March madness

We've had a short "sports reprieve" lately.  Basketball has finished up, and I think there was a week or two where we weren't running one of the boys to a practice or a game.  But it didn't last long.   

Justin is playing varsity soccer this year (Woo hoo!  Go Lions!) and the games have already started.  Evan is playing J.V. tennis, and Logan's spring soccer season is starting soon.   Aaaack!  

Oh, well.  I do love to watch them play.  Let's just say I feel like I've had a successful day if I get everyone where they need to be and/or don't forget to pick anyone up!  haha  Fortunately Justin drives and can sometimes help with the taxi service.  

In all honesty, I've been feeling a bit uninspired lately.  We're busy, but there's just not much that is "blog worthy."  And we've been struggling with some winter blahs at home.  The kids have been increasingly "on edge" and downright ornery with each other (and with mom and dad at times, too).  

We felt like we needed to "up the ante" a little bit with a new reward system.  (I've noticed some other bloggers that I follow have been doing similar things.  Must be a March thing.)  Anyway, so I have instituted (and tweaked) one of my tried and true teacher techniques-- the marble jar.   The three younger kids each picked out a special cup to fill up with pom poms (aka warm fuzzies).  They get to add a warm fuzzy to their cups when they are obedient, helpful, or kind.  

{Insert "angelic chorus"}  This has been helping a lot.  I decided that the cups were a little large, so we put smaller clear cups inside so it won't take quite as long to fill them up.  I told the kids they could have a special surprise when their cups were filled.  The special surprise will most likely entail a trip to the Dollar Store.  ;)

Now if I could only find something that was this quick, easy, and motivating with my teen boys!!   But that's a whole other ball of wax.  ;)