Playing catch up!

It feels like I'm always trying to catch up around here!
First of all, Catie is doing wonderfully in Agora Cyber Charter School! If they had had this when I was a kid I would have done everything in my power to get my parents to enroll me. Holding breath, hiding under my bed, promising to clean my room... nothing would have been too much.
The breakdown - we recieved about 8 large boxes from Agora containing all our books, worksheets, math manipulatives, science equipment, art supplies, a computer, monitor, printer, peripherials, and I think I saw a kitchen sink fall out of there too. Every day we log onto Catie's school computer and check out our lesson plan for the day. We have language arts and math every day, and alternate between history to science and art to music. The flexibility is outstanding - if Catie's having a good day (it happens) we can get through more than one math class for the day. If it's a rough day (happens too) we can pass on art or history for the day. After all, even in a public school many teachers have days where they just can't get through the material they wanted to.
Yesterday both kids were miserable, cranky and unbearable. Catie had an awful time with her spelling test, wailing the whole way through. They both wound up taking naps from 3 to 5 that afternoon - unheard of for my guys - and I realized that if she had acted this way around someone else they would have assumed she was being rotten. Someone else would not have gotten that my sweet little kids were just wiped out and needed a rest.
On the frugal end of things, I've signed up for 3 standard AngelFood boxes and two specials, which we'll be picking up this Sat. That cost around $134 in food stamps, a pittance considering the amount of food we'll have to wrestle into freezers and cupboards.
In Newport on Saturday there's a church holding a "free flea market". All items have been donated and will be given at no charge, first come/first serve. The craigslist ad suggested that we do our Christmas "shopping" there. Don't mind if I do! The items were described as new or like-new, and I can't wait to check it out!
One more thing before I wrap up. My favorite cloth diaper company, Cotton Babies, have gotten even smarter! They're the makers of BumGenius! diapers, which are high quality pocket diapers that adjust in size to fit from birth to potty training. I always wanted them for my guys, but they're $18 each. Not a very frugal choice. Now the smarties made two new diaper kits, but the onw I'm thrilled over is Econobum. For $50 you get 12 cloth diapers and 3 one-size adjustable wipe-clean covers. That is the most outstanding deal ever - I mean, you can get the prefold diapers and covers, but covers are usually sized - you have to buy new ones every time the kid grows. These - you buy 2 or 3 kits for $100 - $150 when you have your kid, and you don't spend another dime on diapers! Unless you're traveling or sick... that's where the Flip system comes in. A bit more pricey, but still affordable, Flip is a one size cover paired with a super-absorbant insert. Nice. But the clever part is the disposable option for when things go wrong - a maxi-pad-like insert that can be thrown away. Useful for travel, sitters, and when Mom is so sick that blinking hurts, let alone doing smelly laundry.
Almost makes me want to have another baby!
Almost.