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I had a FANTASTIC time at convention this year!  What a blessing!  Not only was I able to buy everything that we were still needing for next school year (along with some extras, cause I always find something I can't resist!), but I was able to spend some time in The Old Schoolhouse booth, I made some new friends, and some fun business contacts!  I'd love to take the time to just brag it all up to you, but I simply don't have the time. 

However, some of the contacts I made will involve some future reviews on my blog (and Ashley's blog), so I'll explain each one as they come.  Also, I got some great gifts for TOS's Summer Reading Program (which will be launching next week~ so keep watching your e-mail for details!)

I also had opportunity to meet one of the author's of a book I had reviewed for TOS some months ago~ so fun!  I  bought her new book and had it autographed and will be sharing more information on that in the days and weeks to come also. 

Have I told you lately that I LOVE MY JOB?!  It definitely gave me a whole new perspective of the homeschool convention.  I've always loved going, but this year was extra special.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said "hi"~ I enjoyed meeting everyone!

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This week, Jennifer would like us to share how any budget ideas we have for Disney vacations.  Now, I am proud of the fact that I'm a cheapskate!  So, here are some ways we do Disney on a Budget:

*We only get down to Disney World once every few years, so we work on planning and saving for a few years between each trip (yes, we plan from one trip to the next).  We actually have a vacation fund that we keep on a cd in the bank~ this way, we can draw some interest on our original investment and have a little extra when it's time to travel.

*We have a Disney Visa.  If you're familiar with how the Discover cards "pays you back"~ the Disney Visa works the exact same way.  You earn 1% of your purchases back in Disney points (each point = $1)  That might seem like a small percentage, but it really adds up.  We are planning a trip in January of 2009, and will have enough points earned for all of our 6-day park hopper  tickets as well as some character meals and a few other meals in the parks.  This is a GREAT savings!

*Next week's topic is Disney Hotels & Resorts (I'm no expert on that one) so I won't chat long here, BUT we have never stayed on Disney property.  We would have enough points earned on our card to stay on property this trip.  But, we are going with some friends and for $65 per night, per family, we can stay in a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house with private pool.  I can't get a Disney resort for that price.  All the cheaper ones are only for 4 in a family (we have 5) and are small.  This way, we get a full house, lots of space to spread out, AND A kitchen, which brings me to my next point......

*Staying in a house, we can take some of our own foods.  We'll eat breakfast at the house each morning and supper out somewhere each night.  For lunches, we usually carry snack foods and water bottles into the parks.  Disney is one of the only parks I know of that allows you to take snacks and drinks in with you~ this is a HUGE money saver as we all know amusement park food isn't cheap.  We generally snack during the day, on things like  granola bars, etc. then go out somewhere (off site) for a nice sit-down supper.  We will occasionally eat in the parks (and, yes I research beforehand and have a list of the cheapest restaurants and counter service in each park!) but, we've found that, no matter what park we're in, Disney food is all about the same!

*I know some people will say "what about parking?"  Really, I don't think just the cost of parking is enough to turn me off from staying on-site.  I'm not opposed to stayiing on Disney property at all, but so far I haven't been convinced of the reasons that it's best. 

*I touched on this last week, but we have a Disney budget for each of our kids.  We put money in each of their budget containers each week, until they reach our desired amount.  Then, when we go on our trip, they each know exactly how much money they can spend during the week.  This has always worked really great for us, and for the kids.  They like being in charge of their own money and picking their souveneirs.

*We have purposely planned our next trip to fall just before Ian's 3rd birthday (so he'll still be FREE) and Gracie's 9th birthday (so she'll still be a kids' rate).  Be sure to take age into consideration when planning your trip dates.  If you're looking at a time on or around a 3rd or 9th birthday, definitely opt to go BEFORE~ it'll save you a TON of money.

I think people who have never been to Disney World think it's a very expensive vacation.  But, I say, do your research and you really can do Disney on a very affordable budget. 

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,,,,the CHAP convention!

I'll be there.  Will you?

My notebook is all made up with my lists and ready to go.  (I need a new one, though~ I've been using this one for the past few years and, well, it's falling apart!)  Anyway, for those of you who are new to homeschool conventions, I thought I'd briefly share what I include in my notebook, just in case you need some convention tips. 

We register online for the CHAP convention, so the first thing in my notebook is always my printed reservation confirmation.  Make sure you take some sort of proof of payment with you, just in case! 

Next, I include a workshop schedule.  CHAP makes this available to us online before convention.  This is handy, as I can look it over and decide beforehand which workshops are of interest to me.  I highlight the ones that I'd like to listen to and/or purchase the audio cd.  I prefer the audios, actually, as I can concentrate on them better~ however, sometimes they have hand-outs at convention, and I do so love those handouts.  So, weigh your options and choose what's best for you.  I have 5 workshops highlighted for this year, and I'm noticing a recurring theme......each one is related to homeschooling the high schooler.  What do you think?!

After that, I have a section for Ashley and a section for Gracie.  I print pages off the internet or pull them from catalogs, with pictures and prices of the items that I know I need to buy.  I like to have pictures, so I know that I'm getting the latest versions/editions of what we need.  And I like to have prices so I know I'm getting the best deal (if it's cheaper to order online or through a catalog, I'll wait and order when I get home~ though I've never found that to be the case).  I keep all of these pages in plastic sheet protectors because, well, I'm weird like that!

I keep some extra page protectors in the back, for any hand-outs from workshops, etc.

Today, I will make up a quick reference check-list for the front of my binder.  I will print this on cardstock and will not put it in a sheet protector, as I will have check boxes to check off the items as we buy them.  I will seperate this list by child;  and, this year, I'll have a section for my friend Isabelle (who has given me a list of items to look for as well). 

Oh, I always carry pre-printed return address labels.  Many vendors have contests and drawings at their booths, and it is much quicker to use these labels to sign up, rather than having to write out the same information over and over again. 

I want to say a special THANK YOU to my dear friend Crystal, who first encouraged me to attend convention years ago.  I always thought I'd be too overwhelmed at convention.  I was wrong!  I love it, and look forward to it with anticipation each year. 

If you'll be at CHAP, you can look for me in the TOS booth~ I'll be there off-and-on both Friday and Saturday.  Hope to see YOU there!

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Awhile back, many of you sent suggestions to Gena~
your ideas for the "ultimate homeschool planner".

My friend Kris and I were assigned the fun task of going through
all of those e-mails and designing all the many, many planner pages
that YOU asked for!
We went over those e-mails with a fine-tooth comb (not really!)~
and we designed so many planner pages that I was beginning
to dream about planners!

Do you just love that cover?!
That was designed by Christi and I think it's fabulous!
It makes you want one, doesn't it?

Well, guess what?!
This week ONLY, if you spend $30 at the Schoolhouse Store,
you can get a FREE sneak peek at our planner!
Just type PLANNER SNEAK PEEK in the comment section at checkout.
You'll get this fantastic cover along with 8 sample pages
and the full instructions sheet
(so you'll know what all you have to look forward to).

Head on over to the Schoolhouse Store
and get yours TODAY.
This offer expires Sunday, May 11th.

Our planner will be released in its entirety sometime this summer.  We’re excited about it and know that you will be too!  We have taken ALL of your suggestions and ideas and compiled them into ONE fantastic planner, so that everything you need to plan in your life can be in one place, making your busy life as a homeschool mom just a bit simpler!  In The Schoolhouse Planner, you can expect to find:

·         Calendars in various forms – yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily
·         Lists of holidays and places to record special days in your family
·         Planners for your homeschool – in various styles to meet your individual needs
·         Pages for both long-term and short-term homeschooling goals
·         Curriculum planning forms
·         Evaluation forms and test score recording sheets
·         A through-the-Bible in a (school) year schedule
·         Forms for recording Bible memory and other memory work
·         Logs for recording books read, movies and documentaries viewed, etc.
·         A field trip planning form and recording log
·         A sample science lab sheet and nature study sheets
·         A place to record extracurricular activities
·         Outside classes, co-op, and support group information and recording sheets
·         Household planning forms
·         Daily, weekly, and monthly household schedule charts
·         Grocery, menu-planning, and food logs
·         Various budget and financial planning forms
·         Garden planning sheets
·         An appliance and electronics inventory sheet
·         Vacation planning ideas
·         Address and telephone records
·         And much, much more!

And, if that’s not enough, we’ve also included MORE:

• 12 “homeschool must-know” items, one for each month of the year
• 12 essays from some of our favorite authors in the homeschool community – you absolutely won’t want to miss these!
• 24 easy main-dish recipes from some top homeschoolers around the nation
  

If all of that isn’t enough to entice you, each month throughout the year, we will also be offering “planner supplements” (be watching for details on these; both you and your kids will love them!)

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I am!

I'm always looking for a good bargain.  Rarely do I buy anything full price.  After you become a bargain hunter, I think it almost becomes a sort of addiction- you no longer want to buy things unless they are on sale, and you're always trying to get a better bargain than the last time!  Fun! 

Later this week, I'll be sharing Disney on a Budget in the Destination Disney Carnival.  What are some things you do to save money?  Where do you like to shop for bargains?  What has been your best bargain find? 

We have been blessed to find a grocery store that will double $1 coupons (most of the store around here will double, but the discount won't go over $1~ this particular store will double any coupon up to and including a $1 for a savings of $2).  So, I've become quite good at clipping coupons and making our menu and store list around the items that we have coupons for.  Do you use coupons?  Did you know that there are online coupons?  You can shop NBC Coupon Codes and find coupons and discounts on most anything you could possibly want!  They have got a huge assortment of coupons.  You can click on the various categories in the left-hand sidebar;  then the coupons are seperated alphabetically, so it's very simple to find what you are looking for.  Some of my favorites are the Clothing & Apparel, Baby & Kids, and Toys & Games.  If you're looking for a coupon, chances are you can find it here!  Enjoy!

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MY THOUGHTS: I know I've said this an awful lot lately, but I have just really been appreciating the wide variety of books that I've been reading lately.  This book was not a "Christian" book, though there were Bible references scattered throughout the pages.  What really intrigued me in this book was the historical aspect of it~ the fact that they traced Jane's family tree (paternal and maternal) back at least 4 generations.  I have always wished I knew more about my ancestors; after reading this book, I may just be looking that I don't know any more than I do!  I was just very intrigued by the storyline; and, though I probably wouldn't have written a psychic into it, I was very interested in what they would learn.  For a first novel, I think it was very good.  I liked the end, and can definitely see this book having a sequel.

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In honor of her one year blogoversary, my dear friend Charity is hosting a contest.  I hope that you will stop by and wish her a Happy Anniversary and take the time to play along.  Her contest is all about friendship, and she's asking us to share about our oldest/longest friend.  Her friendship prize  basket is fabulous!

I have alot of really great friends, but my closest friends these days are rather new in the grand scheme of life.  I have some great friends at our church, but we've only been there about 4 years.  My friends from The Gathering Room are so precious to me, but we've only been friends for about 2-5 years (some less).  My friend Sue and I have been friends for about 14 years (since Ashley was a baby)- but compared to a lifetime, that's not even very long.

So, I've decided to talk about my very truest, dearest, longest friend~ my Mom!  We've been through alot of ups and downs over the years, for sure.  Growing us as an only child for so long, I was  very close to my mom as a child.  We suffered through the crazy teen years together- I'm sure there were times she wanted to disown me- but she was always there for me.  Even the first few years of my marriage were a bit of a struggle for my Mom and I.  But, here we are, all these years later;  she (and my Dad) live right up the street from us and we see each other almost every day.  If a day goes by that we don't at least talk on the phone, I miss her. 

One of the biggest sacrifices my Mom has made for me was in the fall of 2006.  I was planning to go to Vietnam on my own to get Ian (as Brian and I decided it was important for the  girls to have some stability at home, so only one of us would travel).  My Mom would hear nothing about me going alone.  We asked several people (both family and friends) to travel with me, and it just didn't work out for anyone else.  So, my Mom took action- she applied for her passport, and we flew off on an adventure right after Thanksgiving.  We celebrated my Mom's birthday in Vietnam that year- our whole  group had a party for her in the restaurant at the top of our hotel.  We shared some wonderful cake, and she even got some lovely gifts from our travelling friends.  Here's a picture of my Mom and me, taken on a "dinner cruise" around Ha Long Bay:

I know that my Mom got really homesick on our trip to Vietnam.  But, I'm so glad we share this experience together.  We still talk about it alot, and we'll always treasure that moment of seeing Ian for the first time. 

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OK, now here's where I tend to be a little crazy~ PLANNING!  I absolutely LOVE to plan anything~ but my favorite thing to plan is our Disney vacations.  I shared a little bit about my first Disney planning experience in last week's post, and said I would expand on that this week.  So, here goes......

When my parents first told us that we'd be taking a trip to Disney World, I was 17 years old and a senior in high school.  A friend of my mom loaned her Birnbaum's Guide to Walt Disney World (I've linked to the most recent edition, as this book is updated annually).  I don't know if my mom had any idea what she was getting herself (and the rest of the family) into when she put that book in my hands!  I went nuts!  I read that book cover to cover and I took notes!  Then, I started making notecards (on 3x5 cards) of the various parks, coded by areas of each park, and what we definitely wanted to see.  I kept them all together in a little purse, and  became my family's own personal tour guide when we finally made our trip! 

And now, in order to keep my thoughts together and not hop off on some rabbit trail, I'm going to answer the questions that Jennifer posed on her blog:

When do you go and why?
We made our first two trips to Disney World in January, 1988 and 1990.  Or family has gone twice since then, both times going the last week of February into March, 1998 and 2005.  Our next trip is planned for January 2009.  We have chosen all of these times because they are times when Disney tends to be the least crowded.  Typically, Disney crowds are down during times when public schools are in session, and not weeks that contain a holiday.  However, we also try to go during the off-season, when rates are cheaper at hotels, etc.

How far in advance do you plan?
Should I admit this?  We plan from one trip to the next!  So, we've been gearing up for this next trip since we got back from the last one.  We will occasionally order the new Disney Planning dvd's, just for the fun of it, and we even had those customized maps made (just for fun) awhile back~ we might order new ones closer to our trip.  We use a Disney Visa card, so we are always building up points with that to be used towards our next trip~ tickets, character meals, etc.  And, we have a Disney Savings Fund for each child, that we work on filling between trips as well (this becomes their spending money for souveniers, etc. in the parks).

What resources do you use---websites, books, forums?
Mikki introduced me to some websites for Disney information, where you can sign up to get weekly e-newsletters or read their online forums.  I enjoy perusing them when they arrive in my inbox~ they always give the latest news as far as what's closed down and for how long, etc.  Those sites are AllEars. net, Mouse Buzz, and Mousesavers.  I found another site called Touring Plans~ this one has some great information (I paid, I believe, around $6 for a one-year membership) about which days are least crowded at which parks, etc.  You can get your Disney customized maps here (and they are very nice); but other than that, I don't spend alot of time on the actual Disney website, as I find other sites to be much more informative.
I already mentioned my love for Birnbaum's Guide.  Each time we go, I toy with the idea of not buying the  book, but I always end of breaking down and purchasing it!  Last time, we also bought the Guide for Kids and it was also very informative and the girls loved looking through it.  They were making their notes right alongside Mom, and highlighting in their book (this book also has some fun activities for kids to do).  Recently I found this book called Guide to the Magic and think I will buy this one for Gracie~ it looks great.

How much thought and detail do you put into your daily itinerary?
Would "WAY TOO MUCH" be an appropriate response?  I shared about my notecards on our first trip.  If you thought that was bad, you should see me now.  I'm almost afraid to answer this question, for fear someone will turn me in and those guys in little white coats will come to take me away!  LOL
For our last trip, I took a 3-ring binder.  I had all my notes typed out and in the binder.  Each park had a check-list of the things that we wanted to do (so we could check them off as we did them), as well as the best times to ride each ride or see each show.  Believe it or not, I also had a "photo opp" check-list~ there were certain things I knew I wanted to take pictures of, so I made a list of these as well! 

As you can clearly see, I could ramble on and on about planning.......
Next week's topic is "Disney on a Budget"~ I've got lots of idea for this one too.

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