Reading over my last post...

I feel a bit selfish. Honestly, at this point in my life, it's not all about me. I am lucky in that I get more time with my children than many moms do. I am lucky that I get to finish college, homeschool, etc. So, I have made my decision based on what is best for my family. We do need to have insurance, and money. I therefore chose the grocery store, realizing that it is not permanent, since I'll be done with school in a few years, and I don't have to keep it even that long if things work out otherwise. However, for now, it pays well enough, has benefits (soon, when I am officially off probation), and is flexible enough for my liking. I'll admit, it's not my dream job, but I will continue working towards that.

I have started collecting boxes from work for our big move. I have decided, since I have a month (well, 5 weeks since we're pro-rating rent in September to give us overlap time), I'll do it in stages. This week and next, I'm tossing stuff. Donating stuff. Just getting rid of stuff. Then, I'll pack the dining room, then my room, then the kids room, then the living room, and finally the bathrooms and kitchen. I'm doing the dining room (okay, dining area) first so we can shove the table against the wall, and stack boxes in there. A month sure doesn't seem like much at this point! Tomorrow is our home inspection, and my speech class final.

C.O. is getting really excited about starting up school again in a few weeks. Since there are more chapters of SOTW than there are weeks in his school year, I think we may start history a couple of weeks before everything else, though with moving, we may not. I'll just have to see. This year, I'll be home in the mornings, so we can get school done first thing, and I can volunteer for his arts classes once in a while. It's really nice to see such excitement from him regarding school, because I see so many kids (at work) that are very much not interested in returning to school in two weeks. It makes me feel that our homeschooling journey is, thus far, a successful one! We'll see how he feels after a few weeks of lessons though, lol.

It all just gets more confusing...

I'm supposed to go back to my "regular" job in about 3 weeks, but then got news yesterday that kind of throws a shadow of doubt across my mind....

I've been working at a grocery store this summer. Not my favorite thing, but it's tolerable. Yesterday, Southern California ratified a way better grocery contract, which means Northern California will follow shortly, and under this new contract, I would be bumped up to full journeyman pay, which is more than $5 an hour extra. This likely wouldn't happen until the end of the year, but that money would be really handy. And since I am going back to school nearly full-time in a few weeks, I could make it so I am only available to work three 8-hour shifts a week. I can also get family health insurance through the grocery business.

However, I like my other job too. The hours are pretty nice (8 am- 11 am, M-F), and I like the people, but my next pay raise will only take me to about $3-4 dollars below what I stand to make at the grocery store, and I can't get insurance as I work too few hours, with no ability to get more.

Should I go back to the job I like, and keep the grocery store as "supplemental" or find another supplemental income? Should I stay at the grocery store and wait for that raise? I would so love to have some extra money, so I can give the kids nice things, build some savings, etc. I totally don't know which way to go here!

Edited to add: I need to keep in mind that neither job is permanent, just while I finish college! Doesn't make the choice all that much easier, but I guess I'll figure it out....

School supplies...

On one of the few message boards I frequent, there's a post regarding school supplies - frankly, I am shocked at how much some of the parents have to provide for their public-school kids! Anyhow, it got me thinking about my school supply list for the upcoming year, which I add to whenever I think of something else. I thought I'd share it here in case there's anything obvious I'm completely missing, which I'll admit is pretty likely. This list does not include curriculum:

>Pencils (both kids like the thicker ones I found at the teacher supply store)
>Paper - plain, lined, construction, other
>Gluesticks/glue, & tape
>Binders (haven't decided how many, or sizes yet)
>Blank spiral-bound notebooks for nature journaling
>Crayons - lots of crayons
>Coloring pencils
>Watercolor paints, mixing trays & brushes
>Pastels
>A magnetic, dry-erase board for lesson planning so that I don't go through a million reams of paper ;)
>Coloring books for biology, maybe a couple for history
>Maybe some teddy bear counters for C.J.'s math lessons

I know odds and ends will come up for particular projects, but offhand, these are the basics. I would like to get a nice sized corkboard for artistic displays, but it's more on my wish list than a necessary item, and I think I may actually have one somewhere stored at MIL's house.

Do you make a supply list? Did I miss anything you think would be really helpful?

We were just over at the house...

Doing another walk-through. Measuring rooms, checking out closet space... I found out that under the carpeting, we have hardwood! It may need refinishing, but we'll see, after a while. The family room is huge, and I get one (large) corner to set up as our schoolroom. No more projects on the dining table, no more having to stop projects to set the table. We're planning on building in bookcases in this room, so I am working on the ones for the school corner. And, while the kids will still be sharing a room, it is larger than the one they have now, so it won't be so cramped for them! Plus it has the craziest rug/carpet, which for some reason the kids love... here's a picture:

At least the carpeting in the other rooms is a light tan! I will be removing all the dusty old-people-smelling curtains as soon as possible. I have a sewing machine, so I can whip up some new ones, and my mom has offered to help. Though, what kind of curtains do I put in the kids' room with that carpet? The day we get the keys, I plan on steam-cleaning the entire place (so thankful I own a steam-cleaner), and washing down all the walls, so that when we move in, the whole place is really clean, and doesn't smell off from being closed up for several months.

C.J. & the Bucketful of Dinosaurs....

We recently re-read Harry & the Bucketful of Dinosaurs, and now C.J. has her little purple platic bucket, full of dinosaurs, everywhere we go. It's actually pretty cute! She tries to get all the names right, but as her pronounciation is a little off, it's a bit funny.

5 weeks to go.... new home, new school year. I am collecting boxes for packing, although I can't bring myself to actually start packing until we're sure the loan has gone through, past the pre-approval stage. I feel like, if I do start packing, I'll jinx us. Probably pretty silly, but its just how things are. We're going over today to measure the rooms, look at everything more closely. The home inspection is next week, we've gotten a clear pest report, I'm researching homeowner's insurance (any recommendations?). It all feels so real and yet unreal at the same time, and a little too adult ;)

I've been looking through SOTW and making a library list. Yes, I have decided to follow my original feelings, and just go for TWTM, mostly. I also went through the Animal Encyclopedia for Children, which the kids are very interested in, and made some library lists related to that. The animal encyclopedia has 9 sections, divided by type of habitat, and I figure we'll spend about 2 weeks on each, plus a couple of weeks on dinosaurs, before moving to human anatomy (late winter/early spring), then plants (mid-spring), and then insects (late spring). With all the chaos in our lives right now, the very solid outline of TWTM and SOTW really helps me feel that I can accomplish first-grade.

Other than that, not much new here. C.O. has spent a lot of time drawing lately - he's got one picture of a dragon and a not-lion that he's been working on for a couple of weeks. Very intricate and detailed - I'll post a pic when he finishes. I'm working about a million hours this week and next, and the only thing getting me through it is that it is temporary. I did get the upcoming Sunday off, for a birthday party followed by a birthday dinner (my mom's birthday dinner), which we're all looking forward to!

Friday the 13th isn't such bad luck afterall...

We're in escrow. OMG OMG OMG. This is actually almost as frightening as having kids (the responsibility that is, not actually having the kids). Our offer was countered a bit, but we accepted it, the counter got ratified, we've ordered our home inspection..... yikes! Friday the 13th turned out to be a great day for us this time!

I have to post regarding a certain comment on my last post (well, okay, the only comment). Yes, I too can see how the flow of chronological history would work out better than unit studies. We can speed up or slow down, but with a unit study, you sometimes do so much preparation you feel kind of locked into it. Yes, I know it doesn't have to be that way, but sometimes it is. So I am back to the drawing board on history for fall, though I am heavily leaning toward just going with SOTW and seeing how it works out for us. I think it would also be fun for C.O. (and C.J.) to be learning about the same things as two of their favorite friends, even if not quite at the same time. I'm glad I don't have all these doubts about the math and language arts programs I'll be using! I also talked with M last night, and while he is still perfectly willing to handle a lot of the science, he may be working two jobs, or more hours at least, by fall (thanks to the home purchasing bit), so I think I'll remove that burden from his shoulders, although his input is welcome anytime!

In the meantime, I have 4 more weeks of work hell, and then I can go back to normal. Just 4 more weeks... the kids actually were crying the other night because they missed me so much lately, and that just about broke my heart. At least with the hours I'm working, I'll be able to cover my fair share of all the exciting closing costs.

Aaaargh!!!

Okay, Jenny... I am blaming this all on you ;)... Here I was, all thinking about my unit studies for the kids, etc., and you guys are just having so much fun with SOTW. And all the archeology, cavemen. I have only 6 weeks left to actually figure this out. Crap. I guess it's not too late to change my mind. Again!

We saw the house tonight, and... drumroll please, we are drawing up all the paperwork tomorrow to make an offer. Our realtor talked to the listing agent and we're the only one with an offer in the works. And we may get a better finance rate than we thought, since we're first time buyers, and all our credit scores range from pretty decent to damn good. I have butterflies with lead feet jumping around in my stomach. And I feel like dancing, only I'm really bad at it. The kids loved it too! They were running through the rooms and the backyard like crazy. There's even a workshop out in the back of the yard for M and all his projects, so I'll finally stop having sawdust in my living room.

All I can really say is wow! And I'm terrified.

Jumping off a cliff...

Well, at least it feels like jumping off a cliff! We are offically pre-approved for our home loan! And late tomorrow afternoon we're going to see a nice house with a huge yard, enough bedrooms, and a workshop for M. I am so excited! (Great, now I have that stupid song running through my head) Anyhow, this is the house we are most interested in, though I am slowly putting together a list of other houses, with the help of one of my ex-Safeway-coworkers, who is now a real estate agent. We decided to stick, if possible, to the town/city we're in now, since all three of us (M, BIL E, and I) have jobs here, and my college is here, as well as my mom (our only babysitter).

The kids haven't quite processed what is going on, which I expected. Buying a home is a lot for a 6 year old and 4 year old to really grasp. I think, once we get a house, they'll be thrilled, especially with a backyard, which is a major factor in any home choice we make. The one we're very interested in is vacant right now, and move-in-ready, so we may opt for a short escrow period if we get it. I'm trying to get a head start on moving this time, so I'm already going through the boxes we've never unpacked, and so far have reduced the content of those by about 60%. I think Goodwill offically loves us right now!

Other homeowners, was buying a house actually somewhat terrifying for you, or is it just me? I feel so... adult.

And a C.O. update - the combination of two prescription anti-allergy medications cleared up the hives! Yaaaay! His cute little face isn't all puffy anymore, and he's not covered in red welts. I still think it was the laundry soap, but I don't think I'll ever know for sure, since I don't intend on subjecting him to that particular soap again.

My poor boy...

C.O. had an allergic reaction to something - we're thinking it's the laundry detergent MIL gave us when she got a buy-1-get-1-free deal - and the poor child has head to toe hives. Luckily, they're not very itchy, but still, it's hard to not be able to just fix it. He's on 2 medications for it now, and I am applying a topical cream to the few itchy spots every morning, noon and night. Now we just have to wait it out. I rewashed all his sheets, towels and clothes in our regular dye-free, perfume-free, hypoallergenic laundry soap of choice, so I am hoping that will help. It may be from another cause, but after reviewing his eating habits, where he's been, etc., the soap seems the likely culprit. Send your positive/healing thoughts his way, please!

Off to research jellyfish for my next speech (informative)!

Planning, planning galore...

I'm getting really into planning out next year's curriculum... and I'm having a lot of fun doing it! I've got the basics down, and now am working on library lists, etc. We don't start until September, the day after Labor Day, but I want to be as ready as I can be. I'm working with C.O. to set some goals for the next year. My thinking on this is that if he's a part of the planning process, he'll enjoy the learning process more. C.J. has declared she wants to learn to read, now, so I dug out my copy of Phonics Pathways today, and may start going through it with her.

I talked to the kids today, and asked them which sport was their favorite - both said, hands down, they loved and miss gymnastics, so I would guess we'll be going back to that. I emailed the gymnastics place we went to and asked to have both put on any waiting list necessary for the fall session. It does cost a little more than ballet or Aikido, but I do want them to love whatever sport they are in, so we'll make it work! I did check prices at a couple of other places, but they seem most reasonable where we went before.

We're still looking at houses, but we're also discussing waiting a year or so, getting a rental together in the meantime, which would definately be cheaper than things are now. That way, we can see how it works living together, and it gives M a chance to clear up his credit a little more (mine's basically good now), plus we can make sure we are really stable and really ready to invest so much of ourselves in something. I think we just jumped into the whole idea a little too quickly. There are some pretty decent rentals around here though, so it's fun looking at those too.

So, with the unit studies I planned out, we'll be starting in the fall with magnetism (for science) and the Poles (for Social Studies). I had better get cracking on the library lists!

Units in History & Science...

Planning out my unit studies for the year. Here's a basic run down of history and science:

Summer 2008 - Finish studying the Ancient Greeks

Unit 1 (4 weeks)
History - Ancient Rome
Science - Geology

Unit 2 (4 weeks)
History - Medieval Britain
Science - Weather

Unit 3 (4 weeks)
History - Medieval India/Middle East
Science - Magnetism & Electricity

Thanksgiving Break

Unit 4 (3 weeks)
History - Crusades
Science - Dinosaurs

Christmas Break

Unit 5 (5 weeks)
History - The Vikings
Science - Oceans

Unit 6 (4 weeks)
History - the Far East in the Middle Ages
Science - Chemistry

Unit 7 (4 weeks)
Social Studies - Europe in the Middle Ages
Science - Chemistry continued

Spring Break

Unit 8 (2 weeks)
History - Spain & Portugal in the Middle Ages
Science - Astronomy

Unit 9 (5-6 weeks)
History - The Renaissance
Science - Astronomy continued

Summer 2009 - Finish studying the Renaissance & start into the Reformation, aiming for Early Exploration in Fall of 2009

Okay, I'll play nice...

We are looking, seriously, at buying a house with my BIL, E. He isn't home much, but totally loves our kids, and they love him, so we're looking at places with either a good master bedroom (for his space) or even a small granny unit type thing (or at least something we could fix up as kind of a seperate area for him). M and E get along really well, E is willing to split the cooking with M and I, and it would actually save all of us money compared to what we're seperately putting out for rent, renter's insuarnce, etc. We're actually in the early stages of preapproval for a loan right now, and we've already gone and looked at a few possibilities. I'm totally excited about this - a place we can paint any colors we want, have a garden that isn't in moveable containers, some solidity in the lives of my two elflings... plus E only wants to live there for maybe 2-4 (likely closer to the first number) years until he's ready to buy a place of his own.

So keep your fingers tightly crossed! If we decide not to buy at the moment, we'll look at renting a (big) place together - again the money saving factor comes in for all of us. We've crunched the numbers any which way we could, and it would really make a difference to have 3 incomes in the house! Plus, a built-in occasional babysitter...

Am I completely weird, or maybe crazy, to consider moving my little family in with an in-law? He says he's willing to do this because it's an investment in his nephew and niece's future, since he does not plan on having kids of his own, as he loves the fact that he can run off and do whatever at the drop of a hat.

In other my-family news, after much consideration, I have decided we are not ready for unschooling yet (sorry Meesh), so I will stick, basically though somewhat loosely, with plans I have made in my sidebar blog. We do enjoy sitting down for lessons usually, so we're just going to keep a relaxed approach and see how it goes! Much of my curriculum is already set up and ready to go at the charter school, so I'm just filling in bits and pieces, like making library lists, etc. Speaking of libraries, I had better go and finish collecting all our overdue books. :(