Homeschool Photos 2009-Oldest 4

Hunter-age 15, 9th grade

Payton-age 13, 8th grade

Courtney-age 12, 7th grade

Logan-age 9, 4th grade

Homeschool Photos 2009-Youngest 4

Noah-age 7, 2nd grade

Emma-age 5, Kindergarten

Katelyn-age 3, PK3

Titus-age 1, Nursery

Grocery Savings at Publix This Morning

Another great day at Publix! I saved ALOT of money this morning! Here is what I bought:

• Kellogg's Cereals were BOGO, so you get 2 for $3.99. I bought 9 Rice Krispies and 16 Froot Loops. I had 25-$1 off 1 online Target coupons. Those were stacked with: 9-$1 off 1 Rice Krispies or Crispix manufacturers coupon and 8-$1 off 2 Froot Loops/Apple Jacks/Corn Pops manufacturers coupon. Those coupons were from the 11/8 Red Plum newspaper circular . So, I got the 9 boxes of Rice Krispies free and the 16 boxes of Froot Loops for 49-50 cents each.
• The Rice Krispie boxes had coupons on them for free marshmallows, if you buy 2 boxes of Rice Krispies. I got 5 bags of Jet-Puffed mini-marshmallows free.
• I bought two 2-liters of coke, they were 2 for $3.
• I bought a Publix Milk for $2.59, and had a $1 off a dairy item from Publix Baby Club.
• I bought a pack of Publix Jumbo Meat Franks and had the 1 cent coupon, as this was the mystery item. I got it for a penny!

So, here is the math:

• $0 + $7.92 + $0 + $3 + $1.59 + $0.01 = $12.52 OUT OF POCKET (plus tax)

So, here is the savings:

• Store Coupons: $27.98
• Vendor Coupons: $24.70
• Advertised Savings: $49.75
• Advantage Buy Savings: $1.50
• TOTAL SAVED: $103.93

I paid $12.52, plus tax for $116.45 worth of groceries! Now that is SAVINGS!!! Start here: http://southernsavers.com/

Grocery Savings at Publix Today

In this economy, every little bit helps! I saved a BUNCH of money at Publix today! I will be going back tomorrow for some things, since they will restock tonight. The best deals at Publix are the BOGO (buy one get one free) items, and coupled with coupons, you can really save some cash!!! Here is what I bought:

• Kellogg's Cereals were BOGO, so you get 2 for $3.99. I bought 3 Apple Jacks, as that was all they had. I had 3-$1 off 1 online Target coupons and 1-$1.50 off 3 manufacturers coupon from the 11/8 Red Plum newspaper circular. So, I got 3 boxes of cereal for $1.49.

• Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake Mix was BOGO, so you get 2 for $1.71. I bought 4, for a total of $3.42.

• Betty Crocker Frosting was BOGO, so you get 2 for $1.71. I had 2-50 cents off 1 coupons (which were doubled) from the 11/15 Smart Source insert in the newspaper. So, I got 4 for free...actually, with an overage of 15 cents each.

• Juicy Juice was BOGO, so you get 2 for $3.65. I had a $1 off 2 internet coupon from the Juicy Juice website. So, I got 2 bottles for $2.65.

• Yoplait Yo-Plus and Yo-Plus Light 4 packs were BOGO, so you get 2 for $2.50. I had $1 off 1 coupons from the 11/8 Smart Source insert in the newspaper. We bought 15 packs at 25 cents each. For a total of $3.75.

• I also bought two 2 liters of Coke at 2 for $3, and a bag of suckers for $1.89.

So, here is the math:

$1.49 + $3.42 + $2.65 + $3.75 + $3 + $1.89 = $15.20 - $0.60 = $14.60 OUT OF POCKET

• Savings: Vendor Coupons: $20.50, Store Coupons: $5.00, Advertised Special Savings: $35.68. TOTAL SAVINGS: $61.18

So, I bought $75.78 worth of groceries for $14.60, plus tax!!!! Here is a link to help you get started: http://southernsavers.com/

Happy 9th Birthday Logan!!!

Logan, I can't believe you are now 9 years old!!! You are growing up so fast!!!! Slow was never your speed! Today was a good day, despite the rain. We hung out and watched movies, then went on your shopping trip with your birthday money. You bought a dinosaur robot, 2 XBOX 360 games, a Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 vehicle and action figure, and 2 dinosaur playsets for your birthday cake. Plus a some special snacks and a milkshake. We made you a "jurassic" cake, with a volcano. Very cool!! We love you!!!

Happy 15th Birthday Hunter!

Happy 15th Birthday Hunter!!!! You got money for your birthday (no big surprise there) and you used it towards buying the XBox 360, a couple of games, and a year of XBox Live. Soon you will take the written test for your Driver's Permit. We love you Tiger!!!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Titus!

Happy 1st Birthday Ty!!!!! You handsome little man!!!!! Today it rained, so we spent the day snuggled up together, watching movies, and playing with your new ball. You also got a couple of neat little cars, an electronic book, and some new clothes for winter. We love you sweet fella!!!!!

Happy 12th Birthday Courtney

Happy Birthday Sweetpea!!! Today you turned 12. We went to get you a manicure and pedicure today...lucky girl!!!! You also bought a video game, got your ears pierced, and spent a small fortune at Claire's Boutique! We love you!!!!!!!!!!

Workbox Student Chart & Tags, and Center Tags

I still have to cut out the tags and laminate them, but you get the picture! Each student has a "Workbox Student Chart" and I place different tags on each of the empty boxes. The tags give them different activities to do, such as: Trampoline, Pick-up Yard, Nature Walk, Science Center, etc. We won't be doing student strips...this would be our equivalent. If you would like these MS Word files, please let me know! Happy Homeschooling!

Workbox Weekly Planner Page

I made these on Excel. I use these as our lesson planner. One weekend box, mostly for any weekend reading, not really for the workbox. Then 5 daily boxes, each with 12 lines. I list what we be in each "workbox" on the lines, and then every evening I load each "workbox". I have one of these pages for each student, each week. I put them in a binder, and write their grades straight onto these pages. Such a time saver! If you would like a copy of this form, please let me know! Happy Homeschooling!!

Homeschool Centers

Since starting on the Sue Patrick's Workbox System adventure, I also decided to get more organized and to set up "centers". I don't have the room to set up table centers, but I do have room to set up a center on 1 counter in our kitchen and another at a small table in the family room. I decided to rework 2 messy school shelves (1 shown above), and make them "center" centers! I used cheap washtubs from the dollar store ($1 each for all my storage needs!) and set up tubs. Just pull the tub of choice and set it up in an available spot. The 2 thin turquoise tubs hold file folder games and ringbooks. I am not finished yet, but here is the list of things in them or going to be in them. Yes, that is a MOTH schedule on the bulletin board. Happy Homeschooling!

Math Center
· Magnetic numbers and math symbols
· Math puzzles
· Clocks
· Rulers
· Compass and protractor
· Measuring spoons and cups
· Thermometer
· Flashcards
· Ringbooks
· Grid paper
· Hundreds chart
· Scale
· Weights
· Counters
· Geoboard and rubberbands
· Pattern blocks
· Tangrams
· Dice
· Calculator

Science Center
· Science puzzles
· Hourglass
· Microscope and slides
· Small pitcher
· Plastic bottles
· Magnets
· Magnifying glass
· Prism
· Measuring cups and spoons
· Beakers and flasks
· Scale
· Hotplate
· Droppers
· Tweezers
· Bug jar
· Aquarium
· Thermometer
· Seeds
· Soil
· Sand and Gravel
· One Small Square books by Donald Silver
· Periodic Table Guide
· Book-Food and Nutrition for Every Kid
· Book-DK Ultimate Visual Dictionary of Science
· Related books/video/resources

History Center
· Maps
· Globe
· U.S. Presidents flashcards
· Timeline
· Paper dolls
· The Constitution of the U.S. pocket guide
· A Child’s History of the World
· God and Government-Vol. 1, 2, & 3
· The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
· The Timetables of History
· World map puzzle
· U.S. map puzzle
· Travel brochures
· Related books/videos/resources

Phonics Center
· Magnetic Letters
· HWT Stamp and See Screen
· HWT Alphabet Dough Cards and Tray
· HWT Dough
· HWT Wood pieces for capital letters
· HWT Capital letter cards
· HWT Foam mat
· HWT Small chalkboard and chalk
· Build a Word Wooden Puzzles
· Lap Computers
· Leapfrog items
· Wipe-off books
· Ringbooks
· Flashcards

Reading Center
· CD/Tape Player and headphones
· Books on Tape/CD
· Lantern
· Leapfrog items
· Books
· Magazines
· Newspapers
· Comic books
· Victory Drill Book
· Graded readers

Language Arts Center
· Dictionary
· Thesaurus
· Notebook paper
· Pencils/pens
· Envelopes
· Crossword books
· Word search books
· Tapestry of Grace Writing Aids
· Rummy Roots Vocabulary Cards
· Madlibs

Creativity Center
· Homemade dough
· Construction paper
· White paper
· Yarn
· Watercolors
· Chalk
· Paperdolls
· Art kits
· Glue
· Glitter
· Scissors
· Stencils
· Tempera paint
· Pipe cleaners
· Tissue paper
· Beads
· Colored noodles/rice
· Whiteboards and markers
· Coloring books
· Crayons
· Colored pencils
· Art aprons

Construction Center
· Legos
· Duplos
· Wood blocks
· Tree blocks
· K’Nex
· Lincoln Logs
· Tinker Toys
· Wooden trains
· Matchbox cars
· Small people
· Small animals
· Lacing activities

Puzzle Center
· Puzzles-all shapes and sizes!

Katelyn's 3rd Birthday

Happy Birthday, Katie Beth, our Katie-Bug! We hope you had a great time at Chuck E. Cheese! Mommy and Daddy love you, sweet girl!!!!

Are You My Mother?

Meet Burger and Toffee...our newest additions at the Rocking B! We have 10 more chicken eggs in the incubator! Sure to be a hopin' good time!!! Cute little peepers!!!

Emma's 5th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Emmaline Gracey Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley, O'Malley, the kitty cat! We hope you have a great time at the Splash Pad, on the Carousel, and at the Candy Shop! Mommy and Daddy love you, sweet girl!!!!

3 Meals From One 5 Pound Pork Tenderloin

We buy pork tenderloin on sale at Kroger's for $1.99 per pound. So, a 5 pound pork tenderloin is $10.85 (includes tax). We cut the 5 pound pork tenderloin in half and cut each half into porkchops. Each "half" is then put into ziploc bags to go into the freezer...but before the 2 ziploc bags go into the freezer, we take 2 porkchops from each bag. Those 4 porkchops will be made into Pork Fried Rice. The 2 bags will make 2 meals of BBQ porkchops. These 3 meals feed my family of 10...for now!!!!

PORK FRIED RICE
Ingredients:

• 4 boneless cooked pork loin chops, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 cups finely chopped carrot
• 2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
• 2 cup frozen peas
• 1 onion chopped
• 4 or 5 tablespoons butter
• 4 eggs beaten and scrambled in pan
• 4 cups cooked white rice
• 6 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 bouillon cube (we used chicken)

Directions:

• Cook rice with bouillon cube
• We usually cook these on the grill or in the oven when we are cooking other meat
• Saute carrots, broccoli, peas, and onion in butter in skillet
• Add rice, meat, eggs, soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger to skillet and cook on medium, stirring often, until heated through.
• Add a side of stir-fry vegetables (frozen stir-fry veggies from Kroger)

Noah turns 7

You spent the day swimming and having fun at Pt. Mallard. What a glorious day!! Happy Birthday Boo!!!! We love you!!!!

Ring Books

Interested in making these cute Ring Books, check out this website that has some free printables: http://www.childcareland.com/free.html Great for flashcards, ring books, file folder games, and more! Happy Homeschooling!

Ring Books, A Look Inside

Good Buys @ Staples & Dollar Tree ($1 or less)

Baby and Young Toddler Workboxes

A tub with activities in Ziploc bags is a great way to keep a little one busy while your other students are homeschooling. Here are some ideas for workbox fillers:

1. Shape sorter
2. Little People sets
3. Duplos
4. Wood blocks
5. Star Stacker
6. Safe cars and trucks (no small parts)
7. Touch and Feel Board books
8. Learning Purse
9. Plastic Tea Set
10. Plastic Dishes
11. Washable doll with clothing
12. Busy Balls
13. Boats and sea creatures, such as bathtub toys
14. An "All About Me" book, laminated (homemade with pictures)
15. Chunky peg puzzles
16. See 'N Say
17. Sassy Linking Letters
18. Dress-up clothes
19. Busy Gears
20. LeapFrog Phonics Bus
21. Roll-a-Rounds

Avoid anything small enough to choke on!!! Will post more later...storm coming.