The Johnson's: Jan 20: A Big Helper

Sunday at our house is generally a day full of chores and attempts to mark items off our house to-do list. It is always a challenge to get through chores with a toddler running around getting into things, but lately Erik has decided to try and help Kent and I get things done. He helps me with the laundry by helping to push the laundry baskets from our closet to the laundry room, sorting the clothes and moving clothes in & out of the dryer (mostly in the correct direction). He also likes to help fill & empty the dishwasher - sometimes a little too much, but again, mostly in the correct direction!

What Erik really loves, though, is to help Kent out in the yard. He begs for rides on the John Deere tractor whenever Kent mows the grass. Erik seems to enjoy sitting on the tractor as much as riding...pulling the levers and knobs and getting on and off (repeatedly). The last time Erik went mowing with Kent he fell asleep about half way through. It wasn't just a little eye blinking...this was a full on "there is no way I can keep my head up" nap and he didn't put up a fight when he was carried in the house. Something about noise and motion I guess. Erik also likes to putter around while Kent is outside doing chores. He has a route around the house that starts with throwing things in the fountain (if left unsupervised), which mostly consists of pine bark and precious leaves from our plants. Then he goes by the garage and circles the air conditioner a few times and finishes by stepping in a large hole that was created by a vacated plant (that was dying). Then he goes back by the pool equipment and navigates the maze of pipes and machinery. He picks up little rocks and hauls them around the pool equipment jungle-gym. It's interesting to watch his routine!

Today, we finally took our 8 foot live (or rather, dead) Christmas tree out of the house. Erik was fascinated by the whole process as you can imagine. Kent got the tree up on a furniture mover and then slowly rolled it down the hallway to the front door. Kent & Dad then tipped the tree over and smashed it through the door out to the front yard where we finally took off the lights (didn't want to do that inside with all the dead pine needles). Erik "helped" with the lights and then he had a grand time helping all the adults sweep and vacuum up the pine needles that were littered from one end of the house to the other.

If we can keep Erik interested in doing chores, maybe we can get him to start changing diapers when the baby arrives in June!! Here are some pictures of Erik helping with chores.