Do you ever have one of those days!

Did you ever have one of those days, where you go two steps ahead and eighty steps back.

Well that's the way my day has been. Nothing seems to get done. When I am almost done with something need to run and do this and that or something breaks and takes you forever to get back to what you were doing.

These are the kind of days I just should go back to bed and read and count my blessing and try all over again tomorrow.

Coupons!

You got to love coupons!  They are great. 

I am not as bad as some people but I do put in a few hours a week coupon hunting to save money on our food bill.  When going to the store I always cry when I see the price of food so if I can help our family and save some money by doing coupon clipping I will try my best to help. 

Our local store HEB always has a meal of deal. Yes, some weeks its great others we don't get it, but when you usually buy the meat you get salad, potatoes, bread usually free. Every week its something different. 

Then I go online and do alot of researching for coupons.   There are many sites out there that have tons of coupons you can print off. 

One site you print off coupons and then they give you points on top of it, that you can turn in for rewards, like amazon gift cards, or out to dinner food cards.

Check this site up and sign up under me and win big:  

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/yankee261

 

 

Also I get the Sunday papers and clip out every coupon in there.  Sometimes we don't use the coupon but if you go to your local library they might have  a basket of coupons and then you can get the ones you will use and give them the ones you don't use.  

 

Also, when you have the Sunday paper take the time to look at the ad's like from CVS, Walgreens they usually have good sales and if you use your coupons too you can get some really good deals.

Like we use alot of disposable razor here and they seem to have alot of coupons in the paper and some where they are usually on sale so I can get a package of disposable razor usually for only twenty cents a bag usually ten in a bag. That helps alot so I will try to go find more coupons if somethings we use and store them. 

 

Another place to look for coupons is there web page.  Like if you drink coffee try your favorite coffee's web site and they usually have coupons on there. 

 

These are some of my ideas, if anyone has anymore ideas please pass them on. Leave a comment for everyone to see, we all could use the help.

 

With the price of gas going up, so does our food prices so if we can save that is great.  

 

Always make Mommy Time!

I started out homeschooling and went with a bang.    I thought I was was wonder women or something.

I also thought my kids had to do everything and learn everything.   Well that is true there is alot to learn but you have to limit what the child wants to learn, some kids might like this or that, another might now.  So, always be ready to throw in the towel and go on if it doesn't work. 


But, the most important thing I learn from others that I chat with on another forum is to make sure you make mommy time everyday.  

Mommy Time is where you do something mommy wants to do and nothing else for about thirty minutes to a hour with no one bugging you.  Turn off your phone and relax.   Take a walk, take a bath, read book, take a nap something you been wanting to do.   

Have the children  read or go to there room and rest and set a timer and when the timer goes off then you can all get up moving again.  What a big different it makes..   

Yes, I will admit I was really bad about not doing that, I thought I had to keep going but it is nice to take a little time to yourself and smell the roses.  

Since I started the Mommy Time a few years ago both of the Wolf Daughters have turn to really reading.  I told them it was there time to do something in there rooms or read and they chose to read. 
Our little library is really grewing with alot of wonderful new books we love to read. 

So, for all new ones out there starting to homeschool take time for your self every day even if its only thirty minutes you wouldn't get burnt out so fast.  It helps alot.

How does a Homeschooler Change a Lightbulb?

First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library.

Then the kids make models of the light bulbs, read a 
biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life. 

Then everyone studies the history of lighting methods, 
wrapping up with dripping their own candles. 


Next, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare 
types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how 
much change they'll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99  and
pay with a five dollar bill.



On the way home a discussion develops over the history of 
money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the 
five dollar bill.




Finally, after building a homemade ladder, out of branches 
dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed.

Joys of Homeschooling!

The other day the oldest Wolf Daughter and I went shopping at Wal Mart. As we were checking out the check out lady said oh no school today to my Daughter.  I said oh she is done she graduated last week.  She stated oh really from where. I told her I home school her. 

Check out lady:  Really how long did you do that?
Me:  Since she was in second grade all the way through 
Check out lady:  you mean she was home 24 hours 7 days a week.
Me:  With a funny look on my face, reply yes
Check out Lady:  How did you do it? 
Me: Another funny look, what do you mean how with books and all. 
Check out lady:  No I mean how could you be with them 24 hours/7 days a week I would of killed my children by now.
Me:  Wow!  thats a strong statement.  Oh no its fun I loved it and going to miss her so  much. We learn so much together and did so many fun things together it was fun. Yes, I will be honest there were days it wasn't a bowl full of cherries but there were more fun days then none fun days. What job doesn't have bad days?
Check out lady:  What about her being out with others. 
Me: (how did I know that S word would come up)  Oh she has a more active live then me. Busy, busy, busy, they do tons of things meet tons of people of all ages and do well. 
Check out lady:  Well Congrats. to you all.

Well I left the store with mix feelings.  First was she told me several times in our talk she couldn't be with her children that long, second she counts days down till schools starts and she gets a break. 
I understand homeschooling is not for everyone so I don't preach it to anyone unless they ask about it.
 

But, what I don't understand is when parents talk about how they can't stand being with there children. 
Ok I might be different, my girls are my life and I enjoyed the time with them and all the special memories we made together that will be with us for along time to come. 

I don't understand why everyone thinks because you homeschool a child they are locked in there rooms, closets and never come out.  

Those people need to follow our footprints one time and see how much we do, see and talk to others. 


Don't look at homeschool people like we are weird, we aren't we are just like you, just choice to do our schooling differently then you all.  We don't look down at you because you go to Public School. 

 

Spring house cleaning!

That time of the year again to start cleaning things out and rearrange things to make it look like you live in a new place, but you really you live in the same old place with the same old stuff you just gave some things away and rearrange the rest. 

We got in our school room and went to town.  Gave tons of books to other homeschools family or goodwill and let them go through it as the Wolf Daughters have grown and not longer need the stuff. 

Had the youngest Wolf Daughter going she wanted to give away a few young books and stuff animals I said no don't, save them for the Wolf Grandchildren she said Mother and rolled her eyes...

Other then that the Wolf house looks like Hurricane Wolf came through and mess everything up. But, like I told the Wolf Daughters in order to clean something and get everything back into shape you have to make a mess.  Hmmm I wonder why that is?  LOL 


Still have tons of things to do yet, but done for one day off to watch a movie and rest with the Wolf Family and relax and calm down.  

Abeka

I was ask a really good question yesterday from a lady I work with.  


She wanted to know what I thought of the Abeka books and program as she is looking for something for her daughter next year. 

Well I did have the honor to use them a couple years for my girls and I will be truthful.  I love them. They were very easy to follow and use.  They gave enough directions to help the student understand what they were going to do for the day and they gave enough problems for the student to work out  after they were done telling the student what they were going to do for the day and how to do it. 

I love the program it worked well for us.  

But, like I told her and I will tell others as long as I can. What works for one family may or may not work for another.  That is why there are tons of books out there for us to try.  

I know we went through tons of books trying to find the ones that work for us. Sometimes we would say wow we love this book its going to work well. Get a month into it and it didn't.. 

So, be flexible, be willing to change if you need to, don't  feel you have to stick to one thing because you got it. Could make for along year if you do and no one is liking it. 


Also, one more thing,  one thing I did so we could try many different things was try to buy use as much as possible or if you know someone who has a book you could use to try, that works out great.  That way you aren't out alot of money.


Just remember we all are different and some things work for one child, but may not work for yours. 
Doesn't mean its bad just means we are all human and we are all different and some learn differently then others.