Getting ready for September

Although we homeschool year round, there is definitely a difference between what we do in summer and what we do for the rest of the year. This is mainly because we do not go anywhere public, besides the YMCA, in summer (museums for example). They are too crowded. We go out of town quite a bit, friends and family that are home from school want to hang out more, gymnastics is during the day instead of in the evening, we go swimming a lot, etc.

I have made a plan for September, but I am only planning one month at a time because who knows what we will accomplish.

 A few weeks ago I completely decluttered the kids' rooms. I got rid of toys and clothes en masse. All closets are perfectly clean and simple. This has helped a ton with the amount of cleaning that needs to be done. There is nothing left to clean! Since then I have also tackled all other areas of the house including my own closet. 

I reorganized our book nook, cleaning off the table there and moving it so that everyone can sit around it at the same time. This allowed me to clear off the kitchen table (where they would previously sit when they wanted to color or work on some other project) and guess what!!?? We eat there now! I have been planning meals and cooking enough for leftovers. It has been working really well. I plan and shop for groceries on Sunday. I cook a main meal about 4 days a week and we have leftovers on the other days. I cook new sides each day.

All of the kids' main homeschooling supplies are now on this shelf (below) instead of on the table. Library books are in the basket on the floor.

 Last year I kept a binder for Eaden where I put all of her work. Math, Language, History, Science, Art, etc. I am going to do the same thing this year for my oldest three and add a section for photos.

The key to success is to be ready to go in the morning. To have the house clean, to have work prepared, materials and supplies on hand, and patience. 

I still have a few things left to do, but plenty of time until after Labor Day. I need some supplies (folders, binders, new colored pencils, magnet kit, etc.) and I need to organize my own home binder. I need to request books from the library and probably do a few other things I am forgetting...

Traveling the Gulf - New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulf Shores, and Pensacola

This past week my parents, sister, and I drove along the Gulf of Mexico from Houston to Pensacola. We stayed in New Orleans for one night and then in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

For a family of 6, we spent under $500 for the entire trip! My sister and I split gas and hotel costs. 

Everything about the trip was perfect. The drive was not bad. It is 6 hours to New Orleans and then 3 hours from there to Gulf Shores. It is less than an hour from Gulf Shores to Pensacola. I was worried about the 9-10 hour drive back home, but it went quite smoothly!

Just last week there were red flags all along the Gulf, meaning no one was allowed to swim because of dangerous rip currents. However, it was nothing but green flags while we were there. There was a 40% chance of rain everyday, but we only saw rain one night after being at the beach in the sun for the entire day. The rain was the perfect excuse for not having to swim in the hotel pool which is what our kids were begging us to do. If we were hot a cloud would come and cover the sun. Serious. Everything was perfect.

 We stopped in Beaumont on the way to see the house where my mom grew up.

 After checking in at our interesting (polite) hotel in New Orleans we started walking. The good thing about the hotel was that it was downtown.

 We had lunch.

 The restaurant was right on the Mississippi River.

 We took the streetcars everywhere.

 Here is a video of a street performer the kids enjoyed.

 We just happened to be right at Bourbon Street as the sun was setting. Par-tay!

 The kids got an eyeful for sure!

 A band made up of youth making money on Bourbon Street.

 We drove through the cemeteries.

On our way to Alabama, we stopped in Biloxi for lunch.

 This is what you call a Mississippi mustache.

As soon as we arrived in Gulf Shores (Alabama) we unpacked the car and headed to the beach.

Every beach we went to was very different. This one had really neat shells and a brutal wave that landed right on the shore.

 My sister's ass was in the air the entire time.

The next day we drove to Pensacola Beach. This was the prettiest beach we visited, but it also had small stinging jellyfish. Most everyone, except Mirek and I (and maybe my parents) were stung. It was only a short burn that went away after applying some sand. No big deal.

 Abby needed a break.

 My Dad found this snail on the bottom of the ocean.

My parents and husband had to leave the next day, but my sister and I were able to stay longer.

We went by Gulf State Park and then to Orange Beach.

 Apparently, in Alabama, they domesticate possums.

Orange Beach had the best waves and the kids had a ton of fun there.

We ate lunch at the Flora Bama near the Alabama Florida border.

After resting at the hotel for a bit we went back to the Gulf Shores beach that evening. This beach had a lot of jellyfish, but luckily, they did not sting!

 Here is Abby after catching a jellyfish with her bare hand. She was very excited.

 These guys were also catching jellyfish and offered to give some to Eaden.

Bathroom stop on the way home.

We had such a great time and the trip cost so little money that we plan on doing it again (with a few twists) next summer!