Day Eighteen: Elbow Grease and Math

My husband got more than a little excited when Oliver asked, "Where did the other ten cents come from?" He was referring to how Terry nonchalantly rounded money to $2.50 when he had mentioned earlier, that with the current exchange rate, he'd get $1.20 each for Oliver's two American one dollar bills. It rolled off of our boy's tongue like breathing and my husband and I both shot an astonished look at each other. After three girls, we are sometimes surprised at the ease with which Oliver performs mental math. Our daughters each "get through" their math but none of them enjoys it. Counting money seems to be one of our son's favourite pastimes, which means, he naturally understands why math is essential to life and is already putting it into everyday practice. Home educating allows for some inspiration here when we use math for baking, purchasing, measuring, building, designing, and calculating babysitting I-O-U-s. Our daughters appreciate this much more than workbooks, however necessary they may be :)

The same goes for hard work of any kind. Although they know that they are to serve others with cheerfulness and respect, the task of getting kiddos to complete chores diligently is an on-going training. My husband is great for rolling up his sleeves and demonstrating by example. He loves to pull a few weeds while wide eyes watch him. He strings the Christmas lights, takes out the garbage, fills the firewood pile, and sweeps the garage with a small entourage gazing at his expertise. Then he enlists their help. Hard work doesn't always come naturally, however, it can be inspired.

With spring in the air and school winding down, there is plenty of hard work to do outside. This time is was me modeling how to put some elbow grease into cleaning the truck. Of course, as soon as you involve water and bubbles, it's all about how much fun can be had. Hard work and fun mixed? Perfect. Seems like a good combination to me!

 

 

 

  

When Work Becomes Fun

My husband has this knack for making work fun. He loves it and so he instills it in the kiddos.

I'm not sure if he gets more done this way or it makes it longer and more difficult, but he loves to have them work alongside of him.

 

 

 

Thanks, Babe. You take my incessant nagging over daily chores to a whole different level!

They love you so much :)

The Makings Of Laundry Love

No, there was nothing wrong with my washing machine. I read this book, recommended by my sister, and the next day I packed up Laundry Mountain and my children, and headed to the town laundromat. And when I find a good book that inspires me, I do whatever it tells me to.

I had the best help I could possibly ask for as they ran from machine to machine, slipping in coins, changing loads and wheeling the laundry cart around the room.

Complete with a kids' play area and space for drawing and hanging out, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay (escpecially my little photographer daughter). Since folding laundry is actually at the top of my list of household chores, I savoured this time, pressing smooth the sheets and lining up square piles that might otherwise have been quickly corrugated in a haphazard conglomeration. I never did sit even once that day as I raced from van trunk to machine, dragging garbage bags, running home for forgotten fabric softener, switching loads, and then doing it all over again. Just as the book suggested, I set aside a "goodwill bag" and I found my groove with the faint sound of the radio amidst white noise of washers and dryers. With Downy filling my nostrils, I sang along and no one even heard me :)

Yes, we monopolized a whole row of machines :)

Six hours and eight loads later (I know, I know), the tiny, Asian owner, who had kindly guided me along the way, turned off her office lights. I began to panic and collect our last bags when she calmly assured me that the laundromat would stay open long after her work was done. I'm learning :) But the last half of an hour met with the challenge of antsy and hungry-for-supper children. I was proud of them for lasting this long so I rallied the troops to load the van with promises of pizza. They swiftly obliged.

On the way home, we dropped off the large accumulation I had set aside for the goodwill store and I sighed a satisfying sigh at a job well done. I'm thankful for a working washer and dryer but I could get used to this little escape.

Now...  to put it all away.

Gratitude:

1001. how easy it is to be grateful beyond 1000

1002. for laundry--yes, praising for laundry!

1003. our homeschool group of amazing mommas and all of our kiddos who have a blast together

1004. studying Native Canadians--I'M learning so much! :)

1005. the way my little girl snuggles in with me each morning

1006. how when I peered over the edge of the bed this morning, I found a sick little boy lying on the floor, who said he was praying for himself (when I wasn't awake yet, he knew Who was)

1007. how she felt like everyone was looking at her new pierced ears and loving them as much as she does

1008. pictures from the Lord (in quiet time) that come with answers that make sense for my life

1008. our new homeschool science group

1009. finding yummy alternatives to favourite unhealthy snacks

1010. patterned tights on little girls

Thank You For Our Work

Thankfulness Monday is here. Today, as I praise God for blessings, my number one on the list is the amazing thought of my grandparents enjoying heaven! (191) My gratitude is overwhelming for the many wonderful messages and actions of love from friends concerning the passing away of Grampie. I love you all (192).
 

Also, thank you to Heather for a great idea at www.cultivatedlives.blogspot.com/2008/10/stick-ing-to-it_10.html (193). The kids created chore cans today and had so much fun doing it that they were begging for more chores! Thanks, Lord, for our work (194).

Painting our clothes-pegs and hooking them onto decorated tea cans. We had to improvise on her idea with what we had available at home.

Notice the special chore Oliver must remember to do? Good times around here!

Meghan's finished product.

What the cans should look like at the end of the day :)