SO excited to share my new job charts!

So my friend Jenny shared this online job chart and I thought I'd check it out. I've been doing it only a few days now, but my children have been so motivated to do work and log in their chores to get points. They are all working towards a Lagoon trip (which we were going to do anyway) and a kitten (which we were going to get them in a couple months anyway) WOW, can I tell you how hard they have been working and I haven't had to remind them to do a thing! Even Addison- I just let the point system work for me. It's free but it's worth a million bucks! I've done a million different job charts in the past (ok, not really a million, but it feels like it) and they only last a short time until they get bored of them. I'm not one to really pay allowance or pay for jobs they should be doing anyway as part of a family, but you can change the point system so they have to do a lot to really get a reward. Although I would suggest some rewards they can redeem early enough they don't get discouraged. You get to choose your rewards and how many points they have to earn. I'm sure I'll have to adjust as I go along, but so far, so good!

Find it on myjobchart.com

Thought I'd share...

4th of July Celebration

I didn't get pictures of every activity, because there was a lot going on and I got roped into helping with the greased pole climb. But we had SO much fun- even the 20 minute pouring rain episode! Here are some of the higlights:

Addy in the foot race. (red shirt, white skirt in the center- with Sydney holding her):
My brother getting the greased pole climbing ready.
Syd, Addy and Matthew. So happy to celebrate!
Addy and cousin Mathew:
More cousins joined the scene:
Addison looking for coins in the traditional money in the hay:
She got lots of coins and was SO excited!
The tug of war with the firetruck spray. Nathan in red/white stripes: (he never gave up)
Cousins and Jessica...Such good kids!
Playing on the playground just before the parade:
Parade time! Always a favorite: Willy the clown- I don't think he'll ever retire~!
Too many fireworks...couldn't light them all. Each family brought more than this even...we are going to light the rest of them on the 24th since we got rained out.

Sweet Grandpa King enjoying the fireworks on the porch:

Fireworks time!
Cute cousins (and Mikayla) enjoying the fireworks:


Love to have the same traditions year after year. It's what makes life memorable.

Day in recording studio.

Or should I say "hour in recording studio". A day would be way too expensive ! Thanks to Uncle Greg for doing the sound system, it wasn't too bad. McKenzie recorded some of her flute music for some competitions. It was so fun for her and a great learning experience. She'll even do better next time!

Putting in the sprinkler system...

Trip to California...

I took all 5 kids out to California by myself to get the girls to Girl's Camp there with their friends, Bradley on a Scout Bike trek with his friends, and to see my girlfriends! Here are a few photos of our fun:

Sydney was dying to see her friend, Natalie:
McKenzie and Sydney with some friends heading out to Camp Ritchie:

Water fun in El Dorado Hills:

We had a sick boy on the way and our plans of where we were staying changed to a hotel. But after a couple days, we dared get around everyone again. Palmbergs invited us to come swim one day, but I forgot to take a pic of Ryan and Nathan...But I got one of Addy having so much fun with Natalie in their pool.
We went to our neighbors, Leona and Herb 3 times to visit them. SO good to see them. I think they thought they'd never see us again- ever! But they were so glad to see us that they bought 5 desserts for us to choose from when we came over to visit.
Lake fun with the ladies and their kiddos. So fun to see my friends again! I did get a picture of all of us ladies in the lake, but I am keeping my promise that I won't post us in our swimsuits!



Finally we got to spend time with our dear friends, the Reeds (they had been sick too!)
Huge Hamburgers at the Squeeze Inn:

Water park fun with Naomi and Katie and Karen:


Bradley stopped to see his best bud, Dylan. Voices lower and boys taller, they still had fun talking. It was strange to the kids to go back after a year, but they loved it!
Nathan was dying to see his best bud, Evan and got to play over for a couple hours:

The girls finally are at girls' Camp together and love Camp Ritchie...the traditions, the beauty, and the fun camp leaders. There was snow on the way...

So glad to see all of you. Thanks Karen and Karyn for letting us stay with you! I didn't get enough pictures for sure, but the memories remain in our hearts!

8th grade graduation...

Here are a few pictures I'm finally getting to of Bradley's 8th Grade graduation. Fun to have him graduate from the same Middle School like I did. He played in the band and got grade awards from being on the honor roll each quarter.The principal is retiring. Love Mr. Anderson- he was my 5th grade teacher. So glad my kids got to know him.
Bradley with Grandparents. He looks happy!
The 2 cousins in the middle school:
Congrats Bradley! He works hard on his own for his grades. Never forgets to turn something in- very independent!

my precocious 3 year old...

Here are a few clips I put together quick of her little personality. I'm thinking she'll dance and sing and do musical theater, what do you think?

Pageant 2011

We did the same parts this year in the Pageant, although we could only do the first week because we went to California the second week. Nathan with cousins- little Nephites...Nathan's favorite pose for the scene:
My sister and I:
Lots of practicing...many hours...
Addy loved being in costume and played her part well:
These 3 (Syd in the middle) were being crazy and dramatic while walking down the hill to do our part:

Our family did the Harvest scene and the Christ in America scene. Bradley was a Lamanite warrior and got killed every night, and Syd and Kenzie were angels at the end.

The whole gang. My brother, Mike and Sister Corinne and their families:
The boy cousins as Lamanites (pretty White Lamanites at that!)
Kenzie:
It was a lot of work for just 1 week. Maybe next year we'll be around for both weeks. What a great experience for our family! Fun tradition!