A New Normal

Our new normal… okay, our new chore schedule. It has changed so many times, and I'm seriously hoping we can find one that works - forever - so we don't have to change it again. However, I'm wise enough to understand that for some strange reason, that's just not possible. But we have to do something.

Growing up we had a chore chart. We rotated weekly - that included both everyday assignments and weekly assignments. When I was smaller than that, and we were living with my grandmother for a time, we actually drew assignments out of a can every Saturday - the down side to that is that you might actually end up with the same assignment every week (which could be awesome if you actually liked your assignment, but that usually wasn't the case).

For some reason, changing things up every week feels like too much to me right now. Might be the new house - might be having just come out of soccer season (mostly) where so much was changing so quickly (well, just schedules between games and practices and such), or it might just be me being a little strange. Certainly wouldn't be the first time. In any case, we've (read that as I've) decide that we'll rotate on a monthly basis.

A whole month of the same assignments. Sounds long right?

But here's the beauty of it:

By being on the same assignment for a whole month, mom and dad always know who is on what. Because, really, it takes about a week to figure that out once there's a change anyway. This way there are another 23-24 days each month where we don't have to figure it out - we just know.

And because they each have the same assignment for a month, they have a good chance of actually get good at it. I'll be able to follow what is and isn't getting done. I'll be able to point out missed places, or teach specific skills as needed. Training each child in a specific zone of the house. And with a month to practice those skills, they should be pros!

For us, it's a room (or sections, if you want to count the entry, hall, bathroom area). These are the main areas of the house. There are five - not counting the kitchen. We have five kids. The four year old gets to have mom as a buddy all the time. Mom is mostly a floater based on what else she has to get done that day. The kitchen is a full on team effort directly following dinner. And each person is responsible for their own bedrooms. Additionally, the actual scrubbing of bathrooms is currently assigned to the girls (they each get one to do), while the boys are in charge of taking out the trash and recycling everyday - as well as burying any compost and bringing in wood - and any other side jobs needing attention outside. Eventually those assignments might also rotate. But for now, it's just the main section rooms that do.

Last night we set a timer (one hour) and everyone attacked what they could during that time. Then we had movie night (something we haven't done in a long time). Today we continued to attack - and we've mostly gotten things caught up. This next week will be the remainder of catching up (while maintaining what we've already done), then the following week should see us only needing to spend about 15 minutes (or less) each day in those rooms. Friday afternoon - or Saturday morning (as they choose) - will be for the weekly portions of cleaning (the vacuuming while moving all furniture, windows, dusting, etc).

I'm feeling optimistic - and that's saying something, because I'm rarely optimistic about housework.

Here's to a new routine!

I'd like to say...

I'd say I can't believe it's been so long since I posted, but that would not be entirely accurate. After all, it seems that once life gets moving, the ball never quite stops rolling. That has certainly been the case in our lives, and I honestly can't even see the next slow down up ahead.

This year we put several new things on our plates - starting with a move. Not far, just up the street, but a move none the less. I seriously believe it was easier to pack and move with four kids seven and under from across the country then it was to move with five kids between the ages of 4 and 12 just up the road - less than a minute's worth of a drive.

As we did that, we also jumped right back into coaching soccer, and between running the kids back and forth and here and there and coaching three teams (because at least we were smart enough to bump the one kid up to keep us down to three teams), we've been hectic afternoons and evenings. Add to that the normal dance, plus an extra day of dance, Bob picking up smaller jobs at work - to add to work - his having been called into the Bishopric in our ward, and me starting to sub this year and well, you start to see the picture we've been living. (And that doesn't touch music or anything else)

In between - whatever that really is - we've tried to finish unpacking (though we're not all there yet), figure out some semblance of order, fight off illness, and generally try not to fall apart when there just isn't any time left for each other (that would be me). Writing went to the side, though I'm fighting hard to try to put it back into a more prominent position in my life because, if nothing else, I need it.

Curve balls are never far away, and we're doing our best not to get totally knocked over. So, hopefully, I'll figure out some sort of sanity routine which might actually include the blog again. In the mean time, thanks for continuing to care about our family. We really haven't tried to fall off the face of the earth, but we are learning that with five kids and trying to be as involved as possible with each of them, even in keeping things "simple" it's not really simple.

Our Little Fiddler

Beth has finished another season of violin - and this year has tried out a couple of fiddling songs. She has always loved to play fast, and we find it enjoyable to listen to her as she goes faster and faster on the pieces she has played in the past. So you can imagine our fun in listening to her over the last month with these couple of fiddling songs she worked on for her recital.

Here are her two fiddling songs as played at her recital:

We also love how she has picked them out on her flute and plays them that way as well. She's a lot of fun when it comes to music - often picking out music from one of her three instruments on the others just because it's fun to cross music.

I'm sure there will be lots more fiddling in her future!

Our Own Little Minion

Jacob has recently discovered the enjoyment of dressing up on a regular basis. He's always enjoyed imaginative play, and the occasional dress up. But now he actually goes in search of a costume to put on - or make. Often he comes out with the teenage sized Superman costume, wanting help to put it it on. Then he "flies" around the house while mostly tripping on the crazy long legs. But he's having fun!

The other day, when he couldn't find Superman, he came out with a cape I had forgotten we had. It was actually just his size - a nice little man's vampire cape. He wore that around most of the day, but took it off as soon as he found Superman.

Well, as I mentioned, it's not just about wearing costumes, it's also about making his own.

One Monday night - prior to Family Home Evening - while Bob was cooking dinner and I was putting away laundry, Jacob was busy working with his tools. That meant he put on his little goggles (which he calls googles). That's not a big deal - but then he happened to have on his overalls - which makes sense with tools. He then picked up Daddy's hat and put that on. But his favorite accessories were the bolt rings he'd just discovered.

The effect was fun - and we couldn't help the enjoyment. In fact, when Jacob went to the kitchen to show Daddy what he had "fixed", Bob sent him back to the bedroom to "show mommy".  In walked my little minion - complete with oversized hat, goggles, overalls, and bolt rings. Needless to say, with the camera actually close at hand, it was picture time.

It was agreed that, though not a perfect match, he looked pretty close to a minion. Even Grandma and Grandpa agreed.

Write It, Draw It, Experience It, Dream Big: Lit Jam

This was our annual Lit Jam week. For those of you who have figured out that I like to write, you'll know this is a big deal to me every year. I know, it shouldn't be - after all it's all about the kids - but it is. A large part of that is because I work with my kids on their submissions. I don't change them - I do let it be their own - when or fail. But I'm the one who combs through their work, asking them deep thinking questions so they can improve what they've put together if they want to.

Of course, I can't do the same with drawing, painting, or any of that kind of art. That's not where my talents currently lie. But Beth makes sure that every year she submits a piece of art work along with her writing. I'm glad she does because I know art is really important to her - and I think she's amazing at it. Now, if only I could help her more in that area….

Lit Jam here is an opportunity for kids to not only submit writing and flat art, but for them to meet new authors and illustrators and to learn more about the processes that make for great writers and illustrators. It's open to grades three through eight, so this year we had Jeremy, Beth and Gabi attending. Every year, Bob attends as well as an educator (room monitor), so I stay home with my little monster and the others (this year, it was just Peter and Jacob). I don't mind the time with just a couple, but I know I would LOVE to be at Lit Jam. Crazy, but that's the kind of thing I get excited about. This year, I missed an amazing professional storyteller!!!!!!! I love those kinds of people!

In past years, awards were based solely on the rubric. This year, according to what I read, each student's work went through the rubric and then those with a full rating on the rubric were judged a third time to determine excellent or superior. In other words - they made it harder to get an award!!!!!!! Actually, I think this is good because over the years they've had more and more awards handed out. It was time to challenge them more - help them improve and stretch.

Each kid could enter up to two things. Gabi did narrative and poetry, Beth did narrative and a painting, and Jeremy did narrative and poetry.

Our kids did well and were able to place with at least one of their pieces. Proud Mama Moment for sure. Gabi placed excellent for both her pieces. Jeremy placed excellent with his poetry. And Beth took a superior rating on her narrative.

Additionally, we had the privilege of hosting Adam Glendon Sidwell for dinner and dessert, along with our dear friends. The kids and I had read his book, Evertaster, before I went to LTUE (a writers' conference in Utah). He was on a panel that I went to, and then I went to his presentation as well. I managed to introduce myself knowing he would be coming to our area for Lit Jam and that my kids (ages 3-11, at the time) loved the book.

He was great with the kids - talking to them about everything from his book and writing to whatever interested them. Jacob insisted that he was "Adam Sidwell" every time he said his name… but think a three year old voice in a very humanized form of robot and you might understand why that was so cute.  Additionally, earlier in the week, Jacob had said that Adam, the prophet, was coming to our house. When corrected that it was Adam the guy who wrote Evertaster, he said "But Adam was a prophet, Mom."

Adam Glendon Sidwell also spent his day before Lit Jam presenting and doing work shops at our school. So my kids got to see a lot of him. They really enjoyed all that he did, and his very dynamic presence.

If you're interested in learning about Adam Glendon Sidwell and his books you can see them at these sites:
http://www.evertaster.com/about-the-author/
https://www.facebook.com/AdamGlendonSidwell

He write middle grade fiction and also has a picture book coming out next month.

Our Little Competitors - Around the World and Throughout the Dictionary

Around the world, or throughout the dictionary, our two girls really have enjoyed learning a lot.

Gabi has competed in both the local Geography Bowl and the local Spelling Bee for the past two years, and this was Beth's first opportunity. This year, they both competed. They were in different competing groups for the Geography Bowl, but were in the same group for the Spelling Bee. 

This was Gabi's first year on World Geography. There was so much more to try to learn and understand - and to guess in terms of what would actually be on the list of questions for the competition.

Beth was on US Geography - which still has plenty to learn, though some of the stuff is studied in the classes along the way.

I would have to say that Bob did a pretty good job with his questions - and keeping the girls from having any hints regarding what to expect - since neither girl placed in their competing groups. Regardless of that, it was fun to watch them, and they both competed well. (To top it off, Jacob actually behaved quietly throughout both competitions - back to back - which meant I was able to watch all of it this year!)

Spelling Bee was much more exciting for us. The girls spent lots of time studying words - drilling each other, having mom (and maybe dad, I don't remember) quizzing them. Beth, being her first year, was especially focused on learning her list of words.

Gabi went back and forth about which group she'd be competing in. First she was told she'd be competing with 4-6 grade, then it was that 6th grade was competing with the middle group (6-9). In the end, it was 4-6, so the girls ended up competing against each other. But all the back and forth kept tossing Gabi from one word list to another. I don't think it hurt her any.

They both tied with two other kids for first place initially. Then, they ended up competing head to head for third place. And, because they had to do the first place tie breaker first in order to see figure out who would be doing the third place tie breaker, the girls ended up spelling a bunch of harder words for their third place tie breaker then when everyone was competing for first place. For a parent (that would be me) it was fascinating to watch - to see both my girls excelling and spelling words correctly over and over (especially since spelling - especially verbally - was never my strongest suit). Bob and I could not have been more pleased with their performance that day. They really did amazing! In the end, Gabi took third and Beth took fourth.

Of course - I can't leave it at that - because I have one truly amazing husband. Both these programs would have been done away with a couple of years ago had he not stepped up to keep them going when the county office no longer provided them. This year, he ended up doing a lot more of the work himself - though he had some great judges and announcers in the form of retired educational professionals. Thank goodness for such wonderful support so these programs can move forward and the kids can continue to be challenged in a fun way!

Getting Back into Things

Okay - I'm terrible. I won't bore you with the whole story of how we're just so busy and I just couldn't take my hands away from my knitting needles long enough to get you all apprised of what was going on in our little neck of the woods. What I will say is this:

Coming Soon:

Updated pictures (yes, we really have some)
Kids' Accomplishments
And a few looks at our crazy lives

And I'm not going to promise to be regular with this again, because I hate finding out I make myself into a lier. I will try - and I might succeed, but I leave you no promises because I cannot see the future and cannot promise that life won't get in the way once again. But I will try!

See you soon!