That was fun to watch!

Just remember you do NOT have to do every bit of each lesson. It is mastery based so if they know it already you can just do the assessments if you want. We're going into our 3rd year with k12 having done K & 1 with DD and 1 & 2 with DS. When we did music we always saved it for Fridays and even then we would go several weeks between but we would do 5-6 lessons at once when we did it. Art we did sporadically but got enough done for what was needed. We did do science and history together because they were each interested in the other lessons as well. For art I shuffled lessons around and did similar lessons (landscapes, sculptures, etc) even when they weren't scheduled as such.

Hmm.. my responses in conversations are always at the bottom but it minimizes the prior parts if they've been read. It's been that way since I've had gmail and was unaware that it was different for some people.

Under settings you can adjust it so it doesn't group conversations together. Maybe that would work better for you? On the first page of settings set it to "conversation view off" and see if that works better for you.

For top of stairs make sure it only opens towards you - that way it can't accidentally open and let them fall down the stairs. We had a great one - might have been the Evenflo one that was linked at one house - until we got the gate we just gated both their bedroom doors (that's all that was upstairs) so they couldn't accidentally fall down the stairs at night.

Favorites of DDs about that age: Mrs Piggle-Wiggle Raggedy Ann (and Andy) books

DD used Nutramigen for awhile as well. We could only use the concentrate or premixed kind - the powder did not work well for her. It is quite stinky stuff for sure. On a side note: DS did much better on the regular formula if it was premixed as well so there may be other options for her other than having to go to Nutramigen. The AR version (think it was Similac but not sure) was horrible for us - ds had bad reflux and it continued with the AR formula only all the rice stayed down so he got extremely constipated so I would be very hesitant to ever recommend that to anyone if baby is throwing up at all.

I always forget Mercy Watson! DD loved those when she was just starting chapter books. The Rainbow Magic books are all in the 60ish page range and usually mid 1st-3rd level I think. DD had to read them ALL about 2-5 times. Even when it only took 15 mins to finish each one.

DD enjoyed the Young Cam Jansen books and then moved on to the regular Cam Jansen books shortly after. Some of the early chapter books are geared to 1st to 2nd grade and are only 40ish pages long with bigger text and pictures as well. At the library we've seen some Clifford chapter books that are on the easier side.

Amazon has a Thermos Intak that's stainless with a straw: http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Intak-Steel-Water-Bottle/dp/B002VK2EHY/ref=pd_sim_k_6

I use this Thermos one and it's awesome as it keeps water ice cold for 12 hours!

Great news! DJ sounds like he's doing really well so far! Hopefully they can keep baby B in for some time yet. I hope they find a way to get her to the NICU to see DJ though! When DS was in the NICU for a short time they did in fact wheel my bed in to see him (just after my C/S even). With DD I did not have a c/s so was able to go by wheelchair initially and then walk after. Spending time with her was very helpful to me so I hope they are at least taking many pictures and videos and taking them to her so she can see him that way at least.

DS got his 6 yr molars sealed shortly after he turned 7 (his dentist wanted to make sure they were in enough before sealing them). He also went ahead and sealed the premolars too since he was already there (at no charge). DD will get hers done whenever the dentist thinks her teeth are in enough - most likely that will be 7.5 or so as her 6 yr molars are still not in yet. That's the least of our issues with her teeth though - she'll be going in for an ortho consult at 7 as she doesn't have anywhere near enough room for her teeth.

Ours is the AGAM too :) We have had them since the kids were 2 and they are now almost 7 and 8.

We have chairs from IKEA that the kids have had since they were toddlers. They actually have them at their desks as they can sit fine at the table now but not at their desks or the computer. This isn't what we have but is similar: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10099897/

I recall buying some straps at Babies R Us when mine were babies. They just screw into the piece of furniture and the wall so are very simple to install. I think Safety1st made them.

We also went with backpacks from LL Bean. I bought them when DS was in K and he used it every day for K, many trips to grandparents, trip to Disneyland, trip by plane back east, and then coop 1x a week for 1st/2nd grade and it still looks brand new. DD hasn't used hers as much as she only went to K for the 1st quarter and coop as well but hers is perfect too. Highly worth the $25 or so we spent given that we've gotten 3 years of use out of them so far.

That's just so cute!

DS loves that series - he has read them all and is eagerly awaiting the next one. I think they are in the 4th-6th range but it's different depending on where you look. AR bookfinder puts it at 6.6 with the other books ranging from 6.4-6.9 Scholastic says 5.7 but age range 8-10

I'm not remembering what DD covered in math this year (k12 2nd grade math) but she knows the basics of fractions but using them with any operations yet. She does know how to add but that's from her brother teaching her. They played this game a lot over the last 2 years and I think it helped solidify basic fractions for her: http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER5053-Pastas-Fraction/dp/B00004TDLF/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1338355396&sr=1-2 eta: we have this one as well and it goes into much more - I think it does twelfths if not more http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Pizza-Fraction-Game/dp/B00009XNTF/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

There is a series called Vet Volunteers that might be good - unsure the reading level of the books but they might be around 4th grade level. DD has read and enjoyed 3-4 of them. She also loves the Goddess Girls books :)

DD6 just finished reading TumTum and Nutmeg! She loved it so I just ordered them both from Amazon so she can read and reread to her hearts content! OP - Raggedy Ann and Andy have been loved by DD6 for over a year now and she still rereads them regularly so I'd definitely recommend those. Also the Ramona Quimby books, Mrs Piggle-Wiggle, Half Magic, the Doll People series (a definite favorite), Ginger Pye and Pinky Pye, are all ones she's read and reread.

My almost 8 year old won't even try - the 6 year old is so-so on whether she wants to ride without training wheels so she'll probably truly try this summer.

My daughter read the Ramon Quimby books when she was 5. Also Winnie the Pooh and the Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books. They all seemed fine for age 5. The Ralph S. Mouse books might be good, or Henry Huggins maybe. Charlotte's Web was another my DS enjoyed about that age. My daughter loves Raggedy Ann and Andy and has been reading all the ones we have since she was 5 but they might be harder to find. Older books like the Bobbsey Twins might be good or the Happy Hollisters. Longer but definitely seem age appropriate.

One of my favorite books when I was little was a Brambly Hedge book - The Secret Staircase. I'll have to see if I can get more as DD enjoyed it when she read my old copy recently :)