Build-A-Bear Wedding

So, I have girly girls, and they have decided to have a build-a-bear wedding on Friday afternoon, with any friends who'd like to come. Boys and girls welcome. 1pm my house, if you're not sure of my address, find me on Thursday at Argyll. Come as you are, or dress up if you wish. Kids will be playing downstairs, moms can stay or run some errands for and hour or two. My email is matt.rhonda@shaw.ca if you want more info. Rhonda

Fun Stuff

After I last posted about wanting educational games for the kids, I've found all kinds of ideas. We did get UNO, alphabet-go-fish cards, an Operation game, puzzles, magnet building sets and a marble tower building set. Should have cleared out my funding from Argyll, not sure what I had left!
Joe also bought Ryan skates and a helmet yesterday, so we'll take on skating/hockey as Ryan's next physical challenge. He's pretty excited.

Could Use Some Advice

So, my Science of Unschooling month is underway. Does anyone have suggestions for fun and educational games/activities? Stacy suggested Scrabble Slam, which I'm on the lookout for now. And we've been playing Monopoly and Junior Scrabble. Any other games your kids love? Especially ones that encourage memorizing numbers up to 100, which we could use reinforcement on.

S & K

• What are some of the things you do to save money?

Our family too only has one vehicle, our housing is also very inexpensive, every week we get our groceries on a strict budget(thanks to H&W).
I like to use our crock pot most days of the week instead of the oven. Over the last year I have worked hard on moving away from paper products(diapers, feminine products, paper towel, baby wipes) , that is expensive at first but cuts down in the long run. Cleaners are another thing that I am trying to change, some rubbing alcohol, essential oils, and vinegar works great. I flip back and forth on kids clothes, sometimes I want something new and great, other times I want to find a deal at Goodwill, and best of all is when something good quality and new looking is at Goodwill!

• What little luxury do you feel is worth the splurge?

Books, and Innis & Gunn beer

• What would be on your wishlist if money was no object?

A vacation home

• What was your best deal ever? 

Our house, the Kingdom Hall piano, buying a used hot tub, my 'as is' island from Ikea.

My Two Cents - by Laura

What are some of the things you do to save money?

We love second hand clothes. I keep a bin for each kid of clothes to grow into. If I find a great deal on a big size or we get a bag of hand me downs, it goes into the box. And when my kids are done with those clothes, they get passed on to the cousins to enjoy.

H & W Produce may be Edmonton’s best kept secret. My friend Rania did the math and claims that H & W is 30% cheaper than Superstore on produce.

So far, we’ve managed with one vehicle. Taking the bus or juggling our schedules works most of the time.

I rarely buy a book, movie or CD without checking it out at the library first. If I still love it after three weeks, my next stop is Amazon.ca.

What little luxury do you feel is worth the splurge?

We really enjoy eating out with the kids. Vietnamese soup is a staple. Or picking up a Panago large pizza that feeds the four of us for about $15.

What would be on your wishlist if money was no object?

I think I would get spa treatments every week like clockwork.

Thrifty Mamas

I think that most homeschooling families try to be wise with resources. Would you like to share your thrifty thoughts with the rest of us? Here's some questions to get you started. Go ahead! Inspire us to penny pinching heights!

What are some of the things you do to save money?

What little luxury do you feel is worth the splurge?

What would be on your wishlist if money was no object?

What was your best deal ever?

Kozmech Family

• What have you found the most difficult within the home/outside influence or comments?

Well, there was the intervention our family did, that was not fun. Most of the issues with other people’s feelings were gone after the first year. It’s like when two people are dating, everyone feels that it is their business to comment on the match then when they actually tie the knot nobody cares anymore. That’s were we are at…no one cares anymore.

One great thing that has happened at home is that Kevin has completely become absorbed in home schooling; he is a great help.

• A typical day in your life goes something like this.....

Each morning of Mon to Wed start the same with days text, WT, Math and LA. I wanted to make sure that Daxxen had special mommy time so we leave the older kids for an hour with Dad around 10, they read Awake articles, practice piano and then have a break, Dax and I go to salsa babies and intellidance. Monday afternoon we have basement time (our basement is full of great learning things), this may include art, games, books, computer spelling or math. Tuesday afternoon the kids have piano and I go to do my bookkeeping job, Kevin will usually supervise whatever I leave for them to do. Wednesday afternoon there is dance and swimming lessons. Thursday is of course Argyll time and Dax and I go dancing again, then the meeting. Friday morning we have the service group from our house and we go out as a family then in the afternoon we do science. I have left out social studies from our day to day because we love to read books on history and of course travelJ This schedule only applies to the months that we aren’t gallivanting in some other place.

• What has been your biggest surprise/enjoyment in homeschooling?

How right it feels, how easy it has become, how much we all love it and most surprisingly how we would love to have a bunch more ‘students’.

• What do you wish someone had told you when you embarked on this process?

The one thing every home school mom should know is that it’s okay to change. Kids are changing, parents are changing, the world is changing, being adaptable to whatever works is the best tool you can have.

• What general category of schooling does your family fall into?

Ha ha, maybe something like natural-scheduled-chaos-with a hint of life is a vacation attitude. Referring to my last answer, it is subject to change at any time.

• Describe your first year in the trenches?

Connie described it as a—l. Like a first of anything it was a failed test project. The remainder of the years have made up for the damage (I hope).

• What were some main factors to why you decided to homeschool?

My best friend is Rhonda!! How could I let her do something without me? Add in that Keenan was in cogito and crying before report card time even though he got A’s.

• How long have you been homeschooling?

Grades one to five. Kevin did do his university at home so he has more experience.