What We Are Up To-7 Quick Takes 9-13-2013

 

1. This is our busiest time of the year. I have everything well planned this year and I'm staying organized. The weird thing is that it's not working. I'm still stressed. The only difference is things are getting done timely and I really have nothing to stress about . . . . but I still do. I'm starting to wonder why I put so much time into being well organized when the outcome is the same. Things to ponder!

2. Our church fall festival (big fundraiser) is this Sunday. If you are local I expect to see you there! ; )  I'm in charge of the kid's area. I suck at this, lol! They can fire me if it's a flop. ; ) The whole family is helping. I was able to get game prices down to just twenty-five cents each. I also added a free area with a craft, guessing game (to win a jar of candy), and some games. Another helper built us a new game (pop balloons with darts) and we made a new duck pond and added another new game. We don't have a lot of workers so our games are limited. Maybe I'll have a post about this next week.

3. I'm in charge of our Scout Pack's popcorn again this year. I'm hoping this is my last year. I have a new volunteer who is helping this year and I hope she will take over next year. It's a lot of work to only earn 28% of the sale of the popcorn. In a month from now I will be swimming in popcorn . . . . it's never any fun.

4. Tonight's plan is to can tomatoes. My wonderful husband always takes care of these kitchen duties, but tonight I'm suppose to help. I got signed up for this when I declined to do it on my own, "I would rather do it with you than take on this project alone for the first time." I was reminded last night that I would be helping . . . I guess there is no getting out of it now.

5. I signed the boys up for tennis lessons at the YMCA with other homeschoolers. They really enjoyed it (big surprise here). It cost us $40 a month for an hour plus lesson once a week. They are allowed to come early and stay late. Seems like a good deal when I looked in the Y catalog and saw they charge $35 for an hour private lesson! We will continue with this as long as they are interested, we have the time, and the funds. Most likely the funds will run out first.

6. School went ok this week. We got behind (mostly due to tennis on Monday-I need to remember to schedule a little less on Monday now) and today we have a long make-up list of stuff to do. No nature study today, but this is the first Friday this school year that we needed the whole Friday to catch up. Not bad!

7. Scott has signed up to the be the cub master for our local cub scout pack. This is just a two year commitment. Right now Scott is the cub master, Weblos den leader, and scouting for food leaders. I'm in charge of popcorn and I'm the treasurer. Scott and I are also trying to organize our first cubmobile race (since our district one has changed to May and our pack has a conflict with the date).  Pure craziness!

What are you up to? Leave a comment or leave a link to your blog in the comments. 

What's Working Right Now

"Balance"- Picture taken on a nature walk earlier this year.

We are four weeks into our school year and for the most part it is going well. Work is getting done in a timely matter and we are staying on schedule. Our days are not smooth though. This is a matter of reorganizing the schedule a little bit and working on developing better habits. Here is what is working at this moment. And as usual, it is subject to change!

1) Our chore schedule-we have assigned chores in the morning before school, kitchen cleaned after lunch, and assigned chores after school is done (before screen time is allowed).

2) Being home during school hours-I have cut back the amount of time we are out of the house during school hours. We are now running errands during the evening and weekends. I am working one day a week, but not until after I get the school work done with the boys first. Which isn't much because I schedule mostly independent stuff on this day. I also try to run errands that must be done during day hours on this day. When an appointment comes up during school hours I don't schedule other stops and get back home as quickly as possible. This is hard for me because to save money I want to get as much done as possible to cut back on our trips to town. Surprisingly it is working well!

3) A weekly trip to Target. Honestly, I'm not pleased with this but it is helping the budget. I'm trying to stock up while items are on sale instead of buying when out and paying more. If only our Target had full groceries I would be in  heaven. I got toilet paper for forty cents a roll this week. Of course, I had to buy two big packages and it was a little embarrassing walking through the store and parking lot with a cart full of tp!

4) My Catholic Daily Planner! I used it last year off and on, but I have been faithful to it the last few months and it is a gem! I do need to work on keep a running list of project that need to be completed. I have a two page spread of the whole week and I plan it out every Sunday. Write down all appointments and meetings, write in school days, write down chores that need to get done, and I add to it all day/every day of notes of things I need to remember to do. I also grab it in the mornings during our prayer and bible time for reference. Love it!

5) Copying everyone else's blog ideas. I'm sorry but I get most of my blog post ideas from my favorite blogs. If the post seem similar I'm sure you have seen the concept on another blog. I have some goals with this blog, but at the this moment it is not possible with other commitments. Getting ideas from others is helping me to keep blogging. Hopefully I will achieve my blog goals later on.

What is working for you right now? Please share!