I've been working for quite a while on lesson planning for next homeschool year.  I'm almost finished, but all that planning is on hold for now so I can focus on getting our field trips planned.  We used to go on quite a few field trips with a local group, but I suppose most folks have either gotten busier or just don't want the responsibility of planning a field trip for a large group so there haven't been many trips set up this current school year.  I can certainly understand the latter reason.  I took on the responsibility of setting up a trip this year and was horrified at fellow homeschoolers' behavior... they showed up late or not at all (and this was a trip requiring signup as the business had prepared very nice goody bags for the kids and parents), behaved poorly during the tour, and then only 2 kids sent thank you notes (this is a business I frequent on almost a weekly basis so I was privvy to that info).  I was ashamed to have associated myself with such a group.  I'm not trying to sound high and mighty or like I'm better than anyone else, but come on... respectable behavior and good manners are not too much to ask of a group of homeschoolers in my humble opinion.  Quite frankly I was downright embarrassed.

This coming school year we'll be taking field trips as a family.  I've mentioned before that high gas prices have been negatively impacting us so I'm having to look long and hard at all the field trip opportunities around here and consider factors such as admission fees plus the cost of gas to drive there and back.  Hubby and I have discussed it all a bit, but I hope to have our field trip plans finalized today along with estimates of how much each will cost.  I set aside a certain $ amount out of every other paycheck for homeschooling expenses (includes field trips, curriculum to purchase the following spring for the next school year, plays and musicals at the local performing arts center, etc.).  I really need to get the new amount calculated that we'll need for the coming year and hopefully will have that accomplished by today's end.