C'Mon, Ref....

Samantha (13) is starting a job!  Yes, a job.  This weekend she attended an all day seminar hosted by our Soccer Association for Referee training.  Starting with the next season, she will be reffing games, blowing whistles and schooling parents on the game of soccer - and getting paid to do it.  Great job, Samantha!  You'll look amazing in stripes!

Charlotte's Breakfast

Charlotte is our resident chef.  Rachel might like to bake treats, but, Charlotte likes to cook.  She makes a mean french toast - all by herself.  I just have to have the ingredients on hand and she will make it happen.  Now we just need to work on her clean-up skills.  This is a shot of Charlotte in action last week - making supper for the BallTeam.  Thank you Charlotte; it was delicious!

New Do's

Charlotte's hair needed some shape - so James got his clippers and Charlotte got an update!

It's so spunky and free.  She looks older and it fits her so perfectly.

Rachel wanted a new look, too. She trimmed her own front sweep, created some smooth bangs and straightened it.  Voila: sleek, somewhat younger looking, Rachel.

Star Chart

We are always in the hunt for the perfect way to get the kids to do chores and generally be good BallTeam members.  Our newest incarnation is the "Star Chart".  It's actually a spiral notebook and on one page we write, Week Ending _______.  The page is divided into five sections and the ladies and JMichael earn stars throughout the week.  Stars are earned by doing deeds which are not required.  Everyone has regular chores.  This is not about those chores.  If I ask Samantha to empty the dishwasher, she does not get a star.  If she empties the dishwasher without being asked, she gets a star.  Star jobs must be witnessed and done to a parent's satisfaction to count for a star.  Only parents can award stars.  Parents can also take away stars for misbehaving.

The kiddo with the most stars by Saturday at supper wins the week.  The prize is always the same: a date out alone with Dad and Mom or Dad or Mom.  These dates have a $5 per person limit, so nothing extravagant.  This week's winner was ........

I will post future Stars here and let you know if this our perfect rewards system.  Samantha gets the credit for inventing this system.  She thought it would encourage helpful behavior and reward good deeds.  So far, so good!