Sugar Cookies

A couple of days before Christmas, we made sugar cookies. I have a few issues with sugar cookies and children. Well, just one issue. It's an all-day affair. By the time you make the dough, cool it in the fridge, roll them, cut them, bake them, frost them, and decorate them; then factor in how many times you must wash the little hands of children during the whole process, you better plan on sugar cookies being dinner because dinner is not getting made. But it is worth it because there are few things that make my kids happier than making sugar cookies. Here are the three kids who's jobs were to roll, cut, frost and decorate. Check. Check. Check. And check.

This fourth child's job was to look cute. Check. Then take a nap while we busted out the frosting and sprinkles. Check, check.

See how far I've come in the blogging world? I have not yet remembered to rotate the pictures before I up-load them.

This year, instead of making a bunch of different colors of frosting, I just made white frosting, and then handed them a bunch of different colored sprinkles and let them go at it. They loved that because no matter what color the frosting is, it just gets completely covered with sprinkles anyway.

Here is the darkest part before the dawn.

And here is the dawn. (Un-rotated. Sorry.)

And this year I found the secret to the sugar cookie process. I only made half of the recipe. Score! They didn't get bored before the end and we now only have half as many cookies to add to my thighs. Check.

Perfection

Perfection.

The Cougar is enjoying the BYU basketball game right now.

Travin's Birthday

Because Travin's and Morgan's birthdays are so close, we had a family party for both of them. These parties include my parents, my Grandma Bradshaw and my Aunt Barbara, Uncle Layne and their last two kids left at home, Brogan and Shelby. And just for the record, Brogan and Shelby are never allowed to go to college. Those two are my kid's hero's. To say that my kids get a little hyper when they know Brogan and Shelby are coming over would be a bit of an understatement.

Here is Travin on his actual Birthday. He is one happy two year old.

Here he is again. Happy. Presents make for excited children.

Travin could easily be the happiest two year old I have ever met. Besides being cuter than heck, he is pretty much a happy-go-lucky little guy. So. Fun. In addition to being happy and cute, his is also very busy and talkative. Very talkative.

Happy Birthday Travin!!

Chores

Chores.

Jobs.

Indentured Servitude Obligations.

Slavery Task's.

I have four smallish children ages 2, 4, 6, and 8. How do I teach them to work?

When I was growing up we had one of those famous "job wheels." The ones' where you each had your name on the outside circle, then the inside, smaller circle was filled with different jobs that could spin around. So once a week, my Mom turned the wheel and the jobs that landed under my name were the jobs I had to complete that day. Basic stuff, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, etc.

I have heard of the "sticker charts." Where each child has a list of age appropraite jobs to complete and gets a sticker for each job completed.

I have never made any sort of "chart." I don't know why, they just never spoke to me. My kid chore motivation usually revolved around me telling my kids several thousand times to go do this or that. Bribary was often used. Threats were threatened regularly. My 8 year old daughter can do most things pretty well. My 6 year old son can do some things pretty well. Other's not so much. (I.E. Bathroom cleaning, not too thorough.) My 4 year old daughter is in about the same boat as my 6 year old son. My 2 year old son's main job is to be cute. And he does that extremely well.

About two months ago, I decided to try something. I wrote some different jobs down on slips of paper and had my kids draw them out of a bowl. It was something about not knowing what they were going to get and the fact that when they were done, they got to pick again. The element of suprise was fun for them, as was not always having to do the same job. They loved it! After a few weeks, I added more jobs. More nit-picky jobs (wiping the fridge, microwave, front door; washing the wall down the stairway, and so on.) Then I started paying small amounts of money for each job completed well. Then I decided to type them up with a money amount next to each chore. And while I was doing that I thought of some more nit-picky jobs for them to do (wiping the window seals, washing the chairs and barstools, etc.) As of right now I have around 20 jobs, each with a money amount. Here is the finished result.

They frst get to reach in and pick a job. Then once it's completed to my standards, they get to reach in the other jar and get their money. It's not a lot of money, most jobs are worth $.25 and some are worth $.50. But it's not bad, them having money. One of the first things Braxton bought was a wallet. Smart kid.

The best part as of right now is that only Micah can read. So if Morgan pulls out "clean the kids bathroom," I just tell her is says to empty the laundry hampers, or wash the windows. Something she can do. Then after she scampers off to do it, I dig through and find what I sent her to do and put the harder chore back in the jar. (Micah hasn't quite figured our how come she almost always ends up cleaning bathrooms, but that's okay. She actually does a pretty decent job. And the kids bathroom is worth 50 cents instead of the usual 25 cents, so that helps.)

This is what is currently working at our house but I am still open to suggestion. Does anyone ou there have something that works for their family? I would love to hear what it is.

In case you were wondering...

In case you were wondering why I haven't written for a while.

This is why.

Amen.

My books were returned to me last Monday. And I could not resist. My self control only goes so far.

How you ask, could I have managed to read all three of these blessed books in only a week's time?

This is why. The view from my front door.

Snow. Lots of snow. Starting last Monday there was enough snow and wind (wind being the key word here) for school to be cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday. And no school on Thursday or Friday because of Thanksgiving. Safe to say we were snowed in. Hills were sledded on, cocoa was drank, movies were watched, popcorn was popped, and books were read. Oh, books were read. Snow days mean gymnastics was cancelled. Activity day was cancelled. Basketball practice was cancelled. Fattening things were baked. And ate. Cousins were played with. Sibling rivalry was had with a vengeace that only being trapped in your house for an enitre week can bring. Boise State lost. (sniff) BYU lost. (sniff) To Utah. (sniff, sniff)

By Saturday we thought we were out of the snowy woods. But alas more snow and wind made for church being cancelled. Which meant more reading. Then school was cancelled on Monday, which meant more fattening things were baked. And reading. And just for the record, I love these books. That being said, I am still not satisfied with the ending and have therefore come up with my own personal little "alternate ending." **Spoiler Alert** I won't go into the details, but trust me I have them worked out; in a nutshell, my ending goes something like this: Prim lives, Peeta dies, Katniss and GALE live happily ever after. Nothing against Peeta, I like him and everything. It's not that I want him to die, but someone has to die and in my soul of souls I believe it should be him. But don't worry, Katniss takes a whole year to mourn him before she marries Gale. No hard feelings Peeta. May you rest in peace. Haymitch also watched Katniss while she was growing up and picked her to become the face to the rebellion. He knew she had the talent and heart to win the games. He knew she needed to make a splash and get everyone's attention and he knew that she would volunteer for Prim if Prim's name was pulled. Therefore every slip of paper in that drawing had Primrose Everdeen written on it. I could go on, but if you haven't read the books you are probably pretty bored right now. So do yourself a favor and read the books. Then tell me which ending you like better. Collins's or mine. I won't be offended.

I have to go and get on with my life. But here is another picture of my front porch. Can you tell we are not ready for winter yet.

We still haven't gotten rid of the pumpkins.