Return of the Popsicle Sticks

Now that we're home from our trips, this week feels like our first real week of summer. I really want us to have good habits, yet it's nice when summer vacation feels different from the routines of the school year. I'm actually the one having the most problems because I've been sleeping so poorly. I'm in a bad cycle of being up at odd hours during the night and then sleeping in late in the morning...not good. I bought some Tryptophan tablets thanks to Adam's recommendation and was actually able to sleep for 6 hours in a row last night, woohoo!

{Notice Whitney's inside out and backwards shirt.}

But I digress, one of the things I want to work on in the summer is teaching the kids some life skills (remember this post from last summer?) along with having them do some work each day. Last summer I initiated the Popsicle-stick job bag which involved them pulling a Popsicle stick with a job written on it out of a bag. It worked well and was fun too, so we're doing it again this summer, but I added about 25 more jobs to the bag.


Some are super easy, some are fun, and some are a bit hard, but overall they are helping the kids learn to clean and help run the house.


Whitney's job on Monday was to make dinner. She was totally excited about this and chose to make spaghetti. I was in the kitchen with her the whole time, but had her do everything. She browned the meat, boiled the water, preheated the oven for the rolls, set the table, and so on.

Clearly, she's satisfied with her work!

Landon's "job" today was to write a letter to one of his cousins. He was happy doing this, but wouldn't have been had I just suggested it for something to do. I hope the kids catch the vision of some of these activities along the way.


Whitney and I made a reading chart for her to record and rate the books she reads. I really want her to gain a love for reading. She loves books, but is so visually-oriented that she prefers the books with pictures of animals, dinosaurs and such.


Another one of Landon's "jobs" this week was to list 20 things he's thankful for. I was impressed by how quickly he was able to do it and by the wonderful things he listed. He did this completely on his own. (I have no idea what made him think to write that last one.)

**Any job suggestions?
Do you have goals for the summer?
How did you gain your life skills?
What do you wish you knew how to do?**