.......Four Months Later.

Traci, you were going to blog a lot and you were doing so well.....what the heck happened.

Life.

Life happened y'all.

My hectic life has went in 92 different directions - school starts back in T minus 29 days, can I get a PRAISE JESUS! Hallelujah and an AMEN brothers and sisters??!!

I know a lot of you Mama's are WAY better Mama's than myself, just said 'you crazy' and may have even rolled your eyes a little.....one of you even made PFFFTTTT sound (not naming any names <Jessica Dyson>).   I love my babies, a lot - like, more than my right arm or any organ.  BUT for my sanity and their um....well being.  School needs to happen, like, yesterday.  I work from home and its incredibly difficult to work from home when I have to break up a DS crisis every 22 seconds or feed somebody, because, you know these sweet little creatures are like freaking bottomless pits.  Did I mention they get up at the butt-crack of dawn?  Because, they do. E.V.E.R.Y.S.I.N.G.L.E morning.  I love my babies, I love my babies, I love my babies.

SO speaking of working from home.  We sold my hubbies wheelchair on eBay.  Don't worry, it was an extra one, I'm not dragging him around the casa or anything like that you crazy minded people!  He never used the chair because it didn't fit him comfortably and we were blessed by a local church to be given an electric/mobile wheelchair and he desperately needed.  So, basically, the $4,000 chair was going to waste in the basement.  We were hoping that someone would pay top dollar (hahahahahaha cough cough) for it and get us ahead a month in our bills.  A gentlemen in another state (where folks like to retire to) purchased it and made a deposit into our Paypal. This was money that was going to pay the power bill, phones, and buy groceries for the month mind you.....  He takes the chair around trying to find replacement parts, alter the foot plate then says that something needed repairs and finally 12 days later wants to return it.  Um, what?  I of course say NO WAY Jose!  He then says it was damaged in shipping....shipping that cost me $150 but he didn't bother to take any pictures of ANYTHING in order for me to file a claim.  SO what does eBay do?  What eBay always does, freezes your account.  So now, I'm just sitting here, waiting, not making any money, waiting, becoming more and more irritated over the situation and waiting to hear back from eBay with a decision if they are going to force the return or not.  That is my work life - fun huh?  I know you are totes jelly of me at this moment in time!

What else, let's see.  I started a new Facebook page that is totally fabulous, it's called Nifty Thrifty Picks.  On this amazing page I provide folks with information that I have compiled from numerous other sources.  I also will drop a coupon scenario every now and again.  Just trying to help folks save their hard earned dolla.  Let's face it, nothing like working an entire hour just to pay for toilet paper.

I also teach coupon classes - which are so much fun, I just love it, and it is a total blessing.  I don't teach people to buy 2,000 tiny boxes of cereal just so they can rip the grocery store off and have an overage to buy their actual needed groceries only to brag about it later.  I also don't teach folks how to clear shelves and then resell items that they have horded of course, only after charging a cover just to get into their 'yard sale'.  I DO however, teach folks how to keep organized and how to apply different scenarios in order to get the things that their family need for at least half off retail.  YOU work hard for your money, why give half of it unnecessarily to Walmart?? They have enough money as it is!  You know I'm right.

So the kiddos.  Payton is cheering this year, go ahead, pick your jaw up off of the floor.  Haleigh is fired up and ready to go....come on July 21st, hurry it up!  I'm not going to have the privilege of being cheer mom this year because our team that normally consist of two squads (Red and Black) is only going to be one squad since they didn't have the numbers to create two football teams for third grade.  So our coach from last year, the ever fabulous Faireca Bates decided not to coach which meant that I would not be the cheer mom because, we are kinda like, um, a packaged deal of sorts.  I loved it last year and I will miss it this year but it is what it is.  This years coach, Coach Stephanie is fabulous and her team mom Danielle is one of my favorite peeps so, it's all good!  Nonetheless, we are so excited and ready for some football!!

Speaking of football.  Tanner will be on the 70 lb. team again this year but will be a big first grader.  He is so ready to start practice, ready to be a leader.  He didn't get to play hardly at all last year.  SOAPBOX::: He didn't get to play because he was a kindergartner and kindergartners were the 'new kids', so 'no play time for you' kid.  Even though, I paid the same amount of money everyone else did, even though my kid NEVER missed a practice (even though his Daddy doesn't drive and Mommy had to get another one to soccer and another one to cheer - she made it happen), even though he had a great attitude, he didn't get to play.  He was only allowed to practice and only allowed to play for a sporadic play here and there.  Let me ask you....how do you learn to play if you don't play???  Let me ask you....when did WINNING become so unbelievably important that teaching was thrown out the window?  The coaches would rather win than make sure everyone got ample playing time.  This isn't the big leagues y'all, not even high school ball...it was freaking kindergarten.   OFF BOX.  This year, a 50% playing rule has been implemented, if the kid doesn't play the coach will be suspended (as stated by the assistant coach in our first meeting).  Not sure how I really feel about that either.  If a child doesn't show up to practice, doesn't do his best and has a crappy attitude, he should get to play as much as the other kids?  I dunno.  What do y'all think?  Either way, I'm really looking forward to this year.  I have met the coach and his wife, our team mom and they both seem to be very organized, likable folks (and that right there is half the battle y'all)!  I know it will be a great season this year and we are really looking forward to some football!

Well, while I'm sitting here breaking up knock-down-drag-out fights between my sweet little humans, helping the hubby, and trying to keep our heads at least a quarter of an inch above the financial waters.....I'm waiting to hear back from the University of Montevallo with my acceptance or denial letter.  Hopefully, over the next week or so I will know something, one way or the other.  I have exactly half of my classes done and I am so ready to finish this degree.  The Thompson High School Home Economics position became available over this summer and I have just kicked myself that I wasn't ready and waiting for it.  Hopefully, with my culinary degree and a degree to teach from UM, I'll be ready next time.  Everything is in God's timing.  Everything.

While I'm waiting, I'd really like to start a YouTube cooking channel, it's on my mind.  It may happen. Hint hint, wink wink.

I have a fabulous quiche recipe to share with y'all....it'll be posted tomorrow.  It was sooooo good and I'm not even a big fan of quiches to start with but even the non-egg-eaters in the house tore it up!  So good :)

                                                                   Till We Meet Again,

                                                                                       Traci :)

Did I mention I have also had a psycho Facebook stalker that may be crazier than squirrel on crack?  That's another story for another day I suppose.  Night y'all!

Show Me The MONEY!

$$$Show Me the MONEY$$$

Several people have asked me for my allowance method for my babies.  I will go ahead and warn you, if you do not have an OCD bone in your body then this is probably not for you.  

Here is the link to open what I have made for my kids.  It is specific to my three kids so you would need to do the same; all of these are age appropriate to my children.

Document #1

This is the record sheet:

Allowance Document #1

Basically, on 'Allowance Document #1' I record each days work.  If they do their chore then they receive a plus sign (+) and if they do not do it then they receive a negative sign (-).  I try my best to do the + in red and the - in black so it is easier to read, quicker.  This is based on a two week period and the kids receive payment on the 15th day.  The actual chores will be explained later.

Document #2

Sheet #2 is the 'Fight or Flight Deduction Sheet'.

Allowance Document #2

On this sheet I record the bad choices made for the day.  Bad behavior means a dock in pay.  The tally mark basically means they lose credit for one + sign they received for doing their chores.  It is a behavior incentive as well.  I know incentives do not work for a lot of children and then some children do not need them at all, mine do.  The rules for my house are listed on this sheet as follows:

NO FUSSING / NO WARNINGS:
No Screaming at your brother or sister.
No hitting your brother or sister.
No potty talk.
**If there is a problem, walk away and get an adult.
GRADES:
A's and S's are the only thing that are acceptable.
Each A' you receive, you will get an extra $2, B's you will get an extra $1
Anything less than an S or an A, you will lose $1 (Tanner has exceptions).
CONDUCT CHART:
Green or higher colors are only acceptable, anything less you lose $1 per day.
More than 3 yellow or reds in a two week period, you will lose your allowance.
ALLOWANCE:
You will give 10% to church.
You will save 25%.
You will use the remainder as you want.
MONEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
I will pay for your dinner and drink only.
I will no longer pay for any extra snacks unless it’s a reward.
Anything extra you may WANT, you will be responsible for paying for it.
You will keep a wallet.
Your money is your responsibility.
If you touch someone else's money you will put all of yours in savings and you will
be suspended for one month without pay.

Document #3

Moving on:  Sheet #3.  This is the 'Allowance' sheet, it tells me what each child will be given monetarily wise. In the first column I add up the plus signs and deduct the minus signs to get the monetary value of their chores.  In the next section I add up the tally marks from the behavior sheet for each day and record the dollar or cents amount here (hopefully its nothing and if anything, cents!).  Each tally mark is worth .10 cents, each positive sign is worth .10 cents.  Again, my kids are 7,7 and 6 so I think $1 per day is perfect at their age; you can adjust your amount as you see fit!  There is not a place for special occasions such as grades.  I typically just write those in when the time calls for it.   This can be done daily or at the end of the two week period.  Finally, I subtract the bottom total from the top total and that is what each child is due!  Easy peasy.

Allowance Document #3

Document #4

The final document is a breakdown of what each kid is responsible for daily.  I hang this at eye level on the fridge.

Allowance Document #4

So I am sure you want to know what AM & PM routines are, so let me explain:

AM Routine:  You must get yourself up with an alarm or the first time I call you.  You must get yourself dressed.  You must make sure your belly is fed if you are not eating at school (either by telling me what you need or fixing it yourself).  You must brush your teeth, hair and make sure your face and nails are clean.  You must pack your back pack accordingly for the day.  ALL OF THIS MUST BE DONE WITHOUT HESITATION, ARGUING, FUSSING OR FIGHTING.  ABSOLUTELY NO COMPLAINING!

PM Routine:  You must brush your teeth, bathe, and go to bed without revisiting for unncessary bathroom breaks, multiple glasses of water and 'needing to tell ya something' moments.  ALL OF THIS MUST BE DONE WITHOUT HESITATION, ARGUING, FUSSING OR FIGHTING.  ABSOLUTELY NO COMPLAINING!

Practice:  You must get ready for your 'practice' WITHOUT HESITATION, ARGUING, FUSSING OR FIGHTING.  ABSOLUTELY NO COMPLAINING!

Lunch Box Duty:  Clean out the trash from the lunchboxes from the day and put any dishes into the sink or dish washer.

I think everything else is self explanatory.  You just have to remember that this is a guide, every family is different and you have to do what is best for your household and age appropriate for your children.  You don't even have to do money; electronics time, play station time, outside time....whatever works for you!!!

As far as handing over the cash.....I give them envelopes with the exact amount they are owed in it.  Their name appears on the envelope just like a paycheck with the amount under their name.

I leave you with this information:  I tell my kids upfront before starting this program that under no circumstances were I begging them to do their chores.  I stopped reminding them after the first pay period.  It is their responsibility.  If they do not do the work, they do not get paid.  Period.

If there are ANY questions, please do not hesitate to ask!  If you would like a copy of the documents where you can adjust them then just shoot me an email: tracisilloway@yahoo.com or leave me a comment with your email address!!!

                                                                                       Just DO IT!
                                                                                 Traci L. Silloway