Grandpa Carlings

(this picture is Christmas morning i didn't have a pic of today since i didn't go)

So everyone knows that I am on this mission to raise strong , responsible Gentleman that can work. which is very hard in the city surrounded by video game. So, I asked the other day if their was anything that the boys could do at Grandpa to help out and learn to work.
Grandpa said he would call me sometime next week and we could come on over and rake some leaves. I was like OK cool.
An hour later Grandpa calls me and says hey Jess have the boys ready tomorrow at 8:30 and I will be by to pick them up. I say Grandpa I can come and help, Grandpa says" oh no you just stay home and take care of the little guy. So we say are goodbyes and i hang up and I start to panic, because i was planning on being their to make sure they do a good job and if they get out of hand. So I go in and talk to the boys and tell them that they are going to go over to Grandpa Carling's in the morning to rake leaves and work. I start to tell them the rules and that they need to behave and listen and do everything that Grandpa says. They say "OK mom".
They wake up in the morning knowing that they are going to work at grandpas today.
J.p is a little nervous that he isn't going to be able to play any video game today, and I am nervous because I hope my boys behave themselves and do what they are told( not that I think my boys wont mind, you just never know when you aren't around and i don't want it to be hard on grandpa). So they are gone for a couple of hours and I start thinking "OK they haven't called yet so they must be doing all right. Come to find out they had the time of their lives. Grandma and grandpa made them breakfast and they had Hot chocolate and they raked leaves, picked nuts, fed the chicken and cows, and they each came home with a bag of Oranges(my boys live for oranges). That learning experience was a success. Know I need to figure out the next thing I am going to introduce them too. Maybe i will teach J.p to mow the lawn. HA HA!! Wouldn't that be great.
THANK YOU Grandpa for a great time and helping me with the boys experience they will never forget it.

My Boys

I don't know if you know this but I am obsessed with http://www.pioneerwomen.com/. I love how she was a city girl turned rancher wife. I love how she is raising her kids on a ranch. I love how her kids are hard working. She is always posting about how her kids were up early to go bring in the cattle. Don't we all wish we could raise hard working, respectable, independent, and in my case very gentlemanly(that might not be a word) kids? I d0!!!

In our society are kids are getting off pretty easy, All they ever want to do is play video games, at least that is what my kids want to do. I know my kids when i ask them to do one thing they start to grumble and complain that life isn't fair and i usually have to resort to some type of bribe. But that is all going to change, I have decided that i am not going to just think about raising hard working, respectable, independent, gentlemanly boys, I am going to do it. So here are some of my ideas.

1. They do chores everyday. I have them do one room and they can choose. They don't get an option they have to do it. I say that because they use to complain and i would tell them OK fine don't do it, i wont pay you. My boys would say O.k I don't want any money I don't care. so it always back fired on me. So know i just say its not an option you will do it and you will get paid. (They don't complain anymore they just do it.)

2. Saturday work! and I don't mean stuff around the inside of the house. because honestly i like to clean my house once a week myself so i know that it is clean from top to bottom. I mean outside work. Mow the lawn, pick weeds, etc. Example Someday I want to have a big yard and have chickens and a garden and the boys will take care of the chickens. clean the coupe and gather the eggs, and whatever is left they can sale and make some extra cash. They would pick the weeds and gather all the food from the garden.

I don't have that know and not everyone does in the city, But i do know a few people that do so i even thought about going over their and seeing if their was anything the boys could help out with, and i would pay them(my boys). It would also teach them how to do service at the same time has hard work.

3. Introducing them to new things. The boys and I every other Saturday go over to Lowe's, they have this clinic called BUILD AND GROW. My boys love it and look forward to it every Saturday. This past Saturday they built a periscope. when they are finished and turn in their equipment they show it to the lady and they give them a patch. It teaches them a new skill and they also get a sense of accomplishment from finishing their project and then being able to play with something that they built. (and not playing on the video games. They have built so far a bug catcher,car, firetruck, dog leash holder, and a bat I think their others but cant remember.

So these are some of my ideas. I don't know if they will all work and some of them are dreams and wishes. But I thought i would at least like to try. I am no expert at all and i am just learning. I thought i would share my ideas and see if you had any that you would be willing to share with me. I need any help and as much advise as possible.

Now where does Pioneer Women fit into this, she doesn't really , i just really like her blog and she motivates me.