Scrubba-dub

We all know how much fun it is to clean the bathroom, right?

 The toothpaste smeared all over the counters and mirror. Yes you read that right. The mirror. Of course, the mirror. Please don't tell me that my children are the only ones who smear toothpaste every.where. Hair in the sink, dirty clothes on the floor (right next to the empty basket, of course)...and the best part? The toilet. "Nough said, right?

However gross it is, there is no way out of it. We have to clean the bathroom...or bathroomS. We have 4 in this house and that makes for a lot of...well...you get the picture.

When I had the opportunity to try out the new Soft Scrub Total cleaners, I jumped on the chance.

I decided to put the Soft Scrub Total Bathroom cleaner to the ultimate test, the most used bathroom in our house.

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OK for some reason, as I started this post, I ended there. I didn't go any further...not sure why. But between the time I wrote the first part of this post and now, something else happened...

It is called a 3 year old. Mason + Wild berry blue jello+water+ locked bathroom door =

YIKES!!!

However, I still had the Soft Scrub sitting in the bathroom and ...it cleaned up that mess! That crazy, nasty, jello-y  mess.

If that doesn't convince you to try it, than I don't know what will!

So, wanna try it? You know you do!  Hopefully you don't have to try it out on jello...

I have 2 coupons for a free Soft Scrub product! If we have to clean, we might as well do it with a free bottle right?

How can you get your hands on these coupons? Easy...

1. Leave me a comment saying you want in. That is it. Easy enough right? I will also be posting this on FB, so if you would like to enter in both places to get an extra chance...go for it (:

Bed Fairy

****Before I even start this post, I want it known that THIS WAS NOT MY IDEA!! I found this idea on Pinterest and then went to the blog Organic Families, and am now implementing HER bed fairy idea. I am not including the photos that I got from her site. You will have to go to Organic Families to get them. Doing my best to give credit, where credit is due!!****

Not too recently, we instituted daily jobs and an allowance for all of our kids. There are some jobs that I require my kids to do because they are members of our home. Then there are others that if they do them daily, and do a good job, they earn an allowance. It is not big, but it makes it possible for them to have some spending money.

Now their list of what we call "Dailies" is pretty simple. Yet they are habits that I want them to get used too so that eventually it is just that...a habit.

I know that not every one feels it is necessary to make your bed every day, but I do. It is important to have that space where you can go and rejuvenate. It makes your sleep more restful but also sets the tone for your whole room.

When I saw this idea for the bed fairy, I knew my kids would be all over it. So while the kids were busy doing other things, I printed them off and put them on their beds.

Although my kids are a bit older, they really did enjoy having a treat, and something fun related to their work. This was the introduction to the "program" so I will let you know how it goes this week.

What do you think? Is this something your kids would like? Do you think it is important to make your bed daily?

vaccum hazards...

My two (almost 3 year old) is a touch clingy. Think of a monkey holding onto his mother for dear life, and you have my Mason.

For example, one day I decided to go to the bathroom. I know, amazing right? Well here is the exciting part, I decided to go withOUT him. I ran up to my room and locked the bathroom door.

The next thing I hear is blood curtling screams. Like my child is really hurt kind of screams. Then I heard him say, "where is my Mommy?". Harmony told him and he started screaming even more shouting, "You took her, my Mommy!". I came back downstairs and the screaming and crying stopped immediatley. Then he velcro'ed himself to my side for the rest of the day.

Deciding that I needed a break from him, I decided to do what any good mother would do...get out the vaccum. He still hates it. When I turn it on, he runs. A few minutes of peace and a clean floor? Hmmm, I call that a win-win.

So I am busy vaccuming when I look down and blood is all down my leg. I didn't even feel it! I stop to clean it up but the teeny tiny scratch just kept bleeding. I was forced to sit and get it to stop, and Mason brought me a band- aid to make it all better. Needless to say...I learned my lesson.

Vaccuming can be hazardous, next time I will let the kids do it...

Whew!

Labor Day was just that...full of labor. With Ben being home, we tried to get tons of projects done. Unfortunatley, we tried to do more than we had time to do!!

One of the big projects though was Harmony's room. Her room is always a nightmare for me. She likes to stash things wherever. She is a pack rat. She hates to throw things away. She is...dare I say it? Lazy. I love her but...whew.

We had been working in her room literally for hours, when Mason woke up from his nap. I gave her a couple of projects and went on to feed Mason. Not 5 minutes later, she is sitting on the couch. I asked her why she wasn't working in her room. Her reply, "well I am waiting for you to tell me what to do." Hmmm..

I told her that I was feeding Mason but to go and get everything off the floor. Finish her room, right? So maybe another 5 minutes later, here she is insisting that she is done and can she play video games. I let her because I knew there wasn't that much work to do, and surely she was done right?

I put Mason down for his nap and go check her room. Stuff is everywhere...except the floor. She had literally "cleaned off the floor" by putting things on tables, shelves and shoving them into assorted bins. Ugh.

At first I was just going to do it myself. But I changed my mind. Do I really want to be cleaning her room for the rest of the time she lives here? I don't think so. We went through everything. Do you want it? Do you still play with it? Etc.

She did great. Her room is spotless. She gave a couple of bags of things away.

I learned today how important it is too...

1) check your child's work. It is important. Otherwise they will try to get away with stuffing things places. I am bad about checking. I get caught up in what I am doing. But I know if I want my children to be productive and helpful, they need to know that there work will be checked.

2)Children need to be taught HOW. Harmony takes everything literally. So by telling her to "clear off the floor", that is what she did. How can I tell her she didn't do what I asked? Show them how. Polly pockets go with polly pockets. If it's trash, toss it. Don't set it on a desk for later...etc

3)Don't let their rooms get so overwhelming that they don't know where to begin. Harmony used to have a loft bed, but we took it down. So her room was in complete upheavel as we moved things around. She honestly didn't know where to start. I gave her a bin and had her fill it. Then all I had her do was empty that bin, putting things where they go. And she did it over and over, until it was done.

Lots of lessons learned but I am going to continue this post later. I have a long way to go to teaching my kids to clean! However, Mason is calling! :)