I should have calculated the cost of private school before we had 4 kids.

Right now we're homeschooling, but on our long drive to and from Texas we were talking about the future. D has never really wanted the kids to be homeschooled all the way through high school, and I'm not sure if I want to nor do I have all the confidence in the world about my ability to teach things such as physics. I barely passed college algebra. I know that a lot of classes in high school are self taught or in a co-op setting, and I'm sure we could do it if that's what we chose. However, D is pretty set on the kids going back into a traditional school setting around middle school age.

However, the schools we're zoned for are not great. That's the reason we started homeschooling to begin with. We looked up private school and we'd be talking about $7-9k (for all 4 together) a year for elementary/middle school and $7k a year/child for high school. That doesn't sound so bad to me until I add up all the years we'd have to pay and come up with a number that is truly staggering. We really want the kids to go to college and I'd rather be able to help pay for that than spend ALL our money on primary education.

So, that leaves us with moving. (Not far. Probably only 10-15 minutes away from where we are now. Amazing the difference 15 minutes can make.)
When we built this house 6 years ago, we planned to never move again and yet here we are. Faced with the thought of keeping this house clean with all the kids home - all day - and showings and financing and looking, looking, looking, and packing and and UGH. Nevertheless, it looks like sometime in the next year or two we'll be thinking seriously about moving. I love this house. It has a giant yard, almost nonexistent neighbors, a huge kitchen and all our memories and work from the last 6 years. It's going to be difficult to find a house that measures up.

Happier, Fatter, Same & resolutions

Every year around the new year, there are posts about if you're happier/sadder, fatter/thinner, and richer/poorer than last year.
I'd have to say I'm definitely happier. My marriage is in a good place, my anxiety/depression is under control at the moment, and I'm just happy. Not a bad place to be.
One thing I'm not too happy about is that I'm fatter than at the start of last year. Or, at least it feels like it. The scale shows *almost* the same number, but I had lost some at some point during the year. Don't worry, I found it again. (Can you guess my New Year's resolution?)
I don't think I'm richer or poorer. Technically, D gets a raise every year and our savings grows but we manage to spend all the rest so I don't FEEL richer. I'll just say the same.

Resolutions:
1 - We're saving for a house now and our current mortgage payment went up an annoying amount so we're going to spend as little money as possible and save, save, save.
2 - While our savings grows, I'm going to shrink. My goal is to lose 40 pounds this year, and keep it off. I got the fitbit zip for Christmas and it's pretty cool and already helping me be more active.
3 - D & I both agreed to spend more time taking care of ourselves, including going to the Y to work out more. This is especially big for me because I'm with the kids 24/7/365 and it's easy to sink down to the bottom of the to-do list.