Happy Mothers Day

First and foremost Happy Mothers Day to all those great mothers out there. I look up to so many mothers and want to be like them. Motherhood is a blessing, it is a calling, it is a sacrifice. I'm rereading the General Conference Ensign with my pen and I can't help but mark everything that has to do with motherhood and parenthood. This is something I take very seriously and I want to do the best job I can.

This week has been an interesting week in the chores department. Corbin often asks for new games on his iPad that cost money, even if it's $.99 we say no. He was particularly interested in a game for $.99. Instead of saying no, I decided that he could earn the game by doing an extra hard job. He was interested in this. Our back yard was full of weeds. (I have been slacking back there). I told him if he picked all the weeds he could buy the game. It was hard work. It took him 3 separate attempts spending about 30 minutes each time. He was nearly done and I was talking to Scott about how close he was and how he wasn't motivated to finish and wouldn't it be sad if he was so close and didn't get it done. Scott brought up the point that it was important that we helped motivate him to finish so he could understand what it feels like to accomplish a goal. I encouraged him a few more times to finish his job and he finally did. He earned the game. Victory!

A new Family Dollar opened up right by our house. I am super excited mostly because I can go get a box of candy for $1 just a few blocks away. I have also bought 2 maxi skirts there. Score! I took Corbin with me to check it out and he saw marbles for $1 that he really wanted to get. I told him he would have to do a hard job to earn them. He was asking me what job he could do and as I was trying to figure it out I thought of a most brilliant idea! I want Corbin to ride his bike, Corbin never wants to ride his bike, but Corbin wants marbles. I told him if he rode his bike extra hard and got really good at it I would let him buy the marbles. We came home and he immediately went to work. He rode his bike up and down our street for 30 minutes. He is so good at riding his bike now. He has to have me push him started but he can do it all by himself. We went right back to the dollar store before it closed in 10 minutes and got him his marbles.

Gabby on the other hand has been a big fat fail in the job department this week. Corbin has to empty the dishwasher and Gabby has to put the silverware away. Gabby can do this job very well when she decides to do it. The last two times she needed to do her job she wouldn't do it. She sits on the stool next to the silverware drawer for up to 30 minutes not doing her job. I've tried so many approaches to getting her to complete her job that have been big fat fails. She's had to go to her room until she completes her job, (she'll stay there for hours). I've set a timer and promised a spanking, she gets spanked, still doesn't complete her job. I've tired promises of rewards. Fail! Last night we were all outside playing while Scott planted the garden and she wouldn't finish her job so she stayed in the house crying. Still never finished her job. Luckily for me my mom just gave me her trusty parenting manual. I will have to study it up.

On Wednesday I got together with 3 of my sister in laws for a dinner. Anna needed to hand out my mom's parenting manual to us so why not get together to get it? It was fun. I don't know why we all don't hang out more often.We decided to celebrate Scott's birthday again with just our family on Thursday. We went to Tucanos for lunch per tradition. He gets a free meal and kids under 6 eat for free. Score! That night I made him a special birthday dinner and cake. On Friday Corbin and Scott went to the father and sons camp out. Corbin was so excited! I tried to have a fun girls night with the girls so we painted nails and ate M&M's. We also made popcorn and watched Tangled.

Tucanos. You should see how much meat Corbin eats at this place. Unbelievable!

Jazz Hands!

Apparently Corbin was the most filthy boy of all.

Cute nails Pipes. Gabby did not want her nails painted.

Silly Girl.

These blanket loving, thumb sucking girls crack me up.

My friend Jen gave me her old picnic table. Thanks Jen.

In case you aren't Facebook friends with me we are expecting. Part of the reason I have been slacking in the weeding department and others. I'm almost 15 weeks so my energy is coming back and it's time to get to work.