Reward system???

So I had to do something...Don't get me wrong, Chaz is a very good kid but the whining had.to.stop... So I tried to think of something that he would love to "collect" I couldn't very well do stickers because he gets stickers all the time.. and I wanted something I could control and divvy out.. Just then I saw my friend Meredith's blog post.. GENIUS! She uses marbles.. She started with a full bowl and an empty bowl. Her kids get rewarded for different things than what we are struggling with but I thought this was a great idea.. As some of you may know I collected bouncy balls back in the day... I have thousands! I thought, Ok I will get two jars, fill one with bouncy ball (the really cool ones that he would love) and have a larger jar that was empty.. Every time he did something good, or something that we have been struggling with (i.e. eating dinner, brushing our teeth without a fight, getting in the shower in the morning, NOT whining--these are probably our biggest things) we would get both jars, let him pick one out of the smaller jar and place in the bigger one. We would discuss what he got the ball for and how it was a good thing. He understands that when the little jar is empty and the big jar is full we get to do something cool!! He has tossed out some funny ones---Go to Gaga's, Go to Chuck E Cheese, eat pizza, have Fletcher over... well if you follow the blog at all you know these are things we do on a regular basis so I have to think of something really good! Wish us luck!!!

4th of July fun!!!!

So when the 4th hits... we hit the pool!! Fun, pool, sun, friends, drinks, food, fireworks = happy family! The first evening we got to mom and dad's house late in the afternoon so we only had a few minutes in the pool before it was dinner, then bedtime...

Five minutes in the pool will make this little one happy!!!
Yep, he is completely over the fear of water.... well at least for this summer...

Daddy was even a good sport and got in the pool.The next morning he was up early and ready to go.. Of course, I had my camera out.. He jumped up in the chair next to Kyle and said "Take a picture of me and Kyle, and lemme see it"
Then he disappeared into the workshop with papa. I went in to see what was going on.. I was told he was "building a fence" Let me tell you this kid is pretty coordinated with a hammer.. Impressive.. and well it is summer so Popsicles are a must..

and of course Kyle needed a bite..on the actual 4th all the family and the Schmidts came over for some fun times....so then of course it was time for the pool. 100% full force ahead!
Fletcher and mom dunking AlexisKarlee had to get in the action ... she was so funny drinking, biting at, the water from the watergun..

Did I mention this kid has ZERO fear anymore?? Diving board--check. Deep end--check... Getting everyone to watch him jump off the diving board--check...Now it I wasn't there to witness this myself I would think I was witnessing a little bit of child abuse, but no my husband is not shoving my child into the pool.. He is actually trying to keep him from leaning back into the diving board and hitting his head..

nice daddy gesture... doesn't photograph very well.. hee hee
and this one..yeah I think he had a grin ear to ear for 2 full days...

My sweet little Meme doesn't know how to swim... yes, almost 84 years old and she never learned to swim... She is so stinkin' cute..
crazy people....too much fun!

Potty break (with help from the dads) Sorry nandinas.. at least you are watered :)
HA! I love this!! The boys were arguing...mom turned around and this is what she did.. What? You don't want to have a 2 and a 4 year old with you all the time???
Random stop for the baseball game.... complete with "muscle" swim suit and floaties

and then.... again......POPSICLE TIME!!!!! The boys were patiently waiting for the yummy summer treat.. I guess they waited so long they had time for a muscle contest... Why not?!?!
the excitement and joy does not show on their face.....but trust me they were on top of the world!!Oh wait.. there is the excitement!!!

Summertime... baby feet against the rock wall.. good stuff!

After nap time the boys came out and stripped in order to get into their suits...and we put them to work.. Well I didn't, the dads did.... (no judging people I did this as a kid for my Papa and I turned out ok, right??)

and then it was shot time.. yes, meme was taking shots..

Dad was smart enough to do some fireworks early... he new that with a full day of swimming the boys probably would not make it to the firework show at dusk. So it was a mini firework show in the front yard. The boys loved helping dad pick out what was next.. So my advice for next year... If the fireworks are 4 for a buck, they will suck.. just remember that, it rhymes, it is easy......and if you forget then this is what you get... boooooooooo!

Fletcher thought the fireworks were wonderful, again full grin from ear to ear! Chaz was trying his best to smile.. but he really wasn't sure about the noise...
Potty break, why would we go inside if we are equipped to go outside?!?!?!

Schmidts!I'm telling you these kids were having a blast.. Good idea dad!

I think Fletch had a crush on Alexis. He did not want to leave her side.. Too cute!!

Our official firework lighter...

We had a wonderful time sitting in the front yard watching the mini firework show.. Then the boys said "Ok, we go in now" Ok, I guess they were done..

The adults headed down to my Uncle's house for a bigger firework show.. We made the boys a pallet and put them down to watch a movie.. I don't think it took them long to crashThe next morning we were up and in the pool. Sidney came over for a few minutes to see the boys.. We should have tossed her in a swimsuit but instead we just hoped she wouldn't get wet.. yeah, that didn't work..

A little bit of a theme going on here.....I will tell you that although they are in their pjs this is not breakfast.. this was before their naptime..

and of course the second they were up we were all in the pool..

The boys decided to switch suits.. oddly enough the tighter "wrestling" style one was the most popular...

This is Fletcher showing me how he can hold his breath.. HA!I LOVE this action shot!!

Look at that cutie bootie.. I think we had every possible pool toy, float, watergun, noodle, ball, etc in the pool. You can't even see my kid in this picture... look closely next to the basketball goal, you will see a little white hand..

Chicken fight??

Nah.... we will just walk around..

Look at my little swimmer.. Yes, he had the floaty suit and floaties on BUT look at that form! He uses his arms, kicks his feet above the water and tilts his body in the right position.. Good boy!!
Goofy kid thought he could swim with the snorkle in his mouth.. Somehow he didn't swallow any water... Yep, he is weird..
After the long WONDERFUL weekend we got home around 5:30 pm.. Chaz went straight to pjs.. I fixed his dinner, which he wanted to eat in the living room, and turned on the T.V. for a treat.... I looked around the corner and this is what I saw.. Tired boy.
What a wonderful weekend! Good food, fireworks, cold drinks and lots of family and friends! Happy 4th of July to everyone! I hope yours was half as fun as ours! Remember why we are able to celebrate this day and never take our freedom for granted.