What's up with us?

Hi everyone!  Here I am doing another weekend post.  During the week just doesn't seem to be working for my blogging at the moment.  Next week is my last week at my temp. job, so hopefully my blog and all my blog friends will be getting more of my attention.

I have done some organizing and rearranging around the house which is a super great thing! First off my son's room. He is a typical nine year old boy, which means messy. I have told others I think it is due to his artistic talents that he cannot focus on cleaning up his room. I shouldn't be so hard on him really. He does try and since we started the new chore chart it has gotten cleaner. Here are some pics of his domain before:

All the pics from above are of his closet.  I emptied everything out first.  I went through and put small things back where they belonged.  I took out the big box you see and put it in the garage.  It is full of school papers.  I plan on buying some sturdier boxes to hold all that paper and some mementos.  I kept the shoe organizer on the door and just threw out things he did not want or use anymore.  Some of the games stayed in the closet and others found a new place to stay.  Here are the after pics of what I did:

What a difference.  I had been meaning to do this for months and finally did it this weekend.    Some things found a new home here that were once on his bookshelf like the books and lego boxes.  There are two large lego boxes on the floor too.  So. many. legos. 

My next posting will be the bookshelf and the rearranging of his room.  Have a great day tomorrow!


Parties I linked up with:

The Gunny Sack
The Real Housewives of Riverton
a bowl full of lemons
Tales of a Trophy Wife
Polkadots on Parade
Hating Martha- Featured at Stinky Linky Party 

Visit to Art City Austin

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I usually do not post on the weekends but I wanted to share what we did today. 

First off, my mom came down yesterday afternoon.  She had some stuff to pick up and she stayed overnight.  We took her to Top Notch last night for burgers, onion rings and fries.  Top Notch is in several scenes of the movie Dazed and Confused.  We love going there and last night was yummy!

This morning we took our old furniture to the Pflugerville Clean Up Day.  So nice to get that stuff outta here!  Mom headed back home and we headed to downtown Austin for Art City Austin.  It was our first time and we had fun.  There are artists from all over the US showing and selling their creations.  My son loves to draw and he took pictures with his camera of stuff that he really liked.  There was so much to see!  So many talented and creative minds sharing their gifts with all of us.  I wish we could have afforded to buy something!  Maybe one day!  Here are some pics from the event and of the kids making their own creations!

Zoey on the swing                                                      Spin Art

Shrinky Dinks are cool

Let's build

Posing

Terry bought the kids a geode.  The artist helped them crack it open to reveal the beauty of nature.

                                                  

                                                    One half looks like a heart. 

We ended our trip with Linner(our new word combination for lunch and dinner)  at Chuy's!  Sorry no pictures!  We were to busy stuffing our faces!

Chore Chart

Ah chores!  I love it that my oldest who is nine can do many chores now.  It has taken a big load off my husband and I in the evening.  We are less stressed and have more time to do other things.  Chores for kids are awesome.  Plus, we are teaching him how to be responsible, save money and keep organized!  Wow!  Did I mention chores are awesome?

I have tried a couple of different systems for keeping track of chores and have failed big time.  I am hoping this latest idea will work and keep him going to get the chores done and the money in his pocket or money bank!

I typed up and printed out the chart. I placed it on the clip board and tied a marker on it with some ribbon I had here.

I put up a Command hook at the end of our top cabinet in the kitchen.  This way he can see it and reach it!
I then hot glued some ribbon onto the back of the clipboard so I could hang it up.

Finished!  Pretty easy right?  I can always tweek the layout if need be and add or take away chores.  My son seems to really like this system of keeping track.  Maybe it is the prospect of earning $5.00 a week. 

As you can see the chores are pretty simple for a kid his age.  We started letting him clean the kitchen just a couple of months ago and he likes to do it.  Most times.  He only has to do the kitchen on Wednesdays for now.  Everything else he does Monday - Friday.  He gets a $1.00 for things marked with an * and .50c for things marked with this ^ symbol. 

I almost forgot to mention, this did not cost a dime.  I had everything I needed here at home.  Reduce and Reuse!  Woo-Hoo!


Parties I linked up with:
Mess For Less
Hating Martha