This Will Make You Appreciate the After

I cannot believe this was only our first week of summer break! It seems like we've been off for a long time. I guess that's a good thing since it's nearly JULY already!!! I cannot believe that. Summer is going to fly by.

GETTING READY
Towards that end, I have been purchasing some things for next year already. The big order to Sonlight will be made next month, I suppose and I'm not looking forward to parting with that money.

Before all these new books and curriculum parts come pouring into my house, I need a place to PUT them. So I guess it's time to start working in the ol' homeschool room. It's so lovely right now with it's half-done shelves and table piled high with stuff and the entire closet full of junk that who-knows-what I'll do with. I kind of hate to disturb it's loveliness.

 I KNOW! Open House was only a week ago!

Huh. The closet door won't really even open. 

Yikes. 

Hmmm.

Oh look! A glorious neat spot!!

Uh....

I have my work cut out for me.

At least I'm not painting and switching rooms this year, huh?

Now accepting applications for help. Anyone out there love to organize?


IN OTHER PARTS OF THE HOUSE
Also the sewing room is a wreck. As usual. Need to get in there and get that organized. And even I will not post pictures of that space. It seriously looks like we've been robbed. I'd like to work on the girls' quilts for their beds and I can't sew on those until I get the sewing room organized.

ON A VERY HAPPY NOTE
S is home from being out of town all week and I couldn't be happier. We stayed very busy while he was gone, but I still didn't like it. Very thankful his travels were safe and he's back home where he belongs.

Well, I'm off to put my money where my mouth is and go DO some of the stuff I just so easily typed up. Knowing I can post "new and improved" photos next week is very motivating!

Have a great weekend!

Bit By the Frugal Bug

This was my second week attempting frugal grocery shopping and I am very pleased again. I only used 1 coupon and price matched 18 items at W-mart.

The problem with all the couponing this week was the match-ups I found on websites called for coupons that came out in the May inserts. I don't have those inserts as I wasn't saving coupons at the time. So, it will take a few more weeks before I'm all set on the coupon front.

This mama killdeer laid eggs in the flowerbeds at church. We've been watching her every week.
They hatched this week. I sure hope we get to see them! 

But I can still price match! I don't know exactly how much I saved this week as I forgot to write down the prices from W-mart. Last week I saved about $13, which doesn't sound like a lot. So why are my grocery bills so much lower than they have been?

I think it's because I'm spending the time going through all the grocery ads for all the stores in our area so I KNOW a good deal when I see it. There are many times when W-mart's price is better than the one I have written down. It's good to know that I'm getting a good price.

And of course, I'm not buying organic anymore. I would like to go back to organic one day...but not right now.

I love that I'm saving money on our grocery bill each week. Since I don't actually have an income....saving money where I can makes me feel like I'm contributing to our family's budget in a very real way.

My grocery store helpers. They are very patient and good shoppers.

Now, I need a better deal on my Internet and phone service! Our Internet has been flaky lately and to get a faster service it will end up costing only about $8-$10 a month more BUT $100 more for a new modem. That's not helping me save money. The only reason we even have a land line is for the Internet service. I wish i could get rid of the whole bill!

I'm all about getting a better deal. Once you start saving money, you feel really offended if you can't save on something. We went to Chili's last week with a "kids eat free" coupon. Bought books at the bookstore "buy 2 get 1 free" and used a Starbucks gift card.

It's official. I've been bit by the frugal bug. I LOVE saving money.

Today At Our House

It rained!!! FINALLY! Boy, we needed rain!

A club was built in the living room. 

I drug out my big fabric bin so the girls could choose fabric for sewing class. Now I need to fix it up a  bit. 

We made these in sewing class. Next week we'll hand stitch around the hearts.  (Little Bit's, friend's, Sweetheart's)

Someone cut their foot and Mama had to perform first aid. 

The toy room got trashed played in. 

I ironed a shirt for S. 

 I washed the dishes. 

I NEED to finish my menu plan and grocery list. 

I got this cool wrapping paper for 40% off and have a plan for it along with those boxes. 

Then the girls went to Grandpa's house to watch cartoons. 

So I blogged.


The End. 

Our Routine (And the Good 'Ol Summertime)

Today I'm linking up with the Tri-Moms and they are discussing routines. You know....how does your routine change from the school year to the summer?

This year was the first time we used a schedule that differed greatly from the public school calendar. We were steeped in the public school calendar before. I mean, husband and I both attended 13 years of public school. Then I taught 11 years in public school. Then our older daughter went to public/private school for 3 years. It was our life.

But last year I got brave and tried something different and we really liked it! It was called "a Sabbath schedule" and I talked about it here. And all the reasons why it rocks here. (That link is full of good reasons!)

It was very difficult for me in May, however. That was the time when all around me people were counting down the days until they were out of school and we still had WEEKS. Oh I was irritated. But it all worked out really well and I lived. And we still have SEVEN weeks of a summer break!

Now that I've seen the schedule through one whole cycle...I'm going to stick with it. It really worked well for us.

So how does life change in our seven week summer? Well..for one thing, we can run our errands in the mornings when it is not 100+ degrees yet and also all the late sleepers are not at the store. We love getting the errands out of the way while everyone is fresh and not cranky and stores are not crowded.

Also, I get big projects done in the summers. This is my time to sew and organize things around the house and switch rooms around at will. (Don't think I'm switching any rooms this summer! OR painting anything!  I know!!!)

The big break gives my kids time to get bored, wander around, and find things to do. They get to use their imagination. Now that we don't have TV (1 1/2 years baby!), they have to work a bit harder to find things to do. TV was ALWAYS Sweetheart's default. Summer gives more time for art, playing, chores, and swimming.

And on weekends we go to the beach a lot with Daddy.

We also go to the library every week. Our library has a lot of activities in the summer and we try to take advantage of  that. We also have a goal every summer of reading 100 books each. I think we've met that goal every year since Little Bit was 3. If you read 100 books, you get a certificate, an ice cream, and a free book at the end of the summer. I feel like I have so much more time to read to them in the summer.

We also used to do summer themes every week. I loved those. Trying to get organized to do some of those this year too. After all, Little Bit is only 7--she will still love them.

And here was our daily routine during the school year.

Go check out the other mom's routines: Suzanne, Kristen, and Kathi. (The link up is at Kristen's place--go join us and tell us your summer routine!)

The Summer of Literacy

The way the word "literacy" is commonly used today means, "able to read and write." In fact, that is one of the definitions in the Merriam-Webster dictionary today. But the Webster's 1828 dictionary defines literacy as, "Learned; lettered; instructed in learning and science."

Interesting difference.

When I speak of literate, I mean "well-read." As in, I can read a older book and catch the references to other works of literature or art.

I can't, by the way. I have decided that on the whole, Americans are VERY poorly read. On the whole. You might be the exception. I have tried to find a list of "recommended reading" for high school students but it seems that it varies greatly. If a student is in AP classes, then they might graduate having read a minimal number of great books, but if they are in regular or below regular classes? Forget it.

I think we just so often aim for the bare minimum. I mean, functionally literate means that a person can read and write enough to understand street signs, etc. Don't get me wrong...I am so thankful there are programs for adults who cannot read or write. It brings tears to my eyes to see how grateful folks can be when they finally learn to read. How horrible to go through life without being able to!

But I'm tired of the bare minimum. I want my children---and myself---(and S wants this too for himself) to be well-read. There are SO many books and works that we have never read. Books I have heard about my whole life but have never actually opened and read.

I've been thinking about all of this for a few months now. I think it really shook me up when I opened Gulliver's Travels earlier this year and couldn't understand it! Good grief.

So, here is what I'm doing about it:

1. The girls are working off of the 1,000 Good Books List. I am getting whatever I can from the library (and not all of them will be found there) and reading with them this summer. I have requested books from all over our county. I will highlight each book they have read and see how many we can get through this summer. Some we have already read or own, so I'm just marking those off. It's not that many though.

2. S and I went to Barnes and Noble the other night and bought 3 of their paperback classics. They had a deal for "buy 2, get 1 free". However, nothing rang up free at the register so we got back in line and because they had "screwed up" (in the very professional words of the cashier), we got the most expensive one for free. Awesome. So we are sitting on our garage sale double-recliner couch each evening, with our reading glasses on because we are in our 40s..and reading classic literature.

Soon, we'll be so smart you won't be able to understand my blog.

3. We hope, one day, to read some of the books on the 100 Great Books list. Honestly, I'm not sure I could read and comprehend some of those right now. Better get all these high school level books read first. We might settle for being able to read and understand the King James Version, a thing which I often cannot do now.

I think your blog reading is safe.