Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Dang Day


The wind is blowing. Don't even go outside. It is the kind of wind that takes fingers and feet off in car doors and sends trash cans a mile down the street for the owner to retreive, only to return home with bruised legs, teeth and hair full of dirt, and newly carmexed lips feeling like sticky sandpaper.

So my 2nd cell phone in a week is missing. Don't try and call me today. If you recall, Ezra threw my old cell phone in a sink of water. My mother-in-law was kind enough to let me borrow her 1998 model. Jace and I's recent trip to the valley produced a newer model. It was pretty and green, had an entire keyboard, a lovely camera, and awesome speakers.


When you are fortunate enough to have a small child sleep thru the night you really shouldn't complain...but I'm going to. The small child wakes at 5:30 AM every morning. I'm kind enough to lift him out of his crib and hand him some juice, then he is on his own until 7am (I'm being honest here). Well, this morning's lone adventures included finding my new pretty cell phone and then finding the nearest water source. I'm praying it was the bathtub and not the toilet. 18 month old children know how to turn on the bath water, right? And then turn it off it again? That's what I thought too. Well, the last sighting of the cell phone was on the kitchen counter - battery removed - drying out. I now have a pretty green battery and no pretty green cell phone. I guess I'm off to the cell phone store for the 8th time this month to have my '98 model reactivated. Wish me luck...this wind could take me all the way to Holbrook. Call me later.




Ezra quit messing around and tell me where my cell phone is.

Wait a second.....Is this what she's been yelling about....green?....new?...makes lots of noises?


Yep, this has got to be it. Looks exactly like what I was using this morning to take pictures of the inside of the toilet.


So the cell phone search has officially been called off. Me and Mace could smile about that. The DANG thing still won't turn on. And by the way, our home phone has yet to be hooked up in our rental. Please email any urgent requests between now and tomorrow. Wait?....Jace (my non-emailing/internet/texting friend), you are going to have to put up a smoke flare....we'll come looking for you.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Uno and Dos Join The Rank Of Working Class Citizen

This hard working mother of 3 was hit with some inspiration last night. This inspiration came in the way of a wise speaker at Enrichment night. The inspiration was this: Uno and her brother Dos will now be expected to HELP. Yes, I'm talking about chores, chore charts, privileges, consequences, and all the pain that goes along with it. Some of you may ask why this not so new idea hasn't occurred to me before. Well smartelics...it has. But I guess I just needed to hear from someone of experience that a 4 year old and a 6 year old are capable of WORK. I'm vowing to stick with it. After all "consistency is key." I vow when it is easier for me to make the bed or fold the laundry (right)or when my new helpers are on the ground kicking and screaming because of a lack of desire or when we have to go thru an entire day without T.V./computer privileges...I will not forget what I'm teaching my children: the value of work, responsibility, teamwork, and, and lots of other valuable things (I'm sure of it).
With that said, I now publish the 1st official "Baum Family Chore Chart":
Everyday Chores

MACY

  1. make bed


  2. put dirty clothes in dirty clothes basket


  3. sort laundry


  4. pick up all belongings in the house at the end of day


  5. set table


  6. put clean clothes away

NOAH


  1. help Macy make bed


  2. put clothes in dirty clothes basket


  3. feed your dog


  4. pick up all belongings in the house at the end of day


  5. help unload dishwasher


  6. put clean clothes away

Weekly Chores

MACY


  1. wipe down bathroom with Clorox wipes


  2. vacuum room


  3. bring trash can in from street

NOAH


  1. wipe door windows clean


  2. vacuum room


  3. clean out car

Rewards


If Macy completes all chores she will be paid $1 on Saturday (give me a break folks she's 6).

If Noah completes all chores he will be allowed an exciting trip to Bashas (his choice - please see previous post).

Consequences

If Macy chooses not to help during the week, she will not be allowed a movie party on Friday nights and will probably lose all T.V. privileges, depending upon how her Mom is feeling that day (I'm losing it already....)

If Noah chooses not to help during the week, he will not be allowed a movie party on Friday nights and will lose all computer privileges, unless he's fighting with his sister all day (they can't read yet - so I figure I'm allowed some "conditional" consequences).

I, Sarah Lindsay Baum will sign here x_________________

And one, Jace Rex Baum will sign here x____________________ swearing to enforce all chores, rewards, and consequences listed above.

This document is dated May 14, 2008 and witnessed by two witnesses, namely Uno and Dos.

They seriously dressed in the aprons themselves and are carrying around clipboards/markers with all this exciting "chore" talk. They looked thrilled. How long do you think those smiles are going to last?

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Noah's Mother's Day Message


It was my turn for Noah's joy school this week. 8 kids. 3 hours. Enough said. I really lucked out this week with Mother's day coming up on Sunday. I had the kids make these cute hand print pages and asked them a series of questions about their mom. It was hilarious. These were Noah's answers:


What is your Mom's name? "Lindsay"


What does your Dad call your Mom? "uh, Lindsay" (duh)


How old is your Mom? "4" (close)


What is her favorite thing to do? "do everything" (Such a typical Noah answer and kind of true. One little girl answered "clean dishes." It was great.)


What is her favorite color? "pink"


What is her favorite food? "a sandwich"


Where does your Mom take you for fun? "Bashas" (can you spell F-U-N? Little does he know as he is playing dinosaurs in the "Cub House," I'm wondering around, wondering what in the hec I'm going to make for dinner? and when in the hec did cereal start costing $6 a box? I loathe grocery shopping and spend entirely too much time at Bashas but I won't tell Noah. I will let grocery shopping be a happy experience for the little guy as long as possible.)


What do you want to tell your Mom for mother's day? "uh, I love her" (I love you too Nohie!)