Candy Bars and Legos

Amazing things happened at my house the last few weeks.  My kids kept their bedrooms clean!  For two whole weeks! and counting...

Why?  because I posted a sign that said "Calling All Berkleys.  CLEAN BEDROOM CONTEST! If your room is the cleanest all week, including making your bed, you will get a king-sized candy bar on Saturday."

Of course I didn't win.  My bedroom is never the cleanest (much too my husband's dismay).

Brennen was ahead most of the week but he slipped on the bed making at the end.  Janessa won.  But I decided to reward everyone else with candy bars too--normal size because it was AMAZING that ALL the bedrooms stayed clean.

I wasn't planning on a second week but the following Sunday night Andy and Cameron's room was so clean, which is usually the dirtiest day of all because they have been home for 2 days in a row, that I had to continue the contest.  (It amazing to me how fast those boys, mostly Andy, can make a disaster area in their room).  Andy announced that HE was going to win the bedroom contest this week.  So I let it go on!  And win it he did!  He even made Cameron's bed some days.  He told me that Cameron maybe shouldn't get a big candy bar because he didn't help much.

When I first started this contest, my friend said maybe it was a bit unfair to Andy because he isn't that capable of keeping his room clean and it might just make him discouraged.  But we were both proved wrong!  just give the kid some motivation and he can accomplish anything.

AMAZING!

The other thing that is amazing is my 3 youngest kids playing together semi-quietly with out fighting on a Sunday afternoon.  Because I got out the special castle Legos.  We bought a big set of Legos (I am sure there is a name but I don't know--it has knights and horses) years ago for the older boys for Christmas that are separate from the other Legos and the little kids don't often get to play with them because, well little kids aren't so careful sometimes.  Anyway, they have been playing nicely without fighting for a few hours.

AMAZING!