UFO's and Pond Safari's

Today we all went to Lowe's and made UFO's made out of wood pieces including a light that glows on top. We got a free frosty coupon for participating for Wendy's jr frosty. So we redeemed them then we had 2 free donuts coupons for dun kin donuts and we picked those up..It was a free morning! DH has now takin the kids to a pond safari at a nearby park.. $3.00 per car.. I stayed home to make brownies and enjoy the quiet with a possible nap..

Back Talk Sassiness and Boredom Oh my!!

OK new schedule in place. Kids wake and dress brush teeth and eat breakfast. I took the kids to Glascow park for excercise and after lunch they r swimming. 3:00pm chores then free time until dinner 5:30pm. 6:30 showers. 7:30 quiet activities. 8:30 bed.. I am flexable and won't freak out if we go off schedule. I just want a little order in the house for the rest of the summer to prepare them for school routines. The benefit also is keeping them from sayin and being bored, which I have heard a couple times. We have had sleep overs and play dates plus went camping but they just want more. So enough of the back talk and defience there will be consequences such as time outs and taking away privledges. We'll see how it goes..

Library today..

We went to the library today and the kids checked out 5 books a piece and signed up for the summer reading program. They received a free dunkin donuts coupon and a couple trinkets for signing up. We also took Valentino for a walk around the neighborhood but half way around we had to hold him.. he was tired and it was HOT!!! It was a quiet day until we needed to clean out the guinea pig cage. We filled the tub a bit with warm water and let the pigs soak then washed them with baby wash and rinsed dried them and gave them a snack of watermelon and cucumber perfect on a hot day.. until the cage was clean and set up again. I love the lazy days of summer.. Oh no sleep over request..

20 Books for 20 Bucks$$

Ok.. the kids need some encouragement. They are both really motivated tonight. I set the program in motion and gave them the choice to read and reap the rewards or do nothing and reap no rewards. We will be heading to the library in the morning to start them with the reading program there for a bit more encouragement. This is a great positive precursor to school. Only 4 1/2 weeks left of summer... Plenty of time to lay around, soak up the sun and catch up on some reading....

Encouragement is right in front of me.

I have to post this little letter from DD 9. She wrote this from her heart and it encourages me to continue being a mom and not throw in the dish towel.

r i am so happy with iam in love with my life and how it is my life is the best even tho we have our downs and our ups my family to me will always be the sky to the grass the heart beat in my heart the mom whos loveful to the dad i love to hang out with, the proticion i need and the lovefulest family to me.

Coin collecting!

DH has brought out his coin collection from when he was a boy and shared it with DS and DD.. We went to the site http://www.usmint.gov/kids/ and read lesson one and lesson two together. DD, DH and I looked through extra coins we had around the house and found a couple more to add to the collection. We also looked for any coins from 1987, 1999, and 2000 to commemorate the kids birth year. It was interesting to find out the meanings of the engravings on the coins as well as how coins are made. Looking forward to the next lessons.

Summer Reading Begins!!!

I'm actually looking forward to the beginning of the school year and all the routines that follow. DS is starting to read "Rotten School" by R.L Stine ages 8-12. If he finds himself enjoying it I will purchase the next in the series. DD is starting to read "Mrs. Daisy is Crazy." by Dan Gutman ages 7-10. They have eagerly begun to read and did not put up a fight which is a great start. They seem to be laughing at DS's book choice and have started to discuss and joke with each other about the content. Surprisingly enough (not) both books are about the mishaps at school. We shall see how this plays out. The library has a summer reading program that I may take them to and sign up on Monday.