OUR HAPPY FAMILY: April 2011

Monday, April 4, 2011

Allowance and Inflation

So after this last confrenece weekend, and listening to a talk on tithing BJ and I decided we wanted to provide our girls with opportunities to earn money, thus giving them the opportunity to pay tithing on a regular basis. I've always kind of struggled with chores because part of me feels like our kids should have some chores to do that they don't get paid for. And then if they want to earn money there could be a list of extra chores they could do to earn money. And then my other problem is that my kids actually enjoy cleaning. I know, this shouldn't be a complaint. And it isn't. I just figured, why go through the hassle of coming up with chores and when to do them and then the whole allowance thing if they actually like to clean. But after thinking it over and talking with BJ, we felt there are great lessons to learn from chores and allowance: like working hard to earn something, saving, responsibility, accountability, and tithing. So this is what we came up with: Brooklyn - everyday - make bed, clear dinner table, put clean clothes away Brooklyn - Saturday mornings, either vacuum or dust (she will rotate this with Hannah) and some yard work Hannah - everyday - make bed, set dinner table, put clean clothes away Hannah - Saturday mornings, either vacuum or dust and yard work. If they complete these tasks at the end of the week they will earn $2 If they do the following things, homework, brush teeth, and baths WITHOUT whinning then they can earn an extra $1. Now, I feel that this is quite an easy set of chores. Nothing overwhelming. In fact, it might be almost too easy. But when BJ asked the question tonight of how much allowance they feel they should get for this, Brooklyn replys, very seriously, "$200.00" We busted up laughing and just looked at her speechless. Then she said, "I'm serious! Look at all that stuff we have to do!" Again, we laughed. I said to BJ, "wow, allowance has really sky rocketed since I was a kid." Funny kid. I hope she is satisfied with $2, because that is all she is getting.

Cruise to the Bahamas!! 2011

About two weeks ago BJ and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. 4 Nights of bliss and pure adventure. We truly had a blast on and off the ship. Below you will get to see some pictures of the many activities we did. However, there were a few new adventures we had this time around on our cruise. We went dancing! Thats right, you heard it. Every night somewhere on the ship (usually, out by the pool deck) they had dancing. And this time we danced. Last year on our cruise BJ really wanted to go dancing but I was a little timid of the idea. This year we did it. It was hard for me to let loose at first (I could definitely see where the alcohol would come in handy!). But once I got my groove thang, there was no stopping me. I was even caught on camera. I didn't know this until one evening we returned to our stateroom and turned on our little TV (which happens to be in every room on the ship) and there I was, all alone (camera zoomed in on just me!!) dancing like a maniac. I was mortified.. but then I reminded myself that everyone on the ship was too drunk to remember anything so my little dancing secret was safe with me, BJ and our partners in crime Heidi and Dave. And then there was this one night.... The ship holds an event called "Dancing with the Sky Stars". Sky is the name of our ship. Let me tell you I have never laughed so hard in all my life. But I don't think I can tell the story quite the way the "true stars" tell it. So if you want to know more read here. Well, that pretty much sums it up. The pictures tell the rest of our story. Enjoy!