No drive day

Is it considered a no drive day if I was in a car, but it was not mine and I did not drive?

I guess if the point is to save my gas and wear and tare on my car it is, but if the goal is to stay out of the car, then no.

Yesterday I did not drive my car at all, but drove with my sister in law to Dorney Park.

You decide.

-Becky

Challenge for today

It is Aug. 31st. This is the first month the month has ended and all my bills are not paid in full. I still need to come up with $214 to finish out the month.
(still owe: water bill $40, sewer bill $50, owe Kevin $50, sponsor child commitment $74.) [side note, the water and sewer bill are not late yet, I actually only just got water bill in mail, but I usually like to pay even before the bill comes in]

So today I am challenging myself to make this money. I just got a commitment to $20 by selling the Latin books I offered the other day. I also have two checks coming to me by Fri. for $36 & $50. I still need to come up with $108.

I have a few new pampered chef items that I will try to sell as well and some cloth diapers that are too small for Kaiden.

I will update as I sell more stuff.

-Becky

update: Just got another $60 commitment for a new Pampered Chef knife set I have valued at $99.50, so they got a good deal (I only paid $60 for it anyway, so at least I got my money back.) $48 to go. This is fun! (not having too little money, but trying to make it right.)

Just secured another $10 to make two gallons laundry soap for a friend. $38 left to go.

Finished 9th book

I read another book, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This one took me about 5 days. It was hard as I hate to put a book down once I start, but this one was just too long to do so (over 500 pages.)

I read this book in high school, but did not fully enjoy it until now. It is hard to see a child struggle so, but also refreshing that the main character still can find love although she has never been loved by anyone for very long (her uncle loved her, but died when she was very young.) Not only does she find love in another, but she also has love for herself. This is very admirable.

So in two months I have read 9 books. I should have started in June and I would have made my goal of 14 books, but 9 is still good.

What have you read this summer?

-Becky

Blessing

Yesterday my sister in law called in the am and asked if we wanted to go to Dorney Park. She had 10 free tickets. We jumped at the idea. We packed some food and were on our way. She drove (it is about an hour and a half away.)

It was a hot, but fun day. We did some water rides first and then the roller coasters ( I volunteered to stay with my 10 month old niece, I am not so into rides anymore.)

The kids had fun. Josh even went on this upside down ride (twice.) He was thrilled.

Josh's favorite ride
















Jason's favorite ride















We are exhausted today as we did not get home until 12:30 last night. But it was so worth it.

This Sat. we are going to Hurricane Harbor which is a water park as well (again with free tickets.)

What a blessing these tickets are and a reminder that God even wants us to have fun!

-Becky

No drive days

Today was another no drive day. So far this month I have had 5 no drive days (plus 2 other days that I did not drive my car.)

I think I would like to try and do 2 no drive days each week come Sept.

This may be hard as Sun. is church, Wed., is co-op and church at night, Fri. is co-op, and Sat. I work at night. That leaves Mon., Tues., & Thur. If I don't have to work those days.

I will see. I would like to try to save gas, and wear and tare on my car.

Do you drive everyday?

-Becky

Homeschool Stuff For Sale

Brand New:

-Latina Christiana Student Book and CD (I have two sets) asking $10 each, plus shipping

Used:

asking $10 plus shipping for entire 5th grade lot
-5th grade supplement set (used) includes:
two measurement charts
Superfudge by Judy Blume
Five Children and It by E. Nesbi
Alice and Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass (one book) plus two study guides
Scholastic's 100 Vocabulary Words Kids Need to Know by 5th Grade
Summer Bridge Activities (going from 5th-6th grade)
Kid Biz kit (teaches kids ideas and how to to run a kid business, includes cd to print flyer's and business cards, and a calculator)

Mix of New & Used:

asking $30 plus shipping for entire 1st grade lot
-1st grade homeschool kit (almost everything you need to homeschool first grader) includes:
game pieces to be used to make homemade games and/or as math manipulative's
two measurement charts
over 60 pieces first grade lined paper (lines are bigger)
origami book
sheet of stickers
two art projects (animals to color, cut out, & assemble)
Grade 1 Reading, Writing, & Math Workbook by Flash kids (only about 10 out of 180 pages are done)
Reading For Understanding Grades 1-2 (not written in at all)
Scholastic Spelling Workbook (1 page written in)
Scholastic Maps workbook (never used)
Scholastic Vocabulary workbook (never used)
Scholastic Reading Comprehension (never used)
Scholastic Math (less than half used)
Hooked on Phonics First Grade (has reading, spelling, & math) (this was $69 new!!!) (it has games, dvds, readers, cd rom games, workbooks, and more)
brand box markers
brand new box crayons
brand new pencils (3 all decorative)
brand new eraser
brand new folder
brand new pencil sharpener
scissors
one special surprise

If anyone is interested, let me know. I can accept paypal or a check in the mail. I will charge you only exact shipping rates (which I will know when I mail.) I will not charge any handling fees.

-Becky

p.s. we are a smoke and dog and cat free home (we do have a bird and hermit crab)

p.p.s. your purchase will help me buy the rest of the homeschool supplies I need for upcoming year

Homeschool closet

Although I didn't get any milk crates I did have this old radio shelf someone gave us for Jason's room (but it didn't really work in there.) So I pulled everything out of our homeschool shelf and put it all back (minus stuff we no longer need.)

shelves to the left (this is a weird closet, it used to hold a water heater, but now is just a closet) these are the boys books
















bottom half of closet (using old radio shelf) these are mostly science and art supplies
top half of closet
these are mostly school supplies (glue, rulers, pencils, markers, etc.)

















As I was putting it back the door to the radio shelf shattered (it was glass) although it looked so pretty on the floor it was no fun to clean up.

At least now we can start homeschooling (well I haven't gotten the boys math yet, but we can review last year's math to get started.)

I like that I was able to repurpose the old radio shelf. I am a firm believer in making due with what I have. I also believe that if it doesn't work then I have too much stuff to fit. God gave me this house, He knows it is exactly what we need. That may mean parting with some stuff I may want to keep, but don't really need. Or it may mean finding another spot to keep some stuff.

-Becky