Hmmmm, my 3rd just got so frustrated with all the memorization and not getting things "right." She'd rather have me explain something and go off to do a worksheet independently than sit with me and go through a scripted lesson. She's just a different kind of learner. My first two love Latin and she hates it. I want her to enjoy being homeschooled so I am not making Latin or grammar with diagramming a hill to die on :)

I have been trying to keep things simple while still having the kids in a few activities that they are excited about. Only my oldest (almost 14) has an activity that is just for him right now. Otherwise, any activities we do have two or more children involved in the same time & place. We have decided to focus on a few areas as a family. Scouts & AHG, Music (Band & Piano), and swimming for a competitive sport. Oldest DS does an extra science activity and DS#2 will add a history related extracurricular in the near future. But they are getting into the high school years so I feel it is appropriate for them to have one area that is "their own." With Church responsibilities and regular homeschooling and making time for family fun like camping trips and field trips we don't have time for much more.

I also must admit that the third child fizzled with halfway through the second grade portion and never finished. She is in 4th grade now and doing Easy Grammar - that style just works better for her.

Well, even though some of the repetition drives me crazy, I find that FLL lays a great foundation for grammar concepts for younger ones. The copywork and lack of worksheets has been just right for my kids. The memorization of definitions and lists in FLL 1/2 has really served to provide the "pegs" for their Latin study. I must admit that this time through I am combining lessons quite liberally, we will skip a few of the poems, and I am having DD read through the picture narrations on her own.

and I'm not sure I'm going to make it. What's funny is dd6 seems to like it much more than my older three did.

Sometimes you can find a free pdf version of many of these textbooks online - especially previous editions - to check them out.

And as someone who is 5'9" I love that maxi skirts are so widely available. I'll probably still where them after they have gone out of style. Love them.

I like that one! I need some new shirts for the fall. I think I'll order one. Most importantly, I think the kids will think it is amusing and we need some homeschool humor around here.

Okay, so don't freak out at the price becasue you can often get these from the library, or you can do the streaming option, or the courses go on sale, but what about: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/understanding-the-universe-an-introduction-to-astronomy-2nd-edition.html Since you said she likes videos. In the guide book I believe there will be a few optional questions to answer at the end of each lecture. Add some local star parties, the planteraium, field trip to an obsevatory, etc.

I was going to say the exact same thing! I also hate driving on busy highways - but I do it. In the DC area, it's a must.

My 16 year old cat eats Fancy Feast. I tried "healthier" versions a few years ago and she stopped eating. Better to feed Fancy Feast rather than have a starving cat. She is skinny as a rail due to thyroid issues (takes meds) so I'm just happy that she is eating.

I am right there with ya, sister! I just got back from summer camp with my two girls. Driving to and from, three days of trudging around in heat from station to station, three mostly sleepless nights, bug bites, cold showers, etc. My boys and DH were at home. Did anyone plan dinner for tonight? Nope. I just threw chicken fingers in the oven and will serve with BBQ sauce. That's it.

He was a very lucky kitty to have such love & care.

We have a couple neighbors that we do this with on a smaller scale...we have the tall ladder, they have the post hole digger. A few houses have snow blowers that are shared. But I also have long wished for more. Also for kids' things such as rain boots, snow boots, snow pants, sleds, ride-on toys, sports equipment, puzzles, games, etc.

Met and started dating at 16/17. Dated long distance through college. Didn't get married until almost 10 years after we had started dating. Regrets - we should have gotten married sooner and it might have been better to have converted to the Orthodox Church before getting married rather than after.

Sorry I missed this one!

Following as I am also considering DO Geometry for my 13yoDS.

Gosh, I think some people are being a little hard on the OP. Maybe she should have made it a JAWM post. Anyway, OP, you are not alone - there are a couple reasons why my kids aren't playing it, one being they don't have iPods or Smart Phones or whatever you need to play it. I do think people mobbing Central Park to catch a Pokemon is a bit ridiculous!

PM me if you still need any input. DH and I had a long distance relationship during college.

I really like Math Mammoth for open and go. It's all-in-one, no separate teacher guide. It uses the same methodology as Singapore. I used Singapore for awhile but juggling the textbook, workbook, teacher's guide, challenging word problems books, and Intensive practice book drove me crazy. I also use Life of Fred and Teaching Textbooks and while those are pretty independant I tend to lose track of what they are learning or might be struggling with. With MM I assign two or three pages a day, read the instructions to or with my child, do a few problems together, and the rest is done independantly. Although I like TT, I would often not check their work as often because it is automatically graded. And reading every chapter of LOF with everyone is too much. So, depending on the child, my kids either use Math Mammoth and Life of Fred OR TT and Life of Fred. One child is just using LOF right now since he is in the high school books. ETA: I looked at your signature and I also use SL and AAS. And am in the process of adopting a little girl with DS.

This one too! My Buddy, My Buddy Wherever he goes, I go My buddy and me We like to climb up a tree My buddy and me We're the best friends that can be!

The Jhoon Rhee self defese one was the first one I thought of...it has been stuck in my head for 35+ years. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cz2PLuuFEiw It was also amazing how quickly all the words came back to me for the Big Red chewing gum ditty. "Your fresh breath goes on and on...while you're chewing..."

My BA in Music Education will continue to be sufficient if/when I have enough time to start teaching private lessons again out of my home. Around my area $45 - $50 per hour is on the low side for private instrumental lessons.

This is what I was going to suggest. It seems to be exactly what the OP is looking for,

Jasper