Afros and Rainbows

The heat is on and it was time for some indoor summer fun so we took Grandma, the kids and their cousins, Addison and Avery, to see Madagascar3 at the theater. They had such a great time together there and at lunch beforehand. Madison and Avery were ready for the Afro Circus ("...polka dot polka dot polka dot afro!").

Madison, Hayden and Payson acting silly alongside the Brave triplets!

This was the first time that the kids really liked 3D. The technology has come a long way and the glasses were finally a good fit.

Good times with Grandma!

Last night the kids saw their very first rainbow! I'm surprised by that but I guess it's all about being in the right place at the right time. Looks like the pot of gold is at the neighborhood water tower!

Here's the other side of the rainbow.

In other random news, we have started a new reward system. We previously have been to using "Happy" jars and "Sad" jars. Each jar would start out with equal amounts of fuzzy balls and as the kids made wise choices, they would get to move fuzzy balls into their happy jar and if they made poor choices then they went into their sad jar. Once the happy jar was full (and the sad empty) the kids got to pick an outing with mom or dad (such as ice cream or donut shop) or choose a surprise gift. It worked pretty well but, as with all reward systems, they eventually lose their excitement.

Now I have dreamed up a much more complicated system but the kids are excited about it. We have individual charts where the kids can earn stickers for things such as getting dressed right away, getting buckled right away and being obedient at bedtime. If they earn six stickers in a single day then they get to put an ice cream scoop on their cone. Once their cone has nine scoops and whipped cream on top they get to go out for ice cream!

Then we have a Fruit of the Spirit Basket. This has foam fruit stickers that are awarded to the kids when they show the various qualities and behaviors listed on the stickers (Kindness, Self-Control, Love, Patience and Gentleness). It's a community chart so once it is full the whole family will get a reward to share together. I love the teamwork and verbal encouragement that it brings out in the kids.

With that I will leave you with our six little feet! Whose feet are whose?