Count down

Spring is here and its beautiful. In the last few weeks, the kids would rather spend their time outside playing, than studying. Wouldn't we all! LOL School count down has begun. We have until the end of May to get this done. The boys have agreed to double up on a few days to get caught up, a day off here or there hurts us when we realize that we'll be having school til Jun.

Surprisingly the kids are getting up early every morning. Before 8 am is unheard of here, yet they get me up now. Breakfast and chores are done quickly. School started, checked, reworked if needed, and finally the unit study we are working on is started. By the time we are done its 12 noon, lunch time. They have the rest of the day to play or read or talk me into a bike ride.

DS2 loves to do laundry. Thinking of hiring this kid out. hehe He just found a new love, hanging clothes on the line. I have to fight him to do it. Especially if he is suppose to be working on math or other subject. DS3 loves to ride his bike or play sports. DS1 would rather read and not do anything physical. Must be a teenage boy thing, he's going to get over that quickly if he doesn't want momma bear to get mad.

All in all, I think this summer is going to be loads of fun. Got plans to make a big garden, plant flowers out front, and rent cabins in the park for mini vacations. Nothing grand this year. Want to pay off some debt we have looming over our heads. Can't teach the kids good stewardship if we don't practice it ourselves.

Learning to make my own unit studies

I've been searching on how to make a unit study. Lots of info out there, but they all have links to sites that are dead links. Sites are no longer there. Makes it hard to find the info I need. So I'm on the look on how to make them. Others things I've found want you to buy them from them. I can understand that, but when I do buy them the pages are blank and you kids are expected to fill them out. BIG DEAL! I want something written out that tells me how to teach my kids this subject.

Because of this lack of completed unit studies out there, I decided to create my own. So far I've come up with a template of sorts to start me off. I don't want them to be totally focused on just internet links either. Those come and go. Books don't. Maybe I might create something that others may want to buy. Its worth looking into though.

Support Group

There are two homeschool support groups in my area. Today, we joined the other one. We'll get newsletters, monthly meetings, etc. from this group. Plus meet other moms that I wouldn't normally get to meet in the area. Hoping this will just give us more options to network than I had before. The other group is filled with some really nice ladies, but they just don't support you the way I want/need.

As for the one we originally have been members of. We will probably stay members with, but will not be as involved. Wait and see. Just wait and see.

He took the job

DH contacted his employer this week to let them know his last day is Saturday. In the trucking industry, drivers come and go like a revolving door. What we didn't expect was they took his load from him and left him sitting in the wind today. No load assigned to him, he doesn't get paid. Nice huh? Not overly worried about it though. We have money stored back in case of emergencies. This is just a bump in the road.

As for the new job. That one I hope is all it was promised it would be. If Dh drives as many miles as promised, we will have a debt snowball of $868 per month. A friend of mine asked me if I have played with the budget yet with this new job. *smiles big* She knows me so well. Of course I have. Buffing up a couple envies. I'm finding that when we have all our categories funded, the budget works much much better.

So, back to the snowball. If I don't work and we have that kick butt snowball. We will be debt free by Spring next year. Credit card free by Nov. Is that cool or what? Talked to DH and we both think that if I work part-time say at a bank or something like that and work 20-24 hrs a week. That extra will go to the snowball too and/or say a fund to buy a new to use vehicle for DH. Probably the latter. Until the jobs start picking up here we will just have to wait.

Overview of the week

Been super busy these last few days. DS1 had his birthday Sat, turned 15. Asked me if he could shave again. Hmmm, lets see...if you feel like you need to, then do it. I don't know until I see it. Guess the thought he needed permission to shave every time. Learning lesson for both of us.

Friday we went to co-op. The boys went out with a dad who had traps set for beavers. Got 3 and explained to the kids what he can trap, what's illegal to trap, how to skin them, etc. Never show us first hand the skinning process, bet my kids would be right up in front watching. I on the other hand, helped out in the kitchen. The 2-3 grade girls are taking a cooking class. All hands on for them. Yeee! We were doing fine until the other mom and I got to talking, forgot about the garlic bread in the oven. Now we both brag about how good of cooks we are, this was not one of our shinning moments. I hollered at her to get the bread and when she opened the oven door, smoked billowed out. Everyone came a running to see what we had burned. LOL!! It was to funny, we'll never live that one down.

Dh still hasn't found a job he likes yet. Or better yet, a job I'm happy with. He got an offer to one that I question. Its only been in business for 2/3 yrs. The one I'd like for him to get he questions the amount they pay. Wish we'd both get on the same page on this.

As for my job hunt, its at a stand still. There is nothing within a 30 mile radius for my skills. Clerical at the basic to Administrative Assistant. Very scary if I can't get at least a part time job. That money would be our fun money or for the snowball. Whatever it needs to go to it would fill in.

Spent the day running around with DH and the boys. While they played I got a pedicure and a manicure. Feel like a queen right now. Probably should do this more often than when I feel like it. This time though, it was a gift from my mom. I really loved it. Tonight, we are all play video games. Family game night at its best.