Road trip and laying down the law...

Headed off to my parents Thursday after I picked the kids up from school for a long weekend in Prince Edward County. My dad's 65th birthday was Friday so I was glad to be there to celebrate with him and my mom. Gorgeous weather all three days. Heard on the radio on the way up that this would be the last of it and to get all your outside work done because by the end of this week it would be below zero and to expect snow. Jerk.

Sewed my little heart out on my mom's jazzy machine. It's like butter to margarine when you compare hers with mine. Got heaps done and as always the more you I get done the more it seems there is to do. I am focused now and feeling a bit more disciplined about setting some time aside to work every day. Slowly slowly catchy monkey (don't ask me what that means).

Last night after supper sat the kids down to lay out the house rules. This is something I have been meaning to do for ages as I feel that once we have them down, they will be easier to enforce? Jack was really into it. Here they are and I have added the name of the person who came up with the rule:

HOUSE RULES

1) No waking up Bodhi when he is sleeping (Samia)

2) No eating after last call (me: my kids snack until their eyes close and it drives me kookoo)

3)Treating the memebers of this family with kindness and respect (me)

4) Treating others/guests with kindness and respect (Samia: she can be quite the cow on a playdate)

5)No gross jokes, sounds, words (me: if this sounds uptight try listening to my kids talk about poop and peep all day)

6)No biting, kicking, punching, hitting, spitting, or scratching (me: is this sad that this needs to be a rule?)

7) use your words when you have a problem (me: just to further solidify #6 in some heads)

8) sit properly on furniture (Samia)

9) no tattling (me)

10) no naughty words (Jack)

11) clean up after yourself (me)

12) turn off lights when you leave a room (Samia)

This week we will be working together to establish individual responsibilities and consequences when responsibilities are not met. I feel a bit micro-managerial but I think it may just keep me sane. Please let it keep me sane. Love saneness.