Fun jobs for a five-year-old boy (that help Mom, too!)

We've tried to give Tyler little jobs (I hate calling them chores) around the house for quite awhile, but I've found that five is really a great age to add some more.  Here's what he's been doing:

1.  Putting away the silverware from the dishwasher:

 

 

And lucky for me, this is a job that Tyler likes!

 

2.  Making his bed.  Tyler really does a pretty good job at smoothing his covers.

 

3.  Picking up his Legos.  Tyler looooves to play Legos, especially in the living room while watching TV.  Chris and I let him as long as he picks them up. 

 

4.  Brushing his teeth - he usually needs an inspection afterwards, but overall does great!

 

5.  Helping Mom carry in groceries from the car

 

6.  He loves to "help" with laundry, as in - throwing dirty clothes in the washer :)

 

etc. etc.! What jobs do you give your kiddos?

Tyler - four years old

an interview with four-year-old Tyler!

1. What is your favorite color?  "Blue and green but I like all the colors"
2. What is your favorite toy? "Trains!"
3. What is your favorite fruit? "I like apples.  They are my favorite fruit"
4. What is your favorite t.v. show? "Thomas and Friends!"
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? "Um, fruit and vegetables"
6. What is your favorite outfit? "My Thomas underwear, Thomas shirt and jeans"
7. What is your favorite game? "Hide and seek"
8. What is your favorite snack? "Yogurt!"
9. What is your favorite animal? "A dog!"
10. What is your favorite song? "The Thomas theme song"
11. What is your favorite book? "My King of the Railway book"
12. Who is your best friend? "Kaden Woods"
13. What is your favorite cereal? "A snack mix that Mommy makes"
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Ride in my cozy coop!"
15. What is your favorite drink? "How about water?"
16. What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas and summer"
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? "My big jumbo pillow pet"
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? "Yogurt"
19. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner? "Fun fruits for dessert, and chicken nuggets with Dad at McDonalds for dinner"
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? "A rollercoaster engineer!"

to prove to mom that I'm not a fool

Two points to anyone that reads the title of this post and starts singing along!

Anyway.  Yes, I'm back in school.

I graduated from college back in 2005.  I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.  When I graduated, I was 100% SURE that I would never go back to school.

Well, never say never!

I love being a nurse.  I've learned that I really LOVE to teach.  So, I've decided to work towards earning my master's degree with an emphasis in nursing education.  Hopefully someday I will be a nurse educator!  Or maybe I'll end up teaching nursing students.  We'll see.

Tyler - three years old.

 I interviewed Tyler today. 

1. What is your favorite color? "I don't know.  Blue!"
2. What is your favorite toy? "Thomas is my favorite toy!"
3. What is your favorite fruit? "Fruit Loops is."
4. What is your favorite t.v. show? "Thomas is my favorite TV show!"
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? "Fruit Loops."
6. What is your favorite outfit? "I like my tractor shirt the best."
7. What is your favorite game? "Monkey game."
8. What is your favorite snack? "It is Pringles"
9. What is your favorite animal? "Lego animals. They live in the barn, it's so much fun!"
10. What is your favorite song? "The Little Engines Song."
11. What is your favorite book? " Hero of the Rails book!"
12. Who is your best friend? "Blue Bear is my best friend!  Or Trey at school."
13. What is your favorite cereal? "I like Lucky Charms."
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? "I like to swing and run."
15. What is your favorite drink? "Chocolate milk!"
16. What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas is my favorite holiday."
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? "Blue Bear!"
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? "Waffles with syrup."
19. What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner?  "Yogurt."
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? "I would like to be a Daddy."

2012... the year in review!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?  
 I joined a gym.  The local YMCA is our workout place of choice!

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?  
 I didn't make any resolutions last year, but I do have one for this upcoming year!  I resolve to reach my goal weight!

3. Did anyone close to you add children to their families?
My good friend at work, Sarah, had a beautiful baby girl: Sicily Mae.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
We stayed in the good old US of A this year (again)

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A bit more organization.  Being a busy Mom, I'm always striving for more organization.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I honestly can't think of one particular day that really stands out above the rest... maybe Ty's third birthday?  We threw him a fun farm/tractor themed party.

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
I really focused on my health this year.  We joined a gym, and I worked really hard at getting into shape and losing weight.  I've lost around 40 pounds so far, and feel great!  A few health problems that I was experiencing are almost 100% resolved.  I have a few more pounds to lose and then I'll reach my goal weight!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I try not to focus on the negative.  I'm a glass half-full kind of gal.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
This past fall I was so sick with bronchitis.  It lasted over a month, until I got a prescription for a Zpack. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The usual things, new clothes and stuff.

12. Who's behavior merited celebration?
Tyler - he was having some trouble with his ears last Spring, and we had his hearing tested.  Turns out, he wasn't hearing well at all due to chronic fluid in his inner ear!  Once he had tubes placed, his hearing was fully restored.  He was such a good boy during that trial, and we are so proud of him!

13. Who's behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I would not post that here!

14. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage and daycare.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
We had the opportunity to share a 5th wheel trailer in the summer with my brother and sister-in-law!  We had so many fun times at the lake.  I was always super excited to head up north!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
"They're two they're four they're six they're eight
Shunting trucks and hauling freight
red and green and brown and blue
they're the really useful crew

All with different roles to play
Round Tidmouth sheds or far away,
Down the hills and round the bends
Thomas and his friends..."
 
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? Happier. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner (a lot). iii. richer or poorer? Hard to say!  Probably broke about even!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Organizing and decluttering.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about the behavior of others.

20. How will you be spending this New Years Eve?
Staying in and having family time.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Not with anyone new!

23. How many one-night stands?Um, ZERO!

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I can't say that I *hate* anyone. There are some people I dislike, but do not hate.

26. What was the best book you read?
I've been re-reading Janet Evanovich's number series.  One of my favorites!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmm. Not sure.

28. What did you want and get?A Nook Color e-reader.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Despicable Me :)

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We went out for dinner to Brann's with my family.  Always a good time!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This was a very satisfying year. I can't think of anything.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
A bit trendier, maybe? :) I'm liking skinny jeans now.

34. What kept you sane?
My hubby, Tyler, and my parents.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
It's been fun following Duchess Kate and her pregnancy.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obamacare.  Being frustrated as things become more expensive... "the fiscal cliff".

37. Who did you miss?
Chris' Dad. 

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure...

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
You don't have to tolerate bad behavior.  Stand up for yourself, if you don't - no one else will, either!

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Well, it's okay. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise" - Phil Vassar

fall fun

I think Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  I love everything about it - the crisp, cool air - pumpkins - falling leaves - sweaters & corduroy pants - pumpkin spice lattes - warm, cozy candles burning.  I feel like things slow down just a bit.  Lots of time to spend together as a family before things ramp back up again for the holidays.  This year, I had my autumn decorations up in the house the week before Labor Day weekend!  I knew we were going to have a busy couple of weeks, so I put things out early.  This fall is extra special, because we are planning a special birthday party for Tyler.  He's turning three!

Here is my must-do list for Fall!
- Decorate the house Labor Day Weekend
- Take Tyler to the pumpkin patch
- Make the fingerprint tree on Pinterest
- Go to the Apple Orchard went with Ty's preschool class!
- Carve pumpkins for Halloween
- Buy some mums for the front porch 
- Make apple crisp with local Apples not happening this year, no apples!
- Go on a hay ride check!

wordless wednesday