You definitely don't have to start below level 4. Level 2 would be far too basic. We have used 2-6 and 5 doesn't stand out to me in particular, but it would likely be a good starting point as suggested. They do build incrementally. Much can be done orally, and the very end of the book tends to be how to use a dictionary or answer a phone. We skip much of the end each year.

If you feel you must, $20 for the first and $30 for the second.

2 of 2 kids sick. Gas and appointments and meds, oh my.

Go!

Has he tried I Survived or Who Was series? Fewer pictures, some similar content, reading level isn't too high. Mine would read 20-25 pages a day at 8. Now if he rereads a title from either series, he is done in 20 minutes.

I agree rehearsal dinners have evolved greatly in the age of social media. We did go to an elaborate one 15ish years ago, and it rivaled the wedding dinner celebration, BUT it was destination, the families were very wealthy, and there were like 5 pre-ceremony celebrations that weekend.

I ordered the new TGTB safety unit I wanted to do this summer. Shipping is $9! I was pretty surprised. I have a few CTC books and a Progeny Press guide to buy later to be totally done buying curriculum for next year. I am contemplating doing a stock up in July of consumables I know I plan for the youngest to use over the next few years of elementary. I have most of the nonconsumable parts. The ones I need are mostly inexpensive items but everything keeps going up and I know we will use them. Has anyone done something similar?

I am trying to line up as many appts for the year as I can since I hit my max OOP. Derm is scheduled, need to find an allergist. Chicken feed is up even more. The lower cost feeds were decimated. Pine shavings are up 20%. I'm planning to get a few more birds next month.

Mine is not one to read for pleasure, particularly not fiction. He agreed to the first Hardy Boys book and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for summer reading. He'll read daily, but any other titles will be his own choosing.

I agree that the standouts are Mind Benders and Balance Benders. We also like Balance Math & More for variety. You can sign up for a free weekly puzzle to be emailed to you. They always say what book they come from so you get a feel for each book.

I had the older kid inventory the freezer and pantry and we have enough complete dinners for 8 days without shopping. Plus 3 breakfast options and sandwiches, sardines, or fried rice for lunches. Just enough fruit to get us through a week, so no buying anything until we eat all that up. He has a loaf of honey wheat in the oven, and I have rice cooling to fry another day. Components for lentil stew tomorrow are pulled, and dinner is under way. A friend wants to treat me to dinner tonight for a "long time no see" date. The guys will have grilled chicken, pasta salad, and Bush's tuscan garbanzo beans that they love.

Fried rice recipes... It's not something we make but the kids would like it. I keep seeing different orders for the rice/veggies/eggs. What order actually works best, if it makes a difference at all?

Nah, I tried a cup pretty late after kids, too. Never loved it, used it rarely. Now it's $30 wasted.

Did you try Dollar General for OB? I have always had horrendous cycles, so I stocked tons of product. Since my hysterectomy last month, I have given my sisters and nieces about $130 in pads and tampons I had stacked in the closet, in each car, in every purse or suitcase... they just keep appearing.

All 3 guys have UV tops and suits. We wear hats a lot. I really need to find myself a top, though. I am busty with a long torso and probably need to just start wearing a log sleeve Columbia sun shirt over a regular swim top. I usually buy a tankini and spray the rest. We joke that one kid is Cherokee and the other is Scottish because of which genes appear prominently. One requires far more protection to keep from frying.

Sunscreen costs, ya'll. I am stunned. We are in Florida and always have some on hand but I pulled the last one from the closet. When browsing for backups, I was shocked. I can't afford to be too picky about brand/ingredients now.

I don't use RS math, but I would suggest looking closely at the second half of the book. I often feel like math is on repeat until I get further in and realize it is actually a step up.

Yep. Ours noticably change if we mention Cali, who passed in 2021. And when we mention Miriam, who strays often, one gets mouthy like he's telling on her, and another looks around for his sister.

Check out the Gakken toddler "workbooks".

I was shocked. We don't go often. Maybe 2-3 times a year? Wasn't expecting that with "$5 footlong" jingle in recent memory.

My husband got Subway for lunch. A footlong BMT with chips and a drink is now $14.

100% team pulls

So funny, I also read them as a kid. Someone gave me old copies of the first 6. I have them on the shelf for my kids. I did read some Amazon reviews and a couple people said there were some now non-PC quips but I don't remember the references.

I agree with this. I was shocked years ago when in a mommy group on FB for babies born a certain month, people were talking birthday gifts for friends- toddlers!- and spending $50 or more on gifts for 2 year olds. And they vaguely apologized for it by saying they spent more on nieces and nephews? I don't have the budget to spend $50 on any kid other than my own. At the time of that particular thread, I was lucky to have $10 to spend on a friend's kid. $20 a pop on my nieces/nephews was extravagant (especially since I have 15 of them). I do give as much as I can for weddings, baby showers, and graduations. $50 on a third birthday for a kid at mommy and me class is a big no.

This. There is one in our town that started out with variety. I haven't found a kids book in a year. Romance novels fill 80% of the space when I drop off. I took a dozen picture books today and only saw romance and 1 magazine.