• Back to School Lunch Routine with Monster Pop!

    August 29, 2021

    Back to School season is in full-swing. Whether you have already started, or will be starting after labor day, lunch packing is always a pain point for many families. I am here to share some back to school lunch packing tips. I know, I know. I am a homeschooling mom. What could I possibly teach you about packing a school lunch? Right?

    Here is the thing. I still do packed lunches for my kids every school day. It streamlines our time, and makes lunch time much less of a fight. This also makes everything easier for the days when we school on the go. We can pack up a lunch quickly, and be on our way. I like implementing systems that save us time on the boring things so that we have time for more fun. If it saves fights early in the morning, this is even better!

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    To make lunch packing easier, and save my sanity, we have four bins that the kids can choose from. The bins get pulled out every day, and they choose one item from each bin to go along with our main dish. The bin contents are sweet, salty, dairy, and fruit/veggie. Stainless steel water bottles full of water go along with lunch every day as well. Doing these bins has given them some control over their meals each day. This means they typically don’t fuss about lunch and will eat everything that they pack since they chose it. They also know that their sweet, which is usually a dessert type of side, must be eaten last.

    Here are some ideas for things to put in each bin.

    SWEET:
    raisins
    dried cranberries
    granola bars
    muffins
    banana chips
    granola
    fruit leather
    fruit snacks


    SALTY:
    chips
    almonds
    pretzels
    meat sticks
    crackers
    Monster Pop!**

    DAIRY:
    string cheese
    cheese wheel
    yogurt

    FRUIT/VEGGIE:
    applesauce pouches
    fruit cups
    carrot sticks
    celery sticks
    banana
    sliced apples (soak in 4 C water and 1 Tbsp lemon juice for 5 minutes to keep from browning)
    strawberries
    grapes
    snap peas
    blueberries
    pears
    cucumbers
    mandarin orange

    We do not do a bin for our main dish, but here are some ideas of what we love to do. Use a thermos to keep hot food hot.

    MAIN DISH:
    sandwich
    pizza kits (flour tortilla wedges, sauce, cheese, pepperoni)
    bagel pizza
    crackers, cheese, deli meat
    mac and cheese
    hot dog
    chicken nuggets
    pita and hummus
    hard boiled eggs
    tuna salad and crackers
    pinwheels (tortilla, deli meat, lettuce, and cream cheese rolled and sliced)


    Monster Pop has been gracious enough to sponsor this post alongside Moms Meet. Monster Pop Big-Time Butter Popcorn has been such a fun snack to incorporate into our salty snack bin! It is made with only four ingredients– popcorn, sunflower oil, clarified butter, and sea salt. Hooray for a cleaned up kids snack! Plus, the packaging is the cutest ever. I know that I am not the only one who is a sucker for good branding. Monster Pop is also gluten free, Non-GMO, and kosher. It does not contain any trans fat, added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial ingredients. It is so important to fuel our kids with healthy and real ingredients. Kids’ brains function better when fed real food. Reaching for Monster Pop makes this easy. It retails for $16 for 16 half-ounce bags, $15 for three sharing-sized bags, or $27 for six sharing-sized bags.

    The big-time butter flavor is delicious. If you aren’t a fan of butter popcorn, be sure to pick up their cheeseriffic cheese flavor. It’s so yummy, and my personal favorite. Each flavor has it’s own personal monster. Bud is your pal on Big-Time butter while Cas is your friend on Cheeseriffic Cheese. What kid doesn’t love a cute monster?

    Not only is Monster Pop super fun for your school lunches, but it would be so cute to pass out on Halloween and even at a Halloween Party, if you celebrate! You can grab them for on-the-go snacking– going to football practice, dance class, gymnastics, and during baseball games. Pull it out for after school playdates! When my middle daughter turned two, we had a monster themed birthday party for her. Monster Pop would have been such a cute addition to her party! I told you that I’m a sucker for good branding. There are so many fun ideas that you can do with Monster Pop.

    You can buy Monster Pop Big-Time Butter and other flavors online at monsterpopshop.com. Be sure to use the code MOMSMEET25 to get 25% off of your purchase! This code is valid until 10/31/21.

    **Monster Pop Big-Time Butter and Cheeserific Cheese flavors contain dairy. Please be aware of this if you have food allergies in your home or classroom.

    If you have any great ideas to add to this lunch setup, please share them in the comments! I’m always looking for ways to shake things up.









    Other sources:
    lunch boxes
    pink bins (similar)
    clear fridge bins (similar)

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  • Dream Big with PACT Pajamas

    June 6, 2021

    As a mom, I always want to do the best for my child. I want to use the best and safest products for them. When my second daughter was an infant, we discovered that she had eczema. My youngest was later diagnosed with it as well. I started researching the best ways to help their skin stay smooth and comfortable. I didn’t want to just treat eczema when it came up, I wanted to avoid it rearing it’s miserable head at any point. Some of the biggest tips were to eliminate dairy, use lotions without any added fragrances and completely clean ingredients, and use organic cotton pajamas. **This is not medical advice, just what I found in my research.**

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    Needless to say, when this package showed up at my door, I was thrilled. Pact sent their Dream Big Pajamas for us to try out! I have heard about the PACT brand for quite a few years, but had never taken the plunge on purchasing anything. I have filled up many a shopping cart on Pact’s website. I got an adorable set of Pact Dream Big Pajamas for one of my children for this blog post. I loved them so much that I bought more for the rest of my children almost immediately. They had to be matching, of course. This combination is Rainbows and Tea Rose.

    Not only are the prints on these adorable, but they are also so soft. One of my children declared that they wanted their pillows to be made out of these pajamas, so that tells you how soft they are! Since we spend so much time in our pajamas, it is important that they are comfortable and free from anything that can further irritate eczema. Most children spend approximately half of the 24 hours of their day in pajamas. Being a homeschool family, my kids often don’t change out of their pajamas when we start school. Comfy Cozies forever!

    I feel good knowing that what is against their skin, the largest organ, is not harmful to them.

    That post-pool hair life.

    We know that the Dream Big Pajamas are incredible. But, let’s learn more about the Pact brand, shall we? Pact is a fair trade certified company– meaning that the producers in developing countries are paid a fair wage. I know that it is a big buzzword (buzz phrase?) at the moment, but it is so important to support companies such as Pact who are doing such great work.

    PACT is the Earth’s Favorite Clothing company. The cotton used is also GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton– free from toxic chemicals. (Did you know that traditional kids pajamas are sprayed with a toxic flame-retardant that is incredibly harmful? Please don’t just take my word for it, do the research.) Anything that you put on your skin will be absorbed into your bloodstream. That includes any chemicals that are used in clothing and pajama production. I love that Pact is free from this toxicity. They also use 91% less water than conventional cotton production. This helps to save the earth’s most valuable resource– water. Pact is so environmentally friendly, and I love that. We were only given one beautiful earth, and everyone should do their part to take care of it.

    Dream Big Pajamas are so soft. Have I mentioned that already? You know how stiff and uncomfortable most pajamas like this are. They have snug fit with a pull on waistband and banded cuffs at the wrists and ankles. Dream Big Pajamas have a tag free design, which makes them even more comfortable. No itchy tags to bother your children– especially those who are sensitive to sensory stimuli. They are available in sizes 18 months to 10. For reference, my oldest (in pink) typically wears a size 12 and is wearing the 10. My middle daughter is also wearing a 10, which is her usual size. My youngest is wearing a 7, and typically wears a 6. I prefer to give them some growing room, but these do seem to run a bit big. The fabric is pre-washed and shrink resistant. We’ve been wearing and washing them for a month, and have had no shrinking or pilling. These are quality pajamas.

    They typically retail for $30, but you can currently get 20% off your first purchase with the code MomsMeet20 until December 31, 2021. You can purchase them at wearpact.com. This code is only valid on first time purchases and is not valid on any sale items or in combination with any other discount.

    Pact makes clothing, pajamas, and underwear for children, babies, men, and women. They even have some bedding. Pact has a “fit happens guarantee” and will take care of you if you aren’t happy with your purchase. (You will be!) I CANNOT recommend these pajamas enough.

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  • Screen Time Management with Circle Home Plus

    April 18, 2021

    Screen time. This is such a hot topic. Over the last year, has your family’s screen time increased or decreased? I would venture a guess that all of us would say that it has increased. Ours has. More time at home tends to mean more screen time. Studies have shown that screen time has increased by 500% for children since the pandemic started. That. Is. Crazy. Nearly half of American children spend 6+ hours a day in front of a screen. Throw in distance learning, and we have a huge problem. That makes me sick. I would venture a guess that most of us parents are wanting to change that for our families, but how? Where do we start with breaking the habit of screens?

    Circle Home Plus is the #1 comprehension screen time management solution. Circle wants to make families’ lives better both online and off. They help us set healthy limits for screen time, allowing us to build good habits. We can get wonderful experiences from our time online rather than being completely consumed by it. Circle has become the easiest way to manage all of our family’s devices from anywhere and keep them safe while online. You, as the parent, can control and filter content for all internet-connected devices. This includes smart phones, TVs, tablets, and gaming consoles.

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    One of my favorite features of the Circle Home Plus app is the Bedtime feature. Screens go off at the time you set, and don’t come on until the time you set. Every profile can be set to specific times, making arguing over it a thing of the past. When it is bed time, your screen turns off for the night and that is it. End of story. I love this feature for myself also! I am forced to put my phone away and relax at the time I set. Mama needs a screen detox also. We can’t just point fingers at the kids. You can check out Circle’s sleep hacks here.

    Did you know that technology is often what stands between our children and a good night’s sleep? Blue light from our phones and computers disrupts our sleep cycle. That is pretty well known. But, have you ever thought about how many times you reach for your phone to check it throughout the night? Teenagers do this even more. Notifications go off that wake us up, and we *obviously* have to check it. Late-night scrolling is such an issue for all ages. The Bedtime setting puts an end to all of that nonsense.

    Circle Home Plus not only helps to manage screen time, but can also make screen time safer. You can set age appropriate filters for websites and apps– even blocking some all together. Time limits can be set for individual apps as well as categories of content (social media, games, etc.) You can also Pause or temporarily turn off the internet for the whole family or just a single family member. Focus Time can be set to help kids stay on track while doing research or distance learning. No more browsing the web instead of focusing on school. How cool is that?

    Circle has so many different features. You can locate a family member’s device using the location feature. The history feature allows you to see a family member’s history. This allows you to see sites that have been visited as well as content that Circle has filtered out. From there, you can select to have a website allowed, not allowed, or unmanaged. There is also the ability to see a family member’s usage– where they are spending most of their time while online.

    As if all of that isn’t cool enough, you can also send rewards to family members. If someone earns extra screen time or a later bedtime, you can do that all from the Circle Home Plus app. Misbehavior cause a reward to be taken away? That can also be done from the app! My circle app has a passcode, so no one can log onto the app and send themselves rewards or edit the time they are allowed. I have the control, and it is so easy and reassuring.

    Reducing screen time enriches our family’s lives. Instead of sitting and watching TV, scrolling social media, and playing video games, we have more time for each other. Board games come out more often. We spend more time outdoors playing together. We explore our state and see so much more than the TV or phone screen.

    We only get 18 years with our children. EIGHTEEN. My kids are 10, 9, and 6– all very close to their next birthdays. I feel that clock ticking down more rapidly with every passing year. I CERTAINLY am not going to look back on these years and be thankful for all of the dumb screen time. I want a thriving life with my family. I want to play while they want to play. I want to braid hair and read books. I want to see art and visit museums and explore. I want them to know that they matter to me more than anything in this world. They aren’t going to know that if I am staring at my phone. I want to know their hearts, their fears, and their dreams. I won’t get to know any of that if they spend their time on tablets and watching TV. That is not a fulfilling life. I want to LIVE LIFE, and Circle helps keep us all accountable.

    Save 20% on your purchase of a Circle Home Plus device + 1 year app subscription or Circle Home Plus device + lifetime app subscription at momsmeet.link/circlehomeplusshop with promo code MOMSMEET2021. Valid until 10/15/21. One promo code use per person. Circle Home Plus typically retails at $69 for a three month subscription, $129 for a one-year subscription, or $299 for a lifetime subscription. All plans include the Circle Home Plus Device and Circle App access.

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  • Back to School 2020

    August 7, 2020

    We have survived our first week back at homeschooling! It is so hard to believe that this is my sixth year as a homeschool mom. Wow!

    Obviously, we got an earlier start than what is typical. That’s homeschooling for you. 😉

    Harper has started K5, Addi is in 3rd grade, and Chloe is in 5th grade. We are doing Abeka Academy again. I wish that Abeka did a referral program to help cut down the cost! Can we work on that?

    I know that many parents are currently weighing their options for school. With the current state of things, every option feels overwhelming to people. You are doing a good job, mama.

    Just yesterday, I got an e-mail from the homeschooling art class that they are going to attempt a fall semester. The kids would be required to wear masks the whole time and kept separate. I just don’t know how I feel about it all. We are still staying home– other than outdoor hikes and occasional outdoor family visits. With my months-long pay cut and Scott’s temporary layoff, I think the decision has been made for us. I actually am thankful for that.

    In the same vein as homeschooling, I wanted to share this book with you. I am on the launch team for Sally Clarkson’s new book Awakening Wonder. It comes out on August 18th. Since I am on the launch team, I got an advanced copy of the book. It is phenomenal. Every educator and parent can benefit from Sally’s words of wisdom. I’ve been a huge fan of her books for a long time. Another great one is called Different by Sally and Nathan Clarkson.

    I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, friends!!

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  • Lincoln’s Birthplace National Park

    June 29, 2020

    We couldn’t be so close to Lincoln’s Birthplace in Hodgenville, KY and not stop. I have loved Abraham Lincoln since I was a little girl. Plus, we are a homeschool family and will pounce and any opportunity for these educational experiences. Seeing history come alive is one of the best ways to learn it.

    This memorial building is what houses the log cabin. There are 56 steps, each one representing a year of Abraham Lincoln’s life. It really is moving to take each step. He was such an incredible president, and his life was cut so short.

    There is a small museum that you can walk through. The family Bible is housed inside, which I really enjoyed getting to see. There is also a short video that you can watch about Abraham Lincoln’s parents and their life in Kentucky.

    They had the interior door propped open so visitors could see part of the cabin.

    There is a path that leads down to Sinking Spring, which they say is probably where he got his first drink of water from. It was so pretty and cool down here. The sounds of the water were so peaceful.

    The park itself was really beautiful. There are trails that you can hike, but we were pressed for time and didn’t do any. This park also has the junior ranger program. The ranger at the outdoor information table gave the kids their workbooks and a pencil. She then gave me the badges and said that I could give them to the kids when I felt like they had completed enough. During our visit, quite a bit was still closed and the answers wouldn’t be found in the park. Be sure you ask about the program so that you can get the workbooks! It’s so educational for the kids!

    I would really like to go back once everything is reopened. Even with so much closed, I am really glad that we made the time to stop and see this beautiful place.

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  • Mammoth Cave National Park

    June 24, 2020

    It is a unique experience to go somewhere during a pandemic. I have been very concerned about my child getting sick and ending up hospitalized– because we were there a year ago. You can’t get much more distant than tent camping and visiting a massive national park, so we went, and I am so glad that we did.

    Let me just start by sharing the precautions that they are currently taking. The information desk is outside. The rangers are under a small canopy to answer questions, hand out maps, and give junior ranger workbooks and badges. Should you need to go inside, traffic is one way. Everything is incredibly clean. They even moved a gift shop outdoors. There is plenty of open air. They only have one cave tour open, and they altered the route because the usual route didn’t have enough air flow to be safe during this time. So, rest assured.

    Scott and I have been talking for some time about wanting to visit all of the National Parks. We want to visit as many as we can while the kids are still with us, and after they are grown I hope we continue to explore. It’s something we have always loved. He suggested that we go camp and visit the closest park to us, which is Mammoth Cave National Park. We left on Saturday and came home on Monday.

    The entire park was so beautiful. Yes, there are MILES of beautiful cave to explore. But, they have also preserved thousands of acres of forest. There are places to camp and trails to hike. It rained on us the whole weekend. In the forest, there are so many trees that you don’t get as wet as you would expect.

    tank top

    We signed up to to the Extended Cave Tour. Like I said, everything was different for us. It is usually a guided tour. For safety reasons, that was not the case this time. They did have rangers all throughout the cave off of the path that would explain things to you and answer questions. They also limited it to groups of fifty for each tour. We didn’t get to see everything that I was looking forward to, but that is just incentive to go back!

    The entrance and exit were so beautiful. You could immediately feel the cool cave air as soon as you hit the top of the steps. The cave is consistently in the 50s, which was such a nice relief from the heat and humidity. Pack a jacket! Your eyes adjust to the darkness and you can see every detail of the cave. I had to laugh when I looked through my pictures. So many of them were just black photos, and I wasn’t sure what I could see at the moment. I do know that I said “wow” a lot. I’m so glad that we did it!

    rucksack— on sale!

    There were so many trails to hike. Since we were only there for one full day, we didn’t get to do very much at all. There are lots of hills. I think my fitbit said I ended up doing 36 floors that day between the cave and the short trail. I had over 16,000 steps. The kids did great!

    Most of the parks do a Junior Ranger program. Once we set up camp on Saturday, we went to the park and picked up the workbooks for the kids to do. For this program, the kids had to earn “bat points” based upon their age. Each page was worth a certain amount of bat points. Once they had earned enough, they could go back and get their junior ranger badges. We all learned so much from these books!

    Patagonia jacket (similar)

    I am so passionate about our National Parks. I was fortunate enough to visit several of them when I was younger. Their efforts to conserve nature and history are so good. They offer so many resources for educators. They are passionate about getting kids outdoors. There is so much to learn! We were looking at where to go next while traveling home. This book has been so good for planning. (I didn’t get my passport stamp and am so sad.)

    I’ll share about where we camped tomorrow!

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  • Book Outlet

    June 1, 2020

    Janssen from Everyday Reading introduced me to book outlet. This could be a dangerous discovery for me. So, in true Ashley form, I’m going to share this dangerous discovery with you!

    All of the books are new and extremely discounted. There are so many great deals to find– even on kids activity books. I bought several sticker by number, scratch and sparkle, and coloring books to have as entertainment this summer. These also keep the kids quiet and happy in the waiting room of doctor, dentist, etc. offices.

    I really like checking the new release section each day just to see what is new. It’s like browsing the library shelves. I enjoy online “window shopping”. I found some books to tuck away for the upcoming birthdays in our family.

    I will say that shipping does take a while. It took over a week for my order to arrive. If you are buying books for gifts, then you definitely want to plan in advance.

    If you shop using this link, you can get $10 off your order of $25 or more. Shipping is $5 flat rate and free if your order is over $35.

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  • Helpful Homeschool Items

    April 9, 2020

    There are some items that have made our Homeschool days more successful. They aren’t necessities, but definitely help things go more smoothly. They also would all be useful if you are only temporarily quarantine-schooling.

    Timer // I love having a timer for the kids. They get ten minute breaks every two subjects. They know that when the timer goes off, it’s a non-negotiable. It’s time to get to work again.

    Headphones // This actually feels like a NEED in our home, or it would be a mess of distracting sounds all around. This way, the kids hear their work and no one else’s.

    Storage Center// When you have tons of glue, markers, colored pencils, etc. this comes in handy. It’s a great place to hold it all and keep it organized. There is also a mini-version if you don’t need a large one.

    Construction Paper // This has endless possibilities for kids. Let them use the creative side of their brain to shake things up.

    Hanging folders // This is what keeps me sane through the week. Sunday night, I organize the papers for the whole week. This makes it so that we just have to grab our papers for the day in the morning. The alternative is that everyone is scrambling trying to gather the correct papers.

    Pencil Sharpener // The reviews speak for themselves.

    Treats // No, these aren’t for the kids. These are for you. Homeschooling is hard, and a treat helps. 🙂

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  • Homeschool FAQs

    February 19, 2020
    Image source

    I have been getting a lot of questions about homeschooling recently, and I thought I would answer them here.

    What grades are you children in?
    I have three daughters. They are in K4, 2nd grade, and 4th grade.

    What curriculum do you use?
    We use Abeka Academy. We started using it in 2017 and did parent-led that year. I was very overwhelmed with a big move, losing a very close family member, and trying to keep up with life. So, the next year we did academy. It was a game-changer. I honestly wanted to quit homeschooling until we made the switch. With academy, you get DVDs or can stream the videos online. This makes the parent more of a facilitator. There is still a lot of work for the parent, but it is much more manageable.

    What other curricula have you tried?
    We started out with Horizon’s. The next year, I tried Heart of Dakota. The following year, we did LIFEPAC. They were fine, but not a good fit for our family. We also visited a Classical Conversations group in Oklahoma in 2017 and seriously considered that switch before finding Abeka.

    What about college?
    There are MANY homeschool curriculums that are accredited. Your child will have records just like if they were going to public or private school, and be able to send them to any college that they apply to. (Abeka is one of them.)

    What about socialization?
    Every homeschooling parent’s eyes just rolled. Did you hear it? Perhaps MANY years ago this may have been a concern. These days, there are so many groups that your child can be a part of. There are homeschooling groups that throw dances and parties. Also, don’t you remember your teachers telling you “We aren’t at school to socialize?” My children are comfortable speaking to people of all ages. There is the normal shyness, but overall they are very well adjusted and comfortable making friends. I’m not worried at all.

    Are you part of a co-op?
    No. We have moved MANY times over the past 4 years. I did just learn about a local co-op that I am looking into joining next year.

    Do I have to know everything to teach my children?
    No! You can learn along with your child. Obviously, you will want to go over the lessons in advance so that you can be able to help your child when they are doing something. Abeka has a support line that you can call if you need additional help. There are also facebook groups for each grade level that offer a ton of support and encouragement. It’s such a misconception when parents think they aren’t smart enough to teach their children. You can do it!

    How long is your school day?
    We typically start our day around 8 AM and are done by 3. My children take 10 minute breaks after completing two subjects. This has helped them stay focused so much better. There is also an hour break for lunch and “recess” to help them reset and be ready to finish strong.

    Were you homeschooled?
    I was not. I went to public school until I graduated. I loved those years, and didn’t have a bad experience with it at all.

    Why do you homeschool?
    Originally, I started because we lived in one of the most unsafe places in the country. I wanted to know that my babies were safe. I did a lot of praying and ultimately feel that God has called us to this. I love that I got to be the one to see my daughters read their first word. I’ve been involved every step of the way. I also believe that schools are trying to force kids into a box. If they don’t learn this one specific way, it’s just too bad for them. I get to help them where needed. I can adjust and teach something a different way if they are struggling to understand. Each year, I stop and pray about whether we are going to continue. Each year, it has been a yes.

    Is your family supportive?
    Not always. Especially not at first, but I think that is because they didn’t understand it. None of us had experience with homeschooling, so no one knew what it was going to look like. We still have family that doesn’t get it, and like to give quizzes over holiday meals. That is really frustrating. I feel a lot more supported now than I did when we first began, and I’m really grateful for that. It’s hard to be on an island.

    Where do you homeschool?
    Currently, we have a room with an old kitchen table set up. The bigger girls share this table. The youngest has a desk that sits next to my desk in the office. We have homeschooled around the kitchen table in the past, and it all works great. You can see a tour of an old setup here.

    How can you save money?
    Many parents buy used textbooks– which can be purchased in various facebook groups or on ebay. Once you have one child in that grade, it’s easy to save those textbooks for the next child. Dollar Tree has a lot of great flashcards and workbooks. I’m always looking at the clearance racks of stores for school supplies that we will need.

    Do you have to register with the state to homeschool?
    It depends on your state. Some states require that you send a letter with intent to homeschool. The parents have to send in reports at the end of each school year. Some states require you to send your intent to homeschool, and thats all. Other states are completely hands off, and even registering as a homeschooling family is optional. Make sure you check the laws of your particular state. You are considered a private school when homeschooling, and you want to be sure to have everything done properly.

    If there are any questions that I didn’t answer, please let me know! I have loved our homeschooling journey. Yes, there are days that I just want to quit because it would be easier to send them to school. But, the benefits far outweigh any of the passing frustrations! I certainly don’t consider myself an expert, but I have been homeschooling since 2014 and have some experience under my belt.

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  • Our Daily Schedule

    October 9, 2019

    I love blog posts that give a real glimpse into people’s daily lives. A post on what you carry in your purse? I can’t wait to read it. You’re going to show me inside of your fridge? Awesome! I don’t just rifle through others’ things when I’m visiting– just so you are aware. But, if someone shares the info I will definitely eat it up.

    I figured I’d share a glimpse into our homeschool days. We do Abeka Academy, which gives me more freedom.

    I don’t wake the girls up at a certain time, but usually everyone is up by 6:30-7. We start the morning off slowly. I brew coffee right away. The kids will eat breakfast– usually cereal or frozen waffles (I found these and they sound so yummy).

    We start school at 8:30. The girls can be pretty independent with their school work since they watch the academy videos. I am always nearby to help. Every two subjects, they get a ten minute break. This has honestly helped them stay more focused through the day.

    Lunch is at noon. I have a good system that makes lunch prep easy, which I will have to share sometime. I set a one hour timer and they get that hour to eat and then play.

    At 1, we get back to school. They usually finish up their classes by 3.

    I have them do their homework, if they have any, right away so it doesn’t get forgotten. If not, they are off and playing.

    Scott gets home at 3:30 from work, and I leave at 3:45. This schedule really stinks for us since we are basically strangers during the week. But, you do what you have to do.

    In the evenings, the kids have a lot of programs. They are in gymnastics right now, so one evening a week is spent at class. Another evening is usually a library program. Wednesdays, they go to church. Scott is running them from place to place like Superdad.

    We have usually tried to do dinner around 5, but with the busier schedules it just happens whenever it happens. I plan a two week menu for dinners. I have done menu plans since Scott and I got married. I truly don’t know how I’d function without it.

    Scott gets the girls ready for bed at 8. I get home shortly after. I give them all hugs and kisses. I read a chapter in a chapter book to the big girls every night. Right now, we are reading Amelia Bedelia. Side note– it is really hard to say her name when you are out of your mind tired.

    Obviously, when we have appointments, the schedule shifts. We start school later and finish later. If we have a longer appointment (we’ve had some big dental procedures recently) then we just do a half day. I thrive on a schedule, so I really dislike when something causes it to change.

    I have to know– do you love posts like these?

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