When my 6th child was 15 months, I still felt overwhelmed and anxiety at the thought of having a seventh child, so dh got a vesectomy. That was an emotional decision. I'm happy to be done and move on from that stage of life, but I sometimes wonder if it was a good decision. Now that my baby is almost 3,I could definitely handle another child... but I still don't have that baby hunger. Im enjoying the new phase immensely. I'm working on a professional degree and I've discovered I can be athletic, for the first time in my life, and I'm happy I can enjoy my 6 kids more fully than if I were pregnant or taking care of a new baby.

*MY* favorite is CLE Reading 7, which is new for us this year. I quickly ordered level 5 for my 5th grader, it is so good. CLE Math (my favorite) and Apologia Science (elementary) with notebook journal (dd's favorite) are still favorites. My little kids LOVE Logic of English Foundations, but I struggle getting around to it. I'm breaking out my HWT for my 1st grader because Foundations is moving too slow, which is probably my fault. Alpha Phonics is my new favorite phonics book of the bazillion I've used over the years. My kids LOVE Story of the World 2. I'm trying to convince them to do a Halloween costume theme as a family, where half of us dress as Celtic warriors (the crazy ones), and the other half dress as Roman soldiers (the more serious family members). I, of course, would be a Celtic warrior. Not so much: I'm about to ditch Logic of English Essentials. It is tedious and I don't like teaching it. Jury is still out on BJU Life Science DLO, Real Science Odyssey Life Science, MP's Literature guides, Essentials in Writing 3, 5, & 7, and Home Art Studio 2nd Grade

Here is the real deal, at least for the first month of school. It's a lot of video teachers, so well see how that goes. Cle math 7 BJU Life Science online Excellence in writing 6 Online civics and literature classes from liahona academy Book club And then family stuff: German, read alouds, art study, bravewriter

I fit a full years worth of school curriculum into 36 4-day weeks. That is technically 144 days, but I would not hesitate to report it as 180 because it's the same amount of work. The coop day would definitely count as a school day anyway.

To finish my degree when my dh was deployed I got up at 4am and worked until 6am when the baby usually woke up. Kids were usually in bed by 8 and I was in bed by 9. Now I get up at 430 to work out. I'm home by 615,I wake everyone at 630, I shower and dress while they dress and make their beds, and the day ideally starts by 7.

Crazy hard workout this morning, it was great. Protein drink and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then I got braces put on my teeth and now I really don't know what I can eat. I can't even bite. Oh yeah, I'm making beans and rice for lunch.

A clean is just a certain kind of lift with a barbell. From the floor to your shoulders.

I think a break would be good. I love ELTL, but I don't like the grammer in it. I skip the grammar. I would do MTC or something that teaches in a fun way using pictures, which I think MTC does. I haven't used it myself. Stay away from the traditional English if you can. I would also look into Bravewriter.

I used MM for 3 years. I switched to CLE two years ago. I switched because MM was cumbersome for my kids. It required a lot of brain power, which isn't bad, but more than I thought was necessary. It was cluttered and just too much. The kids didn't like it. MM is mastery and conceptual. I decided to try the opposite of MM and try CLE. CLE is spiral and traditional, requires less deep thinking but still rigorous and good. It is less cluttered and I like the TM much better because it is easier to check work. CLE math for all my kids forever and ever, amen. ;)

I'm usually a healthy eater, but totally fell off the food wagon today. It's bad, y'all. Breakfast: protein drink A few hours later: dd12's strawberry pastries Lunch: icecream from costco with the kids Snack: oatmeal raisin cookie Dinner: it will be steak and potatoes for the family, but I'll probably skip the potatoes and have something green. I killed it exercising though. Exercise: 20 cleans with 75lb bar, then 10 rounds of 5 deadlifts, 5 cleans, 5 front squats,5 shoulder presses, in 20 min with 65 lb bar. Then 80 lunges with 35 lb kettlebell.

6 kids, 4 bedrooms, two kids in each. 2400 square ft. Perfect for us.

LoE Foundations A for reading, Cursive Handwriting from Barefoot Ragamuffin, And Essential Math A & B Everything else with the family.

Dd12 lord of the rings trilogy Dd10 cat warriors books

Insta pot. I'd never heard of it and never knew I needed it until I saw a recommendation from a friend and then read reviews. I need that easy, fast cooking thing at my house!

Uh, I did go crazy. My husband would know it had been one of those weeks, and he would gather our children, back away slowly, throw me the keys to the car, and give me a day off, lol. It's just hard, but they eventually grow older. My oldest daughter turned 12 this year and I'm finding I'm out of the house a lot now without them, making up for all those years I guess.

You are a very strong person. It was a great letter.

Drink the koolaid and join crossfit! I've never ever been much of an exerciser other than the occasional dvd at home. A friend asked me to come for a week free and it changed my life. I've been going for 3 months now,5 days a week. It is the highlight of my day. I love it. And I'm getting in awesome shape. I did my first ever pull up after two months. My body has been completely transformed, as well as my attitude towards fitness. You never know what the workout will be when you come in, you've got a personal trainer there to help you get the right form, and everyone else cheering you on. It's the hardest workout ever, but you do it and it feels awesome. It's for everyone, no matter where you begin.

I've finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I'm getting a 2nd bachelor's in Communication Disorders, and then a master's in speech language pathology. I'm in the same program as Crimson Wife, but I just started. I love everything I'm learning. I got my first degree in education bc of homeschooling, but really had no desire to ever work outside the home, and definitely not in a public school setting. Then this last fall I had a huge desire to make a little cash on the side for myself and get out of the house a few hours a week, so I got a job as an after school tutor. That was a frustrating job for many reasons, but I realized I enjoyed tutoring, so I became a private dyslexia tutor, which I really enjoy. I love working with kids and I love the one on one. But there are a few things that bother me about being a dyslexia tutor, and I really want something that I can support my family with should the need arise. So I shadowed some SLPs in my area and I fell in love! I finally found the perfect career for me. I'm excited about the journey ahead.

What the title says. ds6 LOVES everything math. How do I not kill this love in 1st grade? Is there a math curriculum/book that requires minimal writing and lots of manipulatives found around the house? Simple and cheap is what I like. Danke!

One thing I'm thinking about doing differently,that might give you some ideas, is dropping grammar (especially since we're doing latin), and doing analytical grammar in 7th and 8th, and be done. Next, I'm going to hold a geography club and a poetry club once a month with friends. Finally, replace individual writing curriculum with copywork, dictation (spelling), freewrites, journal prompts, and written narration all together as a family. Essays can come in high school. So basically I'm streamlining LA.

CLE math 7 Apologia (her choice) w/ notebook journal reading list maybe Latin, maybe German Analytical Grammar As a family: VP history cards, geography club, poetry club, book club, copywork/dictation/freewrite Or something. I've got to simplify.

Amen! That's exactly what I say. It has changed my life.

Capri/skirt from kohls is even cuter than the one at lands end, AND it's half the price. I got that and a rash guard from land's end. I get compliments on it.

I use a level behind grade level. I read the lesson to my 2nd grader. She reads the poem and short story aloud to me. Independently she reads along while listening to the audio of the book chapter assigned, and then does the copywork. My 4th and 6th graders do it all independently, except I have them read the poem aloud to me and we do picture study together. I have them skip the grammar when it starts getting too hard in the upper levels (for me). I have them do R&S grammar because I like the explanations better, which is also independent. I don't consider eltl any more mom intensive than any other program I've tried. It's a sure keeper for us.

I'm doing the fast five diet, eating within a 5 hour window. Free ebook: http://drbert.myshopify.com/collections/free-digital-downloads 1 lb a week is what it promises, and so far it has been true for me. I've lost 6 lbs in 6 weeks. Easiest diet ever. My husband and inlaws are also on it. We are all making it a life long change bc its so easy and we like how we feel. We have more energy and just feel better eating like this. My window is usually 2-7, but the book recommends 5-10.