Close your eyes.  Take a deep breath, and then type the first five things you think of when you think of summer.

1. Fireflies
2. Fireworks
3. Children laughing
4. Playing in the water
5. Strawberries & Watermelon

Today went rather smoothly.  I think I only raised my voice (in that "Do it now or else" tone) once!

I called today 'Teaching Tuesday' because I spent the day teaching the boys how to do the chores they are assigned daily (like making sure their dressers stay neat, vacuuming, room tidy, etc.).

Today Mitchell had Dinner Prep (he got to help make dinner, peel potatoes, open/start the green beans {had to redo those as he dropped them on the floor and rinsing them in a colander didn't take care of the debris, note to self, show Mitchell how to sweep the kitchen floor better}, he even did the marinade for the pork chops {lemon juice & lemon pepper seasoning}.  Nick had vacuuming {let's just say he needs more lessons}.  Zachary had the boys' bathroom.  I figure I'll still need to deep clean it every now and then, but at least it's getting done daily by one of the ones who use it!

I've gotten to the point where I've been leery of venturing out with all three boys alone.  Well, today I had a Mary Kay delivery to make and Jeff had to sleep so we ventured out.  I'm happy to say the boys were very well behaved.  As a thank you for their good behavior I treated them to lunch at Burger King.  After lunch we had to hit Walmart for milk.  I also ended up getting each of us a water gun.  Would love to have a pool since we seem to have gone from monsoon season to Hot, Hazy, Humid in one day, but the water guns will have to do.

When Jeff was leaving he smiled and said he was proud of us.  He told me I'd survived today relatively easily.  Let's say a little prayer that each day gets easier.

Oh, Nick could probably use some prayers -- he's got 2 demerits already and since the boys decided 3 was the cut off for allowance not being received, I'm afraid he's not going to make it without loads of prayers.  (I do count down from 5, 10 count between each number, before issuing the demerit so he has time to either ask for a re-do or to comply.)

Hopefully, Manic Monday will soon become a thing of the past!  I'll have to come up with a new tag for Monday posts then.

Today, I had to get up early so I could get my yearly blood work done.  (These have to be fasting so it's best if they are done first thing -- no temptation to eat.)  I left Jeff in bed, after informing him the oldest was awake.  As I was walking out the door the youngest asks me where I'm going with my purse, so I told him.  I then suggested he let his Daddy know he was up.

I got home about a half hour later (just about the time Jeff needed to rush out the door for an in-service meeting at work).  The boys were just then sitting down to breakfast.  Once breakfast was over off to the Rail to Trail to walk (1.25 miles).  The boys did great!  We got home and they decided it was time for lunch.  It's so great, they are all old enough now to manage a simple sandwich prep.  However, today, Zachary and Nick decided they wanted pizza.  Nick graciously heated Zachary's pizza for him and then got it out of the microwave!  Mitchell ate his new favorite lunch (2 slice bologna sandwich). 

I began inputting chore assignments in to a program I'm trying (free for 15 days!) called My Reward Board.  Basically it works as a tracking device for doing chores and obtaining goals.  It also has a reward point system.  The program also tracks the child's allowance (if you do that sort of thing).  Well, one thing it also does is allow the parents to issue demerits (and withhold allowance if they get a certain amount).  The boys discussed it and decided that they would be allowed 3 demerits then they would lose their weekly allowance.  All 3 boys indicated that at school they only get 3 strikes before they lose their reward (or go to 'Red Light').

We implemented many of the 'chores' today and this evening ran very smoothly.  Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

I've got some pictures from Special Olympics (Saturday, June 7) that I'll try to get posted sometime this week.  Nick did really well as did the other Marion County golfer.

Name one thing you would change about your wedding and why.  There is a restriction though.  You can't change the groom.

 

First off I wouldn't want to change the groom.  I love the groom!

Hmm, what would I change? 

I think one change I would make would be to make sure the photographer knew exactly what pictures I wanted.  (We are missing several I would have liked to have had and a few that we got weren't that great.  Like the one of Jeff and I cutting the cake, the photographer took one picture and my stepdaughter happened to walk in front of the camera at that moment.  (Oh, and I'd have made sure my Dad didn't change my son immediately following the ceremony so I could have more pictures of him in a tux.)

The only other thing I think I'd change is I'd ask for more help with getting the children (stepdaughter and son) ready that morning.  It got a little hectic that day, my stepdaughter disappeared with her dad and brother (I had her dress and stuff to do her hair) before she was ready.  My Mom and SIL disappeared.  I had to get my son ready.  I asked my Dad if he was driving me to the church and got snapped at.  I ended up breaking down and crying at that point.  My SIL saw me and said, "Finally, you're acting like a real bride!"  I guess being calm and happy on your wedding day isn't what a 'real bride' does.  So, the main thing I'd want to change is that part of the day (and that isn't even the ceremony part).