Summer BINGO

In her true brilliant fashion, Stacy Julian has come up with another fun idea for helping with the summer time organization (and sanity). I am going to attempt to follow her ideas for Summer BINGO. After looking at the many ideas that others have come up with and posted on the Facebook group, below is what I have come up with.

RULES:
You can get a new bingo card each week (or play on your old one)
Mom or Dad give you the sticker or stamp (keeping you honest)
Each Bingo (one line/ 5 squares in a row) gets a ticket
Play starts after morning routine and ends at 5 pm daily
Tickets may be redeemed when desired

REWARDS: (Still working on this)
1 ticket = ice cream cone or popsicle; candy or treat
2 tickets = 1 hr tv; 1 hr computer OR 1 hour of Wii
3 tickets = approved movie of choice or outing from list
4 tickets = sleep over or play date; stay up later;
Blackout (all squares) =
other ideas: movie rental; game rental; family activity choice; $3 or $5 gift card or $ towards school supplies; do something fun; sleep over or play date; staying up later; song download;


BEFORE BINGO BEGINS DAILY:
Morning routine done:
· Dressed
· Bed made
· Breakfast
· Teeth
· Room Tidy
· Assigned gotta do’s for the day (from mom or dad)

ACTIVITIES: (choose 25/week or keep same card as mentioned)
· Play in pool for 1 hour
· Play in back yard
· Play in sandbox
· Ride bikes
· Do chalk
· Trampoline
· Obstacle Course
· Fly a Kite
· Water game
· Colouring
· Make a list*
· Find Out*
· Play dough
· Board game
· Scavenger Hunt
· Activity Sheet
· Alphabet activity
· Educational computer activity
· Craft activity*
· Help make something in the kitchen*
· Write in journal
· Listen to an audio story (tumblebooks.com or story on disc)
· Help with laundry or other chore
· Play by yourself for 30 minutes
· Draw a picture and mail it to a relative or friend
· Create a new toy activity (lego/ duplo/ magnetix/ bionicle…)
· Watch a movie picked by mom or dad
· Memorize something from the list*
· Do a puzzle
· Whiz Kids activity
· Learn to draw a new animal
· Read
o In a secret place
o Outside
o In a fort
o To a sibling or friend
o A Chapter Book

So we're off and running and hopefully this will keep us sane and entertained. We also plan on at least one or two outings a week including library, zoo, fountains, parks etc and we have established that it is basically a 9-5 type of activity. This gives us time to get going in the morning and then once dad is home we can relax and have our regular evening routine. A friend of mine is also including a "Character trait" or skill to work on which I am hoping to include as well. This week it is patience.

A long drive with The Shack

On Sunday we found ourselves on our way to Thunder bay to celebrate the Life and Resurrection of my Grandpa Smith. He passed away on Thursday and after our committments and arrangements we started travelling on Sunday for the day and half drive.

Here is an example of my bone-headedness. We got The Shack on my ipod and decided to listen to it on the way up to Thunder Bay. It was working really well – I used the splitter so that both Drew and I could listen at the same time and it didn’t disturb the kids. We were about 17 chapters into it and well, we were both a little confused. I didn’t know anything about the story – the only thing I had heard was that “It gets a little strange in the middle but stick through til the end – it all works out”. “A different view of the God figure”. And it certainly did seem to be jumping around a lot. A few times I stopped it and asked Drew for clarification – to be sure I was following it right. Then all of a sudden it hit me. My ipod was on shuffle!!!! A chapter here a chapter there - or rather 1/2 chapter here and 1/2 a chapter there (the audio version is spilt into 54 "chapters", where the actual book has about 21? So we started over at the beginning and I have to say – it seems to be making a whole lot more sense this way!

Buns of Steel

I am on my way to buns of steel!!!! I wish. But I did cycle 31 km today with Linda (and only had to pump up my tire about 6 times - thank goodness I had the foresight to bring the tire pump). I think I am going to feel it tomorrow! I'm just trying to even out the pain in my body (my upper body is still feeling the boot cmap workout from Monday).

out!

Blessings and fragility

What a day. I didn't do a whole lot today - I kind of feel like I'm recuperating from a huge project - well really I am I guess. May was a hugely busy month for us and really, although it is now June, it is now beginning to taper off. Let's put it this way - I was nodding off at dinner last night. Me. That's bad. So thanks to some wonderful in-laws, I was able to take an early bath and go to bed at 8pm. Yes - 8pm. Me, who rarely goes to bed before 12. But my body is still feeling it today. My days activities consisted of a brutal boot camp this morning and then a dentist appointment and then I planted my garden (I bought the plants two weeks ago but there just didn't seem to be the time. I'm actually glad it was raining all afternoon - hopefully they'll get the start they need to be bountiful this year). But I digress.

Going along with the rainy mood and the aches and pains, (and since Drew was going to be late getting home) we decided to come straight home after school and have an early movie night. My pick. So I picked The Parent Trap which I had borrowed from the library. The newer version with Lindsay Lohan (when she was like 12?). It really is a great movie - just as good as the original. But it really made me think - and actually brought me to tears. The mom in the movie is played by Natasha Richardson. Sad that this wonderfully vibrant and beautiful woman is no longer here. Sad that her children no longer have her to share their memories with. How fragile life is. And Lindsay Lohan - so many troubles in her young life. I sometimes think I'm silly about how I let my "TV Life" affect my regular life - and then I have to step back and remind myself though, that these people are human too. Yes they are actors - yes they entertain us, but man they have their troubles. I have been caught up in the whole Jon & Kate plus Eight saga too. I really want them to stop the tv cameras and focus on their family. And to realize that without a great marriage their kids are going to miss out on so much. That all the money in the world will not make them happy - but that having their mom and dad together and happy will. I have been moved to pray for them many times over the last few weeks. I hope they make it! Just now I stopped by NieNie's blog and I am again reminded of how fragile life is. And of how blessed we truly are to be apart of it. i don't know that I could be as open and real as she is.

I was grumpy with Drew tonight about all the volunteering we do - and how I wish there were more to share the load. I know though that we will continue in this way because it is what we are called to do and it is ingrained in us - but we know that family is first and we are learning to make that transition and taking the need to say no seriously. Because you never know where life will take you.

I think that is what I am taking from this snapshot of "tv life" that is somehow part of mine - I am thankful that they remind me of all that I have and all that money and fame can't buy. I don't want a life any different then the one I have right now. We are blessed.

May 2009 Recap

And the Monthly Recap for May (drum rolls please - we survived it!)

Celebrations/ Memorable Events:
Matt - kids play at church - 2nd, 3rd, 6th
Birthday parties - Matt/ Jack; Marlee/ Samantha; Matt/ Leo, Talon; Carter
Birthdays - Drew, Cierra, Levi, Sean
Emergency Kit seminar - 5th
Israeli dinner - 8th
Cierra - prom - 8th
Wedding shower - Jen - 9th
MOPS scrapbook albums
MWSmith concert - 16th
Opened Pool - 18th
Anne of Green Gables play - 23rd
GDOP - 31st
Jon died - 31st
Scrapbooking LOAD challenge