Chore Chart

First, let me say I am not posting this because it is worthy of posting, but because it was so

  cheap and easy!  I wanted something inexpensive, durable, portable, easy, and that I could change if I wanted.

I am in desperate need of some organization/help/structure to my/our day.  The kids are more than capable of helping out and pulling some of their own weight.

First, I spent a rather lengthy deliberation period gathering my thoughts:

Then, I gathered my supplies:
$ Tree cookie sheets
contact paper (already had)
scrapbook sticker letters (already had)
woodsie star: $2.24 with coupon
magnets: $5.24 with coupon
paint and supplies (already had)
electrical tape (already had)

I placed the contact paper on the cookie sheet, created my lines with electrical tape, and did my word with my sticker letters.

Next, I cut mounting squares and attached the stars to the magnets.  Then, I painted the stars and used the same sticker letters for the H and the L.

I have 1 job board for the morning.  These are the things I want the kids to do before they come upstairs in the morning (after their Sleep Buddy goes off:).  It stays downstairs and is for the both of them.  I will hang it with Command Mounting Strips when I decide on the right place.  I may end up making another one so they both have one in their rooms.

I listed their To Do list on the left with a Done column on the right.  After they complete a task they move a star with their initial to the space provided.

I also made job boards for upstair.

Most of these things they already help me with, but it wasn't consistent, they complained, and I would often just do it myself rather than deal with them.

The 1st 4 jobs are daily jobs.  I also created weekly jobs (not attached to the sheet), assigning one job per day, that I will change daily(attached a magnet to it).  I plan to laminate the verses and the weekly jobs.  I hope it will help Luke to learn the days of the week!

I will keep their weekly jobs on a separate sheet and rotate them in the morning or the night before.  I also wrote out several scriptures that I want them to learn that correlate with work, obeying, etc.

Each of the boards are different.  They will trade boards on Mondays, therefore changing up their jobs.  My intention is to create a time in the day that we do chores/tidy up, which will be when they complete most of their jobs!  Helping me unload the dishwasher will depend on what time of day it was ran.  Feeding Ellie breakfast, obviously, is a morning job.  I hope to give them their sheets at breakfast so they can start marking off what they do.

I recently realized trying to keep the house picked up all day is worthless and a total waste of time.  Instead, doing it all at once in the evening, hopefully before dinner, makes more sense.

I usually change my mind with the weather, so I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money on this.  As sure as the sun will set tonight, I will change my mind about something tomorrow!  

Sleep Buddy

I am SO excited Luke's Sleep Buddy came in the mail this week!  What's a Sleep Buddy you ask?  It is an amazing light system to keep those little jack-in-boxes in their boxes!  You can read all about it on their website.  

My sister-in-law, Kathryn, her sister developed the system.  She did an amazing job and has spent several years putting it all together.  Hats off to her and her team for all their hard work!  I am super excited and Luke was so super excited as well.  It comes with the light, the globe seen above, which has a built-in timer underneath.  It also comes with a book telling a story for the kid to understand the concept and a rewards chart with stickers.  Check it out and tell a friend!

Play Ball!

Levi already loves balls and cars.  We have video of my mom doing this same thing with Halle when she was close to this age.  So stinkin' precious!

Ready For The Stage

Halle and I went to Steppin' Out tonight. She took a nap today so we stayed out past dark:). Face painting and ice cream can make a kids day!

We didn't get their until 8:15 so Halle really enjoyed being outside tonight. Her claws come out when it gets above 75 degrees!

For U Mom

Attempt At A Cork Board

So, I wanted something to hang in my laundry room above my craft area.  I've been pondering for oh, 9 months or so.  My problem with my house is I get fixated on something and can't see beyond my fixation, which leaves no room for flexibility. 

I found this tutorial on Pinterest for a cork board.  I purchased my fabric weeks ago and I had decided what I wanted, I just needed to start putting pieces together.

I used a Joann's coupon from my Joann's app to purchase my board from Michaels for $4.  It was def only worth $4.  I had contemplated having David making me one but it would be December before we completed that task.

I primed the wood and then

 I attempted to spray painted the wood (more on that).

I let it dry for several hours.

I cut my fabric to fit the board.  I turned it over and traced the edges and then used a fabric rotary cutter to cut the fabric.

I used painters tape to cover what I did not want sprayed with spray adhesive. 

I took the board outside and sprayed the cork with several coats.

I was able to reposition the fabric several times before it set.  I worked from the inside out, smoothing it down with my hands.

Fabric went on great!  Painters tape didn't come off so "clean".  Had a feeling that would happen.

So, I busted out David's electrical tape and wrapped the edges with that.

David is always on me about the laundry room/craft room being so messy.  He says, "Will it always look like this?"  I say, "Yes dear.  I am always doing something!"

So I have a new favorite saying:

Even though I am hardly creative.  

I had this "creative" idea to iron on that phrase.  Well, that didn't turn out as planned.  So, I made a lame attempt to freehand paint it on.  Don't look to closely because it is budget.  

That was a long post for a dinky cork board!

Boo Hoo Hoo

Ahhhhh....I know that was your 1st response.  I was actually belly laughing on the other side of my phone.  This is Levi not getting something he wants.  My cup with a straw to be exact.  This is his new thing.....throwing a fit when he doesn't get what he wants.  It makes me laugh hysterically!  

He cries, covers his face with his hands or buries his head.  Poor little guy.  He is super easy going, but is very particular.  He DOES NOT like being in a float at the pool either.  He fusses the entire time.  I probably will be adding The Strong Willed Child to my reading list soon!