Photo from this summer- Christmas photo?

Black Friday shopping

Thought I'd post my buys-

I went to 7 stores!

Oldest dd and I wanted to go, we slept, and went at 9:30.

First stop- McDonald's to the Redbox, pick up Wal-E for dh and kids staying home, $1.07 for a one night rental. Did not get food, had a coffee at home before I left.

2nd stop- Grocery store, pick up Hancock for later tonight to watch with three oldest kids, and dog food on a gift card. Total out of pocket, $1.07, GRAND total- $2.14

We then went to Walmart, I got two pair of $8 jeans for ds, I will need to go trade for a different size, but he only had one pair of jeans and one pair of other pants. I think he has grown 4-5 inches this year. I bought 1 yo dd a cabbage patch baby for $10. I bought 2nd youngest dd, age 4, a playdoh set wtih 50 pieces for $10. I bought one of those flash drives that Ariana bought for $9, we have one in the house that 4 people share, it will be good to have 2. X men 3 double dvd for ds for $6. Time in a Bottle dvd for me for $2. 7 items, $55.55 Grand total $57.69 We were in Walmart one half hour, there was one person ahead of us in line.

Next stop- the bakery. A cherry strudel for me, custard stuffed chocolate glazed long john for dd. $1.95 Grand total $59.64

Then we went to Kmart, they were sold out of the knock em sock em toy for $8. I found a great toy for dd age 6, a toy dog with vet things that makes little doggie noise, she will love it, at $26.24. I bought boots for 9 yo dd, at $22.99 and then got school shoes, her's from a year a half ago are falling apart, I got these 50% of for a price of $4.99. She needs black shoes for her uniform. I bought dh 5 pocket t-shirts for $2 each. I bought flannel pj pants for ds for $6.49. Total spent on 9 items, $72.52 Total saved, $42.70 I gave dd her boots right away, I hadn't found any at Walmart yet. She was very happy. Grand total $132.16 We were first in line, no crowd. Three open lanes.

6th stop- Toy R Us. This is where it was crazy, a cop directing traffic, a long wait to get in. No parking, someone stole one spot. I sent dd in, to just get the rock em sock em's. I told her I thought there was a coupon, buy one get one free. She disregarded that while I circled the lot, to focus on getting the last one off a high shelf, she and the worker poked it off with board games, and she paid $19.23 for it. This is something I hope to find for a better price and return. I picked dd up, and we left that place. She paid in electronics, no line, vs long lines at the front. Total spent $19.23 Grand total $151.39

Stopped at home to drop off movie and things. Picked up ds, he wanted to get his present for his sister, who was with us.

7th and final stop- JC Penney's. Ds found a lip balm collection for his sister. I found a shower gel set for dd age 12 at the same spot. These were 50% off, for $10 and $6 after sale. Dd went shopping for clothes. She found a shirt for herself, $6.99 after discounts. I found a long sleeve henley for dh, $14.40 marked down from $36. Both the kids there wanted new pillows for Christmas, $3.99 after discounts. I bought a sleeper for youngest dd, $7.99 after discounts. I bought a set of socks for 1 yo dd, and a pair of tights for 4 yo dd. Everything had an additional 10% off, except the two bath sets didn't ring up 50% off, she took me back to the head of the line and credited and billed again, so I had asked about the 10%, but it wasn't credited. Good customer service, I won't quibble $1.71. Total spent- $66.14, then dd paid me back $7 for her shirt. Actually, I gave her $12.25 for the charge she made at Toys R Us. So I spent $59.14, saved 81.58. This was a good stop. Ds will refund me $6 towards his sister's present, money he made painting this summer. Total oop $53.14.

Total spent $204.53

I have a lot of purchases, and the vast amount of my shopping done in just a few hours, at very low prices. I still have a few things to buy, but it was very nice shopping! I think I'll go next year. I saved about $175-$200, I estimate. Each child now has something from us. Dh, ds, and some of the girls have some badly needed clothes.

Will have to go with dh to get things for his family, or he'll go. Will have to see what's on sale as Christmas gets closer, he is not good about shopping sales.

In a few weeks we will buy a tree. They are usually $20-$25.

Other news-

Just saw my sisters and their families, didn't get a whole lot of time with them.

CAPRI went to a pediatric endrochronologist, she has so far just some delayed bone growth, not as many teeth as she should have. She might go to a pediatric gastronologist next, for absorption issues.

TRUE did fine in his fall play, he didn't know his lines quite well enough. IVY was in the plays, also, she had fewer lines, is looking grown up.

TASHA is going to Colorado for winter break, Vienna for spring break.

VIOLET got an award at school for being empathetic and improving on her homework responsibility. She settle right into her homework after dinner.

PROMISE is enjoying her new schol, getting together with her best friend Grace from kindergarten at 7 Hills tomorrow.

CHERISH has one liners, like when Tasha asked her to stop something, she said, "Why, is it slowly driving you crazy?" Things you don't expect from a recently turned 4 year old. Luckily, both her hair, and Violet's bangs are growing out from being self-cut. We have talked now, several times, about not cutting your own hair, mom will cut it whenever you ask.

Have a good Advent season!

It's been a LONG time since I posted.
We have had a month or so of job uncertainty, starting the last day of school when Graham got a job offer in Iowa. Th kids were sad, and we all were relieved when it looked like something would work out in the cities. Those eventually feel through, but it was a month of waiting and not knowing, up until the Friday before Graham left for Iowa.
Our family has a lot of challenges the next few months.
Luckily, Tasha made it back from the Netherlands and is attending a local university and living at home next year, so she will be the other adult in the house. The big kids will be stepping up to help out a lot.
Needless to say, I've been a little stressed with the limbo around here.
Other things- the kids had fun in dance and swimming. True is going to camp for a week soon. We are trying to adjust to the higher price of gas and trying to prepare for higher utility costs this winter.
We have all been blessed with good health this spring and summer.
We are very much enjoying fresh produce from a CSA, although if I did it again I would buy from a farm that delivers to town, the trip out is too far to be cost effective. We just had one of my favorites, beets, and the lettuce has been flavorful and delicious.
Hope everyone is having a good summer!
An updated photo of me and Capri-
Tracy

posted in a forum

Thought I'd copy here-

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Some things my kids will learn this summer (We don't homeschool and they are off for three months)

Childcare- help with younger sibs

Cooking and canning- all help with these, from three up. Everyone packs pickles and apples. The bigger kids make customized jams. Everyone likes to help with stirring and cooking dinner.

Baking- everyone's favorite. We get out lots of cookbooks from the library.

Swimming for recreation at the pool, three will take lessons, reduced fee

Dance- 3 will take dance camp, $40 with a 75% reduction for free and reduced lunch kids, $10 each

Art- this year two will take darkroom skills. Last year they took fused glass and ceramics.

Reading- we take advantage of the free book clubs at the library, kid, teen, mother/daughter, and teen/ parent. Last year my son was the only boy in the teen/parent, we both agreed we don't like the sad teen girl books that were picked. This year we will do the community reads at least, and read a book with the city. Instead of the book groups, we might do the Barnes and Nobles read, or try an internet book group. Most years two of the kids are in chess club at the library, again this might be nixed this year in favor of more swimming. We usually go to the library at least every other week for books.

Sharing- one Wii, many children

Camping- some years a weekend at camp in a tepee or a wagon at Christian camp, or Girl Scout day camp. This year trying to get ds into a week of Christian classic camp.

Golf- Pat, this sounds genious, ds would like to caddy, I could take him to a few par 3 courses. This would prep him for his caddy interview Feb 2009

Business- the kids helped me run my farmer's market booth last year, they come with me to work at the childcare. This summer we will be posting travel info at colleges, with my travel agent website. Dh will need to make a flyer, we'll go post 'em.

Leisure- the backyard is the place for the afternoon, with the sprinkler, kiddie pool at times, sandbox, plastic adirondack chairs for lounging and reading in, or just sunning your face. It's the time for lazy plans and confidences, sending someone in for a tray of water cups or pudding pops. I hope to get our tire swing back up, missed it last year. It's shaped like a horse.

Housework- more time for loading the dishes, learning to do clothes, vacumning, bathrooms, etc.

Walking- evenings are for walking to my mom's , or the big kids bike. We walk to the park and the library. We like to walk back late sometimes and look for fireflies. Grandma usually walks back from her house with us, to help with her blood sugar and to be with us. I love seeing my mom more.

A tad bit of gardening- last year was just chives and patio containers of flowers, and a few tomatoes. This year a little more.

Seeng family and friends- usually we have a weekend at a cabin with friends. This year we might stay at a hotel in town one night, to get two days at the resort. This year we are going to visit dh's family in Chicago, the first time in almost 2 years.

Playing games- poker, life, sudoku, monopoply, family feud, chess, they all come out for the summer. Favorite last summer- Rumicube.

Summer List- We also make a summer list of everything we want to do- from see puppies- the 6 yo, to go on a factory tour, to pick strawberries, to walk around the lakes, to free outdoor concerts, the free rose garden, and frozen custard. We like to go to the 24 hours of free music at Orchestra Hall, usually two or three different very good, sometimes ethnic, music selections at a time, inside and out on the Plaza. We like to go to the Musem of Art-free- and find the pieces that were in Art Masterpeice in the schools every month. We try to do something from everyone's suggestions.

Summer box- a box of things the last day of school- to have fun with- this year a hot air corn popper from a friend, a four person bubble blower and whiffle balls from Walgreens, a dress up box that I'll put together, and a book for everyone. Chocolate lollipops I got for free.

Homework- I'm very bad at this, the kids usually get a Bridging Into ____ Grade, a $13 book avaliable at Barnes and Nobles, and the charter school expects them to do it. I really do not emphasis this at all. They get very few pages done- but they've learned a lot of other stuff. I'm happy with the way we spend our summers.

We love summer.

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A photo of the kids on a Sunday morning, Mother's Day.
Things are going okay, lots of questions coming to mind about the job situation.
Everyone is healthy, although Capri got tested for a bunch of stuff related to her growth.
One day in May has no appointments, etc on, hope to keep that one open!
Really looking forward to summer.

May budget-

Income-

Dh's parttime job and unemployment- $511/ week x 4+$2044plus my job- $300 month plus about $40 for a few extra shifts= $2,384

Expenses-

I paid the mortgage- $1346 with the tax refund last month.

Church-$100

Second mortgage $480

heat $167, this is a budget amount, stays the same year round.

elect $90, down slightly.

water/sewer $50

2 cells $20

phone $60, long distance higher, my dh's great aunt died

gas $350, much lower as school is over for dh

dh misc $50

groc, diapers, pet food $300

car insurance $123

internet $61, needed for job search

med payments $200, $132 to the eye doctor

4 credit cards $500

total- $2,551

$167 over budget-

May grocery list-flour, sugar, canning jars, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, dog food, butter, 3 dozen eggs, 15 gallons milk, kid toothpaste for starters. Items that have fallen into the luxury category include Pam, Baker's Joy, spices, chocolate chips, etc. I haven't bought a lot of food in months. Dinner ideas-curry, spatzle, pasta, homemade pizza, soups and muffins. Fried rice, eggs, pancakes, and nature burgers.

But, school's over for Graham, some driving is over, I cut the gas budget $150 due to this ride, confirmation, Girl Scouts, and choir being over. The baby seems to be gaining weight, I spent part of a gift card a dear friend gave me to stock her up on baby treats, she loves them. May will be concentrated job search.

We will be getting our $3000 tax rebate in May, using it for June mortgage and part for a trip to Chicago in June. We'll have free lodging and will go to some free entertainment, have to budget gas and food. I hope to carry over quite a bit of the check for July mortgage.

Also exciting, Tasha returns in June! Will budget for the car trip to pick her up, she is flying into Chicago the week after we are vacationing there. I am excited to see her! It feels like a very long time.

Kind of a random post. Happy May!

News

Graham started school today, I really missed him. Our marriage has gotten a lot stronger with our time together at home. We are committed to keeping it this way.

Other good news, Tasha has been calling on Skype, and this is cheap enough to get caught up. She is really loving living her life right now, with lots of adventures. She goes to Scotland for Easter. She has no real idea of when she plans to come back!

My student loan question, the money question today-

Graham got his financial aid award letter, only loans as he has a bachelor's already.
We could stretch hard and pay his tuition with the tax return, or take out the student loans-

tuition is $4500 for 7 weeks of class

federal student loans offered $3700

tax refund about $8000, $2000 going to dd for college, need some for living expenses, to tide us over in April, May and June.

I think we are too old- 42 and soon to be 44- to take out student loans. We don't know for sure if he'll get a job in this. I would rather pay the bill and be done with it. I still have student loans rolled into the house, I think. I really don't want another bill, we have debt that makes it hard to pay just the bills right now. We have close to $30,000 in credit debt on top of our house.

Any advice is appreciated. Has anyone taken out a loan at our age for school and not regretted it?

We also have lots of educational costs for our kids, this is something we work hard to pay. I try hard not to go into debt for any of these as they are just regular expenses. I guess I view dh's as a regular expense, not something to go in debt for. His job will not improve his earnings, we are hoping in a year and a half he'll be replacing what he made before. I am confident we will make the bills for the next two months, until he is done with class. Then he can work more.

I think I have about a day to decide, with Graham. Will have to pay with loans or put off until 25th, when tax refund is due.

I did do a little more cooking today, with Graham gone. The time he was home I got some other things done, now with kids with me most of the day, with two different naps, it is easy enough to cook. Made lasagna with asparagus, artichokes, and spinach for St. Patrick's Day. Two batches of cookies for a meeting tonight.

Ivy has her first Communion on Maundy Thursday. My baby's growing up.

Looking forward to comments about the student loan, if you have one.