Robin's Nest

In my last post I forgot to mention some of resources that we used to keep our cost to homeschool as low as possible. Mostly I forgot because the kids are on me like white on rice when I get home from work and then the two year old is also likely to be over and if she is it is all I can do to get dinner ready and try to get an evening lesson in for the five year old.  One good resource that is available to us is the learning resource center at our public library. They have so much stuff there in one area for all age groups...it was nothing short of amazing to me.  This was way more than what was available when my older kiddos were homeschooling. I struggled to find curriculum for them...dealt with negative bias from most people at the thought of working full time and trying to homeschool. We also check goodwill frequently for gently used and almost new materials. EBay and other online sources are extremely helpful for getting all kinds of worksheets, reading materials and ideas! Fr

I try to get ready for the school day on my day off but I have to squeeze in laundry, shopping and caring for my two-year old granddaughter along with any field trips and last minute call offs at my job.. or at least that's how it was last week.  Our manager returned to work yesterday and that took a ton off of my shoulders.  Like most places we are "downsizing" the work staff. That said not many people are happy about the changes and we lost three day shift employees because of it. Two were planning on leaving eventually the changes just sPeeded up the process. In many ways I feel it was for the best. They were somewhat on the whiney side. It seems easier and less stressful even though we are working with less staff. Today was doctor's rounds and that adds a bit of spice to the mix. For some reason I was behind and back peddling a good portion of the day. I came in to work and was greeted by a less than thrilled night shift, then I realized the printer/copy machi

Whew! I made it through another work week! It seems like it gets longer and longer each time but it is still Saturday through Wednesday. It does get longer it is a fact. Because I started this post almost a week ago! And here or is Monday and I am still trying to make time to get a post on.  Homeschooling and working are a bit of a challenge at times. At least when trying to teach young children. I home schooled my older children but they were self motivated for the biggest part and wanted to get done as soon as they could. For the kids to get ready for counting we have started to let them help with processing the eggs. It involves counting them and putting the eggs in cartons. What is work for me is fun for a five-year old! Here she is with her work table. I did set the cartons around the edge of the table  ...after all we are learning to add not subtract!  She wants to Do the sorting But her idea of that is throwing the speckled eggs back at the chickens!!

Good night! So today started with a lack of sleep on my part.  I again waited till the last second to get up and get moving for work...that meant no doing dishes before I left, no cooking breakfast or packing a lunch. In fact even managing to take a few essentials and my time badge was quite an accomplishment for me today. And I came straight home no stopping for anything. I did manage to get two very important things done today. First I sent my paperwork for my student loan deferment to the lender, second I called my aunt. Now the latter probable doesn't sound like much but it truly was. She is a dear 96 year old who lives alone with her dog. Truly if we had not taken in two more little ones I would be in California taking care of her. She of the last of ten children, sister to my maternal grandfather. She is such a set soul and has been through so much. She is a wealth of family knowledge and life knowledge. I wish I had come till know her sooner in life, but like a lot of youn

The yogurt was a huge success! I shall have a great treat to enjoy several days. I cannot believe I ever by store bought yogurt. I just finished a rather large bowl for my dinner tonight. I did cook for the rest of the family but I have indulged in so much junk food today I thought I better hold back. With that thought I have had a terrible two weeks of not eating correctly, mostly indulging in junk food and soda. Each night I tell myself tomorrow Is the day  I rethink how I spend my calories. The huge problem with this plan Is I forget! Also I am usually so emotionally exhausted by the time the kids go to sleep I drop like a fly sprayed with raid only to wake each time a child coughs, cries or rolls against the side of their beds. Needless to say my house is a shambles right now, my ability to function at a normal pace is diminished at best. I manage to get to work on time each day for the most part. But I go empty handed. I forget to take a lunch with me, or sometimes I forget to