Monday-BBQ Chicken

Tuesday-Pinto beans and corn bread

Wednesday-Hamburger Casserole (this is actually our anniversary so if we manage to sneak out then the kids will likely have pizza)

Thursday-Dh will be cooking while I go to a scrapbook party

Friday-Tuna Casserole

Saturday-Leftovers

Sunday-Roast in the crockpot

Today was our first day of school for the new school year.   It was also our first day using the Accountable Kids program .  Let me tell you, I am already in love!  My boys were up out of bed bright and early and were actually excited to do chores and school, and even to spend their tickets wisely.  It went so well that I even made their tickets worth a little more for today (I hope that isn't counterproductive to the program!).  School went reasonably smooth.  The school age children cooperated with no fuss or goofing off, the babies caused a bit of chaos though.  Even so, school work was done except for silent reading before lunch, and all of the babies napped at pretty much the same time.  I was also able to get some planning done this morning, two weeks lesson plans are written out and math and language arts are tentatively outlined for the rest of the calendar year.  I think we get an A for the day 

Today was also the first day of college for my "baby girl".  She was very nervous this morning, having not been in a classroom situation since 3rd grade, but she seemed to do just fine and sounded much more confident when she called after her classes were finished for the day. 

So to quote from a friends e-mail earlier today "1 day down, 179 to go!"

Not much going on here this week.  We have been working on cleaning and organizing and getting ready to start school.  We are currently missing one book that I know we have but cannot seem to find.  I think we have decided to replace it.  We still need our science books, but we may be able to borrow one from grandma, so that leaves only one new book and one replacement book to buy to start the year.  Not bad.

Brad is working a 9/80 schedule that offers him a day off every other week.  Yesterday was his "off" friday so we were able to get some sorting done together.  This morning we took all of the kids along on our churchs youth beach trip.  It was fun but exhausting, as the beach tends to be.  Tonight the missionaries are coming for dinner, so we need to do some crisis cleaning and meal preparation. 

I downloaded my copy of The Schoolhouse Planner today and having fun sorting through and printing pages.  It is like a shopping trip delivered to my computer  he he he

My plan is to set up 3 notebooks.  The control center notebook for me, and a portfolio type notebook for Jayson and Dalton.  I have never taken that approach before, but it seems appropriate this year. 

The great book sort continues, hoping I can pull this together to start school next week.  Did I mention that we are still finishing history and science from last year?  Friday is the last day and then we will officially be ready to move on.  We will take a couple weeks off from those two subjects to regroup before starting fresh.

Every year I seem to be getting further behind in my lesson planning and curriculum ordering.  It used to be that by March or April I was pouring over catelogs and websites.  In the last few years it seems this has gotten later and later, as our family has grown and our children have gotten busier.  Here it is August and I have not finished planning or shopping.

As I have sorted through shelves and piles of books deciding which to pull out for this year, I was struck with how much excess we have.  Materials that I bought and didn't really work for the intended child, or I just found something better.  Some were gifted to us, or found on clearance so bought ahead for a future child.  I think I have decided to try and utilize as much of those extras as I can this year, rather than buying all new.  I am forever trying to scale down and declutter, so this will be a step in the right direction by not bringing in yet more books.  Also, we are feeling the crunch on the economy as much as everyone else, so saving a little on school supplies can't hurt. 

I will be changing the direction of our history studies, focusing on US history rather than Story of the World year 4.  I have enough math materials to get us through at least part of the year.  I have language arts programs that we have never even used.  I do think I will have to purchase a science book (physics).  I will be sure to post as I firm up the details of this years curriculum and the costs involved.

Do you ever have one of those moments when something you previously "knew" becomes crystal clear and you realize that NOW you know it?

Several times in the last year or two we have had opportunities to be on the receiving end of random (or sometimes not so random) acts of kindness.  Each time we feel really blessed and grateful.  Another one of those gifts was given tonight in the form of some groceries.  We weren't in desperate need of them, we wouldn't have starved without them, but they certainly lessened the load for awhile.  In addition, lots of goodies were included that are not staples in our diet.  Jayson actually asked if we were having a party as he unpacked a bag of chips.

Anyway, to my point.  As I hugged and thanked my dear friend for this unnecessary gift, she told me that I am not supposed to say thanks.  I looked at her, puzzled.  She simply pointed to the sky and said give the glory to Him.  Wow.  This is a simple truth.  I know it.  I teach it to my kids and my Sunday School classes.  But as I digested it, I really KNEW it, maybe for the first time.  My Heavenly Father loves me and my family.  He wants us to be happy and healthy and taken care of.  He put us in this place at this time to have good friends around us to help to make sure that happens.  We are very blessed to know such great people, and there really are good people in this world.............all by Gods design. 

So thank you Heavenly Father, for making sure my family knows that we are loved and important.

Well, not really reinventing, but we had the park day extraordinaire.

After running a few errands this morning, we met 3 other homeschool families at the park.  It was a new park that my family had never been to, so that is always fun.  There was nice playground equipment for the kids and a shady picnic table for the moms to occupy.  I could have lived without the recycled rubber landscape material though, or at least the black that my children returned home wearing. 

While the kids played, we had a nice conversation about health and nutrition and some great ideas and resources were shared.  I am anxiously awaiting an e-mail with the contact details of a local organic co-op.  Local is in my very town!  Who would have thought??

We left that park and returned home long enough to partially clean up the children and grab dad to head to another park.  There we met several other families from church for an impromptu picnic/ family night.  It was very relaxing and we all had a great time.

Now you would think that after all of that playing my kids would be exhausted and ready for sleep.  Not a chance.  We really need to work on a bedtime routine around here.  Brad is always out cold by 10 pm since he gets up so early so I am left to juggle whoever is still awake on my own.  I am getting very tired of the routine, both physically and emotionally.  Tips would certainly be appreciated.

Found one more.  This is actually one I started on recently and abandoned midway through so I guess it is time to finish.

The challenge is to organize your entryway. 

Now in my house, the entryway is an interesting area.  I have a split foyer, split level home.  When you come in the front door, you are on a landing with stairs leading up and down.  On this small landing, we have a large box to hold shoes.  We have hooks on the wall to hold jackets.  There is another small organizer whose job was to hold bags, but it has never been utilized properly.  I think there is a stroller standing down there too.

I actually feel that my entryway expands to include the stairs and the landing at the top of the stairs since you can see all of that from the front door.  The area at the top of the stairs also serves as command central in our home with the key rack, calendar, bulletin board, and chore boards.  This is also the area that the bags end up getting dumped off in reality.

Check back for progress on my entryway, and make sure to keep me accountable!

We have too much stuff!  I know that is a common complaint among homeschoolers.  I mean, we might use it some day, right?  Every now and then I feel the pressure to get rid of the junk.  Usually around Christmas.  Or Spring.  Or back to school.  So today I set about on the internet to find the magic decluttering program.  What I found instead was this blog contest.

I am a bit too late to enter the entire contest since it is August17 already, but if I count today, I still can get in 15 good days of decluttering.  All before labor day.  So what do you think?  Do you have some things you could get rid of too?  Make your house a bit more stream lined before the new school year starts?

The Strep continues on it's path.  The latest "victim" is Jayson.  It was really bad timing, first being Saturday and the doctor being closed, but moreso because we are in the middle of little league play offs.  Dh got to go coach his team short a player, but on a positive note they won!  Now Jayson should be well enough by Wednesday to play in the championship game.

Allyson got home from church girls camp on Friday, just to do laundry and pack again for her trip to Utah.  She leaves bright and early tomorrow morning and we won't see her again until we meet her in California for vacation.  I am excited for her to have so much planned this summer, but of course we all miss her.  She and I will be up late tonight finishing her transcripts so I can get them mailed to the college before we leave in 2 weeks.