Why I Like Shopping Alone!

Yesterday started as a slow, relaxing day. I woke up to a spotless house, kids that did their morning routines with no problem, and a husband that only stopped by the office of a couple of hours. The day was a clean slate. Shortly before Billy was to be home I decided to go to the thrift store and Target. I called Billy to see if he wanted to go with me to Target. He said he wanted to go so we left the children at home and set out for Target. We bought school desks for the kids, school supplies, and a bed skirt for Megan (very little compared to the damage I usually do at Target). When we left Target I asked Billy "Do you want to go to the thrift store with me or do you want me to take you home?" He said "I'll go with you." Now, if you are a thrift store shopper you know that you have to be left alone so that you can dig around and that certainly means leaving the kids behind. It should go for husbands, too. Early in our marriage Billy told me that he would never wear used clothing and didn't want me and the kids to either. Okay, whatever. He is not a millionaire and I've been shopping at thrift stores ever since. Well, since we are saving money to buy a farm in Wisconsin and adopt children we are trying to be even more thrifty. So, my wise husband that knows that I buy a lot at thrift stores decided he was on board with the idea. Taking him to a thrift store was a big mistake. He, like a child, can only be good for so long. I knew he was getting antsy so I had to hurry and didn't get to look as much as I would have liked. So, we left and I told him that I would come back later. Then, starving, we went back home to have lunch. Billy said "Hey, how about we all go to Sam's today instead of tomorrow." Sam's is where we buy all of our groceries. Until recently, Billy never went grocery shopping with me. But since I have been going to Sam's Club I have started taking Billy and leaving the kids with Megan. Billy is a big help and it is fun to shop with him. So, at 2pm we decided to all go to Sam's, except for Megan, she was wise and decided to stay home. Billy wants to change clothes and then he gets a phone call so we don't leave until 3pm. We drive to Vernon Hills and I'm about to turn into Sam's and Billy says "Hey let's go to the Christian bookstore." So we go into the bookstore and spend an hour. The kids asked for everything and drove us nuts but we did buy some cool homeschooling supplies. We get out of the bookstore and Billy says "Do you want to go to Walmart?" Why is the world would I want to go to Walmart when I had been to Target a couple of hours ago? Anyway, we go to Sam's and Billy and the kids are tired...and hungry...and thirsty...and driving me nuts. So we finally get out of Sam's at 6:30 and drive home. Billy and the kids unload the van and Megan puts away the groceries. Someone says "Can we have hot dogs?" Sure, so I put the weiners in a pot of water and start them heating. And then I realize that I forgot to get hot dog buns. "Billy, I'm going to the store to get hot dog buns!" At least three kids holler out "Can I go, too?" "No Way." Finally I got to sit down and relax at 9pm last night. This morning while we were still laying in bed Billy asks "Do you want to go to Lowe's with me today?"

Finally getting my head on straight.

Well, I started this blog back in June and now it is the end of the year and I am typing my first post! There have been a lot of changes since then. The Army transferred us from Texas to Chicago. Since then we have been getting settled into our new home. We found an awesome church right away. It is called Lakeview Church and we have made lots of new friends there. We put the kids in school but at the end of the first semester we took them back out. The schools here are fantastic but it is hard on the kids changing schools every time we move (and we might be moving again soon). Also, we want to follow Proverbs 22:6 and "train up our children in the way they should go..." We want to give them a Christ-centered education. I'm very excited to be homeschooling again. We ordered the curriculum today. We made the second living room or family room (whatever you want to call it) into the classroom. We put my desk in there, a larger marker board, book shelves, etc. We are going to buy desks for the "students" on Wednesday and Billy is going to install some more shelves. Plus, the fire place is in there so that's a nice touch. We decided to go with the Alpha Omega Lifepac curriculum for Megan, Lawson, and Grace. We are continuing with the Alpha Omega Horizons curriculum for Chloe that we having been using since September. Well, that's all for now. Feel free to comment or ask questions.