Sear's.com's Expanded Assortment

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This post brought to you by Sears. All opinions are 100% mine.
I love clothes...obviously!  But I love cute and inexpensive clothes.  Lately with 5 kids and no time at all I hate clothes shopping.  I don't have time for it, and I get frustrated when they dont have what I want.  Have you ever been to a store and LOVED an Item of clothing, but they don't have it in your size or the color you like?  Guess what I just learned...Sears now has the answer and I didn't know they did this so I am pretty darn excited to tell you about it.  I have bought a lot of cute clothes at Sears, but have also been frustrated that they didn't have my size or the color I liked.  Sears website is way larger than the stores and carries an expanded assortment of sizes and even colors you might not even see at the store!

What is  better is if you see it online, but want to wear it this weekend, Sears  guarantees to have your item ready in 5 mins or less for you to pick up, or you'll get a $5 in store coupon.  That is pretty sweet if you ask me!  Order it, call the hubby and ask him to pick it up on his way home from work! Sounds like a deal to me!
In addition to having more sizes and colors online Sears featured marketplace offers the latest designer brands on their website than they do in stores.  Brands such as Ray Ban, Michael Kors, DeWalt Tools, Steve Maden, Nike, and the list goes on.  Every day Sears is adding hundreds of new styles, colors and designers to their site.
So why waste your time shopping in stores when you can check out Sears.com's expanded assortment online and then just head over to the store to pick it up...and if they don't have it in 5 MINS you get a $5 gift card.  Sounds good to me!
Here are a few cute shirts I have my eye on for this summer...

Oooh, I love the colors!  Go check out Sears.com to see their newest arrivals daily and you won't be dissapointed! Let your friends and family also know about the great deals that are going on at Sears.  Especially the 5 mins or $5 deal.  Gotta run, no really, like GO RUNNING, so that I can loose some baby weight and get into some cute clothes this summer!
Have a great weekend!

This Mama Loves Mombo - Nursing Pillow review

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This post brought to you by Comfort and Harmony. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was so excited to get to review this awesome Mombo nursing pillow made by Comfort & Harmony.  Let me just say that this mama loves Mombo!  {Isn't that a song!?!} When I had my first baby there was nothing like these.  Someone made me one, and it was fine, but not like these deluxe pillows!  They have a Firm2Soft trademark which is a 2-sided construction that is designed to offer benefits on both sides.  The firm side for enhanced back support during nursing , and just the right elevation for baby.  The soft cushy side is perfect for lounging baby or even tummy time!  It also comes with a optional vibration machine that helps soothe baby that you can slip in and out of the pillow.  

The one thing I really like about the Mombo is that it comes with a slipcover that zips on and off for washing.  They have so many cute patterns to choose from! I actually had a pink one sent to me so that I can give it to my sister-in-law when I am done with it. (shh, don't tell them)  She is having a girl in a couple of months and since I will be done using this by then I decided to get the cute pink one just for her.  The fabric on the slip cover is so velvety and soft I know their little girl is going to love it!

My little man loves him mombo, it is where is has his best thinking time!  No really he likes to look around and be able to see what is going on.  And with 4 other crazy kids running around there is a lot to see!  Isn't he so cute!?!  I can't believe he is 2 months old, it has gone by WAY to fast!Mombo products are available to purchase at Babies R Us and you can follow Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and also Comfort & Harmony on Twitter to see their updates and new products!  

Principles to Financial Freedom

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So today I am going to get on my soap box and talk about debt...

How long have professionals encouraged us to STAY OUT OF DEBT?  Do we listen?  Probably not all of us!  Why? Why is it that we struggle with this so much.  Not only our prophets, but finance professional encourage human beings to stay out of debt.  Like for instance Dave Ramsey!  I know, I talk about him all the time, I love the guy.  He’s great and helps a lot of people out! 

Now I am not standing on a soap box saying that I {my husband and I} are perfect at this. We have had our fair share of debt.  I am just here to share some great info that I have found in the last few months!
We haven’t been big on credit cards since we got married, but we had one and we used it.  No we didn’t buy big stuff on it, but you know, you’ve done it,  when you didn’t have the money in checking you whip out the credit card and said to yourself that you would pay it back.  Do you? Hopefully, but I know we haven’t in the past. 

So Why? Why should we stay out of debt? 

I found a great list of 6 reasons why on this awesome site called Sensible Steward.

• Debt can limit our options, forcing us to work in jobs that we hate or work long hours that keep us from spending precious time with our families – “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go”.
• Strain of debt often leads to breakup of marriages – money is often cited as the #1 cause of divorce
• Because of interest compounding at high rates, we can get stuck in a spiraling debt cycle that is difficult to escape
• Debt assumes that we know what will happen tomorrow; Because there are no guarantees in life, this is a dangerous assumption.
• Debt increases our stress level, which can lead to a variety of health issues – depression, heart attacks, etc. Furthermore, the additional time spent at work can cause people to neglect their health by eating unhealthy foods and spending less time exercising
• Practices of collection agencies is borderline criminal and can lead some people to suicide (see the movie “Maxed Out”)

Wow what a list.  Why do we want to get ourselves into this.  I think a lot of us including myself sometimes feel like we deserve things.  Like we need it now, and we deserve it now , and so why not get it now and pay for it later.  A lot of us feel like the “Buy now Pay later” philosophy can work for us.  That we will pay it off fast after we get it.  What is the major problem with this?  I have found that whenever I went to look at my credit card bill after I bought something I “needed” I was overwhelmed and wondered how in the world we got SO much on there. 

On LDS.org under debt is says “Spending less money than you make is essential to your financial security. Avoid debt, with the exception of buying a modest home or paying for education or other vital needs. If you are in debt, pay it off as quickly as possible. Some useful tools in becoming debt free are a debt-elimination calendar and a family budget worksheet. “

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught: “All too often a family's spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All too often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress”

So here are 4 things I came up with to help our family…

1-  Be grateful for what you have, and save for what you don’t have.

This can be really hard.  Do you know how long I have wanted a new kitchen table?  A long time, but I am still saving for it!  We have been doing the Dave Ramsey Envelope system for over a year now and love it.  I have had people laugh at us when I am saving for something telling me, why not just go get it, you will have the rest of the $40 next week.  But to me, I have felt so much more financially secure saving for things we need, and not dipping in or borrowing from other “envelopes”.  I also feel way more excited about buying with the cash that I have saved for that exact item. 

2-  Have a budget and stick with it!

No matter how you budget, stick with it and don’t let your “wants” get in the way!  Share the budget with your kids and help them learn and understand it.  And encourage them to set up a small budget of their own!

3- Avoid Debt

We have been working for the past 2 1/2 years to get out of debt, and we have one small loan to pay off and we are done!  Obviously we have our house debt, but that’s it,  and I am so excited!  We even paid off our car.  For some people they include car in OK debt.  My husband and I have decided not to.  We want to buy our next car with cash. 
Also if you use a credit card, only use it if you have the money that day in checking to pay it off!

4-  Save, Save, Save

My husband and I have had our fair shares of rainy days!  And I can tell you from experience that when we had money in savings things turned out.  When we didn’t we had to rely on others, which is not fun.  I have been thinking a lot about tax returns this year. I really wanted to take my kids to Disneyland or buy a new trampoline, but for us this year and last we decided to save our tax return.  That has been really hard.  Sometimes when we get that “extra” money we want to go on a vacation with it, or buy something big and fun! But really it isn’t extra money.  It is income and we should use it as such.  We have had way to many experiences happen when we got to the end of the year and felt stressed about Christmas or finances and wished we wouldn’t have bought that big fun item with our tax return and saved it for our “rainy day” of stresses and struggles. 

Dave Ramsey encourages people to save $1000 dollars emergency fund, and then 3-6 months expenses.  When you have that and you are out of debt and are saving and have a retirement fund, then you can spend your extra money a little more frivolously per say!! :)

I love this quote by President Hickley…

"Brethren, I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment... I do not predict any impending disaster ... yet prudence should govern our lives ...  Begin in a small way... gradually build toward a reasonable objective." Gorden B. Hinkley, Priesthood Session, October 2002

Debt is a trap and can stress us out and make us frustrated, and angry.  It has for our family and we are going to avoid it like the plague from now on!  But also if we are in debt, don’t give up,  just do one things to change today!  I like that he says to “begin in a small way”  baby steps are the best way to get things accomplished and not be overwhelmed!!

Have You Tried That Crazy Wrap Thing? It Works Ultimate Body Applicator Giveaway

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Have any of you heard of these Body Wraps?  They are all the rage right now and they really do work to tighten, tone and firm your body?  My friend Niki just started using them, and selling them, because she was so happy with her results.  She was already fit to begin with! She would probably say she wasn't, but since I have after-prego belly I see things differently:)   As you can see by her before and after pictures below she looks great! 

So what are these wraps and how do they work?
With the nickname of skinny wrap, they do just that.  The wrap is a lotion-infused cloth wrap that draws out toxins from your fat cells.  With an all natural formula that will tighten, tone and firm your skin.  The wraps help put your body into a fat burning state.  This will help shrink your fat cells and pull toxins from the fat cells.  You can use the wrap anywhere but the face. {they also have facial wraps}  You can also cut the wrap to fit anywhere you like!  While using the wrap they encourage you to drink water at least 8 oz of water, and then drink 64 oz a day for 3 days to help flush your system of the toxins it is releasing.  

You can see results in 45 minutes, but Niki says, why not get the most out of it and wear it longer.  I bet you are wondering how often you need to wrap?  Niki encourages people to wrap until you are satisfied, but you will for sure see results with your first wrap.  They are safe to use every 72 hours.  

Here are the active ingredients in the wraps...

Here are some before and afters of people that have used the wrap...

I need to make a disclaimer before I go on...you probably have noticed normally when I do review I usually review the product for myself.  With these wraps they don't recommend you do them when you are nursing because the toxins that are being released will come out in your breast milk so you would have to pump and dump, which I don't want to do at this time since my baby doesn't drink formula.  Otherwise I am all for these wraps and would totally give one a try.  Which I will be after I am done nursing!  

The wraps are only $25, but you can save money by becoming a loyal customer and receive a box of 4 wraps for $59.   They not only sell wraps, they also sell great natural supplements, and skin care products!

And it isn't just for women.  Men have had amazing results using this product!  Niki even got her hubby to try a wrap!

Visit Niki's website and read her story here. Also visit her Facebook page It's a Wrap for updates, product info and great before and after pictures.  If you have any questions about these wraps Niki is so fun to talk to and would love to chat with you about these wraps.  She has her email and phone number on her site, so send her a message and she will be happy to talk to you about the wraps. If you are interested in becoming a customer contact her or just go to her site.  Also if you are interested in joining Niki and the It Works team she will help set you up to make great money.  This business is growing fast!
Now for the exciting part!!  Niki has offered to Giveaway an Ultimate Body Applicator to one of my readers!  How awesome is that.   So what are you waiting for?  Go enter, and tell all your friends about these wraps!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No Bake Cookies - With a Sugar Free Option

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I made these cookies 3 times in the last 2 weeks.  They are super easy and my husband is a cookie monster.  To bad they do nothing to him, but I am the one that has to suffer, and have self control so I don't gain 15 lbs just looking at them!  Actually the reason I made them 3 times was more for a test for all my readers!  I wanted to try making them with regular sugar, agave, and honey.

Here is the recipe...

No Bake Cookies - With a sugar free option

{Printable Version}

2 C sugar {if sugar free use 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 C Agave or Honey
1/2 C butter
3 T Cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 C Peanut butter {Natural}
1 tsp vanilla
3 C oats

In a saucepan melt together sugar, cocoa, butter and milk.  Once mixed add peanut butter.  Get to a boil.  Take off stove, add vanilla and oats.  Mix and drop teaspoon full on wax paper.

*With Agave and Honey they were more sticky and don't set up as fast as the sugar ones, so I put those in the freezer.  They actually taste good really cold.  Eventually {about 20 mins in freezer) they do set up, but just not as fast as the sugar one.

Mother’s Day Weekend

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I had a wonderful weekend with my little family filled with enjoying the great weather, my daughters dance concert, and just chillaxin {made up word for chillin and relaxing}!  Friday I sat outside and read Bambi to my kids.  I haven’t ever read the book and I am loving it.  There is so much to take out of that book and relate to life.  Isn’t it so pretty outside?  I think this will for sure become a reading place since I got a new {used} patio set!

I am really enjoying this weather.  Saturday and Sunday night we ate out on the patio table!  What is it about eating out side that I love!  Probably number one is that if someone spills I know the  dog will eat it up!  Ok that is probably not number one, but it is a bonus! I just love being out in nature and I love food, so I guess that’s why I love it!

I did have a good Mother’s Day.  We got chocolate at church!  Nothing better than a big truffle bar! My husband made a nice meal and we had yummy blueberry cobbler for dessert {recipe to come}.  My kids gave me sweet hugs and the cutest homemade cards! My husband doesn’t shower me with lavish gifts or make me a big fancy meal and sometimes he even forgets it’s Mother’s Day until the kids remind him…but guess what, I don’t really care.  I am grateful for a husband that doesn’t just make dinner and let me take a nap one day a year.  He does so much for me EVERY SINGLE DAY and loves me so much!!

I am so grateful to be a mom.  I feel so blessed to be that role in my children’s lives.  I love all the stages of life my children are going through yet I hate that they are growing up.  I know mixed up, but I just wish I could slow time down.  I am enjoying every minute of my day with them, ok almost every minute.  I could do without the fighting, but they are really pretty darn good kids!

My husband took the kids on a secret outing to gather me things wild flowers which I love!

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Personal Revelation - Young Women's Handouts for May

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Hey everyone!!  If you are new to reading my blog I would love to have you follow me on Facebook, that way you can see these handouts right after they are done!

For this weeks lesson I am teaching about Personal Revelation, so I thought I would make one handout to glue in, and one hand out that they could fill in during the lesson.

With the new curriculum I am teaching I am finding that some of the girls don't like to raise their hands so I made the other hand out something they could fill out throughout the lesson.

Here they are so you can save paper :)

{Download Here}

{Download Here}

Have a great weekend!!

Captain America Birthday Cake with Marshmallow Fondant

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Last month was my son Jack Jacks birthday.  He turned 5...crazy how fast he is growing up.   He seriously stayed my baby for so long and now he is 5 and just learned to read!  Where does the time go!  His birthday was when I was about to have a baby so on his actual birthday I just made a plain chocolate cake with frosting.  He kept begging and begging to have a friend party, so about 3 weeks after his birthday I finally called some friends over to help me and they brought their kids Jack Jacks age and we had a small party for him.  I had promised I would make him a cool super hero cake so I decided to try my hand at Marshmallow Fondant and make Captain America's Shield.  Here is how it turned out...

Not to bad huh?  First time and it really didn't take me that long.  

Here is the recipe...

Marshmallow Fondant

{Printable Recipe Here}

• 1 16oz bag of Marshmallows
• 2 T Water
• 1 t vanilla (or any other flavoring)
• 2 lbs powdered sugar

Place marshmallows and water in a glass bowl and put in the microwave for 30 second increments until it come out smooth.

Add 1 t Vanilla (or any other flavoring)

If you want to color it add color now.  You will use a lot less and it is not as messy.  Or you can also color it when it is done.  I did it after because I needed a bunch of different colors, and it worked fine. If you want it to be chocolate - add cocoa to taste!

Next put all but a 1/4 cup of  powdered sugar in the Marshmallow mix and stir well. 

{You can do this in a standing mixer, just make sure you grease down the paddles with Crisco}

On well greased (and clean) counter top knead frosting with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar (with greased hands)

After kneaded and all mixed together wrap in plastic wrap and place in fridge over night.  

{The frosting should not be crumbly, or runny.  You can always melt it in the microwave if it is to hard or crumbly for 10 second increments, and you can also add more powdered sugar if it is too runny.  It should be able to be smooth with no cracks when rolled with a rolling pin. }

When ready to use... divided them up into different balls that you want to color.  I used gloves so my hands wouldn't be all sorts of colors.  Make a little well in the center of each ball and mix in food coloring.  Also use cornstarch {but powdered sugar would be way better} to make it so it won't stick to the counter and the gloves.  Knead the color until it is evenly colored.  

Now is the fun part.  Taste it!!  It taste SO much better than normal fondant.  

You can use cookie cutters, bowls, cups, or just a knife to shape it.  

Update....

My friend Brian and his wife Kelsey make cakes together.  Isn't that so cool!  Anyway, after I posted this he gave me some suggestions that will make it a lot easier.  Thanks Brian!!

Ad the color before you start microwaving.  Mallows in bowl, sprinkle water, add flavor, add color, then microwave. Once you get used to the feel of the finished product you can easily make very small amounts and assure that the colors are pure and even. Make sure you roll it out while it is still hot and it will lay a lot smoother also. I highly recommend using powdered sugar to keep it from sticking to your counter, who likes the taste of corn starch?

I will freeze the extra fondant but I always make as close to the amount I need in the specific colors I need right when I am ready to put it on the cake. Using it fresh allows me to mold to some of those intricate designs I do.

 Never underestimate the ease of layering fondant and cutting out what you want removed. just keep the fondant covered with sugar where you want to cut things out and it will come off super easy.

Oh and Just a little hint, make sure you crumb coat your cake with a little regular frosting so that the fondant will stick to it.  

Have any of you ever made this?  What flavors have you made?

One Drop at a Time + a free ebook

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First off, I am so excited!!!  I was asked to write a guest post in honor of Mothers Day for LDS Living and it is published on their website today!  I was so nervous to write it, but was grateful for the opportunity!  Head on over there and let me know what you think! Here is the link!

Now onto today's post....

Do you ever feed like you aren't making a big difference or that your efforts aren't doing very much for those around you.  One Drop at a Time by M. Russell Ballard is a message for women, women like you and me who sometimes get down on ourselves and think that our efforts aren't doing a thing.  

In the book One Drop at a Time Elder Ballard compares our efforts to those of a single bee in a hive.  He says, "Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee's contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth of one teaspoon.  Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee's one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive.  The bees depend on each other.  Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part."

Sometimes the things we do for our families, for our friends or even strangers might not feel like that much.  Elder Ballard shows us that our simple, daily acts of service matter as little as they may be, they make a difference.  The power of many righteous people working together "one drop at a time" make a huge difference in the world.  

This is a beautiful short book about how we can do our part, how we can become more like the honeybee, focused and dedicated to serving Christ by loving and and reaching out to help his children.  I really enjoyed this book and the pictures in it were beautiful!  

One of my favorite quotes from the book was this....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guess what...LDS Living has compiled an ebook as a gift for Mothers Day.  So head on over to Deseret Book to get your free copy!  Who doesn't love reading great stories about awesome mommy moments!!

Latter-Day Learning Family School Conference

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I need to apologize. I told some people I would have this up sooner, but life happened and I am just now finishing writing it.  Last weekend I was able to attend the Latter-day Learning Homeschool Conference for The Family School curriculum.  

The Family School Curriculum is developed from a school in American Fork, Utah called American Heritage.  It is a K-12 LDS based private school.  And can I just say It is BeeUtiful!  If we had the money to send our kids there {and we lived there} we would for sure send our kids there for Jr. ?High and High School.  Isn't it pretty.  You should see the inside.  The walls are lined with pictures of Christ, our forefathers and amazing paintings of historical events.  I have never been in a K-12 school where right when I walk in I can feel the spirit in the building.  It was amazing.  

The mission for American Heritage School is the same for Latter-day Learning which is this...

We serve parents by supporting their efforts to raise children, in harmony with revealed principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, that they may:

• be useful in the hands of the Lord in building the kingdom of God on earth;

• increase faith in and knowledge of the Plan of Salvation;

• develop a love, understanding and appreciation for America and the founding fathers;

• develop the basic academic knowledge and skills necessary to be able to make self-education a life- long pursuit;

• learn to reason and discern between right and wrong, truth and error;

• develop character and self-discipline of mind and body; and

• conduct themselves in all aspects of life as Christians.

I feel so lucky to be able to teach at home the way they do there with The Family School Curriculum.  What a huge blessing it has been! It is WAY cheaper then sending my kids to private school and I get the reward of being their teacher.  

The conference started Friday afternoon with a big family field day, 5K/Fun Run, and dinner.  The kids had so much fun playing in the bounce houses, running in the race, climbing the rock wall and ridding the kid 4 wheelers.  It was really fun to be there with a bunch of homeschooling families. {and they weren't weird people LOL}

The next morning the conference started with a key note speaker, I can't remember his name, sorry.  He talked about the principle approach method.  With this curriculum they use a method called 4Ring.  

The four R's are...

Research - Where you research a subject. 

Reason - Find a principle from learning that subject. 

Relate - Relate that principle to your life.

Record - Write Academic Principle, and Gospel Principle.  Do an art or writing project to go deeper into the subject.  

I love this approach in teaching my kids.  In all subjects I can liken it to our beliefs. 

Sidenote: A lady said to me the other day when I told her that I liked to be able to teach the gospel in my home during school, that that was overload and that they got enough at church and reading scriptures and saying prayers each day.  I wish she could come to my home and see that it is not like that at all.  No I don't sit and teach scriptures stories, and make them read their Book of Mormon all day.  We get to learn really cool subjects and then pull out principles from each subject. We learn principles and methods that help us lay Christ and the truths of the restored gospel at the foundation of academic learning, and it is amazing!  Principles that will help my kids as they grow to learn to be kind, to be good, to serve others, to love and to keep the commandments. It's amazing is all I can really say.  It is amazing to sit and talk with my kids about a book we are reading or science, and then turn it around and help them relate it and liken it to their own life.   I think it helps the actual subject sink in better than any way I have ever taught. 

Anyway, The first class I went to was my mom and aunts class where they talked about how the Family School came to be.   No they didn't develop it, but played a HUGE role in getting it going and making it more into a "Family School" and not individual grades.

Then I went to a class called "The Happiest Homeschool on Earth" where a lady shared with us some fun ideas to bring into your daily lives.  I will have a separate post about this class!  It was really really good.  After that class we went to lunch at Costa Vida with all my sisters, some cousins and friends.  It was so fun to sit and discuss school.  Some homeschool in a group, some homeschool by themselves, and some don't homeschool, but are interested in it.

{My cousin and my sister with all our new babies!}

I then went to a class all about the "Opening".  That is the time during the day that we do the flag, pledge, learn poems, review "Bit" cards, sings songs and memorize scriptures.  It was a fun class and I will also write more about it in another post.

I then went to a class about teaching young kids to read and write using the Riggs method.  I use this method and it just helped me to realize what I needed to get back on track with in teaching my kids.  Making sure they really know their sounds and their phonograms BEFORE I have them reading.  

The last class I went to was awesome.  She talked about having good relationships in your family and how you can achieve that.  Traveling together, singing together, learning together, exploring together.  She had so many awesome ideas!!  I am hoping to get her power point and share some of it with you.

{I took this picture because I love that these pictures are just hanging up in a school!}

Anyway, it was an amazing conference.  I was so glad I was able to go and learn and be uplifted to just keep doing what I am doing!  

The year one curriculum is all edited and ready to go you can purchase it HERE!  I used year one this year and it was awesome! Since I started they have even made the lessons better, so they say, even though I thought they were already amazing!  Year two is coming later this summer.  I would for sure start with year one and go from there!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the Family School, or just homeschool in general! (thethingsilovemost{at}gmail{dot}com)