Wordful Wednesday

We've been so busy lately that I've been neglecting my blog!  It doesn't help that our internet has been messing up lately and they can't figure out what's wrong.  I have another technician coming out tomorrow.

Here's a little of what we've been up to lately...

 We went to the Fort Worth Museum for a presentation of the Hubble Omnimax show.  This is a picture of Claire with an "astronaut" that was there.  She loves outer space!  We actually got to hear a real astronaut speak while we were there.  Apollo 16 astonaut, Charlie Duke was the special guest.  It was really interesting to hear him talk of his trip to the moon.

And here is Nathan in his first pair of glasses.  He swore he DID NOT need glasses that his vision was fine.  He was mad when my husband made him go to the eye doctor.  Guess what?  He needed glasses!  He was so funny after he got them...he was amazed at all he could see now!

We are now getting into the full swing of things...art class, gymnastics, school, book club.  September is always much busier than August.  That's why I've planned a little getaway to Disneyland in a few weeks.  I figured we'd all be able to use a break about then!  I can't wait!!

What have you been up to??

Take Me out to the Ballgame!

I've been so busy this year that I hadn't been to a Rangers game yet.
We went on Friday night. Wouldn't you know it? My first game this season and we had a 2 hour rain delay! The rain wasn't so bad. We had covered seats. (I knew rain was in the forecast so I made sure to get the covered ones!) What I hadn't anticipated was the wind! It must have blown in around 50 mph. Trash from all over the ballpark was blowing around everywhere. I snapped a couple of pictures that show some of it on the field. It was actually a lot worse than these pictures show.

Then, the rain started. It was still blowing so we had to get out of our seats for a while until the rain died down. It was blowing up under the covered area.

This is the field about half way through the rain delay...

Every Friday is Fireworks night. I was disappointed that we'd probably miss them. BUT...they shot them off when the rain let up, before they resumed the game. So, yea! We got to see the fireworks set to the Beatles music!

Then we left even though they were going to resume the game. (it was bottom of the 7th) It was already 11pm!! We all slept in on Saturday. It was lots of fun. We have tickets for 3 or 4 more upcoming games

so hopefully no rainouts in the future!

Child Training Tuesday

Today Elizabeth at Family Life With the Babler Family asked about chores and payment for the kids.

Here is what we do...

Both kids are expected to pick up after themselves...make their beds, clean their rooms, put their clothes away, etc. I do help Claire with some since she is only 6. They do not get paid for these things. We consider them part of being in a family and doing your part.

My son (11) clears the table after dinner. He also mows the lawn. He gets $5 each time he mows, but is not paid for other chores around the house. He is saving his money for a laptop so he mows without complaining because he wants the money!

My daughter (6) is suppose to set the table for dinner. Most days she does. She does not get paid for this. However, during the year, she does certain chores to earn her monthly dues for girl scouts. We made a sticker chart and when she got 10 stickers in a month she got $1, which was her dues for the month. The chores on the chart were simple things like picking up after the cat, dust mopping the floor, carrying in groceries, etc. Since we have started paying her brother to mow she wants to make money too, so I think this year I will give her $2 for getting 10 stickers. That way she can keep one and pay her dues with the other.

My kids have often asked for an allowance and we've always said no. Partially because we pretty much buy them whatever they need anyway. Partially because we think they should learn to be part of a family/community and do things because they should be done, not because they are getting paid to do them.

Since mowing the lawn is a bigger chore and a service that people actually pay for we are paying our son. Its not much, but the yard is small and he just mows...no edging or anything. If he starts doing it all we'll probably pay him more.

Great question, Elizabeth! I can't wait to see what others say.