The Answer for Mom's

Ok Mom's!, I have found something that works for me. You know how you use the reward system on your kids, well, it works on us mom's too when it comes to cleaning. If you want to do something fun for yourself, say that you can't do that until... as rewards you can use arts and crafts, play WII, dancing, you can also use things that you need to accomplish outside of your home, such as going grocery shopping, or going to the Library with your kids (that one you can use on your kids as well, so they get their things done). I also have found that having Alex help is productive. If you think about it they just want to help anyways, and that is why they get things out when you're trying to clean... they think their cleaning. With Alex, he really likes helping me vacuum, as well as sweeping (so we got him this little dust pan and broom), and for some reason he really likes cleaning the toilet. He is also very good at cleaning windows if you just give him a rag and spray the window for him, he just goes with it. But the big thing that really helps me ahead of all the rest is at the beginning of the week make a list of the things that you need to get done around the house that week. Mark the things that you need to do every day, such as unload and load the dishwasher, pick up the front room. Then using a different color mark the things that you need to do that specific day. Then as you get them done check em' off. Remember this though, it is important to take little breaks, if you need a little reward between things then do it, but don't use the big rewards until the very end. During the breaks as little rewards you can use chocolate, or paying a quick game with your kids, because they need little breaks too, and sit down time with you. Of course this is just a week worth of experience for me, so it may change. I'll keep you updated.

It's Been a Long Time!

Life has been busy for us crazy Kerr's. It can get pretty rambunctious with a two year old. Alex is a very smart little boy and knows how to get around things. Any suggestions on how to keep a house clean while having a little someone undo all the work would be appreciated?! We have been trying to get the house in order this year, and we have finally gotten the office to a manageable state. Our next big project will be getting ready for our garden again this year, we also wanted to plant grass in our back yard, as well as put a storage shield up. That is the biggest problem right now; there is no storage space anywhere, and so I can never get the house to look the way I want it to look.
Derek is busy with work, and sometimes has a hard time with it... just because he wishes he could have more time with Alex and me. Alex has a difficult time letting Daddy go off to work in the mornings and has a difficult time going to bed at night because he knows that it will just start all over again.
Here is a picture from Christmas.