Last night's browsing on eBay was quite beneficial!  I'm still trying to pull together Jami's materials (thank goodness we don't officially start school until September 6!)  I saw the teacher's materials for Abeka Arithmetic 4 up for bids.  I got the "Teacher Key," "Tests/Speed Drills Key" and "Lesson Plans" books for $28, plus $4 s/h!  Brand-new they'd run over $60.  Now I'm hunting for teacher's materials for language and spelling.  I know a lot of people skip over the teacher's stuff, but I feel a lot more comfortable having the "whole package."  I will order the student materials new, but they are so inexpensive even new that it won't be that much.

She is getting excited about our adventure.  Tomorrow we are going shopping for a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers since she'll be starting ballet again on the 9th.  She sat out for 2 years -- had gotten a wee bit burned out (her last school was a little intense for someone who just wants to enjoy dance without the pressure of Broadway hanging over her head . . . )  The new school is laid back in a good way.  The instruction is top-notch, but the teacher definitely understands the need to keep some FUN in it, you know?  She doesn't insist on a $40 leotard with a strappy strappy back that doesn't properly fit 3/4 of the students in the class (like our last school).  Fancy (aka colored) leotards are okay, as long as they have a simple black one for community performances.  And the black one can come from, EGADS!, Target or Wal-Mart!  I think I'm going to love this teacher . . .

Off to surf eBay again . . . see what other jewels I can uncover . . .