Postcard Friendship Friday #16

Welcome to another Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by Marie at http://www.cpaphilblog.com/ Stop by her site to join in or see other postcards.

This is a double decker bus postcard from British Columbia. My mother-in-law sent it to my son a few years ago when she was there. It is about twice the size as a normal postcard. (Which is why there is a crease in the middle...my son folded it!) It has different sites from Victoria on it, but I don't know what they are. The back of the postcard didn't explain them.

Day at Six Flags

Yesterday I took the kids to Six Flags. They had such a good time! My son brought along a friend so he really enjoyed getting to go on the big rides he doesn't normally get to go on when its just me and the kids.

Bugs and the gang...

Here is Claire with that Six Flags guy from their commercials. They have a mask that he wears and it is really creepy! The eyes look human but they never move or blink. Its like they are just staring at you. I can't believe Claire wanted to take a picture of him. I think he would freak most kids out!

This is the Mr. Freeze Ride. My son had never been on it before. You go through loops, then they bring you straight up and drop you backwards through the loops! This sounds just awful to me, but my son loved it! He and his friend rode it 3 times! That's all he could talk about yesterday when we got home! (A close up picture of the ride is my new header picture.)

Claire loves to take pictures with all the characters! Its funny, at Disney there are always lines to meet the characters. At six flags the poor things just wander around until someone like Claire comes up and asks to take a picture with them!

On the log ride...

Whee! Claire is the one with her hands up in the air!

I don't really like Six Flags. I only go because the kids to a reading club every year in which they (and me since I'm the teacher) get free tickets. They have fun though. Yesterday it was really empty for a theme park in summertime. There was hardly a wait for anything. I guess its the economy? I'm not sure, but I couldn't believe how few people were there.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July to everyone out there! And a big thanks to all of the men and women who help keep our country free!

Postcard Friendship Friday #15

Welcome to another Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by Marie at http://www.cpaphilblog.com/ Stop by her site to join in or see other postcards.

This postcard if from the Fort Worth Bereau of Printing and Engraving. It is one of only 2 places in the U.S. where they print paper money. The other is in
Washington D.C. The Fort Worth location is less than an hour from my house. We went there a couple years ago on a tour with our homeschool group. We had a huge turnout! 75 people went! It was a very interesting tour. You got to watch them print and cut the money. Here is the website if you want to learn more: http://www.moneyfactory.gov/ It really was fascinating...I think we'll be going back for another tour!

(This postcard is another one of my son's...as you can tell he likes money! The bahamian money one I posted a few weeks ago was his too!)

Wordless Wednesday- Red, White & Blue

Dixie at French Lique hosts Wordless Wednesday....visit her to see more or to join in. This week's theme is Red, White, and blue.

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.

Friend Makin' Monday

Today's Friend Makin' Monday is being hosted by Shawn over at Seriously!

If you'd like to join in, copy these questions and post them on your blog with your own answers.

Here are this week's Friend Makin' questions:

What are you doing this July 4th?

I'm not sure. I will be our first free weekend in over a month! Our house is for sale so we might use my husband's time off to go look at houses. I think I'll throw some ribs on the grill too!

What is your favorite dish to pass when attending a 4th of July party or summer barbecue?

Hmmm...I'm a dessert person so something festive and yummy! I like to decorate fun cupcakes or make a decorated melon bowl for a fruit salad. My kids always like making red white and blue jello parfaits!

Do you have any July 4th traditions?

No, we have a parade here in town, but usually just my husband and daughter go to it. My son and I are party poopers and don't want to go out in the heat!

I'd like to have an annual July 4th party/cookout. I'm really just waiting to see if we will me moving or not.




Share your favorite July 4th picture.

This is my son on his first 4th of July! My sister made him the little outfit.