Posts Tagged "stuff"
We all have a new system
The boys are on this system. It gives them some pocket money, gives them a chance to learn about spending, teaches them about earning and responsibility, and daily routine.
shoes on the shoe rack = $0.10/day (or up to $.070/week)
dirty clothes in the hamper = $0.15/day (or up to $1.05/week)
brush teeth = $0.25/day (or up to $1.75/week)
bath or shower = $0.25/day (or up to $1.75/week)
dishes to sink = $0.14/day (or up to $0.98/week)
toys away = $0.25/day (or up to $1.75/week)
room clean = $2.00/week
clean clothes away = $1.00/week
reward points (redeemable for stuff)
homework = 5 points daily
bag up = 5 points daily
read 20+ minutes = 5 points daily
It works out to $10.98/week if they do everything. I am keeping track of it in a fanciful app on my phone called Kids Rewards (no affiliation) so I don’t have to actually pay out every week. It keeps track of what they have “in the bank” and I can deduct when they decide to spend some or when we give them cash. The program deducts money/points if they don’t do something (and I mark it as undone), but I’m not sure how much I’ll utilize that. Maybe if I consistently see things going ignored, but right now I don’t think I’ll bother. Oh, and it can go into the negatives. That might come in handy as well later on down the line.
Eshiva has a slightly modified list going on – she gets cash for having a clean room, but everything else is on reward points. I think she is still at an age where she does better with a tangible reward than an abstract (like cash).
For myself? I downloaded Things for both my mac & my phone. I set up simple daily things to do, as well as weekly. It spreads out my to do list, and I just check it off when it’s done. It syncs too, which is why I went with Things. I can set it up on the computer in 1/5 of the time as it takes on the phone.
I am not as unorganized as needing these systems makes me sound, but they will keep me on a better schedule than I was on before and should help keep the kids on one too.
Read MoreI am so tired
My mother in law and her sister (aunt in law?) are in town. I think they are leaving tonight, but I’m not positive. They got in on Saturday, but we didn’t see Pam till 10PM b/c they crashed at the hotel (they drove down, we weren’t expecting them till past 10 anyway). We cleaned from 8AM – 3PM Saturday – big clean, not superficial it’s good enough for us clean.
Sunday we got up early as fuck, Michael got bagels, we ate with the boys before they went to Hebrew school, ate with Pam & Susie, picked up the boys from school, ate lunch, came home, decided not to go to the beach (it was very hot out), hit Target (whoohoo Target! totally warranted, my menfolk needed shoes), ordered pizza and came home to eat. We all hung out outback in between lunch & Target.
Today we went to the post, Michaels, then Festival. Picked up the boys, Michael is at the shop with the two of them so they can get some tattoos and I need to make dinner. Then we need to go *back* to Target so Pam can return something and so she can get something for the boys. We didn’t find anything for her to get them this morning. I say the don’t need more crap, but she gets them stuff and sees them so rarely… at least it’s stuff I don’t have to buy them lol Dor wants those Wolverine claws and Malachai wants a movie. Eshiva got jelly shoes last night (they’re still jellies, right?)
I just want to go to sleep. It takes a lot out of me to be in “company” mode, especially day after day. I crashed in the carpool lane at school and I’d like to go back to sleep.
Ok, my sexy beast of a man decided to get, well, beastly last night, so that didn’t help me in the sleep department (but it was much appreciated) but I still say company mode just drains me.
Read MoreMal is developing his own personality!
Meant to post this on April 7 – not sure why it got stuck in my drafts.
Michael mentioned yesterday that Malachai is finally developing a personality of his own. He brought up how it was sort of blunted before, you could interact with him, but there wasn’t anything about it that screamed, this is me, I am Malachai.
He loves Alice Cooper. He wants to dress up like him for Halloween. He loves scary movies and fast rides. I kind of attribute part of that to his sensory issues (if he needs BIG input physically it makes sense he’d love roller coasters and stuff, and if he needs it physically, why wouldn’t he need BIG input mentally too? So scary stuff = more input to his brain) but it’s giving him and Michael something way cool to bond over.
He said something yesterday and I can’t remember what it was (Michael told me I should have posted then and there lol Silly me for not doing it) but it was what brought on this conversation. He might be coming up on seven, but he is finally turning into… himself. It is giving me great joy to see it happen. Dorian had his own personality around 3 or 4, and Eshiva is loaded with personality, but Mal… he was just kind of rolling along. Now he pops up with little quips and stories and is fierce about what he likes and doesn’t like and what he does and doesn’t want to do and why (as opposed to being engrossed in one thing and woe be unto you if you tried to do something else).
It’s not all sunshine and roses, but this is just amazing to me.
Read MoreApril 15… Tax Day
Except we did our taxes back in February. That money has come and come. Can I file twice? ;)
Went to the EvilEmpire* this morning. Didn’t they realize their new logo looks like a golden asshole? Guess no one pointed it out. Spent way too much, but the boys got shorts and shirts and undies and socks. Eshiva got a dress. I need to do laundry and find the rest of their clothes. UnderBed tends to eat them, no matter how many hampers we have out to collect dirty clothes.
I also got sunblock (two kinds!), tiki plates for the kids party next month, a new shampoo to try (the first ingredient is aloe and it’s rosemary/mint – hoping it works well on my hair), and some misc. other stuff. They are a time and money suck.
Been chatting with an old friend of mine. Haven’t seen him since we were in our teens. Yah, old friend indeed. I wish he was closer than Arizona. Of course, the world would explode if we were in the same state and in touch, so maybe it’s for the best.
We put 800$ away towards Michael’s new car. At that rate, we can afford more car than I expected, as we’ll have a larger down payment. Here’s hoping it keeps up.
Went to school this morning for an awards ceremony. Dorian made honor roll again. Malachai did not get an award, but we took a photo of him and his best friend holding his award. I am going to print it so he can take a copy for the kid tomorrow. They were both soooo excited. I didn’t realize my boy was short – he is one of the shortest in the class. He might also be one of the youngest – he turned 6 right before school started this year – are kids turning 6 before or during first grade these days? I know Dorian is one of the oldest, because he just missed the cut off, so he’s sort of a year back. Mal just makes the cut off (my boys are 2 years apart in age, but one year in grade).
Read Morerumble grumble gurgle roar
I am actually having a pretty good day. I cannot explain the subject line.
Our dogs have fleas, which, I think, is impressive, seeing as they are both regularly (daily) with anti-parasitics. I consider fleas to be parasites, but apparently they are not in the family of parasite that they are already treated for. We got the cheaper option for flea stuff today, as I did not have 85$ to spend on Frontline plus. We’ll see how this other stuff works, and if it does work, maybe we’ll just go with it. The gal at the pet store said it did work, just not as well as Frontline.
We also hit the book store and I got a Mrs. Meyers how-to book. It contains step by step instructions for people like me who never learned how to properly clean. I am kind of excited about it. Ok, no kind of about it, I really am. I try very hard to schedule cleaning time, and to stay on top of things, but I really never learned how. I sweep and mop and it still looks dingy. So, this book is a good thing.
I also got Crafting Jewish, by Rivky Koenig. I am going through a Jew phase. Pesach is coming up and I figured I’d have some things to do with the kids. I kind of want… modern Judaism. Not the throw back old time religion, but 21st Century Judaism. It’s out there, and I am on a mission to find it. If you YouTube a lot, look for Punk Torah. He’s got some good video blogs up.
We’re hosting first night here this year, and perhaps second. We were invited out, but I’m not sure if we’re going yet. I am pretty excited about it. I am going passover shopping tomorrow morning.
We are beach bound on Sunday. We haven’t been at all this year! I think it is hilarious that I am saying that, seeing as from 2000 – 2006 we went less than three times. Last year we started going about once a month. The kids love it. I am trying to find a way to sand-proof my camera so I can get better shots. I might just stick to my P&S though.
I think that might be it.
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