Those limits will definitely make things challenging. My first thought is non-fiction or a classic. Take a look at First We Have Coffee by Margaret Jensen. Good stories, well-written, and conservative in content. I'm going to read it with my 11 year old daughter next month. http://www.amazon.com/First-Have-Coffee-Margaret-Jensen/dp/1565074246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258481878&sr=8-1 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, or Pride & Prejudice if it's a mature group of girls. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom The Diary of Ann Frank Swallows & Amazons was one of the few books we gave up on as a read a loud. My kids were bored, bored, BORED!

You didn't ask for rice recipes but I just remembered this one and it goes a long ways. I usually pull it out when I have a few leftover strips of bacon and have a box of good quality chicken stock (on sale, of course!) on the shelf. Since I never have fresh peas, I just go with the frozen kind. Risi e bisi (Rice and Peas) adapted from Ada Boni, Italian Regional Cooking 3T butter 2 T olive oil 2/3 cup diced lean bacon 1 green onion 2 pints chicken stock (the original recipe calls for double but we like it more risotto-like than soup-like) 1 2/3 cup rice 3 ½ cup shelled peas (I use less—maybe 1 to 1 ½ cup) salt to taste ¾ cup parmesan cheese parsley, to taste. Heat the butter and oil together in a large pan, and gently saute the bacon and onion. When the bacon is brown, add the peas and moisten with a few tablespoons of the stock. Cook gently for 15 minutes. Add the rest of the stock, which must be hot, and bring it to the boil. Pour in the rice, stir well, lower the heat and cook gently for 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and still fairly moist. Add salt if necessary, and sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese and parsley. Serves 4 to 6.

I've been getting cans of Goya black beans at the dollar store. I also start with 2 cans of Goya black beans, drained and rinsed. Place in a saucepan and add 2 teaspoons of Emeril's Southwest Seasoning (recipe at link below). I like this seasoning because I can make it up in advance and then just have to reach for one jar. Add one minced clove garlic and diced onion to taste. For liquid use about 1/2 cup water and 1-2 T orange juice or juice concentrate if you have it. Lime is good too. :) Simmer a few minutes to blend flavors. Emeril's Southwest Seasoning http://www.recipezaar.com/Emerils-Southwest-Seasoning-23537 I like to make these up to keep on hand to make burritos for lunch.

My cat was overweight and before going the prescription route my vet gave me a list of high protein/low carb foods to try. He wasn't eating junk before, but it was higher in carbs. There were some inexpensive brands on the list but I jumped to Evo as it was mostly chicken and turkey and my cat with the very sensitive tummy tolerates those both well. Combined with some extra exercise, he's lost 3 pounds in 5 months--vet just saw him and she was really pleased. It's not cheap but cheaper and more convenient and healthier than treating diabetes and urine crystals, which is where he was headed.

Carrie, Clara, Jane Thomas, Daniel

I agree, only I suggest that you give the family a heads up a week or so early, and back down on meals and help during this time. You will be doing this couple a favor by gently withdrawing and allowing them to become a family. Those three adults will learn how to handle life with their two babies only when they learn to care for them, including listening and responding to the nighttime cries of hungry babies.

I'd suggest having a sleep study done on him. I went through a period where I was dealing with Restless Leg Syndome and I felt much better when I was up and about or tossing and turning than when I was horizontal. Kids often don't communicate the symptoms of RLS well. They just miss out on a lot of sleep they need.

I'm pretty sure that Rob Inglis is the only unabridged version.

I read The Hobbit to my then 10 year old and gave him a copy of the book to follow along with as it was a big jump in reading level from what he was used to on his own. I did find with this book it went better if I went with his preferred pace and not a plan of my own. I should warn you that from there we went on and read all of Lord of the Rings together. ;) Altogether it took 8 months but was one of the best reading experiences I ever had.

Hi mommy25, I just saw your post and wanted to send some gentle hugs your way. Every time one of my children has taken a big step away from me--whether that be public school, a mission trip, or a band trip--at first it feels like one of my arms has been ripped off. The first few days are always the hardest and then usually they've done well in their new situations and have gained some independence. No advice on what to add on in terms of academically but as one who has had more experience with ps than with homeschool, I'd suggest waiting a little bit until your 8th grader has settled in with the new routine and then see what you feel needs to be added. They're all usually very tired when they start up, plus my 7th grader has all he can handle during the school year with attending school, homework and extra-curriculars. Be gentle on yourself today and here's hoping your daughter really thrives in her new school environment. Pippen

Thanks for the ideas. I'll give these a look. SFKC, browsing a pirate store--now that sounds like a good time!

I'm having surgery the week before Christmas and will be in the hospital 3-4 days so we're simplifying in a lot of ways. Probably just one tree instead of two, meals from the freezer, no last minute rush of baking. Actually, no last minute rush of anything--if it's not done by the time I check in for the hospital it probably won't happen! We've never had money for a lot of gifts so we've always tried to get the kids what they wanted the most.

Glad you're getting along well with yours, because mine has had 12 service calls! Check the Bosch website to see if there's any diagrams or parts lists, or else just call the installer.

It really depends on the child. Both my son and daughter played constantly with their Playmobil until around first grade, and tapered off after that. When my daughter's friends came over after that it was always the first toy that was hauled out. My son's interest waned around the time that he discovered Lego's.

Old Navy has sports bras that are reasonably priced and hold up well.

I can use Neutrogena or NoAd unscented. I'd try it out somewhere other than the face first.

My kids each have 4-5 pairs of jeans and at least 5 shirts. My daughter has more shirts, sweats, and sweatshirts both because she dances and because she really, really likes clothes. I do laundry every day but I hang to dry and anything less than 4 pairs of jeans doesn't always work with my rotation.

Iceburg lettuce, right before serving coat with Catalina/French dressing, finely shredded cheddar cheese, and crushed fritos. I usually add fresh fruit with tacos.

I pulled my 5th grade daughter out of ps for her last year of elementary because the school population has changed dramatically since our family started there ten years ago. She's a strong student but wasn't coping well either with the behavioral problems or the academics, the focus of which has shifted to helping an at-risk population meet NCLB requirements. The situation at the junior high is much better and she hopes to return next year for 6th grade. We're having a great year at home and I feel like her needs are being met with all subjects except for writing. I signed her up for a homeschool IEW class and in hindsight probably shouldn't have gone that route for a one year pull out. While what she's getting is beneficial, I would like to supplement at home with a writing program (either formal or something put together) which gives her more actual writing experience, more instruction, and is more personally satisfying than this first year of IEW. She loves to write but has had far less instruction than her brothers did in ps because reading has become the all important subject area at the school. (Not only has writing taken a back seat, but the teachers were told this year that they could take minutes away from social studies and science if needed to keep the reading and math scores up. As a science teacher and believer in the importance of learning history, I'm just sick!) I appreciate any thoughts or ideas.

Just wait until love looks like listening to drum sets and bass guitars all evening or sitting through an entire football game in the rain so you can hear the marching band play for 7 minutes. :) Glad you had that time together. My then little daughter was so upset when the guys went on their first men's camping weekend, but she got with the program really fast!

I don't know if this is still going on, but last summer I signed up for their email list and they sent me a 50% coupon that I could keep printing (or copying) off for two weeks. We were in the midst of fair projects so I went back nearly every day plus I put some Christmas presents away. Saved a lot of money on things I needed to buy anyway.

I always pick out a novel that ties in with history, then together we pick out a book for reading, mostly from a list of books highly recommended for girls her age. I like to involve her with choosing the second because two books going at once is enough for her and she's more apt to use it for bedtime reading, etc.

Horrible Harry

Sorry, I never seem to get it quite right but see if you can find some help at the Rit Dye site. http://www.ritdye.com/Create_Custom_Color.9.lasso

I have a good friend who has a case of Lyme that wasn't caught early. She's never had the joint pain--primarily it's presented with neurological symptoms. If this were me, I'd be grateful that the doctor had included a Lyme test and treatment if she suspected it, but since it was a knee I'd want to see an orthopedic specialist to check it out, especially since she's in ballet.