{Three Weeks of Summer}

Literally!  My kiddo got out of school on July 2nd.  He starts 2nd grade July 26th & then my daughter starts Kindergarten the following week.  This is because we're in year-round school here.  Not.so.bad.  It's kinda like a love/hate relationship.  We LOVE that we get breaks off from school through the year but we HATE DISLIKE we only got 3 weeks off for summer break.  I was looking forward to it, really I was!  I thought it would be better for my sanity & my relationship with my kiddos.  But trying to cram a whole bunch of activities into 3 weeks isn't all that fun.  I feel like we're constantly running & not really enjoying our summer.  While we've had a lot of fun, we haven't had a lot of R&R, if you know what I mean.  This is also why I've been MIA from crafting.  I've got a lot of projects that I had started, that need finishing & a ton that I have in mind that I'm dying to do.  I'm kinda going crazy because of this, really!  We're off of any kind of routine, just coming & going all the time.  Even the dishes & laundry are out of control, not that I'm always on top of those. Just usually better;) Ha! Anyway please check back in a few weeks, hopefully things have calmed down around here enough to post some new projects.  Not that things ever really calm down, am I right?!!
so what fun things have you done for the summer? 

{Map Quest chore chart}

My cute Hubby actually came up with the idea for our "Map Quest" chore chart.  His dad did something similar for him & his siblings when they were young.  We've tried other types of chore systems with no success.  We've been doing this new system for a while now & it's still working.  Plus, the kids love it & are constantly looking for ways to earn extra points.  And bonus for us them, they're learning about the cities & towns in their own state. 

   

What it's about:  

The goal is for the kids to make it around Utah by doing their chores & good behavior.  They can lose "miles" by doing bad behavior. They earn prizes by hitting specific "mile markers".

Rules:

*All chores need to be done by 8pm & bedtime routine needs to be done by 8:15 pm, then we can read a book & figure out map by 8:35pm. 

*good behavior points are earned for things that are done without being asked, ie: doing something extra nice, helping out without being asked, etc.....

*bad behavior points are for fighting of any kind, back talking, not listening, saying mean things or bad words, etc....

*extra box is for extra chores that we may give for any reason & is worth extra points of our choice, depending on chore & how well it's done.   

 

how to play:

the kids earn "miles" or points by doing various jobs & good behavior.  They can also lose "miles" or points by having bad behavior.  We keep track on a normal chore chart & points are added up at the end of the day & converted into miles, we then move them on the map according to the points/miles they earned less any bad points they got.  We then move them on the map each night after their bedtime routine is done.    

  There are various dots marked on the map that they are trying to reach to earn prizes.

Chores:

room 3pts, 

chore 2pts,

(I have a list of chores listed by numbers, they roll a dice or two & 

get the chore that matches the number on the dice), 

homework 2pts 

extra

  (extra chores we may need done),

on-time 2pts

(on-time to school, church, or anywhere we need to be by a specific time),  

bedtime 2pts,

good behavior plus pts,

& bad behavior neg. pts. 

Prizes:

 When they get to a blue, red, or star dot on the map they earn prizes. 

Blue dot prizes are simple $1-$5 toys or such.

Red dot prizes can be either a more expensive toy or a movie with mom or dad, dinner to their favorite place, etc. 

star dot prizes are the biggest prizes like a trip to Lagoon or Boondocks, etc. 

*there are about 16 blue dots, 3 red dots, & 2 star dots.  The star dots mark half way & then the finish line.

 

*We can move as fast or slow on the chart as we want.  We've set a max of 20 miles a day.  We want them to see progress but not so fast that we finish it in a month. LOL!

 

Do your kids have chores?  Chore system? What works for your family? 

I'd love to hear about it!  Thanks for stopping by!

{Happy 4th}

Just thought I'd say Happy 4th, (a day late;) & share with you a cute little craft I did for the holiday.  I can't take all the credit though, I made this at my moms relief society craft night.  What's better than doing a really cute, fun project,....... doing it with the girls.  Lots of fun!!

and all it consists of is.......wood blocks, cute patriotic paper, mod podge, & embellishments. easy peasy!

{teacher gift}

I just can't even believe it's the end of the school year.  In fact tomorrow is Little Man's last day of 1st grade.  My baby's growing up.  And of course I put off figuring out what to do for a teacher gift 'til the last minute.  At least I didn't completely forget let it slip my mind this year & rush out to buy something right after I dropped him off at school;) but I would never do a thing like that. In my quest to find the perfect idea, I came across this cute little bloggy;  She had a super cute idea for a teacher gift.  It ended up being exactly what I was looking for.  So I stole borrowed her idea & put my own twist on it.

So here enters the personalized teacher office supply kit........

As you can see I mod podged her name on the top of it, I think it turned out just perfect!

 

inside we put hand sanitizer, hand lotion, chap stick, rubber bands, large & small binder clips, staples, marble magnets, erasers, butterfly clips, small post-it notes, & of course some chocolate!

 

I'm sure you've seen this marble magnets around blog land a time or two.  You've probably even made some.  If not, you just cut the paper to size, mod podge to the back of the marble & hot glue a magnet to the back.  Easy peasy. 

And they have her initials.

   

these binder clips were as easy as the magnets were.  Just cut paper to size & mod podge.  Super cute & they match!

 

I saw this idea on a blog but can't remember where.  You just get some clear pens, pull the ink part out, wrap it with cute paper & put the ink back in.  And the best part, it matches. Of course;)

 

I've copied made cuter cards before but loved that it also coordinates with everything else.

 

the best part of the whole gift, the sweet message that Little Man wrote inside of the card.  He really loves his teacher & I know that he's gonna miss her.  I would agree with him, she was the best teacher ever!  We hope she loves her gift.  

We also added a gift card to Wal-mart in case she needs some more supplies or refills.