I don't bother costing mine, it doesn't matter to me because I don't raise them to be cheaper than the store, so I guess they are what they are. I buy organic feed and raise a heritage breed rather than the hybrid meat crosses so I would imagine it's probably more than the local supermarket. I have raised the hybrid birds before and they are finished quicker.

I cook dinner pretty well every evening, we eat out maybe 2 times a month. My dh loves fast food burgers (blech) so he gets his fix at least once a week, but it's usually at a lunch when he's out anyway. When I worked I did once a month cooking and it was awesome. I still try to keep to at least a weekly menu, summer is the exception because I have a large garden and we eat what is ready.

Well I don't know if I had too many curriculum based goals when I first started out. My big goal was to not institutionalise my children so I guess that one was easy to fulfill ; ) My next goals or hopes were to have kids who loved to read, were curious about the world and would stand up for themselves and others. Curriculum wise I loosely followed the WTM but our history cycles have been way longer. I've stuck to our math program with some tweaking here and there. My short-term goal for this year is more research writing and more art.

My 10 yo has also had a lot of difficulty with spelling. She can do the practice and the assignments and then get it wrong a week later. Anything that has worked with her older sister just hasn't for her. She also hasn't been a strong reader so I really focused my attentions on that. This past 6 months she is reading, reading, reading. Yeah! I am really hoping to see some big improvement in her spelling this year. I am going to try the Calvert Spelling and have ordered it, I hope we like it.

Hi Colleen- thanks I'll have to go grab my WTM and have a peak. I have to take the kids to Upper Clements too. The library gives out free passes if the kids do a summer reading program. I'm in Windsor, well near it, so it's still an hour and a half drive and I dislike that highway. I can still do the coasters but no spinney things LOL.

I can't remember where I read about this but someone mentioned they have their dc pick a history, biography, science, different fiction genres etc each library visit. Anyone else do this? Do you count this as free reading and still have reading lists too? I don't want to give up on our reading lists or structured read aloud time but would like to see more variety coming out of the library, and not just from me : ). BTW my dc are 11 and 12.

Thanks!

Do I need the practice workbook and literature selections if I purchase the Homeschool Kit? Thanks

We enjoyed "The Story of Canada" as a spine last year and used other library books to fill in. Apparently there is a curriculum of sorts that goes with it but we just used it like we did with our Story of the World volumes... narration etc. I did buy a few other "Kid's Book of... " I think forts and aboriginal peoples too.

Thanks Folks, just hearing it isn't just me seems to help. Nice to "see" you again too, Colleen. I had to re-sign up again here, my other profile was lost somehow, guess I'm just not active enough. Anyway getting my shoulders ready for the plow : ) Actually I think I will get a few catalogues and see what's interesting... maybe get something off the wall for a fun unit study to start us off or something....

Well this is year 6 (doing gr 6 and 7) for us and I am just not into it this year. I don't think it's burn out really but maybe boredom. I want something to excite me. I have been getting out items to start planning and just not having fun with it. Usually I am so gung ho looking at curriculum etc and can't wait to get started. This year, I'm not even sure of everything we are going to be doing yet. I am still committed to hs, but I really need to get rid of this "ennui".

We did quite a few lessons last year and the kids really enjoyed it. I am going to give it a go again this year. I lost steam for it about 1/2 through the year, it seems like art is what gets put aside if we need to do other things (along with Science).