House Shopping 101

So with nothing better to do this Sunday afternoon we took the kids and went to a few open houses. The kids enjoyed it, they actually asked to go, after we went to one down the street last week.  -- the one last week was towards the end of the typical open house times and I was noisy.

All of the ones we went to were just a few miles from our home. So it let us see what the going market is like, little bit bigger homes, and a rough idea of if we were in the market for a new home what he want or do not want.

A few things we learned:

• We want mature trees; Several of the properties we did not like do to the lack of trees, shade, etc.  I guess 10 years on a somewhat wooded lot will do that to you. We have several mature trees on our lot and our property line. So the lack of trees and shade on some of these houses was like Oh My Gosh!
• Bigger bedrooms; While all the homes we looked at had a good size family room, living room, dining and a plus for us seeing our current home is only 900 square feet, I would like bigger bedrooms.  Several of the homes while boasting to have nearly 3,000 sq feet had bedrooms that were really no bigger then our current bedrooms. One of the houses was 2000 sq feet and couple of the bedrooms even seemed smaller then what we have now.
• Having a basement would be nice!
• And the kids no matter the price or what the rest of the house is like is going to want the one with the pool! -- never mind the pool took nearly the whole yard. They want the pool.

It was fun to take them looking around. It was also fun after that was done to talk to them about prices, finances, cost, monthly payments and how to determine if something is actually affordable for you.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something.

Consuming Kids!

If you have just over an hour to spare I suggest you watch the video above!  I watched it and was amazed on some of the things I was hearing and seeing. Then I started to wonder if my kids were "abnormal".

I say that because my kids still use make believe. They'll grab a stick and pretend it's a wand, sword, or whatever it is they want it to be at the time. However, the video gave me the impression that's abnormal compare to "today's kids".  What's your thoughts about the video above?  Is there truth in it? What are you doing in you home to help curb any of the effects advertising had on your children?

Who doesn't love a good deal?

Have you heard of nomorerack? I just heard about it this week via facebook.  They basically every day have new deals that are posted (noon est) time that stays live till 11:59 (est) time the next day. Unless they sell out of the deal. Many of the products they offer are 75-90% below retail price.  In addition to that they have what they are calling their INSANE deals.

Nomorerack insane deals show up on the homepage in a purple box and will have things like Kindle for $15. You never know when those deals will show up you would have to be able to visit the site often at various times through out the day to catch an INSANE deal. I haven't been able to catch an insane deal, but have heard about them after the fact.

Besides checking out the site at various times the best way to catch an INSANE deal is to register with the site that way if you happen to visit the site and see an insane deal you want you don't have to waist time registering. Registration is free. You have to register with the site in order to buy anything including the insane deals.  Just thought you would like to know.

What is that? A TV Dinner

For dinner tonight we are having a TV dinner. This is all honestly something that has never happen in this house before. You can tell by this dialog.

Me: Dad is stopping on his way home to pick up some TV dinners for dinner.
Superstar: He's doing what?
Me: He's stopping at the store to pick up some TV dinners for dinner tonight.
Superstar: What's a TV dinner?
Me: It's a meal that you buy in the frozen food section that you heat up and eat.
Superstar: Is it tradition to eat those meals in front of the TV?
Me: Yes, I think it is tradition that is why it's called a TV dinner.
Superstar: Can we eat in front of the TV then tonight?
Web-princess: I want to eat in front of the TV too!!
Me: (chuckling) yes you can.

The whole thing made me chuckle because I know by the time I was 9 and 8 I surely knew what a TV dinner was!!!  Next they will be watching some TV show and will be asking why the phone is attached to the wall or why is that CD so big?? LOL

 

Let's Talk Coupons!

Really I want to know HOW to do it like these "pros".  I caught TLC extreme couponing the other night. Now some of these couponers were on the EXTREME side, buying hundreds of items of the same product. Buying so many they were having the grocery store pre-order their items.  I have learn since seeing it that the one regularly buys in bulk (with coupons) like that in order to give many of the items away to his church monthly for their food bank and at times other local food banks.  That's easier for some to do when you are buying $6,000 worth of food, cleaners, and other products for just a couple HUNDREDS of dollars!

Here is just one example for the show. She took an over $200 bill and reduce it to just under $7!

She got many of her coupons by collecting them from her neighbors and her local newspapers. I posted  about this once before and made an attempt at it by getting my local Sunday paper for a period of time, but I  really didn't find any saving for me. So I stop getting the paper and stop trying! 

I know there has to be a METHOD! I just don't fully understand the method or how it works, (besides the actually clipping of coupons). I TRULY need someone to go shopping with, someone that truly understands the game, how it works, and is willing to go shopping with me. I want someone to honestly teach me how to do this!! We all need to save some money and start having a stock pile of things seeing a food shortage and raising food cost are on the horizon. Can you teach me?? 

SCARCE: New (to me) books

Today several members of I-HOPE (the new homeschool co-op/group that I have started) traveled to Glenn Elyn, IL to visit SCARCE. SCARCE is a "school" book rescue. I learned about them back in February, but I didn't have the privilege to go down their until today.

They are FREE for public school teachers, but do make homeschoolers pay a yearly membership fee, plus $5 per book. They have a LOT there! Digging around I was able to find Social Studies (World History) textbooks for the children. I was able to get 2 textbooks (one for each child), the corresponding student worksheets, chapter tests, and the complete book on audio CDS for $30 (not including the yearly membership fee).  Based on my brief assestment of the material while at SCARCE I'm confident that this material will last me for 2 school years.

I'm excited to dive into the books more and see what's actually there! I'm also over joyed to have been able to get the corresponding audio version of the books. We were told almost an year ago that Web-princess has convergence insufficiency. At first we didn't do anything with that knowledge because we were in the middle of dealing with Superstars surgery for ITW. (Can you believe that it he had the surgery almost a year ago? At the end of the month we see the surgeon to learn if he can be brace (AFO) FREE!)

After things started to settle down post surgery, I started to dive into convergence insufficiency to learn what I can do for Web-Princess. I learned that those with convergence insufficiency responded best to reading with the same methods used for dyslexia. Those with dyslexia respond best with a multi-sensory approach to reading.  I learned all of that January 2010, but it took me several months to learn what the means and HOW to do that in our home. I really didn't start applying things until April/May 2010, which really was at the end of our school year. I've started THIS school year trying to do things as multi-sensory as possible.

Thus the more senses I can engage when learning to read or doing reading activities the best! We do a lot of writing with shaving cream, writing in sand, reading with audio books. We have been learning phonics with card games. The more I can engage the different senses at the same time the better she responds. So to get a Social Studies Book today with the corresponding audio version is AWESOME!!

Speaking of Web-princess, I'm so please to see progress in the reading, writing, spelling area. Her independent reading is more of a 2nd grade level. Her writing is more of a K level. However she's starting to get it and is actually trying to read more on her own.  Not only that but she has also made up her own books and stories. All independent and outside of "school" time.

Her latest creation is called "Soopr Sron Boy" (translation Super Strong Boy). It's a chapter book! She even included a table of contents at the beginning of the book. She informed me that this book will have a sequel (although she called it a new chapter, but what she describes to me is sequel).

Chapter 1: Her Ces the Hero 

Sopr Sron Boy wes a vare god hero.

Translation: Chapter 1: Here Comes the Hero

Super Strong Boy was a very good hero.

 I know this is "behind" what most of her peers would write.  However it took us two school years to learn why reading, spelling, and writing was a such a struggle for her.  Now that we know and have been applying multi-sensory approach as much as possible she has made HUGE progress. In just a few months she has gone form a child that refused to even TRY to read something to a child that is TRYING  READ and WRITE her own books!

I know that as long as I try to use multi-sensory approach to reading, writing, and spelling as much as possible that she will continue to bridge that cap and will no longer be "behind" when it comes this area.

That's why it's so cool that I found the social studies books today with audio CDS! Yes it's social studies, but it does require that she reads it! So being able to read the book and listen at the same time, engaging both senses, will be awesome!!!

Free Range Kids

Does the idea of letting your 9 year old with their friends sit in a movie theater with no adult chaperon scare you? Does the idea of of letting him or her ride a subway alone scare you? Or what about eating Halloween candy BEFORE it was carefully check over by an adult?

If so then perhaps raising Free Range Kids is NOT for you! Honestly, I don't know where I'm at on the spectrum, but reading (or listening) to the book Free Range Kids How To Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children.

I admit I haven't finished the book yet, but the author raised some very valid points. For example the crime rate against children are nearly the same today as they were in the 1960's. We are drowned with 24 hours news and made for reality TV, that we really don't have a clear sense of what is true Reality and what is Reality TV. Oh and those drama shows that are "ripped" from the headlines (such as law and order) are no help in determining what is reality and what is Reality TV.

I haven't come to a complete decision on things, and I would encourage my husband to listen to (or read the book) before we did anything different then what we are doing now. Of course just like with homeschooling he would have to be in agreement with me. However, often lately I've been tempted with letting Superstar, age 9, stay home while I run up the street (literally) to walmart to grab some milk and bread.  I can't tell you how many times he's begged me to let him stay home while I run to the store to get milk and bread. I know I would be gone no more then 30 minutes (if even, seeing walmart really is just up the street; after all we've have walked there).

I use his age as the reason for him not being able to stay home. I tell him he has to be at least 13. I've always been under the impression that it was the "law". However the book raised some points and now I'm not even sure if it's the "law" or not. The author did mention that only 2 states had laws regarding children that stated actual ages and Illinois was one of the 2 states. (Maryland is the second state). Even with Illinois law the author said something that made me question if the law would apply for simple, quick, walmart run. Yes, there is an age listed in the laws, but at the same time child neglect statue describes, in part, what is consider neglect as "any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard to the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor." (705 ILCS 405/2-3 from Ch. 37, par. 802-3 (d)).  That statue goes on to list question to take into consideration, such as weather, are there other minors, day, night, duration of time, etc.

So you see, even in Illinois, it's not automatically neglectfully to leave a child under the age of 14 home alone. So would it be "okay" to leave Superstar, at 9, home alone while I ran to Walmart to get bread and milk? Could he manage for the 20-30 minutes (if even) that I was gone?  Of course, that's up to my husband and I to decide after all we know our son the BEST!! I wouldn't do anything that I've felt was dangerous. It just interesting for me to learn that things are as cut as dry as I thought. What has stopped me from allowing my son to stay home while I do a quick milk and bread run? Well his age, because I've been under the impression the "law" forbid me from leaving him home alone at 9, but now I'm not so sure. (Of course hubby would have to give his 2 cents on this and He and I together will decide what's best for our children).

I just think back when I was his age. I know that I had to have been 9, 10, 11 and Mom let us walk down to the drug store by ourselves. I remember being around that age being allowed to pretty much ride my bike anywhere I wanted in town as long as I was home before the street lights came on. Oh and there was NO cell phones!! YIKES!! Of course things are so much worst, you can't do that this day and age, or can you?? How does the crime rate today compare to that of the 60's, 70's, 80's, etc? Is it really that much different? Or have we've been sucked in to believe it's so much worst by those 24 hour news channels?

MOMMY!!

So on Sunday we did our grocery shopping. My intent was to do it Saturday, but the ER visit put a stop to all my plans.  We opted to do it Sunday that way I could get help from everyone including my husband.  Over all I'm fine, but walking for long periods of time is proving to be painful on the knee. It's not really the knee itself but the pull I'm feeling on the abrasion.

Anyway so we were in the store and Web-princess said I have to go potty. We sent her to the bathroom by herself. Mind you we were just several feet way and we could see the bathroom. So we were standing there waiting for Web-princess and Superstar. We, my husband and I, were standing at an end of a asile and had sent Superstar up the aisle for sugar and sent Web-princess the other way to the bathroom.

As we were standing there we heard this blood curling cry: MOMMY!!!!!

It turn out to be web-princess in the bathroom. DH ran to the bathroom then I followed. A lady that was shopping got there slightly before us. I just got there and hugged her. DH since I was there, went back to  the cart and Superstar.

Why for this blood curling scream?? Well it turns out none of the bathroom stalls would shut, close properly, so Web-princess was try to leave the bathroom itself. However she kept locking the door (pushing in the button) thus couldn't get it open.  Because every time she pushed in the button it locked the door. She would turn the handle and it would unlock, but she wasn't turning it enough to actually "open" the door. She was basically screaming because she thought she was locked in.

That reminded us of a few years ago when she thought she was locked in the car. That time she had enough wit about her to honk the car horn so we would hear her.  Looking back on it we can laughed and explain to her how she really can't be lock in when the lock in on her side. LOL

DH later Saturday night shared.  I wish at time she was more independent, but after today I realized she just needs us right now. She really is dependent on us, and right now there is nothing wrong with that.

Saving Money! Teach Me HOW to feed my family for $4 a week!

My friend Judy has stated several times that her lovely daughter is the queen of being frugal, but I have to wonder: Judy is your daughter this good? And if so is she willing to come to IL to teach me?

This mom with the aid of coupons has been able to feed her family of 6 for $4 a week. Her secret is coupons and buying items that can be bought for  free or near free with the aid of the coupons. On the day the cameras went with her she bought her whole weeks of groceries for 1 PENNY! Yep, that's right 1 Penny! She said that was her new all time low!

I have tried the coupon game several times but have NEVER been successful!! I never really saved any real money so I don't try anymore.

However, I want to LEARN HOW to to use coupons so I can feed my family on $4 a week! If you can teach me or know where I can go to learn, please share!!! I wonder if the woman in this video has a website? Where does she get her coupons? What sites?  I wonder if she is willing to give lessons? Or really share those tips and how-tos?