You may be wondering ... why "At Home with Kris?" Well, first and foremost, I am a homemaker and a homeschooling mom. So, most of my time is spent “at home” and that is honestly where I enjoy being most. I would be very content to rarely have to leave my home. Second, one of my main goals is to provide a comforting and cozy home for my family. I also have a website called My Cozy Little Cottage and so “at home” kinda ties in with that, too. Lastly, if you ever decide to drop me a line (link in sidebar), you’ll notice the other tie-in with my email address. I have been blogging since 2005. My first blog is still alive  but I don't blog there as much anymore. I have opened several blogs here and currently have one on my own domain (as of 11/24/07) - At Home with Kris. However, that blog will expire in June 2008 and I am not going to renew it as part of my resolve to cut back on all extraneous spending with regards to blogging and graphics. So, until then, I will be blogging on both of these blogs and moving posts over here before the other blog expires.

Here is some information about me! I have been happily married since 1990 and am currently homeschooling two children (see sidebar for more info). I work to lead a more simple & frugal life, but also enjoy some of the “extras” in life … we just can’t seem to get rid of our cell phones or cable TV!  I am very addicted to shopping the rebate programs at CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid - it is a hobby that pays as well as a part-time job! Some months I bring home $500+ worth of products for just pennies on the dollar!

I am trying to eat healthier and exercise more while also dealing with some medical issues that make that a daily challenge for me. I have insulin resistance and PCOS which make losing weight VERY difficult for me. I am hoping to finally lose those last 15-20 lbs. soon, but I have to work on my addiction to sugary foods and my lack of desire for exercise. I definitely have a long way to go in this area.

To help pay for our homeschooling, I am an affiliate with Book CloseOuts, the best discount bookstore online. If you would like to support a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, I would love it if you’d purchase books through my affiliate link - www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?rid=jkprice. I also share New Arrivals from Book CloseOuts through my Yahoo Group - join today and receive updates each week in your email.

I also work part-time for The Old Schoolhouse publishers, Gena and Paul Suarez and sometimes review an item or write an article for the magazine, too. I am very blessed to be able to work for the BEST homeschooling magazine and I support their efforts to make homeschooling easier for us.

I have the best husband in the whole world! We have been together since we were 16 and we’ll be together until the Lord takes us to be with Him. I cannot imagine life without my husband - I love him dearly! He is a black belt in karate and is currently training to run a marathon in March 2008. He is currently at a crossroads with his job and we will soon have to decide whether to stay here or start looking for another job elsewhere. 

My children mean the world to me and I am so lucky to be able to homeschool them. We truly enjoy being together for school in the mornings and then we all have the afternoons to spend on our own interests. We have homeschooled since January 2002 and will continue until the children are done with high school. Both children have the same extracurricular activities - youth group, 4-H, and karate.

My son, Ian, is one-of-a-kind! Diagnosed with high-functioning autism (Asperger’s) and ADHD when he was 5, he is the main reason that I decided to homeschool. I am glad he led me in that direction. Ian has the sweetest heart and is very concerned about his environment and nature. We don’t let his autism interfere with his life or let it define who he is, but we are working to teach him the skills he will need to function normally when he is no longer living in our home. This is a daily challenge, but parenting my son has taught me patience, too … I am so glad that he is my son!

I know that this is a long post, but I am going to link to it from the sidebar to introduce myself to new readers. All of that being said, I am very happy you have decided to visit me “at home” and I hope you will be back again soon!