves to read, draw, swim and she still LOVES to sing.

Happy Birthday Ellie Belly.

girls weekend

I have some great friends, and one of them moved away a few years ago and she now lives in Bend OR. Then this year we lost another one who now lives in Corvallis OR.  So now we make it a point to get together and see each other as often as we can.

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Sara, Tiffany, April and I did some good shopping and eating. But best of all is staying up late and chatting with each other getting all caught up. I love a good girls weekend, and it always makes me so excited to come home recharged.

Lately through Instagram....

 This boy had a Birthday! He turned 3 and is as sweet and adorable as ever. Love this big boy.

 Ellie ended her 4th grade year with a Pioneer semester. They did so many cool things and she learned so much. This was from their Boxed Social and this cutie picked her Box of goodies and was then her square dance partner.

 A well known sight for our Connor boy. I got a call from the school that he was doubled over in pain and this time on the other side of where his appendix was. Long story short, lots of tests later...he was fine and just backed up. Better safe than sorry.

 Our kids really did have THE best teachers this year and this is a pic of what we took to Macie's class the last day.

 It is finally warm enough to really get outside. This was a hike we took, it looked like a stroller parade.

It's warm enough for jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under. We have done that a lot.

 My good friend Cassi had her twins. A boy and a girl and I have been snuggling them often ever since. Not baby hungry just miss that sweet newborn smell.

 This little one has been having some middle child issues and is crazy emotional lately. I made it a goal to be in her class as much as I could the last few weeks.

And this is a picture of a surprise scavenger hunt we went on for FHE the other night. Scott planned it all out on his own and the kids loved every minute of it.

I love my little family and all we get to do together. We are very blessed.

Siemers Wedding and a Birthday getaway!!

Scott and I have been friends with Jason and Rachel Siemers since we were all newlyweds. We lived in the same building and our front doors actually faced each other. We had babies at the same time, had FHE together, late night girls talks, and we even got to know their extended family. Our little families grew so close. Over the years we have moved apart but have kept in touch and even made it a plan to see each other every year. And we have.

When we found out that Jason's brother was marring Carolyn Bridwell (a fabulous girl I know) we were beyond thrilled and headed out to their wedding in Etna California at the end of April.

Matt and Carolyn were married in the Medford LDS temple the day before and held a ring ceremony and a reception in the most beautiful outdoor area I have ever seen!!

 

We loved seeing Jason and Rachel and their beautiful family and we even got to see another couple, Josh and Jenny Hiett, who were in our FHE group with us all those years ago!
 



Such a great reunion. I love these girls!!

 

A few weeks before I thought that while we were out that way we should make a weekend of it for Scotts Birthday. We drove from Etna to Redding and I surprised Scott with some fun things I already had planned.

We went to Turtle Bay and got to see so much more than we ever do when we go with our kids. We ate a the famous Mary's Pizza and got the most amazing Bruschetta I have EVER eaten.

 

 

We went to the movies and Scott got to eat at his favorite restaurant. Also, don't judge me, I reserved a time for Scott and I to go on a guided Segway Tour around Turtle Bay, the beautiful McConnell Arboretum and the Sundial Bridge.

And as nerdy as we look we actually had a lot of fun.

Great weekend. Love my Hubby!

 

football and soccer

Connor and Macie tried out new sports this year.
 

 

 We put Connor in Flag Football and Macie in Soccer.

 

 Both had a great time but neither of them are very competitive. I think they liked being with friends more than actually playing. I think we will stick to basketball for Connor and Macie would be happy running and skipping in a field...and that's free.