We don't have tvs in the bedrooms. Ds13 does have an iPod touch and he can access the internet and listen to music up in his room. But for the most part he hangs out with dh and I in the evening, although too often we will be sitting in the same room looking at different screens anyway.

It has been for us. We were already using OPGTR and a different math program when we started out K year. We are using the K plans for recitation, Bible memory and copybook, poetry, and the literature and enrichment. We've had a great year and we'll be using the 1st grade plans in the fall.

I do too. My jaw hit the floor in his final chapter in DwD. It doesn't seem like something he will recover from, then again I thought Bran was a goner for sure when he fell. I was so frustrated when I finished the book. I don't want to wait another seven years to find out what happened. :glare:

I used Hypnobabies with my last pregnancy, sort of. I listened to the CDs as I fell asleep at night and I didn't bring them to the hospital with me, mostly because I had a really fast labor and almost didn't make it to the hospital. I in no way had a pain free birth, but I was able to relax between each contraction. It was far more manageable than my previous labor. I will be using the program again with my current pregnancy, only this time I'd like to try to listen to the tracks during the day when I can stay awake for them.

The MP curriculum comes from Highlands Latin School and they have classes 4 days a week. If you don't mind tweaking the schedule a bit, I think you would find it easy to get everything done in 4 days and leave yourself the 5th day for more hands on activities. We are also using K this year and plan on using 1st grade next year as written. I have found the lesson plans efficient enough that there is plenty of time to add in additional reading or crafts and experiments. The social studies/history and science in the lower grades are more suggestions than plans, so they can be done as simply or expanded upon as elaborately as you have time/motivation/energy to do so.

I just stumbled across Diddakoi on Audible. It's on sale right now. ;)

I like Anastasiya Archipova's illustrations: Favourite Tales from Hans Christian Andersen Favourite Grimm's Tales

The K-2nd books are sold on the site as read aloud packages. They are still putting the lists together for the higher grades. There is a PDF on the MP forums with the 3rd grade list. If you call or email, they can likely give a decent idea of what will be on the 4th-8th grade lists, since I know that they make the books available in the classrooms at Highlands. This is why MP holds such appeal for me. We can cover the basics without wasting time and spend that time delving into what has real value in our home. I love that the majority of the lit is only suggested, not fully integrated into the curriculum, so I can use it as I see fit.

I'll be using MP Guerber with my rising 8th grader next year. I'm going to disagree with mouse (maybe for the first time) :tongue_smilie:. MP only studies a few lit books in depth, but the literature lists are much longer than the few books listed in the grade packages. I have been adding to/altering the read aloud list for my k-er this year and will likely do the same next year, but I've seen the third grade list on the forums and I am pleased. The MP history books are designed to be used once a week, with quick review on the other days, leaving more room for literature(or whatever you personally wish to focus on).

My babysitter watches my two younger boys for $10 an hour.

The history books are for a range of grades, so you can definitely combine with out a problem. You don't have to buy the package as written, they will work with you to put together a package with the appropriate guides. It really depends on your child. We started K in Sept with a wiggly ds who turned 5 in August. You don't have to do all of the writing if it gets to be too much. We pieced together. It is a good idea to get anything Beta from MP directly because they will update their products free of charge when the final versions are printed. You just need to call and ask. We have had no problem using a different math this year. I am planning to use R&S for the next few years, but I will likely switch to Saxon by 6th since I already own the set for 7/6. I spoke to someone from MP recently on the phone while placing an order and asked if we can stick with WWE/WWS instead of CC and she said that would be fine.

We're using K at grade level. I substituted math and phonics, only because we had already started with different programs. Next year we will use the 1st grade package as written. My oldest is a little out of synch with the 8th grade book list for next year, so we will be doing a mix, picking and choosing from MP grade 6th-8th levels. The book lists for 7th and 8th are on their forums. The bulk of the lesson plans at the K level are the grid schedules like the sample on the website. The appendix has the recitation(math, geography, vowel sounds are a small sample of what is in there), memory verses, read-aloud list, poetry, and music and art selections. I have found the staff at MP, especially Tanya on the forums, to be very helpful in selecting level/materials for individual students.

We're starting this in the fall. Ds and I are both looking forward to it.

We haven't used the lower levels, but ds is in 7/6 this year and we plan to stick with it through high school. We use the Art Reed DVDs with the program. I don't remember the last time ds needed my help with his math lessons. It does take him awhile to complete each lesson but he doesn't complain about it. Ds is not a "mathy" kid. We have tried quite a few programs and Saxon is the one that really makes math stick for him. Math comes much more easily to my ds5. I don't know if we will use Saxon in the upper grades or not. Whatever works best.

I have a 7 year gap between my oldest and my second child. There is a definite difference in the relationship between my oldest two and the younger two, who are much closer in age. But it's not necessarily better or worse, just different. My oldest is a fabulous big brother and he loves his siblings. One huge positive of having a big gap is the ability to take naps when pregnancy exhaustion kicks in! I am pregnant now with my fourth and I am busy chasing a toddler around all day. When I was pregnant with my second I was able to lie down if I was really tired. And when ds2 was a baby and kept us up all night, I could lie down with him during the day and not worry that my oldest would get into any trouble. I have been very open about breastfeeding in front of my older children. I feel it is important for them to see it as a normal and healthy way to feed your baby.

Thank you!

I wouldn't mind so much, but my toddler takes a long time to adjust. At the moment, he is crying over his waffle. :glare: He will likely be out of sorts all week.

Latin: Second Form Christian Studies: Faith and Life 8 and MP Christian Studies IV Classical: Dorothy Mills Ancient Greece and Iliad/Odyssey with MP guides American: MP Guerber with 200 Questions about American History Math: Saxon Algebra 1/2 with Art Reed DVDs Science: Science Matters as recommended in LCC, along with interest led reading and videos Grammar: AG Vocab: Sadlier B Writing: WWS 2 Literature: LLfLotR Art: Seton Art through Faith Technology: VLACS Middle School Computer Literacy PE: karate

My first thought was Memoria Press as well. They use R&S for grammar presently but they are in the process of writing their own. The science could be supplemented with library books if you felt it wasn't enough. They will switch the writing and the Latin to the level you need to begin with. I am using the 6th grade Christian Studies next year with my oldest. The only issue I have found is the number of books they list for the Bible. But that is a quick fix with a pen. The keep the doctrine out, it is just familiarity with the Bible. We add our own religious studies and saint stories to fill in the gaps. I like to add rather than take away from a program. Memoria is run by Catholic, Protestant, and I believe Orthodox staff, so they are careful to not add in anything offensive to any group in their materials. (I feel like a Memoria Press groupie, pardon my enthusiasm:lol:)

We do not have a microwave. Every time we turned it on it blew a fuse so we got rid of it. We use the toaster oven to toast and to reheat leftovers. I use the stove top to reheat soup and a double boiler to melt chocolate. It only took about a week for me to adjust to not using a microwave for anything. And I've found the food tastes better reheated in the toaster oven anyway.

I have the Famous Men books, I've used them as supplements with my oldest but plan to buy the guides and use them as our full history program when his brother is old enough. I am using Memoria Press next year for history. Ds will be in 8th grade. We're studying the Greeks, but with their Dorothy Mill's reprint instead of the Famous Men book. We'll be covering The Book of the Ancient Greeks in the first half of the year and reading The Iliad/Odyssey over the second half. The following year we plan to move onto the Romans with a similar plan: The Book of the Ancient Romans for half the year, followed by the Aeneid. There are curriculum guides for 7th and 8th grade in the works. You can find details and a book list in the forum at the Memoria Press website. As for how time intensive, from what I understand the HLS studies history one day a week, science one day a week, etc. So it can be covered in a school year working one day a week. We are using and loving First Form this year. We used a different Latin program for three years prior and have found the format of FF much easier to work with. I recommend checking out the forums and contacting them directly. Tanya on the boards has emailed back and forth with me a few times to help me come up with a plan for my oldest. They have fabulous customer service.

My 7th grader used the Robinson Crusoe guide and it really helped him get more out of the book. At this level the writing was right on target. I haven't used the younger guides yet. I just ordered Anne of Green Gables and Wind in the Willows this morning (I got the same email).

This. We are using Memoria Press K guide for memory work (the recitation list, Bible verses, and poems) and adding catechism questions. I am astonished what my ds5 has memorized this year. Far more than I would have expected had I pulled a list together myself. The more he memorizes, the more he enjoys it and the easier it has become.

Ds13 will say this once in awhile. It wouldn't bother me too much coming from him, but when my 5 or 2 year old imitate him it sounds awful, so I generally discourage him when it slips out.

We ditched the night time bottle cold turkey. Ds was not happy, but he was in my bed and I was able to hold him and rub his back while he wailed at me. It took three nights for him to realize that was that. He still wakes up to come to bed with me in the middle of the night most nights, but he just lies down and goes back to sleep. The pacifier is a whole 'nuther issue for us. :glare: