Job Change

Well, it's finally finished..... school, that is!

The kids are out and our week of fun is done, now it's time to get down to business. 

Since they are no longer "at work" at Faith, they will begin their new work here at home.  

Enter the COLOSSIANS 3:23 board

Jobs for Hire bag with money.  Eric and I came up with a list of things the kids could do for a price based on the job.  For example: wipe off kitchen table legs $.25.  They are only allowed to choose a job for hire once their daily work is marked off. 

I also included a "withdraw" bag with Exodus 20.  This is for when they do not do a job or disobey and need a consequence (other than a spanking).  Money comes from their "bag bank" and redeposited into the "withdraw" bag. 

Everyone is equipped with a chart, bank bag, savings bag & tithe bag (not pictured on Luke's).

Everyone will get $1 per however old they are every 2 weeks.

10% will go to savings, which they have set a wish list for (noise gun & video game), & will not be able to touch until the end of the summer. 

10% will go into their tithe bag & Sunday mornings they will take out for offering at church. 

This is Kait's chart.  As you can see she is saving for a mermaid Barbie.  They also have a goal and a verse for each week. 

I laminated all the charts & we are using dry erase markers.  I set the black "x's" for their jobs, then they will mark the boxes under them when the job is complete.  I will check the charts at the end of each day and wipe off  for the completed jobs or withdraw any money for any incomplete jobs. At the end of the 2 weeks we will all change jobs.  

I'm excited and more importantly, they're excited.  We sat down and very seriously discussed all my expectations & consequences. Day One starts tomorrow.....

Kayla's First Field Trip

2007

2011

Falling Leaves and Falling Bibby's

Just like leaves falling off the trees,
so are the minutes from the day,
the days from the months,
and the months from the years.
Eric brought to my attention last night,
"You know Luke will be 8 in January and then 9 the next year. Half of his life with us will be over.... He'll be 18 and out the door."
It's hard to imagine and harder for my heart to comprehend.
And yet... today I looked through pictures from 2009.
How small they looked! My babies! Just two years ago they were all babies!!
Time stands still on the days when my TO DO list is longer than I am tall.
Time flies when I look at pictures from last year and see round faces
that have now been replaced with jutting chins.
So just like the trees who are losing their leaves,
Spring will bring new buds and new beginnings,
and so it is the same with my little Bibby buds!
New adventures are ahead!

1 Peter 4:8- Prince Charming and Cinderella

Once upon a time, Cinderella met and married Prince Charming (P.C.) and they lived happily ever after....
Until one day....
Cinderella was tired of royal balls and did not not want to attend anymore.
The balls had become "less" in every way and it made poor Cinderella sad.
"I'm not going it's a waste of time,"
she declared stomping her glass slipper.

On her to-do list for the day:
Wash/Dry/Fold/Put away Clothes---Laundry
Strip/Wash/Make the Beds---5 total
(Their castle wasn't very big).
Dust/Vacuum/Sweep---Cleaning
(Their castle seemed HUGE).

"I just don't have time,"
she further pleaded her case,
"ARG! What am I supposed to wear?!"

Cinderella stomped though the castle as she got ready for the ball.
She found wicked joy using her glass slippers to make as much "I'm angry noise" as possible.

She raised her voice to the little mice when they scurried around her feet,
"Sorry I can't play, your P.C. is making me get ready to go to the ball."

Cinderella had had enough.
"Tell me one good reason I should go!"
she yelled, her head in the royal closet.
"Because I said so,"
came the (irritatingly so) calm response from the kitchen.
And with that any hope of a fairy godmother disappeared.

Cinderella got ready and when she was finished, P.C. greeted her in the kitchen with a heaping plate of breakfast, lovingly prepared.
Eggs over easy, butter toast and bacon.
He gave her the once over and smiled,
"Wow, you look nice."

It was at that moment she didn't feel so much like a Princess
but a big, orange pumpkin instead.

1 Peter 4:8 NKJV

New King James Version

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

It takes a Prince's love to see a Princess when she is acting like a Pumpkin....
What are you today? Princess or pumpkin?

A little trip to the Zoo

Today was the D.A.Y !
We took off and went to the Zoo!
We walked and laughed and enjoyed each other.
Today was a day that I will forever hold on to. Time marches on, the kids will grow and go their own way, but today will forever be captured by these snapshots. I am constantly torn between the household duties, my teaching duties and my motherly duties, this is a DAY that I needed to remind me of the JOY that I find in my calling as a mother.

This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Jump It with Grandma!

Bubble Fun

I saw this great idea on another blog and just kinda passed by it.
Then the other day the kids were stir crazy and I decided to pull it from the back of my brain.

What you need:
Wash cloth
Water bottle
Rubber band
Bubble solution or homemade bubble solution

Cut the bottom of the water bottle. I cut the wash cloth into 4 sections and then used a rubber band to hold it on the bottom of the top half of the water bottle. Then just pour the bubble solution into a bowl, dip and slowly blow.

The kids LOVED it! ...Even Mommy had some fun.

Notice Krista's bubble feet! HA!

4-2= 2

He finally did it!
After years of begging and pleading
my ever-so-cautious,
not-so-little boy,
rode his bike without training wheels.
Eric and I have been working with him for the past two summers.
We took the training wheels off and put them back on.
We took the training wheels off and put them back on.
So at the start of summer, we didn't even bother taking them off.
Yesterday, we went outside and HE decided he wanted to take them off.
I loosened the nuts and let him complete the job.
It took 4 times up and down the driveway,
and the 5th time he was FLYING!

Way to go PILL!

Summer Mantel

You may remember my Patriot Decor post.
I flipped the sign and painted the back yellow. Then I had Luke paint the Lemonade. I walked through the house and grabbed two of my Ball jars, filled one with change and the other with sugar. I found my mom's measuring spoons and tucked them into the sugar jar. YAY! I pulled one of my favorite cookbooks that has the best summer recipes in it. The little white pitcher was a garage sale find and the hydrangea was a gift from Mom B. last year.
I hesitated scissors in hand before I cut 3 of only 5 of my blooms, but flowers are meant to be enjoyed, whether inside or outside.
I think I'll be on the hunt for some lemon decor for next year!
LOVE IT!

A Summer Project

We were given this beautiful piano, hoping to clean out the house and find a place for it.
Nope.
Poor Piano sat in the garage for over a year, but thankfully got some attention from the kids playing with it.
Maybe I can set it.
Nope.
Called the piano company and was told it was too old to tune and our only option was to restore it.
$$$$$.... uh... Nope.
Who knew 1923 was a piano death number?
So I brought an idea to Eric late one night, as he was enjoying a choice beverage and watching his favorite program (yeah, I'm not above bribery).
He got to work one weekend....

New family media center;
made from the bottom front of the piano
and the front string cover board.
The BIBBY letters and hooks I found at
Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off! SCORE!

How it's being used now...
Swimsuit and towel rack

Drum roll please.....
Next on Mr. Bibb's list---- a bench!
But I'll have to wait until the Pastor's office is finished at church.
Mr. Handyman has been hired out.

Covfamikoi 2011

What a blessing the conference was. The kids had such a great time playing with all the other kids and they LOVED their classes and teachers. It was so much fun being next door to Grandma and Grandpa! I can't wait for next year!
It is amazing the means the Lord uses to open our hearts, change our minds and direct our paths.

Kiss and tell...

Since the Hub is away, the wife will play...
Eric left Monday for St. Louis and will be back late Wednesday night. This morning I was lying in bed thinking about our life together. I have to admit I stragatically placed a perfect wedding photo, (given to us by my dearest friend Tabi), on the wall next to the bed. I love waking up to US.
ANYWAY...
Saturday night I came into the kitchen to see my six foot, burly, bearded husband standing at the stove.
Upon closer inspection I saw a pan of bacon grease and white gravy in the pan on another burner.
He swung around with two plates full of heart shaped biscuts!
Again, my six foot, burly, bearded, shirt-less husband...
It was more than I could handle.
I chuckled and HAD to watch as he served all four kids at the table, MUCH to their delight!
I couldn't stop chuckling, and was caught.
Wrapped in a big bear hug my chuckles turned to full out laughter!
He finally let go and I chuckled my way to the cups. As I filled their cups I surprised myself---
T.E.A.R.S.
Good grief! I am SUCH a girl!
So today I wanted to remember publish this memory.
I want my kids to know how much their Daddy loves them and what a blessing he is,
because I've decided I am a girl who kisses and tells!

Busy Summer Days

Yeah, they keep me busy...

WEEEEE!

Eric had a bike before Luke was born and we sold it after Kayla was born. It was a sad day in the Bibby home, but at the time we wanted to move and it was just one of pieces that needed to fall into place.
So here we are five years later- bigger and better!
Honda VTX 1300

Eric finally took the kids for a ride down to the end of the road and they were thrilled!
After 5 years, we did find that our old jackets and helmets shrunk while in storage in the attic. Who knew???!!! HA!
We ordered new matching jackets and helmets and have really enjoyed being back on the bike again. Not to mention it sure saves on gas.

Fireworks

We had such a great time at our church's firework show!