Love and Teamwork

I am grateful each and every day for my husband. We like to say we married in our late 20's because we wouldn't have been ready for each other before then -- and I believe it's true. Every day he makes my life easier and I don't know what I'd do without him.

Over at Prevention.com, I compared our marriage to a team -- a championship team my husband would say -- because he loves sports, even though I didn't know much about them before we met. Go on over and read it if you have a moment.

And, I'd love if you could leave a comment on the post over there if you're so inclined. They've recently re-vamped the site and I hope you find it easier to navigate. Thanks!

homeschooling

I've given it quite a bit of prayer and thought lately, and I think the boys will be enrolled in public school in January. I had a hope that we'd finish out this year and they might enroll in the fall if I couldn't find the right new balance -- but it's become too much of a struggle.

I feel guilty about this decision. I feel like I SHOULD be able to do it all, and I feel like a failure that I can't. I also feel guilty because it wouldn't be a problem keeping C home and homeschool him -- it's really N who is most difficult. I don't think I can send N, however, and keep Ç home because then it seems like a punishment to N.

It seems like a punishment to them, anyway, because it's something I've threatened in the past when they've been out of control. I'm trying to spin it that it is NOT a punishment, just an evolution of our family's needs.

The fact of the matter is, they're not as helpful as they could be, and nothing I've been trying/doing is working (or maybe not working fast enough). N fights his schoolwork almost daily. I am constantly breaking up fights and trying to redirect them. I have deadlines that I have to meet. I have opportunities to train and finding child care for the 3 of them isn't as easy as finding child care for just L. I need to keep looking for more opportunities because it's necessary that I contribute financially to our family right now.

We can't afford to send them to a parochial school, so we have the local public school or a charter school to choose from. Since my intention is to make my life easier (and, yes, I feel guilty about that, too) I think we'll put them in the public school that offers a bus from our neighborhood. If we chose a charter school, we'd have to drop off / pick up. If we choose the public school, they can take a bus to the Boys & Girls Club after school when necessary.

From what I understand, it's not a bad school. I'll go over in the near future and meet the principal and their teachers. I have to contact the district and withdraw my homeschooling affidavits. The kid will likely need to be tested before they can enter the school system.

I just can't do it all right now. I want to, but I can't. And I have to admit that and go from here.

I'm also going to miss the homeschooling community. I know as soon as I stop homeschooling, about half the support system I have currently will disappear. I understand -- I won't lose those friends where I've built more of a friendship, but I'll lose the larger community of homeschoolers that I appreciate so much. And that makes me sad.

I've always said we'd take it year by year and make the decision that was best for our family. So, why is it so hard?

Happy Birthday To Me!

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to meeeeeeee,
Happy Birthday to me!

Yep, today is my 41st birthday. DH usually has Mondays off, but had to go in for an all-day meeting today. We're headed to my current favorite restaurant (Pei Wei's) for dinner. The rest of the day is pretty much open. I have a couple things work-wise to work on, but nothing especially pressing.

I had another long post written up, but since I try to be sunshine and sparkles here lately . . . let's just skip the melodrama I'm feeling.

Would you like to give me a birthday gift? Leave me a comment!! I'd love to see who's reading and if you're a lurker -- step on out and say "hi!"

Money Saving Monday #5

I went grocery shopping Thursday night and saved almost $77.00 between the coupons I used (almost $20) and the store savings. I was trying to spend $125.00 for groceries this week, and managed to walk out spending $105.32, which leaves me $20.00 when we run out of bread or need fresh fruit.

My favorite deal was $1.88/gallon milk! It hasn't been that low in over a year, and I was able to buy 3 gallons at that price. We usually drink 2-3 gallons a week, so I bought 3!

I would have spent more if they hadn't been out of Charmin. I am not especially brand-loyal, except for toilet tissue and diapers. The Charmin was almost 1/2 off, and the shelves were EMPTY! Which finally brings me to my money saving tip of the week -- Ask for rainchecks!

When I was checking out, I asked the cashier for a raincheck on the Charmin. I had the store ad with me, so it was easy to point out the sale. She had someone check to make sure there really wasn't any more, then filled out a raincheck so that I can pick up 2 at that price anytime in the next 30 days.

If an advertised item isn't available, and it's something I want/need, I always ask for a raincheck. Very rarely, an item will not be valid for rainchecks, but that is always marked in the ad. You can get rainchecks at grocery stores and mass merchandisers (like Target and K-Mart.)

I tuck the raincheck in the front of my coupon pouch so I don't forget to use it.

Do you have a grocery shopping tip to share? Leave me a comment! Also -- any interest in me creating a "Mr. Linky" for this topic so others can post about this topic on their blogs and leave a link? Let me know and I'd be happy to set it up!

No Sew Fleece Blankets as Gifts

I was looking for Christmas gift ideas this weekend and found directions to make no sew fleece blankets. It looks like they go together fairly quickly, and my boys know how to make a knot. My parents live in Wisconsin, (which is plenty cold!), and I bet they would love a lap blanket made by their grandsons. These blankets would also make a great baby gift, and we have a few new babies in our midst this year who could always use a new, soft blanket.

Fleece often goes on sale, and I will be watching the ads in the coming weeks for local fabric stores to see if we can pick up a few yards and try this out. I have a rotary cutter, which will make the cuts easy to make. When I find some inexpensive fleece, I'll be sure to share pictures of our projects.

Are you making any handmade gifts this year? I always have big plans, but often run out of time. I know we need to get started soon if we want to give any handmade things this year.

Lego Themed Birthday Party

C celebrates his 8th birthday on Friday, but we had his birthday party with friends today.

He requested a Lego themed party, so I made a Lego cake. When I asked him what color he would like, N chimed in with "Clear!" Thankfully, C was a little more realistic and chose orange.

The cake is 2 layers of 13x9 cakes, topped with 8 cupcakes. I should have used a knife to flatten it out more, but it was late last night. He was happy with it, and that's what counts.

Last weekend, we visited the Lego store and filled up a cup with their open stock. I really love this option to get interesting bricks and pieces! We carefully counted so we would have 8 of everything, and then I threw in a few extras for the boys. We created goody bags with the bricks and a package of Lego-shaped fruit snacks.

We decided we'd set out the boys' bricks and have contests to see who could build the highest tower, who could create a car the fastest, a co-operative building game where they would add a brick and then pass it to the next kid. I also filled a jar with Legos and had the kids guess how many were in the jar.

In the end, only 2 of the invited guests were able to come and one of those had to leave after 45 minutes. One had car trouble, and 2 were sick. We were expecting 7 kids total, and ended up with 4. (That included my 2 boys.)

They decided to play Wii instead of the Lego games I planned. When the dad of one of the guests picked him up, he did tell his dad I made a neat cake.

C had fun even though most of his friends weren't able to attend. He was very understanding and I'm proud of him! He wrote out his thank you notes right after the party, without prompting!

Christmas Shopping

My sister and I went over to Target last night to pick up some medals for prizes for C's birthday party this afternoon. While there, we checked out the Halloween clearance that was marked 75% off. I found 2 ninja costumes for the boys for $2.49!! I am going to put them away for Christmas, where I'm sure they'll be a big hit. My boys still love dressing up; they probably dress up 2-3 times a week.

I also picked up a $5.50 Tom & Jerry DVD for St. Nick's this year. That wasn't on sale, but it was a good price and my boys laugh uproariously at Tom & Jerry. This was a holiday-themed dvd, which will be fun for the season.

I found a fairy wand for L's stocking for .48. It's cute, and I'm sure she'll have fun with it. I have a box in my closet with stocking stuffers, and I realize I need to go through the box soon. I think I have plenty for the boys' stockings (minus candy), but very little for L and nothing for DH. I also stuff a stocking for my sister each year, and I'm probably 75% done with hers.

I need to sit down with my list soon and figure out what else I need to purchase for my family, and then move on to extended family. I'd like to be finished by the beginning of Advent this year, and I'm well on my way to that goal!

Don’t Forget to Play

Over at Prevention, I wrote about playing at the park with the kids -- Don’t Forget to Play. The boys are too old to have Mom chasing around with them, but at least I have L :)

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Creamy Pumpkin Dip

Looking for a good dip for a holiday party? Try my Creamy Pumpkin Dip that I shared over at Prevention!

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Election Map

I found this really neat election map and immediately printed off a few for us to color in tomorrow and Wednesday. She has a map of our United States listing the number of electoral votes in each state. As the results come in, you can color in the states either red or blue.

It fits nicely into our homeschooling geography lessons, too!