I used Homeschool Tracker. Don't even know if it's still available as I last used it six years ago. At the beginning of the year I set up the classes/resources. I would print out a weekly schedule on Sunday evenings, and enter any grades from the previous week. I then needed to enter in an end date when the class was completed. Report cards and transcripts were produced automatically from that information. All four of my kids did fine with that format (working from a checklist). It took me 15-30 minutes each Sunday evening during the school year. They had some prompts in the software that let you easily copy assignments and just change the chapter number, pages, etc. Most of the time required was in setting up the classes correctly at the beginning of the year/semester and getting familiar with the class flow for quick scheduling. I actually found this really easy, and it kept us all accountable!

Hi Christina, I meant that there was nothing written down at all. Also, because the students were not accountable for completing any work, they mostly didn't. I assume you must have had a transcript for each of your kids. That was all the records I kept for my own children. Class name, date completed, grade, credits awarded, etc. My homeschool planner software actually built the transcript for me.

This is a common misconception here, that printing out or paying for a formal diploma document means something. I hated explaining to a a young friend that her homeschool diploma that she received at her homeschool graduation was not going to get her into college. Ugh.

Agreeing. Always been a problem. I have watched several young people make the effort to get into college. It is not easy when there are no high school records. I was very proud of one young friend studying and receiving her GED. Another studied what she needed to study in her late teens to be able to make up an acceptable transcript. Then she ambushed her mom in a group setting to get her to sign it. Very proud of those kids! But others, very intelligent young people that I taught in co-op, are left drifting in retail jobs.

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I wanted to mention I have a stack of plain white Corelle pasta bowls. I had 6 and found 6 more at a thrift store. We use those for salads, pasta, and they are our go-to soup bowls now. They're used to warm up leftovers, too. Pretty sure they sell at least one pattern of those at Walmart.

I just got a cheap bread machine for Christmas and it is a learning curve. Keep the crust on light for sure. One of the things I remember from the past, when I used to make bread regularly in a machine, is to check the feel of it in the middle of the kneading process. It should have that "just sticky" feel. Your fingers should cling for a second but no dough should come off. Hard to explain, but often bread needs some adjustment, more flour or water, at that point. I also recently read to let the bread cool down more slowly than just grabbing it out of the machine at the end and dumping it right out on a rack. The top won't wrinkle as much. Haven't tested that one out.

I have blue and white plates displayed throughout my living area. Two years ago I replaced my old Corelle with the True Blue pattern. I got 20 place settings. I've never broken any, and I've also never run out with meals and dishwasher full. I really love blue and white, and the True Blue pattern makes me happy. I feel much more "put together" than when using my older plates. I had looked at Fiestaware, but the weight would not be good for my old cupboards.

We save the instructions booklet, but have never saved boxes. We reassembled most of our sets, after many years of play, into ziploc bags with the instructions. They are stored now for the next gen. 🙂

Oh, I like it now! I didn't understand it was part of the opening to another room. We painted over paneling a few years ago, and even with prep work, that paint has scratched off easily and in several places. I was just in a much older home with all the rooms painted paneling, and same issue there, paint scraped off in odd places. You would have to get a lot of that varnish off to change that scenario. I really like KungFuPanda's idea of working with it. There are some large framed or paneled world maps in many different colors at Amazon for less than the cost of all that paint. Some would work with your orangey color, but would cut back on the gloss of the wall. Or perhaps even some fabric hangings of some kind.

Yes, we sent out some photo cards. Had 50 printed. There was so much drama around the family photo last year that we just took a selfie on a Thanksgiving walk and called it good.

I bought the UNO Flip game recommended on another thread for Thanksgiving, and my group of 6 20-30-somethings really enjoyed it and played it quite a bit. But they will play plain UNO, too.

Nice, thanks. You just retaught me a lesson I've learned here before.

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I mean, I get that. I have sort of "known" all along that I needed to "buck up" (a favorite saying in dh's family). It's just that I honestly can't, and that I feel physically crummy all the time.

Jenny, I have struggled for as long, too, and am in complete agreement with your "for me" statements. I realized at some point a year ago (after surviving a major depressive episode) that I just needed time to grieve, accept and move on. My mil had warned me years ago that it would be like this. She said at the time, "The best years of my life are over now." I tried to argue with her, but she assured me it was true, just a fact. I thought I had finally found a purpose for this new season earlier in the year, but Covid took it all away. Gone for now at least and very unlikely to return in the same form. So.....!!!!! 🙂 One of the little joys I have right now is in searching out and doing new things. It may look like visiting a city I never visited, taking a path on a walk I haven't tried, whatever. My husband and I climbed down to a beach that we've been seeing on our Covid walking path and explored that two weeks ago. Anyway, just random DIFFERENT is doing me some good right now. For my birthday yesterday I made a puzzle, lit a candle, played old video games, and went out to walk at a place that I had stopped using because it hurt my knees. My husband brought home a waffle maker of all things and we all had waffles for my birthday dinner. My daughter hid new ice cube trays all around the house for me to find. Now I won't have to soak my old trays to get the ice out! It was a good day. I have actually started working out for the first time in my life! Ktgrok mentioned "Walk At Home" and I have been doing that. One of the reasons that I tried that walk yesterday was to test out the new strength in my knees! I have been growing in my faith, too, and have gotten back to a part-time prayer ministry. One day at a time. Here's to more good days!

<<He commented on his recent frustration because he "spent 6 months" training someone and they are now leaving. I would go and see what's up. The thing is -- you are trained. You can be very clear that you are ready on day one to work and that you would definitely be using this job as a stepping stone. Let him know that when you leave he will be better off than he's ever been, and you will help him hire your replacement. You are in control.

Dreamergal, I don't cook much at all, but turkey is really easy. Just buy the Reynolds Turkey-size oven bags, stick it in with an onion or two and carrots, and bake for the time on the instructions. Can't dry it out, really. The oven temp is 325, so timing is not crucial. Now if you don't like turkey, that's a different thing.... 🙂

What about a gift basket of food items? I see that Sam's Club has those online. I imagine others do, too. My own father (88) prefers food items for his birthday, like nuts/chocolate/candy, etc. My parents just have so much "stuff," I like to send consumables. 🙂

I always include with gifts what our family calls "the magic rattle." We have used one with newborns for years. The simple shaker sound is intriguing to every newborn I have met and often stops fussing. The babies can grasp them very early on, and my first grandchild could do a two handed, joyful shake up and down at 4-5 months. So cute! So simple. They are on the shelf at Target and Walmart. This is the name of one at Amazon. Bright Starts Rattle and Shake Barbell Toy

Get as much as you can on the mat, take the mat outside and let it all dry overnight. My mat like that does go in the washer.

I used MUS all the way through PreCalc with my two youngest. One went on to be an accounting major. We never used any other math or supplements. I think you can be confident if she completes the sequence. I did it with them up through Algebra 2 and learned enough to test out of College Algebra.

Congratulations! That is a big boy for 10 days early! I had my first grandson this summer, but they live in Europe. I won't meet him for another year. Enjoy!

Forbidden Island is one game that gets played a lot here when there are friends around.

I really have connected with Trello because it is not that automatic. I have to look at the items on each day's list and either deal with them or move them. I used todoist for awhile, but it is too automated and easy to ignore for me. I am a listmaker, so Trello meets that manual/hands on need. I set up a calendar board (also not automated) where the first list is for general items, and then there is a list for each day of the month. I have an "upcoming events" board where each future month has it's own list. I copy and move items as needed. My cards for today include what to water, what to wash, and what my kids are up to, everything I want to remember. When I water my peace lily today, I will move that card to next Friday. I think there are some ways to automate Trello, but I'm not interested. Finally found something that's been working for almost a year now.