"Beethoven's Wig" CDs

Meta, our friend and neighbor in New York, introduced us to "Beethoven's Wig". The boys have been requesting "Tchaikosky's Cannonball Song" an average of 13 times a car ride lately. Myself, I enjoy the Can-Can song.

"Beethoven's Wig" CDs are 4 volumes of famous classical symphonies and songs put to catchy, silly lyrics. Here's the cover song above put to an animated music video.

I never really anticipated talking Stravinsky with my 4-year-old, but these CDs are a really fun way to get the conversation started about classical music and composers. I really like that the tracks without lyrics are also included, so they can hear the original song. (Or part of it, each song is just a few minute clip.)

Crossing our fingers it'll inspire these littles to take up some stringed instrument! Right now, they like the idea of the trumpet (fine) and cymbals (not fine).

Grandma Hangouts

We live 2000 miles or more away from grandparents. These boys only get to see them about annually. Definitely not as much as we'd like!

About a year ago, my mother-in-law had the brilliant idea to have "Grandma Nan Hangouts". At our designated time weekly (historically, Wednesday mornings; recently changed to Saturday afternoons) we sign into Google hangout.

For 30 minutes Grandma Nan reads the boys picture books.
For 30 minutes they sit on the couch enraptured by books with Grandma.
For 30 minutes, I have quiet time to start dinner, do my hair, or heck, shower.

It is a beautiful, beautiful thing: advancing gram/kiddo relationships, literacy and mommy hygiene.

Standin' Tall

This series of character building stories and music from Brite Music is making a major comeback in our household. And I kind of love it.

Set:

1--Obedience

2--Honesty

3--Forgiveness

4--Work*

5--Courage*

6--Happiness

7--Gratitude

8--Love

9--Service*

10--Cleanliness

11--Self-Esteem

12--Dependability*

*=boys' favs

My parents' graciously handed off the set I had growing up. Seth and Noah both request these as they go to bed and are driving in the car. It is oh so fun to see the boys developing the same little schema I had as a kid. 

Though, admittedly, "Cleanliness" was my favorite tape and I can't say I was cleaner than any other kid. So maybe the messages don't always hit a homerun...

I do think Seth, for one, is getting the idea though. At least about what procrastinating is and that it's no good. This message was brought to us by the "Dependability" CD, a favorite. (A no brainer, the setting is outer space and there's a bad guy.)  Recently he was pushing the limit on bedtime and coming out of his room again. 

"Mommy, can I listen to 'Dependability'?"
"No Seth, it's in the car and it's time for bed."
"Can you go get it?"
"No, shut your door."
"Mommy, are you procrastinating? I think you're procrastinating getting the CD."
"Hm, no, I think you're actually procrastinating going to bed. Is that right? "

Seth gives a knowing you-got-me smirk and eventually, sheepishly shuts the door and goes to sleep.

If trying to peg others' procrastinating is the start of his character education, so be it. We're starting somewhere.

Peterson Bucks

For our management system at home the boys have usually earned fuzzies or marbles for positive behaviors. When the jar is full some grand reward. (Meaning like a $1 Frosty.) Over time, this has lost its novelty and our latest system has instead been nagging many kindly reminders.  

I've been inspired by Crystal before; she's a go-get 'em, always-getting-a-new-project-done type. Last time I went over I snapped a shot of their new job chart:

They earn "family bucks" to eventually buy something from "the family store". This sounded fun and basic enough that even I could keep up on it. 

I couldn't quite recreate that lovely dark framed magnet board, but I came up with something that works for me as a nice alternative I think.

At Michaels I bought this square dark corkboard set of 3 ($9) and some little teal paper bags in the invitation section ($2). I printed off some $1s and $5s in bulk, "laminated" each bag with packing tape for endurance and taped the job labels on each pouch. Pretty simple.

Each time they do a job/positive behavior they get a Peterson Buck. The golden star indicates they get double bucks for that category for the week. The jobs/behavior will change every few weeks--hopefully--as behaviors like "staying in bed until 6:30am" or "clearing the table" become routine. 

Right now Seth needs $25 and Noah has $12 to earn a reward. On Saturday mornings we count our bucks. We (with Seth at least) analyze where he got the most bucks ("Extra Peterson Bucks" for good manners) and where he got the least that he can improve for next week ("Trying New Food"). We open up the Peterson Store-- small Sterilite box of $1 toys, treats or coupons and they each choose one. Later on I'll stratify prices but for now we're keeping it simple. And it's been really fun.