Now that the hospital visits are over and school is in full swing, things have gone back to routine. Not too much out of the ordinary exciting stuff at our house. When the kids are home, everyone is busy getting homework, home reading, and practicing music done. It is a crazy swirl getting them out the door for school. Getting the kids a good breakfast, making the lunches, making sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather and making sure they are ready for that spelling test. Then again when they come home from school. Finishing up dinner while helping them with the things they need.
I have a new system for rewarding them for getting their stuff done. They can earn minutes to play approved games on the computer or ipad. First all homework must be done and a certain amount of piano practice. Then for every minute they play the piano they earn a minute on the computer and if they do extra work or anything else I think they need to do or work on(homework doesn't count for time, it just needs to be done), they can earn more time. Gordon has a math book that he likes to work on to earn extra time. And time does not normally transfer days. Jamin has the most stuff to do. He has way more homework and needs to practice piano at least 30 minutes a day. So he doesn't always finish all his stuff in time to play on the computer and sometimes he gives up his time to play with a friend or something outside, but overall it seems to really be helping to encourage them to do their work efficiently. I check all their work to make sure they have done a good job before giving them the ok to make sure they don't just rush through without doing a good job. It is especially helpful for Neil. He just started MYC(Music for Young Children) and sometimes it can be a little bit of a challenge to get him to practice, but it is nice to have an incentive for him. He loves playing his little learning games on the computer.
When the kids are at school, our home is fairly quiet and calm. Every once in a while someone needs help and drops off a kid or two which I love. Gives the little ones a friend to play with and makes things more interesting. Shopping is easier. I swung by the store on the way to pick up Neil from Preschool this morning and got all my shopping done in about 20 minutes. It was fantastic. Tegan was helping me put my stuff up by the cash register. It was so cute. I'm trying to run almost every day. My body is happier when I do. In case anyone doesn't know, I'm expecting baby number five! I'm due April 20th, so I am about 10 weeks. I feel pretty good. I can't complain too much. I won't have an ultrasound till about 20 weeks, but hopefully I can find out what I am having then.
We are outgrowing our home, so we are full swing working on designs for a new one. We have our land and building will start early next year. As soon as it is warm enough to pour concrete, but before the thaw and road restrictions are put in place. It is pretty exciting working out drawings and deciding with our builder exactly what we want and need in a home.
The kids start tennis, swimming, and skating this weekend. Jamin and Gordon will be taking tennis lessons. It will be Jamin's third year and Gordon's first. Neil will be taking a learn to skate class. I think everyone who lives here should know how to skate. At least so we can skate on the river as a family once a year. =) Then the three of them will be doing swimming lessons. And they can do it all at one place! So it won't completely consume our lives.
Anyway, life is happy. I love my little family, and I am excited for our new addition.
Dress of the Week
Luckily the resolution on the ipad pictures aren't great, so you can't see how crazy messy Tegan's clothes were after potluck at church.
Hello Tegan's curls. Her hair keeps getting longer and is still super curly. I love it. =)
