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.

Complete Curriculum

So over Christmas the kids received tablets from Santa. I'm looking more towards ebooks because they have their tablets. I came across Complete Curriculum.


First I know it's "secular" curriculum. All these years of homeschooling I've been using things that are Catholic/Christian based and over all I've been reasonably happy with my choices.  I could do what I have been doing and more, but I'm also looking at price.  What appeals to me about the Complete Curriculum you can use any 10 ebooks you want for $29.95 per calendar year.

The books they offer are just core subjects math, social studies, English  and science.  With two kids I could have age/grade material for them for a very cheap price.  I've heard that for the $29.95 fee you get access to the whole book, materials, but they are broken down into 180 lessons and each lesson is its own pdf file. So  for the math material, for example, I would have to download 180 different files to get the complete math book.  For an additional fee you can get the whole book, all the lessons, in ONE file.  Or you can just spend the money for the book, one file, without the membership fee. (Buying each book as one file cost more then the yearly membership fee).

I really don't have anything more to say about Complete Curriculum. I'm wondering if any of my readers have heard of it? Have used it? Or know someone that has? What are your thoughts?

Or do you know of other whole curriculum options that uses primary ebooks. I would want access to their books and teacher manuals/answer keys. I'm really interested in making their tablet more of a learning tool and not just a gadget to play angry birds or watch Netflix!

5 things I'm thankful for on May 26, 2009

--1--

Being able to spend time with my family.

--2--

Crock-Pots! They make dinner so easy especially in the warmer months when you don't want to "heat" up the kitchen

--3--

A house to live in. I've known so many people that have lost their home do to the economy.

--4--

That DH still has a job. Things are getting scary here

--5--

God!

Thanks Judy for Hosting this MEME!

economics and homeschooling

It's no secret that homeschooling is not always easy especially on the income end of things. Granted money is not everything, but a yet a certain amount is needed just to maintain the BASICS in life, food, clothing, and shelter.

At the beginning of the month I read several news reports that stated despite the economic down turn homeschooling is on the raise and families are finding a way to make it work. It's no secret to those that have been following my blog for a while that this is my first year of homeschooling. It's reassuring to read those kind of stories.

However some of my friends haven't been as lucky! I had a friend that also decided to homeschool this year as well. So we were figuring things out together!! Well her husband job went south, (he worked for one of the big auto companies), the lost their home, had to move in with relatives, and just this month had to send their children back to PS (public school) just because she had to go back to work. They just aren't making it any more.

Her children are doing well and the teachers have expressed that the kids are "above" what they need to be for the year, so there is no worries there. Of course I'm sad that she can no longer homeschool, but I'm glad to hear how well her kids are doing in PS. Only because her and I have pretty much have been doing the same thing, so it really was in a way reassuring to me that I am doing what I need to do.

I know that it's perhaps crazy to compare public school curriculum to homeschooling, but I can't help it. I'm just curious especially seeing that I just recently pulled my kiddoes out of PS. I'm sure over time it won't matter any. I know that things are hard for a lot of people, many are being hit hard by these economic times. We have been hit as well, but luckly by the grace of God we are still able carry on with the homeschooling. I pray that it's the same for all my homeschooling readers as well.