So, Just for fun! :) My 7.5 year old thinks in strange ways :) For a second grader, at least. Here's a couple of looks into his little brain. He can add 2 three digit numbers in his head. (346 + 452= answer) He understands how to figure out simple multiplication problems. Here's another math problem he told me.... just from thinking about it.... 3x10= 30, 30x10=300... went up to the answer being 300,000. I asked him how he would know this, and he just gives a "well mom, it only makes sense that if 3x10 is 30 that 30,000 x 10= 300,000" Ok, so it does "only make sense" but this is a 7 year old who I haven't explained any of this to.... We're doing Singapore... kinda. I mean... we do go over some of the work, but it's pretty much just easy... until the division part. That's a bit more difficult. We've done all the oral parts...orally... and he writes out answers for the rest. It seems that he has a great brain for general memorization and also for language study. (and pronounces foreign words will decent accents) So, I'm not thinking he's a genius by any stretch, just thinking about his studies for next year... So... just a question about it anyone has had a child with intuitiveness with math.. and kinda what you've done... Any fun math studies or other fun curriculum you might want to suggest?? :bigear:

Or, could you find friends to send them to. Kinda split them half and half? Or all of them to one house, and pay a sitter to go "help".... I mean... at 11... your kids are probably helping you lots!! It might be great for some family you know to take your kids this weekend..... and then you have theirs another... Just a thought :)

Well, I have to say that I think one sitter is fine. So, that's what i'd do. :) I'd be thrilled to get $150. I got $300 when I was 23 for a week. You have older kids, so it seems that everyone would just pitch in and help. I was taking care of kids for the weekend at 16. ALL. FOUR. HOMESCHOOLED. BRATS. My kids were never going to be so bratty. (Ha Ha on me!!)

How happy for y'all; how sad a contrast for me! I absolutely cringe each week thinking of church. It's local, some people smile at me. I really like the pastor; he's very friendly. His sermons make my heart cry; they are so far from what I believe is Biblical. There are stories upon stories with some verses. Again, he is such a sweet sincere man, but perhaps it's the world's teachings of what sermons should be. Much like the difference between public education and a Christian Classical Education. It's sad, truly sad. We've tried every church around us, that fits with our Theological beliefs. I. have ....ALMOST... given up! Not on God, just on finding a church that I look forward to going to... :(

How happy for y'all; how sad a contrast for me! I absolutely cringe each week thinking of church. It's local, some people smile at me. I really like the pastor; he's very friendly. His sermons make my heart cry; they are so far from what I believe is Biblical. There are stories upon stories with some verses. Again, he is such a sweet sincere man, but perhaps it's the world's teachings of what sermons should be. Much like the difference between public education and a Christian Classical Education. It's sad, truly sad. We've tried every church around us, that fits with our Theological beliefs. I. have ....ALMOST... given up! Not on God, just on finding a church that I look forward to going to... :(

It's fun to do it with the squares, too. :)

My mom is loving her Professional Vitamix. She's making all kinds of funky smoothies and such... It's pretty cool!! If I had an extra $450. I'd have one, too!! (She had a coupon and it came with a recipe book)

Oh, and when I was in early childhood training, they suggested getting an apple and putting it within toddlers reach. Then, when you see that "build-up" you just say "apple" and they run grab the apple to bite. (You kinda explain in toddler words something like "when you get angry you bite apple") :)

Well, when I started having periods, I felt as though I had knives cutting my insides up. My mom didn't ever have pain so she didn't know to offer any pain meds... So, whatever your family does for intense pain... and then I find now that a multi vitamin helps to ease the discomfort of serious leg heaviness and pain... as well as other heaviness... :( Maybe a movie... hot chocolate... and no school :) That'd help me ;) I sooooo remember bad periods.. after babies they haven't been as bad.... So... hope for her that they won't be like this forever.... probably :)

My daughter bit when I started dating my now husband... She was almost 3 and the girls (step :)) were 6 and 9. It was the 6 year old she bit all the time. I tried all kinds of things... My son bit when he as 6!! Never did before, but in this one situation he couldn't get himself out. I talked to him about it and disciplined him... But I just had to not put him in the situation again. (After 2x of him biting... DONE! ) At 18 months.... It's hard... If you go the biting route, I'd suggest putting their own hand or whatever... in their mouth and pressing down..... And more of a "OUCH.... huh??" No biting... or something. I had a friend who did that.... and it seemed to work after a couple of times.. :(

Can I just say how adorable she is?? Your whole family is just SOOOO sweet looking :) Merry Christmas!!

ewww sorry!! Let us know what happens... It'll get better!! It's gotta!!

Hmmmm... well... I'm kinda Baptist :)

Christian Worldview Curriculums.... Tell me about your favorite and least favorite... I'd like to know for personal as well as for thinking about church situations. (Youth group and such...) I've been thinking about this for the last few weeks, how it shouldn't be a dividing line between those who homeschool and don't. How all of us who are Christian Parents, should want to teach our children what a Christian Worldview looks like. Thanks!:D

You're funny :) I care what I feed my children mentally and physically; what I do to my children's bodies... and other child related duties.... BUT, I can't do a perfect job with my own children, and it doesn't seem others are able to either. ;)

"Technically a real Christian worldview would be thinking in a way that mirrors God's thinking." Perfect! So, we should try to view the world in a way that would mirror God's thinking, and then we would be viewing the world as a "Christ Follower".... How would one start to see the difference between thinking about things through "God's view" as best we can? Is this partially the responsibility of the church to show the contrast between God's view and a secular one? (meaning a view without God in mind)

Happy Birthday!! Without you, we wouldn't be here!! ;)

My son got Pepsi in his bottle... starting with a trip to a spot pretty far away that we were driving. My husband was drinking it... and he was screaming for it. (Oops... mistake of letting him have a sip) I was pretty healthy with my daughter... (when we saw candy at the check out... I said... Ew..... yuckkkky... we don't like it!!) And she believed me till I married my husband... with his 6 and 9 year old. First time they heard me say that, they said... "yes we do!!". Anyway.... My son likes such a small amount of food. I have started MAKING him eat some types of food this year... and he will.... but he still doesn't like it. McDonald's is on his "like" list. He will eat chx nuggets.... he will eat no other meat like hamburger..... and of course... he'll eat steak.... What can I say.. he's picky.... My other kids eat anything. (well.... most everything)

Raymond Moore... homeschool pioneer man, now gone, has a story about his life as a Christian Missionary in China :) He gave a copy to me... way back when I was homeschooled.... (I was 12) It's one of the books I've kept all these years :)

Hey There ;) My mom and I were talking tonight about Christian Worldviews. We were wondering who thinks that they have a Christian Worldview? Who doesn't even know that there's a difference?? We were talking about people being fine with their children going to PS because there are "so many Christian teachers there". And, that those teachers were probably schooled in PS and many of them don't even see any difference between Christian thinking and Secular thinking. So, Knowledge is what I want for my children.... but with an understanding of God. Anyone have any great ways that they share knowledge from a Christian Worldview? Anyone have a church that really supports parents in this journey?? :bigear: :)

You could get one of them in on it.... (ask... what do you think??) which would make the other one "fooled" but you'd know if it'd be ok... :)

Seriously, I would want to reverse the problem. I mean, would your neighbor want you to wake THEM up a half hour after they went to sleep and a half hour before they had to get up?? Before getting that nasty, though, I'd see what the ordinance is. Here, it's pretty strict, and you would get fined for that... You just have to call... Otherwise, I'd be adjusting my schedule to getting up to blast some nice music... late at night... and earlier.. in the morning.. OK, maybe I'd also try the things for barking control..... The best I could get..

You are bad :) Yum!!

I have a dog that i just love. He sleeps inside... (he doesn't like to be out alone. Heck, he usually wants to come in before the kids...) I accidentally let my dog out... at almost midnight... and the guy cam over and it seemed like he was going to just know my door down... Oops... Found out that he sleeps ALL the time during the night and day.. and my crazy dog was just... well... driving the guy insane. I let my dog out after 9am and 9pm is kinda the latest... except for a few minutes.... BUT, I hear ONE bark before or after the "9's" and inside he comes.. I'd try the barky thing... My mom tried spraying water over the fence at her noisy neighbor dog.... not sure that's legal??? :(

Wow!! Happy for you all!! What a MERRY Christmas!! :)