We got our results on Monday. DS (11), took it in January for the first time, and the results came, along with a brochure from RMTS in the mail, too. Because it's his first time taking this test, we're still trying to decipher the scores and decide if he did well, or just O.K. He did well enough to qualify for the RMTS summer programs. Also, the programs at RMTS look really great, but wow! expensive! Unfortunately, I don't think it's in the budget this year, but we'll look for some things locally for the summer.

Ruthie - I feel totally safe, because I run in my general neighborhood, and know at least one person on each block that I could run to if needed. Also, I try to practice what DH calls "situational awareness," meaning I am aware of what is going on around me and not just zoning out. I keep the same general route, changing things every now and then when I get bored. I've found that quiet, residential streets are easier to run on than busier streets. Also, there are many, many days in the winter here when it is just impossible to go out running. I am not a big fan of treadmills, because they mess with my equilibrium and I am very dizzy when finished, so I go to our county rec. center and walk on their track. It's an excruciating 17.5 times around for one mile, but with an ipod the time goes fast and it's always a comfy 70 degrees. Good luck! Suzanne

Years ago I was a big runner - did half-marathons and such - but then I stopped running until recently. Rather than jumping right into fully running again, I started with walking to build up my stamina and muscles again. So I first walked for 30 minutes, 10 times. Then 35 minutes, 10 times. I am just finishing up walking for 40 minutes, 10 times. Next week, I will gradually add in running, so walk for 2 minutes, then run for 1 minute. I will slowly add running time while subtracting walking time, so 4 minutes of running then 1 minute of walking, until I am running for 30 minutes. For some reason, 30 minutes of running seems to be the threshold for me to be able to go from there for longer periods of time. This schedule from walking for 30 minutes to running for 30 minutes will take me about 5 months, going out about 3 times a week. That seems like forever, but it's a good way to slowly ease your body into it, prevent injuries, and stick with it. I am not the typical runner-type of person, but I have lost 6 pounds since starting in mid-December. I haven't changed my diet at all, but run because I like food and then can feel like I can eat whatever I want. I go out at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. and am home before DH leaves for work. I don't run with anyone else, or wear an ipod, but use the time for personal reflection (and to listen for cars!). Good luck! Suzanne

I have used Sparkpeople.com for the last year and love it. The thing I love the best is this: you can put in your own recipes with the nutrient info for each ingredient, and then they'll compute the nutrient info for the entire dish. You don't have to share your recipes with everyone else. I have most of my recipes in there, too, and although it takes a long time to input everything, it's great once it's all there.

What a blessing! Merry Christmas!

I love sweet potatoes, but the simpler the better! I just mash them with some butter then drizzle in a little real maple syrup. YUM!

Oddly enough, work in the legal field has increased. Issues that people may have let slide in the past, they are more aggressive about now, i.e., "they owe me and I'll do anything it takes to get what I need." Also, mediations are up in a huge way, as a lower-cost and faster alternative to litigation.

We do a lot of what others said, like board games, movie night, baking projects (this is a great time for kitchen stuff - carving pumpkins, apple turkeys, gingerbread cookie decorating), we also sometimes go somewhere, like sledding, ice skating, swimming, etc. It's a very big deal around here!

I hate the improper grammar, spelling, and bad attitudes!

We buy all our family rain gear from Lands End - coats, pants, boots, everything, from DH down to our 5 year old. It has come in handy a lot!

Jann - thank you so much. That is very helpful information, especially from someone who is considered the "math expert" on this board!

I'm kind of a type-AAA personality and a planner. DS will finish Saxon 76 in December and I'd like to start him on Lial's BCM, then Foerster's Algebra I after that. I'm wondering how many lessons in each of these curriculum, and how the layout works. 10 lessons then a test? Can you do one lesson per day, or do they need to be spread out? Just looking for some of the nuts and bolts of these books! Thanks! Suzanne

A couple more ideas: Take all shampoo/conditioner/ everything out of the showers and tubs, and put them under the bathroom sink - my realtor said you want it to look like a hotel bathroom. I also second the specialty towels stored and put into use only for showings. Also, I have learned, in desparation, that the inside of your dryer is a fabulous place to stash things when needed! One more: I keep a rubbermaid tub close by our school area (the dining room), so we can throw all clipboards, workbooks, etc. into it and then it goes into the back of the car as we leave. Also in the back of the car goes all dirty laundry baskets (and their smell). Of course, it would be great if I were on top of the laundry so there weren't a lot of dirty laundry baskets, but that's not my reality!

My neighbor sends her little girl to the Montessouri preschool on Highland Drive between Creek Road and Bengal Boulevard (just below Brighton High School). I know they have very flexible hours as far as times and days of the week to go to preschool. Also, this neighbor has pretty high standards as far as the quality of the place where she would send her kids, so I would think it's a pretty good place. HTH!

We recently started going to a new church, and some of the children's group leaders came to visit and introduce themselves to my kids. When they asked the kids to each say something about themselves, my 7 yo ds said, "I'm a voracious reader who likes to cogitate!" (He's a huge Wordly-Wise fan). The ladies said, "you like to what?" I told them what he said, and they all said, "I've never heard of that word before. Is it like cognate? What does it mean?" They were completely serious - 40+ somethings who had never heard of the word cogitate, and didn't know what it means. One was even a former public school teacher. I was pretty suprised, and can only imagine what kind of impression they left with of my family.

We just put ours up for sale about a week ago - is this the worst possible time in the last 100 years to be trying to sell a house?! We are very fortunate to have this decision be our choice, not by pressure from our mortgage company or other pressing economic factors. Basically, it's because my mom lives about 30 minutes away and is deteriorating in her health and is needing more help. Her moving closer to us is non-negotiable, so we want to move closer to her. Also, I average driving 80 miles a day to get my kids to and from their activities and other things, in a Suburban that gets 14.8 mpg. We are so grateful that we have the blessing of time and patience on our side, but any additional support and prayer from the hive would be greatly appreciated!

I have two ds' who really, really want to be dentists. Due to my AAA personality, I have done a ton of research on what it takes and actually know quite a bit regarding this topic! First: I would strongly recommend getting a copy of the ADEA "Guide to Dental Schools" - which pretty much gives you the skinny on all the dental schools in the US and Canada, what the requirements are, etc. It's a must-read for any aspiring dentist. Here's a pdf link with some of the basics, but not the whole book: http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aadsas/Documents/OG08_1-77_r4.pdf Second: The basic requirements for any dental school are essentially the same: one year of biology, one year of general chemistry with labs, one year of organic chemistry with labs, and one year of physics. These can be done over a 2-year period, although I do know some universities have summer-accelerated courses to knock out a full year of organic chemistry in just a summer (University of Utah does). A few dental schools require calculus and some random things like "a course emphasizing a lesser-served population in the United States," but those are the basics. Unfortunately, most dental schools will not accept community college credit, but any 4-year university is sufficient. THe emphasis here is to get the very highest grades possible, so your science gpa is as high as possible. Third: Register for and take the DAT. Registration begins on May 1 each year, and you take the test via computer whenever you choose to register for (any day, any time). There are a lot of really good study guides that are generally considered to be the benchmark guides to use. If you get solid 19s, 20s, or above, your DH should get in anywhere he wants. Try to take the DAT early enough in the cycle so you have your scores by May 1, and can submit everything as soon as registration opens. Schools start sending out interview invites in late summer, and the first date they can let you know of acceptance is Dec. 1 each year. A really wonderful source of information are the dental forums on The Student Doctor Network: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=55. There are a lot of cocky 20-somethings there, but if you can wade through the personalities, also a lot of really good info. Good luck! HTH! Suzanne

No advice, just hugs, and you can do it! Sounds to me like a serious conversation needs to be had about expectations: yours and hers! Good Luck!

My son's school is offering the TI-73 Explorer graphing calculator for $58.80. He is an advanced 5th grader and the teachers "feel your student will benefit from" this purchase. Here's my question: I've searched the threads about this and the TI-84 keeps coming up as the graphing calculator of choice. The 73 looks a lot more elementary than the 84. Should I save the money on the 73 and go ahead and get the 84? My son will eventually be heavily involved in higher level math and science (calculus, physics), as he wants to be either a doctor or dentist. Please share your thoughts on this with me! Suzanne

I just finished reading "Matilda" by Roald Dahl out loud to my kids. Loved that (but maybe it's just because my kids were totally cracking up)!

I empathize so much with you, and echo the sentiments that you should speak up now or forever have to live with it. DH and I have been married 15 years, and about 8 years ago, when we moved closer (500 miles away rather than 1500), his parents thought it would be lovely to come for Christmas. For three weeks. Every. Year. Since! On top of that, they come for about a week at a time, every six weeks or so. It's a lot. It's too much, actually. I am torn because it's important to me that my kids have a good relationship with their grandparents, but it is very very hard on me. They stay with us, and are kind of "take-over" kind of people. Like, let's do this craft project with glitter glue at the kitchen table, and then run to Target to buy a volleyball, basically for no other reason than my 5 year old said the word volleyball. They don't clean up after themselves, leaving a wake of wrappers, crafts, and other things behind them. They don't cook, nor offer, although in their defense, they do offer to pay for take-out for one meal when they come. My kids absolutely love the time when they come, and I face it with increasing dread with each subsequent visit. The Christmas visit is especially difficult, because DH and I are very intentional in limiting what we get for our children. Thankfully, not due to financial limitations, but because we want our children to be thoughtful and appreciative of the things they have, not tossing them into a pile with a million other things. So each child gets 3 gifts - one from mom and dad, one from their brothers, and one from Santa. Then, they all share one "big" thing. The last few years, my ILs have been giving each of my 4 children a $50 Target gift card to use at the sales the day after Christmas. Do you know how much stuff you can get for $200 at the day after Christmas sales? A ridiculous amount! We have tried to talk to them, explain they are usurping our parental aurhority, etc. to no avail. So last year, we did something really radical: we called them in March and announced that we were going out of town for 2 1/2 weeks over Christmas - to Mexico. We would love to spend time with them for the 4 days that we would be in town, but would be gone for the rest. It has been my best Christmas in the last 8 years! And, it may just become a new family tradition! Sorry my empathy for you turned into a rant of my own! I just want to let you know that you're not alone. Hold firm to your own family's schedule, and don't let the decisions of other's disrupt your life. If they came once a year for three weeks, I could see it. But when your ILs come that often for that long, just treat them like they are part of the rest of the family: let them know the milk's in the fridge, the cereal's in the cupboard, and they can make themselves at home with whatever breakfast they want while you and the children are busy attending to your schedule. You'll be happy to chat during your lunch break, but just simply aren't available during school time. Good luck!

Here's a really good one I've made a few times from the America's Test Kitchen cook book, called American Sandwich Bread (It makes 1 loaf): 1 c. whole milk, warm 1/3 c. water, warm 4 T. unsalted butter, melted, and slightly cooled 3 T. honey 3 3/4 c. bread flour 2 1/4 t. yeast 2 t. salt Whisk milk, water, 3 T. butter and honey. Mix 3 1/2 c. flour, yeast, and salt in mixer. Add milk mix and mix for 1 min. Knead for 10 min in machine, then knead by hand for 1 min. Rise in oiled bowl 1-1.5 hours. Turn out and press into 9-inch square. Roll up into pan, rise again 1-1.5 hours. Brush loaf with 1 T. butter, then bake at 350 degrees with another bread pan in the over that's 1/2 full of water, for 40-50 min. Cool for 2 hours before slicing.

Walked 2 miles in 30 minutes this morning. I was pushing it pretty hard, too, because half of that was going uphill (medium steep-ish). Although, the other half was downhill! Either way, it's better than nothing!

I'm so excited I finally get to post on this thread! The way our family schedule has worked out has made it so I finally will have time to exercise in the mornings 3-4 times per week. So today, I just walked: 1.6 miles in 26 minutes. Not very fast - starting from very, very square one. I'll eventually work my way up to running for 45 minutes at a time, but that will take several months. I have run 3 1/2 marathons in my past life, the last one 2 years ago, but I haven't done anything at all since early May. So, I'm back to square one, but really excited to be starting something at all. Suzanne

I saw this poll, too, and was coming here to post about it. I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the later article in the magazine promoting Christopher Paolini's third book of his series, the one that he started writing for a homeschool project! (Although the article was quick to point out that he graduated from an accredited distance-learning program.) However, Christopher Paolini points out how it was the flexibility of homeschooling that allowed him the time to write his first book, as well as his family being able to self-publish and promote it before being picked up by a major publisher.