Well, we have definitely had our play times around here this summer. WIth lots of trips and activities it has been a great summer. My mantra going into the summer was "work hard, play hard." In general, I feel like this is the way I would like my kids to think about life. When we arrived back home from our trip to Yellowstone, we decided to get serious about our boys learning to really help around the house independently. It is, of course, a process. But I have to say that I am amazed at the way it is really helping us keep up around the house. So far, they have learned to start and transfer loads of laundry as well as fold them and put them away, unload and load the dishwasher, dust, vacuum, clean countertops and tables, and wash windows and mirrors. The biggest thing for me about it all is training them to do it with little help from me. I post their jobs on the bulletin board in the morning and it is up to them to finish on their own. After they are done they get to pick an activity. And it has really lightened my load as far as cleaning goes so I can spend more time with them.

It really is nice to have the help but it can get quite painful at times to see the pace at which the job is getting done. I often want to just step in and do it. It is work for me to let them do it all on their own. But I know it will pay off and they will continue to get quicker and more efficient as they keep at it. This will also be true as they get older. It has only been 10 days of this, which sounds like hardly any time at all. But around here it is feeling like a habit. I am convinced I won't be going back to doing it all again. I will have to figure it out with school in the fall. I may be making it sound more awesome than it is, I definitely still do a lot, but I feel their attitude changing as far as their appreciation when I do clean up and also it just makes me happy to have kids that contribute and help out.

Hooray for helpers...Thanks boys!

Yesterday Jane came up to George while he was kneeling on the carpet doing one of his chores. She leaned in, put her arms around him, laid on his shoulder and lightly padded his back. She stayed there for 5 seconds or so and then looked at him, held his cheeks, and gave him a kiss. She continued to repeat this at least 10 times. It was so darling. I said, "Ah, that is so cute, George." Then George said, "It's like she goes to cute school at night after we put her to bed!" It was hilarious.