I've been charged with coming up with games for the evenings while our extended family is gathered (at mom's house). There will be 15 of us, from age 2-96, for about a week and a half. The eldest and youngest may or may not play. So far I've gathered: Clue, To Bethlehem, Taco Goat Cheese Pizza, Bananagrams, Cup Stacking, Disney Apples to Apples, Clue, and Charades I'm planning on making the Saran Wrap Game, a Pictionary type list with a Christmas theme, Would You Rather questions with a Christmas theme, Blindfold Christmas object drawing, a Spoon Race with unbreakable ornaments. On the maybe list: Bible skits/scenes to act out, Jingle Bell Toss (may be too involved to make), and 2 Truths and a Lie with a Christmas theme (I've never played, so really don't know how it goes). Any other not to be missed suggestions?? Or, if you have tried one of these and it was a total failure, please let me know!

Ages are 13, 10, 6, and 2. Thanks for all the kind words. After we ate I started crying and then they began feeling some empathy, I think. They started talking and even smiling some. My outlook isn’t helped by very little sleep! We loaded the car last night and I tossed and turned envisioning us on the side of the road. 😜 After we cleaned up, we had a lego building session and watched 101 Dalmatians. @Arctic Mama, thanks for the Charades suggestion - I just bought a deck and needed to break it out. We are doing that next, so we will see how it goes!

We had to cancel our weekend away with family due to icy/snowy roads. Dh and I spent all morning making thanksgiving at the last minute - which turned out pretty well - but the 2 older kids aren’t buying it. They are so upset they can hardly be civil. We could hardly engage them and one dd said “it’s terribly boring to talk to you.” The other just sits mostly mute and occasionally cries. Freezing rain has settled in so we won’t venture out. I’m not sure how to turn around such a crappy start to the weekend. It makes me so sad. I hate living far away from family. (It would have been a 9 hour drive to dh’s family. Mine live a plane flight away.)

This is such a sweet idea! I’m probably in the mostly lurker category 🤣, so I’ll just wish all of you a Very Happy Holidays from here! 🥰

A lot of information to sort through. No, she doesn't swallow pills yet. @matrips, interesting about the Smarty Pants vitamin. We have them for everyone, but this dd won't take them - she doesn't like the taste. I've been trying other multi's for her, but haven't found one she likes yet. I don't want folic acid due to family history of MTHFR, and it's hard to find chewables without it. She takes extra Vitamin D3, she was low in that, but other levels were fine.

Our dd10’s psych recommended GABA and magnesium supplements for anxiety. We already use a supplement that blends 5-HTP, L-Theanine, and Passion flower, along with D3 and B6 and she takes a multivitamin. If anyone has experience with GABA, please chime in. I’m not sure on dosage, timing with other supplements, etc. I have done some internet searches, but it hasn’t given me much. Also, we have tried 2 different Magnesium supplements. Both rejected due to taste. First was Smarty Pants kids mineral complete, second was CALM kids drink mix. Any other recommendations?

I tossed it all. 🥺 sigh. The ice cream and popsicles had melted to the floor in puddles. There was some meat that was mostly frozen on the bottom, but it had been there for so long it was probably freezer burnt anyway.

I’m glad it’s the end of the week, because I have whiny kids, a super slothful teen and I JUST found out that our deep freezer that lives in the garage has been unplugged for 5-6 days. The ice cream is melted, the pizza bagels are super soft, but some of the things are still frosty. Temperature has been 30s-50s here, but the garage stays in the 50s, I think. So what’s safe? Should I toss it all, or keep some?

That is a lot of choices! I would want to do several of those things, but in reality, I’d probably go back to bed and then lay around watching movies and shopping for Christmas online. Although, getting your hair done sounds lovely! And strolling through IKEA would be wonderful (we don’t live near one)!

I recently saw Rend Collective in concert. They are an awesome band from North Ireland.

I think what kinda bothers me is that the special ed teacher/case manager from last year was clear to want to add accommodations for processing, etc. They have new spec ed teacher/case manager this year, so I will have to see what they are putting in the addendum.

Thanks everyone! School starts on Tuesday, and I just got a call from dd's new case manager today and they do not want to have an IEP meeting before then. She would like me to come in on back to school night and sign a few addendums to her current IEP just to get us started in the year. Is that an okay move? The principal was very clear to say we could call an IEP meeting at any time. Currently her IEP is written as a homeschooler coming in 3 times a week just for math. I was hoping to add more accommodations for her processing speed and anxiety. Is that reasonable? I think there will be a steep learning curve for me this year. 😕

In May I requested that the school test her for SLDs. They found one and we set up an IEP, but it only pertained to tutoring her in math. If she goes to school, it will need to have more accommodations for her slow processing and I imagine for the new anxiety diagnosis. I’m new at all this, so I really don’t know, but they did mention those things in our meeting.

Dd10, who has a SLD in math and anxiety/depression, and maybe more, is adamant about attending public school. We are letting her, I think. She hasn’t worked willingly for me in a year. But school starts in a week and a half and I’m freaking out about all that has to happen beforehand. Not the least of which is an updated IEP meeting (we had the initial one in May).  So, talk me through it, please. Reassurance would be greatly appreciated. All I can foresee is her getting crushed and lost. But there must be a bright side, right? We are pursuing a nuero-psych eval, but haven’t been able to get on a schedule for it yet. I don’t know the extent of the issues. It could be there isn’t anything more, but I strongly suspect ADD or auditory processing. She also has weak hand writing skills (went to OT last fall) and can’t compose a paragraph yet. Is it possible to convince the school to put her in 4th grade? I was calling her fifth by her age (summer b-day), but she wants to be in 4th (she is nervous about the workload).

Dd10, who has a SLD in math and anxiety/depression, and maybe more, is adamant about attending public school. We are letting her, I think. She hasn’t worked willingly for me in a year. But school starts in a week and a half and I’m freaking out about all that has to happen beforehand. Not the least of which is an updated IEP meeting (we had the initial one in May). So, talk me through it, please. Reassurance would be greatly appreciated. All I can foresee is her getting crushed and lost. But there must be a bright side, right? We are pursuing a nuero-psych eval, but haven’t been able to get on a schedule for it yet. I don’t know the extent of the issues. It could be there isn’t anything more, but I strongly suspect ADD or auditory processing. She also has weak hand writing skills (went to OT last fall) and can’t compose a paragraph yet. Is it possible to convince the school to put her in 4th grade? I was calling her fifth by her age (summer b-day), but she wants to be in 4th (she is nervous about the workload).

My sister has her 40th birthday coming up, and I need gift ideas! She lives across the country, so I don’t know what she has - and she isn’t much help (I did ask what she wanted - she said nothing). The house is styled after Joanna Gaines. They homeschool, have chickens, she likes to cook/bake, loves to host parties, they have a boat (they fish a lot), and she is a girly girl. Bonus points if I can buy on amazon!

Vocabulary for spelling - great idea! And yes, the 4th grader needs handwriting due to fine motor delays. 8th grader does need grammar still, she isn't strong in it. Poetry is expendable, its just that I already own it! ha! Thanks for the vote for Math Mammoth! And I've heard of HSA but I'm not sure it would work in our schedule or budget.

8th: dd is only taking Reading for the Logic Stage with WTMA. Orienteering is a class to discover your strengths/interests/career paths. 4/5th: dd doesn't like to read, and really needs the help, hence the BJU and me reading aloud the BW Arrows - to encourage a breadth of genres. I'm not sure how to do this otherwise.

Drop vocab: check! Yes, I was planning on S,S,R&W, then PP if he needed extra practice. Is Explode the Code a full program, too? I was under the impression it was more practice? Looping subjects....that is something I need to try!

She started WWS already, so I can have her pause when we get to IEW, or alternate. I mainly wanted her involvement b/c she would help encourage the 4/5th grader. I was on the fence with Figuratively Speaking. Actually, she may be able to just read through it herself. If Art of Argument is like Fallacy Detective, then maybe I should have her read The Thinking Toolbox...she worked through Fallacy Detective last year. Duolingo is a great idea!

Okay, take your pick of title, but I'm trying to envision how to schedule our next school year. 8th, 4/5th, and K/1st. I have too many things planned that I have to directly teach, I think, and don't know what to drop/save for later or how to schedule it in. I also have a 2 year old to keep occupied/feed/change/put down for naps/etc. 8th: (student is a slow worker, easily distracted, but picks things up easily) Lang Arts - WTM Academy -Reading for the Logic Stage; Grammar of Poetry; Fix-It Grammar; Writing With Skill level 1; Christian Liberty's Building Spelling Skills; IEW Medieval Theme Writing; Vocabulary from Classical Roots A; Figuratively Speaking; IEW Poetry Memorization Science - Apologia's Physical Science (in a homeschool class), plus another electricity class (same place) History/Geography -STOW Vol 2, Geography Coloring Book Logic - Art of Argument Math - Still a ? (dd can't decide between Saxon or Math Mammoth or ?) Music - continue Piano Lessons; Art - Cartooning (in a homeschool class) Health - required for our state - ? Bible - ? Spanish - ? (dd wants to start this) Other classes - Orienteering (online with True North Homeschool Academy) Maybe joining a Swim Team? 4/5th: (some Learning Differences; student wants to do it alone but can't) Lang Arts: Easy Grammar 5; BJU Reading 5; Apples & Pears Level A; HWOT Cursive; IEW Medieval; Vocab from Classical Roots 4; Brave Writer Arrows; IEW Poetry Memorization Science - ? Apologia or interest led or "Science in..." ? History/Geography - STOW Vol 2, Claritas Cycle 2 Math - Math U See Gamma Art - Artistic Pursuits; Music - ? Health - Horizons? Bible - ? Her outside classes are: Ballet, Drama, and an animal based art/science class, various therapies, horseback riding K/1st: (never stops talking 😉 ) Lang Arts - Sing, Spell, Read, & Write; Phonics Pathways (for reinforcement when needed); First Language Lessons; Explode the Code; IEW Poetry Memorization Science - My Father's World K units; Memoria Press K Enrichment, maybe Five in a Row books History/Geography - STOW Vol 2, Claritas Cycle 2 Math - Math U See Alpha Art - MP K art cards, Artistic Pursuits Bible - ? Other classes - 2 animal based science classes, and he wants to join a gymnastic class If someone could come in and write out a perfect schedule, then cook the meals, clean the house, wash the clothes, I think I'd be all set.....😜 I often think I need a "boxed" program just so I can follow the schedule, but I tried My Father's World for 4 years and it never worked. I like building our own, doing our own thing, I'm just overwhelmed right now. I thought about replacing the 4/5th's Lang Arts with a more independent program - one without all the parts - like Language Lessons Through Lit. or AOP Lang Arts, but she needs support in various things, and I'm not sure an all-in-one would do it. She muddled through Writing & Rhetoric Fable 1 this year - she liked it except when she had to write. UPDATE 8/2: Middle student is going to public school. Her choice/insistence. So, back to the drawing board (for some things)!! I had it all planned, I had all the books bought! 😞🤪 We were going to do SOTW Middle Ages with everyone - is that too young for the 8th grader? How should I modify it, if at all?

He’s updated it again! Now the results are broken up into All, New, Amazon, Used and Cathy Duffy Reviews! ❤️ Check it out again! https://www.schoolalot.com/

The other thread has me wondering - what do you do with a kid who does have a chronic illness? One of my kids is always sick, has multiple things that add up to a least a day every week or every other week that she wants to stay in bed. How do you handle that, when you have “morning time” or subjects that have students combined together, like story of the world? What I’ve been doing to putting off that subject or read-aloud until we can all be present, but that results in taking forever to get through things, and I’m wondering if I should approach it differently.

Any other feedback? I’ve found it fairly helpful. It could probably use a few more sites to search from.

The Creekside chewable isn’t 5-HTP alone, it has vitamin D, B6, L-theanine, and passionflower. So I didn’t know if it would be okay to give double or to cut it in half. I was shopping for a chewable with 5-HTP to give with it, if we need to increase that, if that makes sense.