Summer Plans

There is a reason that we took our summer vacation the two days after the girls were out of school. It is because our summer is packed full! Not only are we gearing up for another little baby girl next month, we are also spending everyday at the pool for swim team practice. We decided that since we were going to be up there everyday anyways, that we would just go ahead and buy a summer membership to the pool and spend even more time there. I just can't think of a better way to spend the record-breaking hot and humid Southern summer days.

We started off the summer with a great family night were we all made summer goals and set down some rules, assignments, and expectations. So far, it has gone well. I had some ideas that were probably a little too big and I have had to simplify a little (I am so exhausted by the end of the day, I am just doing the most essential things right now). So here are some of our summer goals/expectations for the girls...

1. S.O.S (scriptures over screen time). A lady in our ward made this up for her kids, and I LOVED it!! Each morning the girls have to read from their scriptures (me or Katelund read to Cloey out of a Book of Mormon reader), say their prayers, and have their room and bathroom clean before they can go to swim team or get on the computer, turn on cartoons, etc. It has worked out GREAT!!! The habit has been made and they don't even have to be reminded anymore.

2. We have a family goal to not let a day go by this summer without having family scripture study before bed. Family prayers are easy for us, it is the family scripture study that sometimes gets neglected in our home.

3. D.E.A.R everyday at 1 pm. (Drop Everything and Read). We are going to the library every Thursday so the girls have new books to read. I LOVE this time of day!!!! For every one hundred pages that the girls read on their own to me (we keep track with jars, skewers (1 for every 10 pages), and toothpicks (1 for every page up to ten....working on those 1st grade math skills at the same time), they get to take a trip to the dollar store and pick out a prize.

4. As far as chores go, they are responsible for helping as needed. They fold clothes, switch over laundry, do the dishes, sweep the floors, take the trash out, etc. If I were really good, I would do what my friend Melanie does (click here to be totally amazed!). Maybe next summer.

5 Incorporate math skills whenever and wherever possible...in the car, at mealtimes, in random conversations, etc. Math has never been a strong area for me, so I'm determined to help my girls feel more confident in it than I ever did. Katelund and I are working on memorizing multiplication and Cloey and I are working on addition and subtraction. I initially was going to spend time with them individually everyday doing math together (making up worksheets, fun projects, etc) but, it has only happened a couple of days. It is one of those big ideas that has been simplified (that seems to happen a lot in my life lately).

Between chasing Hailey around, driving to and from swim team practice, the library, the park, the pool, maintaining a somewhat clean/organized home, and being completely exhausted carrying around a baby in my belly, I am just trying to enjoy my summer and more importantly, enjoy my sweet little girls who are growing up way too quickly.


Cloey loves to go around the house and take pictures with my phone. She took this one yesterday and I just had to post it, even though it is blurry and not very good, because it gives you an idea of how I look these days...pregnant with a baby on my hip. :)

Here is one she took of my baby belly.

Here are the girls during D.E.A.R time one day.