Our ping-pong ball system!

So I received a request from a blog reader to explain our pingpong ball system! I had mentioned it once, but forgot to mention that we have since then implemented it :) [Thanks Laura!]

So first, I'm realizing that life comes basically 3 different types of chores [and I'm sure another slew when kids come!] The chores are:
1) Those that need done every day (dishes, dinner, making the bed, etc.)
2) Those that need done approximately two weeks (vacuuming, wiping down floors, laundry, bathroom, working out the budget, etc.)
3) The pesky ones that demand alot of time and are done once! (taxes, thank-you cards, etc.)

So Jon and I seem to have a very good handle on #1 and a decent handle on #3, however we were finding that #2 was getting done only when we have guests around. Unfortunately this results in Jon having to keep up with my frenetic cleaning pace the day before guests arive, while also attempting to keep me sane. This is not fair to him, and I don't particularly enjoy it either, so I was pondering on a solution. Then one day, while reading Woman's Day at the gym, I came across this idea targeted at getting kids to do their chores. They suggested writing chores on ping-pong balls, then the child picks one out of the hat (bag, bowl, whatever), and then has to do it in 15 minutes. Sounds like fun! I realized it might be a good way for Jon and I to track #2 type of chores, get them done at a reasonable pace, and then have less prep time for when guests come.

So we decided whoever does not make dinner that night does a chore! We have enough ping-pong balls for two weeks worth of chores (about 10). If we get them all done at the end of the two weeks, then we can eat our weekend ice-cream (we eat ice-cream on the weekends so not to eat it all during the week - now we turned it into a rewards :o). So far, this system is fun! And it keeps me from thinking "Oh, I need to remember to vaccum the home, and dust, and do laundry, and the budget..." and whenever that thought comes up I just have to think "that will get done in time, it's on a ping-pong ball!" So it takes care of house clutter and mind-clutter. A win-win! We both are dedicated to the system, so I think it will serve us well!

Here are pictures:

 What are these beautiful bags doing hanging on the lamp stand? They are the homes of the ping-pong balls. The one hung higher is the one with chores we need to do, the one hung lower are with those we have done :o)

 Sara reaching in to find what chore she has "won"!

 Surprise! Is the "chose your own house-hold chore - or clean your desk".

 Here is an example of a normal one: "Empty Trash in all rooms"

Okay - the chore is all done! Bye-bye chore....