Marble Jar Reward

A couple of months ago we started a marble jar for Serif. We have been trying to encourage him to do things on his own without our constant direction. It works like this.

He starts with an empty jar. Every time he does something without us telling him, he gets a marble in the jar. For example: brushes his teeth, takes his plate from the table to counter when done with a meal, says grace before meals, washes his hands after using the bathroom, etc). On the flip side, if we have to repeated tell him to do something or he disobeys, back talks, etc., he loses a marble. Once the jar fills up, he gets a prize.

Today was the day he hit the fill line of his jar. This has been his second fill since starting it. I keep a stash of toys and costumes in our closet from consignment sales for this very reason. I love being able to just walk in there for a prize and not have to go out or spend any more money. There's also no store drama on what to get. Today, he got this cool batman costume. He was ecstatic!

This marble jar is the best incentive for him. It reminds him of his choices and gives him something to work towards. It also puts more responsibility on him and he can't blame us for how many marbles he does or doesn't have. We do set the rules but these are his choices. The rewards can be anything, even a trip to the adventure science center or something special like that. It does not have to be a toy or anything material.

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He ate the whole thing!

While Jeff was in Spain last week, Serif and I had a date night at 5-Points Pizza. Serif always likes getting their single slice of cheese pizza. This thing was literally as large as his chest (like from his belly button to neck) and he ate the entire thing! Unbelievable.


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Quote of the day

"A skeleton died in the kitchen. He was in a forest and he was shot by Uncle Don."

(This was actually from November 8. I forgot to post it!)

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Homemade Fudge with Grandaddy

Serif had the privilege of helping Granddaddy make his classic fudge yesterday. It's my personal favorite and has always been since I was Serif's age (or earlier). That use to be me standing there with him.


Serif enjoyed learning about the candy thermometer and dad was really good to break down the measurements for him and teaching him how to measure.


It has to be stirred constantly until it comes to a rolling boil then you slow down a bit and look for the soft ball stage. Then it's ready to pour!


So much fun and so good! I think this may very well be Serif's favorite fudge too. The only bad part about it is it's gone way too quickly.


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Bad mom?

Serif wanted to go out and play in what snow was left this afternoon. I told him to go ahead and go out and I'd be out after I vacuumed. He got geared up, went out and tinkered around a few minutes then came back in to check on me. I told him I still had a little to do so he went on back out. As I made my way to the living room rug, I spotted him out the window. He had pulled his rocking chair over to look off the deck at the birds and squirrels. It was such a bitter sweet moment. It was sweet that he could actually slow down to enjoy nature but I felt a bit like I was letting him down. He really has little interest in playing out there by himself.


After I finished the rug and was about ready to put the vacuum away, I saw him get up from the chair, move to the stair rail and start kicking slush off the deck. He was obviously so bored but trying to be patient with me. He is growing up so fast.

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Snow Day

We started the morning baking bread. It always takes a while so I thought we could put it together before going out and it would be ready later when we came in. Serif loved helping to make it and was mesmerized at the process.


Once we got outside, we realized very quickly that the snow was very dry and powdery; Not very conducive to making snowballs or snowmen. We were determined to get something so after a while we came up with this little guy; small but he counts!





I always like getting one of us. I can't resist.


He got out Jeff's old diggers and decided to play with them for a while. A couple were frozen and wouldn't work but these were just fine.


After a while of diggers, I turned around to see him making a snow angel in the snow. It to turned out pretty well.





He asked me to make one too, so I laid down and started making one. I looked over and saw him laying in the snow just looking up at the birds and the sky. We had just put more seed in the bird feeder and were waiting for them to come and eat.





After I snapped his picture he crawled over to me to lay next to me. It was pretty sweet. Of course I had to snap that shot too.


Here's our snow angels. He wouldn't take my picture making one, so here's the best I have of proof that I did it.


Our toes started to freeze so we finally came back in. The smell of the bread baking was amazing and it had just finished! He was SO ready for a slice . . . or three. We both were!


After lunch and a movie, we went back out. A lot of the snow had melted (where the sun was strongest) but there was still a bit left. He wanted to make another snowman. Now that the snow had melted slightly it packed much better. We put this one together and decorated it. He was a little inspired by the snowman in Frozen but this guy has "laser eyes." Oh, and the flag is his hair.


It was a very fun day just playing outside and hanging out around the house. We'll see if anything is left for tomorrow.

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A gorgeous day

To go to the park . . . and fly a kite!





















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Today highlight

Nothing like a little hot chocolate on a cold rainy day.


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SNOW!!!

It's snowing!





And it's sticking!





Let's make snowflakes.





Now let's go play!




























And in case the snow melts off tonight, we have snowballs in the freezer for later.


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Sweet birthday surprise

I got home from church Sunday and Serif couldn't wait to show me something. (He and Jeff went to Target after 2nd service to get a few things.) He takes me to the kitchen and hands me a gift bag and asks me to open it. Inside were 4 sheets of paper with special words and art by Serif plus a very special ornament that he personally hand picked just for me for my birthday.











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Tonight's quote

There are pink clouds in the dusk sky tonight.

"I think that's where God is. He's where the light is and he's showing us light because it 's pretty."

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Today's conversation

Serif: When is God going to come down from outer space?

Me: Well nobody knows but God. One day he will and he'll take us all back to heaven with him. It's going to be awesome!

Serif: Well, I'm going to ask him tonight. I'm going to ask him in the living room at the camp out.

(He's camping out with Daddy in the living room tonight.)


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Cool Moments

We were getting of the Shelby exit tonight, heading home, when Serif looked over at the bursting yellow sun through the clouds. (Photos don't do it justice.). He asked me, "Is God in that big yellow light in the sky?"

Yes! Yes He is!

Wow. Cool moments.



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Mud Pie Soup

It was the perfect day for working outside today so we jumped at the chance to switch around a lot of our landscaping. Serif was a pretty good helper but was getting bored and kept wanting to go inside. He honestly doesn't get enough outside time so I was thinking about some suggestions for him.


I went inside and grabbed a couple of bowls, a pitcher and a couple of spoons and brought them out to him. I told him about when I was a kid and use to make mud pie or mud soup. I explained how to do it and he lit up. He thought it was so much fun and it kept him entertained for quite a while. It was so fun watching him enjoy it. He kept bringing me things, saying they were too pretty for his soup and wanted me to have them. I got a small pebble, a mushroom and a bright orange berry. :)


Jeff got the water hose out so we could water the plants. Serif wanted to help so Jeff showed him how to work the nozzle. He had more fun spraying the mud out of bowl. He just giggled and giggled. Then he started spraying the house and got so excited saying he was making a rainbow. I guess it was from the and of the sun. What a fun and tiring day.


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