Just what we needed

Today we stayed home all day. We did some schoolwork (we homeschool), some chores, and some nothing. My youngest had lots of fun playing outside as well. I also made dinner for tonight (veggie stiry fry over organic brown rice) and Monday night too, and extra brown rice for week. After dinner we will do more schoolwork (my oldest is behind due to refusing to do stuff this week, so this is his consequence- why does it have to be mine too? lol.) Also going to watch Couragous while we fold laundry. I have not have a stay home, no work (for pay) day in a long time. What a blessing! This is exactly what we needed. (I usually watch my nephew on Saturdays but my sister took off of work today.) Tomorrow is church, family time, and starting seeds (if I can get some soil.) Oh and Once Upon a Time is on again. Yeah! Great day.

Homeschooling update

Last week the boys did standardized tests. We met with other homeschool families and did the tests over 3 days. It was a bit of a challenge to be up and out of the house by 8:15am everyday. We tend to not start our day until about 10am (I get up at 8:30am to walk, Josh comes with me, but Jason stays sleeping.) The boys did great with actually doing the tests, but I will not know the test results until maybe June.

I am not really concerned with the results. I would like to see their strengths and weaknesses, but my overall homeschool goals can't really be measured in test scores.

To recap my homeschool goals:

-my boys hearts towards our family and the Lord (if they do not grow up to have Godly character than all else is worthless)
-teach my boys how to learn (I can't teach them everything, no one school can either)
-that they love to learn, that they are passionate about education
-that reading is a part of their daily lives

Honestly it is a daily struggle to teach them Godly character. We all struggle with this one.
I think at this point they both know how to learn, and enjoy learning most of the time (no they don't enjoy everything, but especially enjoy it when they are looking up topics they are interested in.)
Fortunately, we all enjoy reading so some of that gets done daily.

We also have been to the Franklin Institute in Philly, PA six times since Sept. These have been very fun, educational field trips. We also went to the Natural Science Museum in Philly, PA. We got to see and hear about real dinosaurs bones (the ones displayed in museums are castings.) The bones we saw are from a new dinosaur not even named yet.
This month we are going to the Natural History Museum in New York City.
I love field trips, as do the boys. They get to socialize with other homeschoolers (we do most trips with other homeschooling families.) They get to see some of the things we are learning about (like the mummy exhibit we saw while studying mummies in history.) And they get to learn about things that spark interest in them.

We also spend time outside daily, do physical stuff (the boys are jumping on the trampoline as I type this) and enjoying / learning about nature. Yesterday at Jason's horseback riding Josh, Kaiden, & I sat in the clover and grass. We were relaxing, enjoying time together, and examining the rocks and clover. We even searched in vain for a four leaf clover. Being close to the bay we frequently walk down to it to examine tides (which we learned this year are controlled by the moon,) check out the wildlife (seagulls will steal any and all food you leave out,) and check water temperatures in all seasons (even though we had a mild winter that bay water was still really cold.)

I still feel incredible blessed that God has called me to homeschool. Better actually get back to doing it instead of writing about it. Lol.

-Becky

Exercise

Last Christmas my mom got me an awesome bike. I have not used it much, but want to start. So for Easter my mom got me a comfy bike seat. I also paid this guy in town $20 to check all our bikes (3 total) and get them ready to go (fill tires, check brakes, etc.) So all our bikes are good to go.

My body, not so much. So I am going to ride for 2 min. each day this week, and increase my minutes each week. I know that seems ridiculous, but that is where I am at with it, so I have to start small.

I will make exercise (beyond walking) part of my daily life. I will.

-Becky

Groupon again

Through Groupon and my insurance very limited eye coverage I was able to get yearly eye exam, contact eye exam, and a 9 month supply of contacts for $89.00. Yeah!

By the end of April I should be covered for all doctors for another year (unless I get sick.)

Praise God for that!!!

-Becky

Debt update

My new debt:
$27.00 owe dentist
$200.00 owe dad
$114,000.00 mortgage

Plus I have emergency fund:
$250.00

This is progress. I should have dentist paid off by the end of April.

My dad is fine whenever I pay him back, so will try and do $50 a month for May, June, July, & August. To be debt free (except my mortgage by the end of the summer.) This will make me very happy.

How are your finances?

-Becky

Sauerkraut

I made sauerkraut once before and it was great. Since cabbage was ridiculously cheap this month, I bought two more heads and this is what just one head of cabbage filled. In a couple of months I will have more yummy sauerkraut.

Have you ever made it?

-Becky

Some pictures

Josh, Kaiden, & Jason


Jackson (friend's son), Jason, & Josh at The Franklin Institute this month