How I Spent My Summer Vacation.....

I Can Just See It Now....
It is the first day of school and the teachers ask my girls to write a paper about what they did over the summer. No doubt, at the top of the list will be.....
"This was a great summer, I learned how to properly clean a toilet....."
The essay will go on....
"My mom says that there are some children who don't know how to clean a toilet at all and she does not want us to be one of those children. She said that when we are 12 years old and attend Young Women Girls Camp, we may even get the assignment to clean toilets. She does not want us to be embarrassed by not knowing how to do this chore properly."
The essay will include other thoughts such as...
"I have the greatest mom in the world. She made sure that she prepared me for real life and taught me everything I need to know. I will know how to take care of and clean anything...especially the toilets in my future. I love my mom and I know she loves me."

Yes, you read it here first.

Two weeks ago, I gave some serious Toilet (and Bathroom) Cleaning lessons
to Katherine and Megan.
With 4 Bathrooms in our house, there was plenty of "hands on" demonstrating.
I cleaned one toilet as a demonstration and then they each cleaned one on their own with me watching and then inspecting.
We covered what cleaning supplies and materials to use and why.
We covered the all important....Do not combine ammonia and bleach cleaning products
and then went over which products contained what.
I showed them how to read labels and where to use which products.
I taught them which order to clean things in the bathroom
and how to not use the same rags on the rest of the bathroom that touch the toilet, etc.
Little did I realize that this new found skill would be put to use outside of our house so soon.
Tonight was our family's turn to help clean the the Church Building.
Guess what.... We Cleaned the Women's' and Men's Bathrooms.
(Yes, my GIRLS got to go in the BOYS Bathroom...they kept staring at the urinal...I realize we did not cover urinal cleaning in our sessions.I just tried to be matter of fact, like this was any other restroom that just had to be cleaned)
Katherine kept saying....I need to do this for the experience. I don't want to be one of those kids who does not know how to clean a toilet properly. I need all the experience I can get.
I THINK maybe.....just maybe... I got my point across!
For 8 and 11 year old little girls, they are doing great.
What an amazing summer we are having... I know you are sitting there just a little envious that you have not had Toilet and Bathroom Cleaning sessions with your children.
Or, maybe you have had these sessions and are having the same sort of
wonderful summer I am having.... It's great, huh?
Not everyone can have such an exciting summer.

Friend or Foe

Summer Friend or Foe?

You decide.....

Nintendo DS has become my

Summer Household Helper

The irony is that I used to work for Nintendo as a Company Representative.

For many, it would be the absolute once in a life time dream job.

One of the products I was introducing to stores was the Nintendo DS.

Another irony....I don't play Video Games.

I am great at marketing and product education, I just don't play with the products.

Each new game would be shipped to me for my review.

I would have to participate in weekly conference calls giving and hearing product input,

including all the great features of each game.

I learned the most about each game by asking children

around me to play the game and tell me all about it.

When I went to the Nintendo Headquarters in Redmond, WA,

I had unlimited access to all the game playing my heart could handle...

I even met MARIO! Yep... MARIO!! I should scan that photo when I find it!

Anyhow I am rambling.....

What I set out to post is that Nintendo DS has helped get

chores done at our house for the first 2 weeks of summer.

Each evening, my children turn in their Nintendo DS to me.

Each morning, their basic chores have to be complete

before DS can be returned to them.

This is also true for turning on the TV and Computer.

No TV, No Electronics, until morning chores are done.

Amazing...

The beds are made, the dished unloaded, and the garbage is emptied

without any complaints and with very minimal reminders.

Had I realized Nintendo DS was such a Household Helper,

I would have added that to my promo and product education information.

Need I explain further why, even though I am not a huge proponent of

Video Games, I call Nintendo DS my Friend!

PS From the editor....I completely forgot to mention the Nintendo Wii Controllers. I get them also until the chores are done, and thanks to the comment below by Jen, I was reminded...the chores and 30 minutes of reading must be done before we break out the electronic connection.