Thanks for the suggestions! I will check these out.

Does anyone have a Geography video/DVD set to recommend? I'd really like something to enhance our World Geography Studies this year? Not a curriculum but something that shows what the landscape and/or culture of the region or country. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Has anyone used North Star Geography? I'd love some reviews.

I grew up in North Dakota and my family still lives there. The oil boom has definitely changed thing up there. I hardly recognize Bismarck anymore it's grown so much. I can buy anything there that I can buy in Texas (except good Mexican food and TexMex). In answer to your questions I would say it depends on where you live. Long cold winter, yes but there were many times this winter that Texas was just as cold or colder. Lol! You'll certainly get your fair share of snow and then some. I will say that because of the transient nature of the oil worker population crime has risen greatly in the areas near the field. GREATLY!!! Housing has skyrocketed. Rent is triple what it was a few years ago. But groceries in say, Bismarck, are quite a bit cheaper than what I pay in Texas.

I voted no. We make friends based on common interests. If they happen to share my faith then that is just one thing we might have in common. It is just as likely that knitting might be something we have in common, or a love for coffee or margaritas. :-) A good friend is too rare of a thing to place these types of limits on.

I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. It is hard and I wish I had the perfect words of encouragement. You are not alone. My precious daughter (10 years old now) was born with a hemangioma (blood vessel-non cancerous tumor, basically blood vessels growing out of control) on the columella of her nose (the skin that divides your nostrils). It was just a flat bright red spot to start. But it grew and grew. We started seeing a dermatologist at age 2 months. It was heartbreaking. Most hemangiomas grow for 18 months and then remain steady for a few years and then gradually disappear by age 9ish. At the rate my daughters was growing they estimated it would grow to the size of a plum. :-( Our amazing dermatologist contacted every expert in pediatric dermatologist and pediatric plastic surgeon he could to explore our options. My baby girl was put on steroids for 2 solid months to stop the growth. It worked but she still had a growth the size of a bright pink pencil eraser hanging off her nose. I got a lot of, "oh your baby is so... (Loooong pause) cute." Followed by a shocked expression. I had people who would tell me I should use gentler kleenexes, I shouldn't let her nose get so red, and the always helpful, "what's wrong with her nose?" So rude!! Sometimes I said things I probably shouldn't have in return. Sometimes I just rambled on and on and on hoping to bore them to tears so they'd think twice before being so dang nosy. Sometimes I'd go home and cry. It was hard and it hurt. People can be so petty and focus so externally. Most of my encounters seemed to happen at Target. Go figure. What helped was having a pre-prepared response. Something gentle BUT corrective. I usually said, "actually, it is an hemangioma. A non-cancerous blood vessel tumor." They then might ask questions and be really kind and apologetic, but if they weren't I usually ended with, "the hardest part is when people make comment like the one you just did." And then I'd walk away. You are not alone. Enjoy your baby.

Ds#1 is 11years older than ds#2 and 13 years older than dd. He is an incredible big brother, he was such a help to me when they were younger and they adore him. He is the light of their lives. :) Homeschooling helped them to be close since they were around each other all the time. Yes, there will be challenges having toddlers and teens at the same time, and starting all over with homeschooling, but the rewards have far outweighed the deficits. Oldest ds always wanted siblings, and he is really grateful to have them. At 24 year of age, he and his wife are their guardians if something ever happens to dh and me. My parents and inlaws thought it wouldn't work either. I had friends tell me it wouldn't work because of the age difference. It has been lovely to prove them all wrong. :)

Doubtful. I had mine last year and I was wiped out and crampy that day. I didn't feel like doing much for a couple days. Order in. :)

I joined her family as a single mom of a 9 year old boy. My hubby proposed to me the night before I met her for the first time. That day she welcomed my son and I as family and never looked back. She is closer to the age of my grandparent than my parents, very midwestern, very religious, and very old fashioned. But she never looked down on me about my "situation" and in fact the only time I heard her say anything about it is when she told off her snoopy, gossipy sister that "she should just mind her own business because this was her new daughter and grandson." She also raised 4 of the most EXCEPTIONAL, hardworking men on the planet. She loves my kids and plays games with them (and doesn't let them win unless they actually do). She has a fixed income and can't spend much on gifts so she makes them stuff all the time (even better in my eyes!!) or afford to come see us often, but she faces her fear of flying anytime we can scrape enough money together to fly her here. She's a gem and I'm grateful.

I thought the SAME thing watching her.

Bwa ha ha ha!! Exactly!

I am a reformed "late person." If I can change ANYONE can. My dad used to say I'd be late to my own funeral. 14 years ago that changed. I got married to an always on time person. :) I hated the fact that I was always late. So I asked my hubby why he thought I was always late. He said, "I don't think you have a healthy reality of how long it take to do something." That was eye opening for me and he was exactly right. I started slowly making small changes like asking his advice for what time I should leave if I wanted to get somewhere on time. I still do this to this day. I started packing the night before. I made lists upon list upon lists. I worked hard at this and now I am rarely late. If I'm late it is a BIG deal. We usually arrive everywhere 10 mins early and have to wait in the car. I bring something to read or do for me and the kids. All this to say, if a late person wants to change they can. It isn't easy and takes lots of learning and planning but it is possible. I have little patience when someone is chronically late but won't even try to make changes in their lives to make it better.

I'm having the same problem and do not like it! :)

Have you heard of Erin Condren Life Planners??? It sounds like what you are describing. AND you can customize the cover. :) I am on my third year of using these and I love them. If you like it and want a referal link that will get you a $10 off code send me a private message. :) https://www.erincondren.com/classic-life-planners

Easy Bake Oven. I wanted one so badly when I was young and didn't get one. I still remember the yearning. :)

My hubby might be your hubby's twin. :) One thing I'm considering because of his long commute is upgrading his stereo in his car and adding a cord/plug so that he can listen to his iphone through the car stereo. We tried an FM transmitter and it wasn't clear enough sound for him. I have one of these "chords" in my car and I love it.

I used Sonlight for 10 years, MFW for 2 years, and am just completing Biblioplan Ancients. I really love the order Biblioplan does history. It is still chronological but organized by civilization. It has been quite effective with my ds11 (very analytical, able to see the big picture no mater what we do) and my dd9 (who struggles to grasp the big picture). The timeline helps us put everything in perspective. I've managed to use many of my previously purchased Sonlight Readers and Read-alouds with Biblioplan. I feel like I have the best of both worlds. :) HTH! Amy

Following this! Currently I am reading: "Six Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl" by Dannah Gresh "Moms Ultimate Guide to the Tween Girl World" by Nancy Rue and I just ordered: "Girl Politics, Updated Edition: Friends, Cliques, and Really Mean Girls" by Nancy Rue I've found books by Dannah Gresh, Nancy Rue, and Vicki Courtney to be practical and helpful.

This is our first year with BP too and we are loving it. It was great to read your review!

We have for 12 (going on 13 ) years. Every grade from Kinder to 12th. It is very doable.

I have two GREAT ones. So easy my hubby can make them and that says alot :) Honey Mustard Pork Chops 1/4 c. Dijon Mustard 4 tsp. honey 1 tsp apple-cider vinegar 1/4 tsp black pepper 4 - 6 (5 oz) pork chops (about 1 inch thick) 1. Make marinade - whisk mustard, honey vinegar and pepper 2. Put marinade in a large zipper plastic bag. Add chops and squeeze air out. Turn to coat and put in fridge. Turn a few times while in the fridge. 3. Let marinade at least 4 hours or overnight. 4. Recipe calls to broil the chops on a rack sprayed with Pam for about 6 minutes each side. BUT I grilled mine and that really made the flavor come through. 5. Remember to discard marinade, do not eat uncooked marinade. Lemon Thyme Crusted Porkchops 4 - 6 (6-oz.) boneless center-cut pork chops 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind $ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1/4 cup vegetable oil Preparation 1. Sprinkle pork chops evenly with salt and pepper. 2. Stir together 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and next 3 ingredients in a large shallow baking dish. 3. Dredge pork chops in breadcrumb mixture. 4. Cook chops in hot oil in a large skillet over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until done.

AWESOME! Thanks for posting. We've been waiting for this one as we loved the first!

Thanks for sharing this. I'll definitely look into them.

I have no idea what the "notebooking page subscription" is. Could you please share? Is this a Biblioplan thing? I'm not to BP too.

bumping for you. This coming year will be our first with Biblioplan so I'm not sure I can answer your questions but will attempt to share what I've found. I'm doing STOW with my crew (4th & 5th grades) but MOH is scheduled and will be great for a 6th grader. There aren't notebooking pages - there are Cool Histories, Maps, and Timeline. If you want notebooking you would need to add a different source. I will be doing a lapbook with my kiddos. If you look at the samples of the Cool Histories for Middles and Upper Middles you will find the difference to be Middles = reading comprehension; Upper Middles = deeper questions, responses. Example: Middles sample question = What color was Esau's hair? Example: Upper Middles sample question = Sibling rivalry was an important part of Jacob and Esau's story. How do you think sibling rivalry affected their relationship? HTH a little. :)