Earning $$...

We had a really fun weekend doing some birthday celebrating...Molly and Mike...pictures to come soon as Molly really is having a week long birthday celebration. I'll tell you, she really knows how to do it at 6!!

Wednesday ends our school year here. Both Cameron and Molly have expressed a desire to have a few chores in order to earn some allowance. I think it is a great idea I'm just not sure how to execute it. What have you done for your kids in order for them to earn an allowance? Some of the jobs that I am picturing are things like making their beds, emptying the dishwasher, wiping down their bathroom. Things that are pretty easy but also things that will take more than just 5 minutes. How have you established how much you give your child for an allowance and what do you allow them to spend it on? I struggle with what they should be allowed to buy and what Mike and I should be providing them. They really don't want for much but I don't allow them to get things every time we go to the store. No can do.

Please share with me your ideas and practices...a little hard labor goes a long way, right?

Funny facts...

Is it just me, or do many of us have difficulty sometimes channeling our children's inner interests? Of course, Mr. Shook wants young son to love sports, excel at sports, be a potential major leaguer or NBA super star. Young son has several things against him to achieve in these areas but we won't dwell on that. After all, he is 7.





But, finding one's niche in life can be challenging. It is a well known fact that young son loves, I mean LOVES, his Legos. He can build them into the picture with the directions or he can create a whole new ship/plane/attack fighter, you name it.





But young son seems to have a new interest. I swear it began with the introduction this year to not only money, but coins, who's on them and more importantly who's on the green stuff. So Cameron has taken his interest a bit farther and is fascinated with our United States President's. Lucky us, we found a fun facts book about the US President's at the Book Fair last week. Lucky us, Cameron has a Grandfather who majored in history in college and a Mother who minored in history in college. Score! (Although I can admit that I am a bit rusty on some of the facts. Thank god for Wikipedia. I feel like Michael Scott.)





Soooooo, Oh my.





We have taken the ball and ran with it.





There might be some memorizing going on, too.





After all, it seems very important to know that Charles Fairbanks was Vice President for Theodore Roosevelt.





Or that George Washington's dentures were made out of ivory and animal teeth. But, there is a debate that they were actually wooden. Did you know that??





What ever Cameron's interest lie in we hope to be able to foster them and help him to learn as much as he would like. In the mean time we will probably have all of the President's memorized in order very soon.





And, I was informed by young son that all he needs to complete his money collection is an Andrew Jackson.

A poem for me...

My Mom

by Cameron Shook

My Mom is as pretty as a princess.

My Mom smiles when I am cute.

My Mom takes me to the movies.

My Mom cooks the best chicken sticks.

My Mom is the best at cooking.

Happy Mother's Day Love, Cameron

Dude, this works every time. I love it!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!

Prince of the Pond...

Well, it was my Prince's Prince of the Pond week. One might ask, what is that?? You might call it Star of the Week in your neck of the woods but here in our first grade class you are...

Prince of the Pond!

Or Princess if you are a chick.

Here are a few photos from it...

Mr. Tree Frog needed to go some where with you and you needed to take a picture or two of your trip. Cameron was more concerned that everyone see in the one picture that he got to be the CATCHER!! rather than anything about the frog...

Thank you to Baked Blessings for the super cool frog cookies. They were the biggest hit! And tasted delicious as well.

Today was the school picnic and it was fun to get to eat outside on a beautiful (finally!) day. Thank you to our cool Dad for picking up Subway (Mr. Prince's request) and getting there in a timely manner. Impressive, Mr. Shook!

Signs...

Signs that spring might actually be happening...

Although we've had enough rain, cold and frost to make me doubt!

A picture of our church annual All Daughter's Lunch!

Here's to warmer, sunnier and more pleasant weather! But, April Showers bring May flowers. What do May flowers bring??

Will you celebrate with me??...

It's beginning to get really beautiful in Central Illinois. I have bulbs blooming, trees are flowering and some are beginning to bud as well. It does wonders for one's soul. But, today I have reason to celebrate. In fact I think it deserves capital letters... CELEBRATE!!! My good friend Heidi is doing really, really well and has received a clean bill of health. They are not using the "R" word for her cancer but they are unable to see any of that nasty disease on her last CAT scan which is FANTASTIC news!! I am thrilled for her, Michael and Sierra. I am thrilled for myself, honestly. She has been on my mind a lot. She deserves good news. Her last few months have been very rough. So, as we approach the day that Jesus rode into town on a carpet of palms I will celebrate the little victories in life. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I absolutely love the deep meaning behind Easter. I love the re-birth of Easter. And this year I am truly celebrating!!

So, what have I been up to?...

So I bet your thinking, what has she been up to lately?

OK, maybe not, but there have been some new things going on.

I'm all about order (although I don't think I can come up with 10 things to have a countdown) so I'll list them for you.

In no particular order...

1.) The official baseball season has started in Morton. Cameron, who is coached by the handsome Dad's of Mr. Shook and Mr. Majors, is on the CLEVELAND INDIANS!! I feel confident that we are the only family on the team happy that Mike had to arm wrestle other coaches for the distinguished honor of being the Indians.

The arm wrestling is alleged.

Miss Molly is on the fierce River Cats t-ball team and her first practice was rained (or more like winded, since were in Central Illinois) out on Monday. Major disappointment. Molly is the only girl on her team. I feel sure that she will be able to hold her own. The red baseball cleats will definitely help!

2.) Both girls are winding down their dance lessons and the dreaded, I mean, cherished recital will be here before we know it. The theme of the recital is movies and Molly is dancing to an adorable friends song from a Tinkerbell movie. It makes me get teary every time I hear it. Amanda is dancing to the theme from Annie. It is SO cute. And the best part is now she can sing the song. Little did any of my kids know that the song is from a movie. Note to self, rent Annie.

3.) I have re-joined the working world in a small capacity. I found, what appears, to be the perfect job working 2 days a week. I am working for a stamp and sign company that has been around since 1875. I work alone on the days I work and it has been an interesting experience. It's super quiet, but thank goodness for computers, my new Nook color and my ability to text. Thank goodness also for unlimited texting at the Shook household...

4.) Happily Mr. Shook and I celebrated 13 years of marriage on Monday. We had an AWESOME dinner out on Saturday that we enjoyed thoroughly. I highly recommend the chunky mango chutney scallops at Jonah's in East Peoria. Divine! I am one lucky girl that my life crossed paths with Mr. Shook back in about 1994. He is the yin to my crazy yang. His kiddos and myself adore him and I look forward to many, many years of fun times with him.

5.) Running season has started again...no, not for me! I am a running widow on Tuesday and Thursday evenings working up to the Steamboat race in Peoria in June. Between now and then there will be a half marathon that we will attend in Champaign as well as some other 5k's. I think this is the year for me to think about doing some of the walks that they offer at the races. After all, I need to keep up with Mr. Shook, right?

6.) Spring break is FINALLY approaching. My kiddos have off the week before Easter and the Ohio Grandparents are coming for a visit. The kids are very excited and it will be nice to have some company. Mr. Shook might actually take off a day of vacation and I have lots of ideas how to spend the day. Maybe a Chi town run? Hint, hint...