chore chart solution

I posted last week about looking for the best chore system for the boys. After look into many ideas, and considering what would work best for our family, I decided on a simple check-off system. Although so many were very tempting to try to implement, I felt that with them being 3 and 4.5, we would start with simple. Here's what I came up with....

I haven't had then laminated yet, so they aren't hanging. Therefore I have no photos so you can at least see the digital version. Just a simple 8.5x11 designed in photoshop. The boys are really into Super Heros right now, and even call themselves Super Helpers when they are helping out. So it took no time to come up with a theme for the header. I chose to include images since the boys can't read yet. I'll explain what all the pictures mean and knowing them, I'll think they'll get the hang of it real quick. We'll laminate, hang on the fridge, and have the boys check off as they complete tasks. Tasks included are being kind to each other (one that we are working on daily), cleaning their room, cleaning their toys from the living room, Mom's Choice (I get to choose a job for them), Being Kind to Brooks, Brushing Teeth at night, and then the Super Help Bonus. This is my fave. This is where I will give them a check for doing something to help out with out being asked. Just out of their desire to help out. They do this a lot..usually more than if we tell them to do something. I'm excited to get these up next week and let the boys start using them. We've been talking about their new chore charts and they seem excited. We'll see if the enthusiasm remains...

I've also created some blank and generic charts if any of you have any super helpers of your own. They don't include a name at the top. One includes the images and the other is completely blank for you to fill in your own tasks.

 To download the files, just right click. They should save at full size. If not, let me know and I can send them to you. I'm sure there's a fancy way to offer downloadable files, but I haven't had time to research it. (If anyone knows, feel free to let me know!)

We are preparing for a super helper's big birthday this weekend so we're putting the chore charts off until next week. But I can't wait to get them started!!

Review: Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System

This may look a little strange for this blog, but I couldn't help raving about this product. Our best pals recently loaned us their Bissell Carpet Cleaner to try out on our living room while they are on vacation. They were so pleased with how clean it got their carpets and couches that I couldn't resist giving it a try. With 3 little boys, our carpets are in constant need of cleaning and spot treating. They had recently gotten to their worst point with obvious stains right in the center of the living room. We had even discussed putting a rug down, but decided it wouldn't look all that great.

So, we borrowed the Bissell. The Bissell Lift-Off to be exact. This machine far exceeded my expectations. When Andrea told me how well it did on her carpets, I believed her, but also knew that she probably didn't have the spills, spitup (yes, there were some spots that we didn't realize we missed at times), and ground in stains that we had. So I expected in general for the carpets to look cleaner, but to ultimately still see the faint remnants of the stains. Holy cow, was I wrong!! Every stain is gone. No trace of spilled juice, ground in dirt, baby spitup, anything. Its all gone. I need to emphasize that the carpet in our home could be 10+ years old..so they don't look brand new. There are worn spots, etc..but they are clean. I only did the living room..and am considering going to buy more cleaning solution to do the entire house this week. Our sweet friends were nice enough to let us have the sample that came with the machine to try it out.

Another neat feature of this machine is the lift-off feature. As shown in the picture, you can lift off the middle portion and clean anything in your home...sofas and chairs, stairs, etc. I didn't use this part so I can't comment on it, but if it cleans as well as the whole unit, I'm sure it does great! And the entire process was so simple...
-Add water and solution.
-Squeeze handle and move forwards then backwards once. Then you release the handle and it keeps scrubbing while vacuuming up the water and soap. So you can go back and forth as many times as you like. The more you vacuum, the more water it soaks up and the faster it dries. Then move on to the next line.
-Dump the water from the tank when it gets to the fill line. This water is NASTY! It's so gross to see how dirty the carpet was...but kind of rewarding to see your work paying off. I went over the dirtiest spots twice, and the water was gross both times. I bet I could do the room again today and still get as much dirty water. I probably emptied the dirty tank, and refilled the clean water with solution tank 7 times while cleaning the living room.It took me about an hour to do our living room.

Comparison: This past fall we had a door to door vacuum salesman come and offer to do a free carpet cleaning while we listened to his sales pitch. We needed a cleaning so why not get it for free? We knew we weren't going to buy it but didn't mind spending an hour or so listening in order to get a free cleaning. (Long story but the guy stayed from 6:45pm until almost midnight..it was insane!) His machine was a well-known high end vacuum that you can only buy from a salesman. It was impressive. Large and powerful, a lot of neat features, and sucked up mounds of skin cells from my mattress. I wanted it just for that feature. So as far as a vacuum goes..wow. However, I was not impressed with the shampoo feature. Granted, he was doing a demo and may have not done that thorough of a job, but then again, he was trying to sell it so he should have done the best job possible. But when it had dried the next morning, it didn't look considerably different than before. So if I were comparing the $2500 machine to the Bissell, I choose the Bissell for shampooing.

So, this was just my little plug for the Bissell Lift-Off System. If anyone is interested in purchasing a home carpet cleaner, I highly recommend this one. If you like to have your carpets cleaned often, its much more cost effective than paying a professional. You can buy them at Walmart, Target, etc.

Coming up soon...photos of my cute kids and my chore chart solution!

*I was not compensated for this review. I posted it on my own in order to share a great product with my friends and family.*

Chore Charts

If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have seen the recent flourish of chore charts. We want to teach our boys responsibility, even at almost 3 and 4.5. We want them to know they are expected to clean up after themselves, as well as help with other chores around the house. I realize that young boys would rather be doing many other things, but we know this is what's best for them in the long run. (Plus it gives this momma a little help around here!)

So I'm on the prowl for a great chore system. I know I could just tell them "do this, or do that" and they should obey. But I'm also for making it fun as well! We've learned that our kids thrive on routine and structure. Whether its telling them that "when the big hand is on the six, its bed time" or that "when the timer goes off, its your brother's turn with the game," they respond well and understand what's expected when there's a visual explanation. I'm no early childhood expert, but I've definitely learned a lot about what makes children (at least my children) tick over the last 4.5 years. So I really think having a list to check off or choosing a task from a bowl would make the kids excited about helping out each day.

Thanks to Pinterest, I found quite a few ideas that have my wheels turning. I'll create my own in Photoshop of course, but we all get our ideas from somewhere. Here are few that peaked my interest....I have included the source link to all of them so if you are interested in them, please check out the blogs that originally posted them.

(source) 

This one seems the most practical and simple. Easy to follow and we can check off as the boys complete them. 

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This one used some other pieces and were velcro-ed on to a main page for each day. I think that's a little more complicated than I want to deal with..however, I do love that there are images. Our boys can't read so the visual reminder would allow them to understand each task.

 (source)
I think this idea is so cute. Each task is on a clip and you move the completed ones to a different rod, or flip them over. However, it may not be practical for our space. But I'm pondering over it...

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And this last one is really on here because I think its cool...but it would never work in my home. Those ping-pong balls would be all over the house, creating yet one more chore to complete. I have seen this with popsicle sticks in a jar which seems much more practical. 

Hopefully I'll have our new system worked out in the next few days and can share with you. If we go with a paper form, I'll even share the printable so you can try it out yourself. 

Speechless

(photo credit)

As a mother of all boys, I knew there would be things "boy related" that I would not understand. Like their natural instinct to think its funny to poot, burp, throw bugs on girls, etc. Its crazy how they are just born knowing those things. But what I was not prepared for was a little boy bathroom.

As the title of this post claims, I am speechless when it comes to how disgusting it gets. First off, they never flush. So what little pee does make it into the toilet just sits there until I happen to come in and flush it. But HOW IN THE WORLD does it end up on the floor, the cabinet, inside the bathtub, down the side of the toilet.....I could go on. It blows my mind. I typically clean the bathrooms once a week. But I have to clean their bathroom MULTIPLE times a week in order to prevent a horrible stench from creeping down the hallway.

I don't understand it. I've tried to explain to them over and over and over to take their time. Make sure it all goes into the toilet. Not to play around while going. And to flush. I guess it still has not sunk in. I guess its good that they like to help me clean because I give them rags and make them scrub all around that potty and they seem to think its fun. In a couple of years I'll have three...THREE..little guys in there spraying everything floor to ceiling.

Oh, and have I mentioned that their bathroom also serves as the guest bath??? What better way to practice hospitality and treating your guests as family than by having them bathe in your children's urine as they use the restroom ;)

**I should probably note that I am probably exaggerating on how bad this is. It just FEELS that way to me since I am constantly on my hands and knees scrubbing with Clorox Cleanup.**

Cleanest Floors Ever

I know I have more important things I need to be blogging about, but they all require editing and uploading pics...and frankly, I just don't feel like doing that right now. But what I WILL blog about is how clean my floors are now! I had some birthday money and invested in the Shark Steam Mop...and let me tell you, it was worth the $79 (or $99 if you think you need the deluxe version). But you know you have a million of those 20% off coupons so you could get it for less.

My floors have never been cleaner. It loosened up spots that I had been on my hands and knees scrubbing with harsh chemicals. I love this thing. It uses steam to clean and sterilize all floor types..and its safe on wood and laminate floors. And I love that all it uses is natural H20..no chemicals or cleaners at all. Makes you feel good that your children can crawl around on a really clean floor without licking up pinesol. (Yes, my son kisses the floor sometimes so I have that problem)

Anyways, just a shout out and product review. It costs a little bit to start, but just think..you wont have to buy floor cleaner or swiffer pads anymore! I love the Shark people!