We set aside time right after school for school work. Typically kids get home about 350 and we start about 415. We review the day, complete any work, 15 minutes of flashcards for math, and then kids read while I start making dinner.

Mine have all taken to packing their own lunches. We have talked about what is required in their lunches and what some extras can be. Dad or Mom checks the contents before we leave for school.

In the cooler months I make a huge pot of soup on Sunday. The kids help with chopping veggies. Then it is in the frig all week. Some take it in a thermos for lunch and some pick that over what I'm making for dinner. It allows some wiggle room for my picky eaters but keeps me from being a short order chef.

I have a weekly calendar filled in with each kiddos specials and lessons. It is color coded for each child so she knows when she needs gym shoes or library vooks

Apollo 13

Pretty Woman

Shawshank Redemption. Every single time I see it on TV, i watch it.

We do long road trips most summers. My first grader has developed some carsick tendencies so we have to watch where she sits and remind her to look up and out the window. We have driven many places which has granted us so really cool road side attraction discoveries.

We wash sheets on Thursdays after school. I like to start the weekend with big chores done. Doing it on Thursday makes me do it all between getting home from school and bedtime. We try to get chores done throughout the week so we don't use an entire Saturday doing everything.

Run dishwasher when I go up to bed so I know there will be clean dishes for breakfast and that my smaller kids will be able to reach the needed dishes.

Before bed, we put shoes and coats near the door. Keeps us from losing precious time searching for that single mission shoe.

We have a charge station always set up. Everything (except mom and dad's phones) get plugged in there by 8pm. As kids get older I'm sure we will revisit that time.

I compared prices to the kits and the store sales. I saved nearly 60% in buying the supplies on sale. With 5 kids, it adds up.

My kids' elementary school spends a lot of the last few days signing yearbooks. I often wonder how the kids feel who don't purchase one. We get one for each child.

We do workbooks and reading time each summer weekday. Reading is part of the afternoon quiet time. Most afternoons we have quiet time amber the kids typically sit under a tree and read.

Masks go into a washing machine bag hanging on the basement door. When it is full, it gets washed. Keeps us from scrambling to wash masks last minute.

Visible list posted for dinner clean up each evening. Kids have to clear table and load dishwasher. I have posted a list of all items that need to be completed. It is laminated with check off boxes. They complete each task and when all done, we close the kitchen for the night.

We did a local shop known for fun mixed drinks and treats in our downtown.

We spend $15 for the classroom teachers. Less for specials this year was our first middle school experience and we did $10.

Our elf plays a giant game of hide and seek. The kids compete to find him each morning and keep track of who wins each day. We put out a jar and the kids write letters to him and he sends them silly replies.