Chore Chart

The number one way parents fall apart in my opinion is in follow through. I am totally guilty of this on many accounts. There is no excuse for it (though we can come up with many). It just comes down to being lazy.

Joshua has been bugging me to do a chore chart. We have done one in the past. But with me not doing anything easy, I had to have a fancy chore pad that I had to write on every week. Let's just say that that went out the window after several weeks, especially since each kid had their own chart to fill in. The 'how much' question is another dilemma. After researching a little I had decided on half of their age.

The stumbling block right now is thinking of what types of things would make appropriate chores. I do not believe in 'paying' kids for the everyday normal things they should be doing as part of a family. I also do not want to have them complete chores that end up making more work for me after they have done it. One day Joshua decided to surprise me by helping out and doing the cat box. Let's just say he tried to clean up the litter he spilled by putting it in the toilet. We have the clumping litter...the worse thing you could put in the toilet!!! And that really was just a tip of the iceberg of what the bathroom looked like when he was done.

I have mixed emotions about chores because as a teenager I felt like the family slave. I did dishes, vaccuumed, did the cat box, cleaned the bathroom and felt like my parents did not do any chores. I resented it. I feel it is different when they want to help out to earn money.

The one thing that I don't have mixed emotions about is the fact that I refuse to pay $100. for kid shoes. Forget about the fact that is wears a mens 8 1/2...but I don't even pay close to that for my own shoes. The most I have paid is $60 and that pair has lasted me a year and gets worn most days of the work week. The is a picture of Joshua's motivation.

Flashback Friday

Tonight we're getting reading to attend our third annual Monarch's New Years Eve Game. One of our few traditions. This was our first year in 2007. The boys always look forward to it. The more the merrier!

Christmas 2010

I didn't bring my camera to Christmas Eve. I really need to start bringing it. It is so much more fun to have memories documented with pictures. Auntie Barbara did bring hers and email a few...someone was thinking :)

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition of going to Jim's cousin Kim's house. They do not live too far and have children and cousins that come that are the kids ages too. Even though we don't get to see them too often the kids always look forward to it. Joshua likes the idea of parties and Jacob looks forward to decorating cookies with tons o frosting for Santa. And people always look forward to what I bring to eat. I always pick something yummy that is always a big it. Truth be told, I kinda like being famous for something (besides big blond hair, red lipstick and purty nails) :) This year I brough Buffalo Chicken dip. It was a hit. Jeffrey actually came. He hasn't been to any family gatherings in so long. People didn't know how he was getting there. They were shocked when we said, "he's driving himself, he is 18".

The gals played a little trivia and a game of spoons. Auntie Barbara and I were a team for trivia but not for spoons. Game on Baby! I'm a competitor and won at spoons!

Christmas was a quiet day at home. Times they are a changing. Uncle Johnny is in FL, Uncle Ed's truck is on the brink, Jeffrey splits his time so it was us, Auntie and Robin. We had a beef rib roast and seafood alfredo. Jim said it was the weirdest Christmas dinner he had ever had, but I had what we both like and didn't want to have a bunch of waste.

Jacob has been creating a list for months on Ebay and any other site that pops up when he types in "toy ATVs" so he was excited to see things from his wish list.

Joshua was equally excited to unwrap something that wasn't on his wish list...an airsoft gun. It was a lot safer for Santa to bring that than a puppy which was on the list. Santa would have been in deep doo doo if he did that!

This mess is depressing after all is said and done. Where to start? Let's just say most of if made it's way to the down stairs to no where and has gone no where since then.

Flashback Friday Part 2

I just looked back and noticed I posted the same picture last year for a Flashback Friday. I didn't want anyone to feel jipped so here is another one :)

Looking at Joshua now, I can not imagine that he was ever as tall as the second shelf on my refrigerator door.

You're welcome :)

Flashback Friday

Can someone tell me where these Santa hats are? Joshua wanted one this year and I knew we used to have some...this picture proves it. A lot happens in 7 years though so who the heck knows what happened to them. I just can't believe that I can share pictures of my kids 7 yrs ago. Just doesn't seem possible.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Christmas Cheer

Now that the letters to Santa are on their way, it's time to sit back and enjoy the holiday season. Heck who am I kidding. The kids can enjoy while we scurry frantically up til 6pm on Christmas Eve.

This Saturday we went to celebrate some holiday cheer with our Merrow friends. We were greeted by the fancy smancy table. It is fun to eat at a nice table once in a while. The kids wanted to take the napkin rings home as partying gifts, after asking what they were first.I came prepared with a candy craft idea. I knew the only way I was going to get Jacob's attention was if it included candy.This is a picture of me cracking myself up. Poor Noah's candy cane cracked and he had to sleigh skis that looked a little wacky.Here is the fleet of Santa sleighs. And the creators.

Next we cuddled up in blankets and watched Home Alone. As you can see, Noah was loving the movie and Chris was not a great photographer. Afterall, the two hot mamas are not even ready!

Happy Anniversary

It's not too frequent that I get this call at school from the front office, "Mrs. Korsak, you have something pretty waiting for you in the office". I think this was only the third time in my 14 years there. It makes them all the more special. They are also good subjects to play with my camera.