Pick your battles

Setting obtainable goals is an idea the we work hard to do here at the Boone house.  This school year we have been creating charts to help the boys see the progress they are making toward their goals.  Carter's goal was to earn 50 accelerated reader points in first grade. Accelerated Reader is a program that gives comprehension questions on books read by the student.  Landon's goal was to read 30 books. With each goal they met there was a reward of their choice.  We made them choose not an item for the reward but an activity such as laser tag, bowling, putt putt, etc.  Now that the school year is almost over and the boys have knocked out their current goals we increased the goal.  Carter decided that he needed to read 150 AR points by the end of the year and Landon had to read 60 books before the end of the year.  For this reward the boys wanted to choice "something" instead of an activity.  After thinking it through we decided that was fine until they told us what they wanted as the reward.  "The largest stuffed animal they could have" was what Landon wanted…ugh!  If you know me then you know that stuffed animals are a waste of money and space to me but I thought pick your battles dear.  Watching them work hard for those goals was so much fun…once they both got close I let me chose the stuffed animal they wanted.  

Landon reading to both Carter and I

So proud of his achievement chart

Once the goal was reached we ordered the largest stuffed penguin we could find.  Each day we would track the package to see where it was at.  After school on Friday, Landon watched and waited for the Fed-Ex man to deliver his package.

When the box arrived the boys ripped into it to reveal their most anticipated reward.

The largest penguin ever…a smile this huge was worth every penny.

Nolan insisted that he get a stuffed animal too.  We had him pick one out and his had to look like Becky's dog, Kody.  He takes this little doggie everywhere.

Penguin love

Their favorite toys

Sleeping with Kody each night

Carter's package didn't arrive the same day as the other boys.  I asked him if he wanted the other boys to wait until his arrived to open it but he said "They can open their boxes and they can share with me."  That was a huge deal!  We were in Michigan for the weekend and our neighbor text me to tell me there was a box on the porch.  Carter could not wait to get home to open the box. He picked out a husky stuffed animal named Slush.

Here they are decorating the boxes they came in to make their pet houses.  Even though the stuffed animals aren't my favorite thing and they all cost an arm and a leg, reaching a goal they set on their own makes it all worth while!