Just looking hot here in my new Valentines shirt!

the girls were home from preschool and opened their packages first

Chores!

I hated doing chores as a kid. I felt like my mom was in the slave labor business. She always made us work like dogs and then was never thankful. I have always had my kids clean up their own rooms or pick up their toys when they are done playing but never added to that for fear of being like my mom. One day out of the blue Addie just emptied the dishwasher for me. And all she wanted in return was candy! I was shocked at how she knew where things went. The other day was cold and rainy and the kids were running around and jumping on beds and wrestling. I was loosing my mind so I told them we were going to do chores. It was great cause it channeled their energy and I was pleased to have less to do myself after they went to bed.
Derek wanted in on the action. But he is a fire ball and I didn't have the patience to supervise him. Addie is really loving with him so she volunteered to help him put away the silverware. It was so cute when he would say good job after each spoon was placed in its spot. I promised to blog about it cause the kids want their dad to see how they are helping (he is in busy season and gone all the time)

Dallin's Chore

He washes the dishes and puts them in the dishwasher. He is very willing and positive about it. Though I can tell he is grossed out by touching wet food chunks. But guess what buddy we all are! He is also the only kid in the family that can make his bed to meet my standards. I just love him!

Addie's Chore

Adelaide is built like her father and her Nana Weeks. She is very skinny and bony. I usually don't notice until we put her in her dance tights and I see that she is trying to balance on toothpicks for legs. Some times she will complain that her jeans are hurting her because her hip bones stick out so far the top of her pants rest on them and rub at her skin. The best job for that kind of body is crawling under beds and pulling out the lost toys, sippy cups, ect...

Olivia's Chore

Olivia is "VERY SPECIAL" right now. Meaning she is going through the terrible threes. My older two kids went through a phase at this age too. Its like they are grumpy old men with no patience. You can't let them sleep too much or too little. You have to feed them right on time. You can't ask them the wrong question or imply that they are grumpy. But no matter what you do they still are impossible to work with. So I had to come up with something simple and easy. Usually my counter tops are cluttered with the items that need to be recycled and can't go into the garbage can. Her job is to walk out anything that is needing to be recycled and put it in the bin. Its very helpful for me and she gets to feel like she is doing as much as the other kids.