helping out

My kids are playing at a friends house this afternoon (an unplanned surprise) and Laurel is in bed so I am just popping in for 2 seconds. 

I just wanted to share our new successful morning routine with you.  Now that we are out of school it seemed that our mornings were getting a little sloppy (literally- picture cereal bowls and pajamas on the bathroom floor, toothpaste all over the counters, etc.)  I know that we are "on vacation" but things were getting carried away.  So, I decided to make up a little routine that the girls could follow to help things run smoothly.

I know the clip-art is cheesy and all kinds of wrong (I am married to a graphic designer, clip art is pretty much against our religion :) but for the non-readers, it is really helpful. Each girl has her own sheet (they are all the same) posted in her room. There isn't any breakfast until all the steps have been completed.  The girls have been doing such a great job following this...and with joy!

Then, they come to the kitchen and if breakfast is ready we sit and eat together, sharing what we read about in our bibles during our quiet time.  If breakfast is not ready then the girls go to their chore jars.

Read about this fabulous system here.  I had coffee with Kristen a few weeks ago and when she told me about this "chore jar" idea I was really excited to implement it at home.  Laziness was really beginning to take root around here- I needed the girls to be more helpful.  On the front of the jars I put pictures that would remind them what a blessing they were to me (after only 3 weeks our jars are showing some wear- they have been well loved.)  On Sundays I leave their jars empty and instead put a $1 bill inside.  This little system has worked so well for us and I am so thankful for wonderful ideas shared among friends!

Here's to cleaner windows, dusted tables, a well-fed kitty, and more time to play together!