On Schedule

First of all....here is a picture of the breakfast I made for me and my hubby this morning! Cute, huh? It's the Triple Berry Pancakes recipe I posted on my P90X blog. YUM!!!

Today was our first day of being on our "Summer Schedule"--something I made to hopefully give us some direction and focus to the endless summer days ahead.

As you can see, there is a weekly schedule (mostly for me) so that I won't be cleaning house constantly and a daily schedule (mostly for the kids) so they will know what is expected of them each day (and every evening). Since we already have plans for Friday of this week (Brooklyn's class swimming party @ our house), we decided to swap our Friday and Monday for this week. Meaning, we went on our field trip today...and I will clean house on Friday. Today we met our friends at The Purple Glaze studio and painted some pottery. Grant did a plate and Brooklyn did a platter. I helped them a bit to straighten up their edges, but for the most part, they did all their own painting. We had to leave the peices there until Thursday when I can pick them up. I can't wait to see what they end up looking like after they're fired and glazed.

Our "school" time went WONDERFULLY today. The kids (who were completely dreading it) ended up LOVING it. They got mommy's undivided attention for a whole hour...a luxury they're rarely afforded (sadly). I bought them some really cool workbooks from Target and they each completed several pages. Then we did "craft time" and we made "tickets". It's a system the schools around here use....each child gets 3 tickets (or chances) to behave. If all 3 tickets get pulled, the child then receives a punishment (either a spanking or a time out or they'll lose a priveledge). I let them use my scrapbook papers and make their ticket holders however they wanted. They had fun with that. Then we did scripture memory time. I am going to teach them 1 scripture from Psalm 91 each week of the summer. This weeks scripture is "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty." Pslam 91:1

I had an interstingly fun time explaining that to them...but I think I got the point across and I think that will really help them remember it. (We acted it out sort of. I was the "Most High" and Brooklyn was "he". I had her hide in my secret place and then I stood in front of her and my shadow covered her. I explained how if evil comes and we are hiding in the shadow of the Almighty...we will be safe. It's kinda hard to describe on here...but when we acted it out, they both seemed to comprehend it--at least a little.)

We will practice the verse every day for a week and then at the end of the week, if they can recite it, they will get to get a prize out of a special treasure box.

Well, I guess I should get off here. Matt is working round the clock since we've been having such crazy thunderstorms and so I had to grill our marinated chicken on the grill tonight! (my first time using a charcoal grill!) It turned out pretty good...but the kitchen is a MESS and I still have to do my P90X work out tonight AND follow the schedule with the kids. Looks like I better get busy!