I have no idea why I feel like writing about a year in review, but that is what it feels like around here. School is dragging. Honestly, it has been dragging since Christmas. I am done with this year, not actually but I feel done. It took me two weeks to grade to science tests and look over their math work. We still love the reading, and I have read almost all the books they have this year and then some. A few were too adult or too girly, but I read them anyway. I do not think I will be doing Sonlight next year with the two high schoolers. We have neglected writing and grammar these past two years, it was just hard to implement it with the Sonlight curriculum. The boys are slower readers than I am and it took longer for them so the extras that sonlight provides just got pushed to the back burner. Evan is still a year behind in math according to our state, and at the rate he is moving through pre-algebra he will be doing it all summer. Academically that kid would excel in school, we both struggle with the discipline of homeschooling. Austin is on track to have a light load senior year. He wants me to hold him back in the 10th grade so that he can play bball an extra year. (not gonna happen)
Speaking of bball, this weekend is the final tournament of the year. Austin is beside himself with agony over the ending of bball. He really loved it. Evan likes it for the ladies, and eating out, although he really could be good if he pushes himself a little more.
Dania got her hair relaxed after Thanksgiving and it has changed our lives. Literally CHANGED OUR LIVES. Why oh why did I wait so long to do it. For a white mama that does not do any hair well, this was a must. This has played a HUGE part in helping our relationship. I can now wash it at home, straighten it with the new flat iron I bought myself or put curlers in it and set her under the dryer. I am no longer picking, nagging, fighting with her about her hair, and we are SAVING money.
In review of the year these are some things that worked so well, I am going to incorporate them forever, hopefully.
Making dinner at lunch: This has saved me so many times this year. I don't do it everyday, especially if dinner is something easy like spaghetti, but doing the dinner prep at lunch has freed me up in the afternoons to read, take a walk, hang out with the littles when they got home from school, etc. It helps with the after dinner clean up as well, because it eliminates so much of the mess. Dinner is cooking in a CLEAN kitchen. (Ahh heaven!)
Having bathroom cleaner in all bathrooms: I used to have a caddy that I carried around when I was cleaning the bathrooms, but I found that at random times something would need attention, and then I would have to go downstairs get the caddy and proceed back up the stairs. Now I buy multiples of each item and keep them in each bathroom. The kitchen still host the cleaners for the hall bathroom since there is no room in that one. This has been so great for Dania's and the boy's bathrooms. If I am up there and see splatters on the mirror I grab the windex and tackle it. Also, when the kids have to clean it up themselves everything is there and then my stash is not being robbed.
Eating well and exercise: I am still regularly exercising. I changed my schedule and instead of going at lunch I now go 3 times a week at 9:15 for an hour circuit type class. It is really good and I am really starting to see it pay off. This is manageable exercise for this time and season of my life.
Food: I have really adopted a healthier eating plan for myself. It was too difficult to do a huge overhaul of the whole family, so any one member of the household that wants to join me can on any particular day. Dania is my biggest participant, Nate second, then Austin, Luke and Evan never. These are my tricks:
I buy a deli already cooked chicken every Sunday or Monday. I use the meat for a salad only. No pickers unless they are making a salad. I can get 4 or 5 salads off this and if I am the only one doing it, then it is lunch meet for the whole week for $5.
I have lots of healthy toppings readily available. I put things like walnuts, golden raisins, craisin, seeds in bags or in store container on one shelf in the pantry, so I can grab and go easily. In the fridge, i put bags or storage containers in one drawer with the lettuce or things already prepped, like berries, artichoke hearts, cheese crumbles, veggies cut, and leftover cooked veggies as well. This makes eating a salad everyday super yummy, filling and healthy. I even made a homemade raspberry honey mustard dressing for the days I put fruit on salad. I love variety and thought that this would not work for me. I was a big snacker as well, but I am getting the munchies way less. The little bit of prep time at the beginning of the week really pays off, so it doesn't need to take you 20 min to prepare something good.
I have also been buying fish individually sealed. They are a super easy lunch with some steamed veggies as well. You run one packet under hot water to thaw for a minute and saute it in a small non-stick skillet. It is a great side for a plain salad. It literally takes just as long to make as a grilled cheese. I am craving less carbs and sugars, but still have treats or some junk. Healthier eating does not have to be all or nothing, or I should say everyone or no one. It works to just start for yourself and then others see the good stuff and want it too, except Evan.
Finally I am back to couponing with a tweak: This year our store in my bathroom completely ran out of all my cheap or free things and I realized how much money I was spending on toiletries for 6 people. I now buy 2 newspapers and ONLY cut ones that I know for a fact we use. I am not trying to get all the deals like before, just necessities. So this week since we have a nasty cold, needed deodorant, and shampoo. I scored Halls cough drops for 50cents a bag, paid $1 for deo, and got 4 bottles of shampoo for $6. I also got 3 boxes of cereal for $5, and paid 50cents for 3 tubes of toothpaste. This kind of couponing is more manageable. I saved $20 in two weeks on stuff I absolutely had to have and got some spare stuff as well. Again, nothing mind blowing but it felt good to see my store shelves start to fill back up again.
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