I agree with Twinmom. I was one that answered we should stay as long as it takes. To answer those that ask what is "it", "It" is helping the Iraqi people create the kind of nation they want. Many say we had no right to be there, they didn't ask for our help etc. This may be a bad analogy but many battered women don't ask for help either but if it shows up on their doorsteps I'm sure many would jump at the opportunity. I suppose I should also say that I'm a military spouse so I know what it's like to have my dh over there in that fight. I also think that many believe everything the news media hands them and it might not always be the full truth. They like to put their spin on things too, not just the govt. As for the WMD discussion many will say "they were never there, we didn't find any" Well that doesn't mean they were "never" there, after all the regime was aware that we were looking pretty closely at them, how does anyone know they didn't just dispose of things before we got there? Even if one feels we shouldn't be there we did go and we are there, we can't just up and leave completely. I've heard alot of talk in this election year that we need to set a date to pull out all the troops. You can't just set a date, you don't let the enemy know when you're going to just stop. If you do that they'll most likely just lay low until said date and then once that date has come they'll unleash all they have on you when you least expect it. I don't know that I've answered any questions as to my views but there it is.

We were originally Voyager Academy, but then found out there is an actual school with that name somewhere in NC, so we tweaked it a bit. We're now Voyager Learning Center. This is our current logo, it's a little small and we'd love to find a good picture of the Star Trek ship our school is named after. For now this one will do.

I also have a Britax for my now almost 3 year old. Not Made in the USA but well worth the money and very good quality. He's been in it since he was 3 months old. I have Compass boosters for my older ones which I love as well. I got my Britax Marathon from babies r us. I got my boosters from http://www.elitecarseats.com which is a great site with fast shipping.

LOL:lol:

My chocolate chip cookies which he thinks are some secret recipe:w00t:, but they are really just the recipe from the butter flavor crisco can :tongue_smilie:

I also have an LG that I have had for about 4 years now. I love it. I leave the door open between loads so it can really dry out in there, I currently use All HE detergent and 1oz is sufficient for a load. In fact no matter what detergent I use I only use 1oz of liquid or 2tbsp powder and that's more than enough to get our clothes clean (I know many detergent cups say to use more than that but lets face it the company is in it to make money--the more soap the tell you to use the more you have to buy). I only use fabric softener in the winter when my house gets very dry from the heat otherwise we're all big gigantic static balls. In the spring, summer and fall I use white vinegar in the fabric softener cup and nothing in the dryer. I've never had an issue with my machines since buying them and I move alot. They've been moved to 4 different houses in 3 different states since I got them and they're going strong, even after a trip with a less than carefull mover. HTH

I'm 100% Polish. I'm actually 4th generation here in america. My great grandparents were all the original "boat people" as we call them. Many of my Aunts have married other ethnicities so the family's "Branched out" so to speak. My dh is mostly Norweigan, with a bit of German, Polish, English, French and Sweedish in there. My kids all looked very scandanavian at birth. They all had bright blue eyes, very fair skin and blonde hair. The older one's hair has since turned darker and my dd eye's have changed but my youngest is still got the "norse" look. They were very excited to do history last week as we were covering the Vikings, Eric the Red and Leif Ericson. They were overjoyed to learn that there are some Vikings in their family tree :lol:

I was born and raised near Milwaukee WI, Then I met a Sailor and we were married in Newport RI, then we went to Bremerton WA, then off to Virginia Beach VA, then to Mayport FL. Then back to Newport RI, then he went off to Bremerton WA and I moved with the kids to Muskego WI (he was going to be on deployment and the ship was not returning to WA) then we went back to Virginia Beach VA, then to Mayport FL, and now we're in Chesapeake VA. This has all happened since we married in 1997. We should be getting new orders again in mid 2009, we're hoping he'll just transfer to a new command here in VA but who knows what the Navy will have up their sleeve for us. In 7 years he'll retire and we're planning to buy a ranch in Oklahoma or Texas.

This is a great idea. I never thought of that and I use a scanner weekly to make copies of our history papers. I'll have to remember this for next week. I could even scan them in as the week goes on and that way I'll be all ready for the report instead of rushing around trying to take pictures :willy_nilly: Thanks for the tip

I'm up.

2 as a SAHwife and now 8 more (almost 9) as a SAHM, basically I haven't worked since getting married. My dh is in the Navy and it's so hard for me to have a job since we move so much. I've found many places don't want to hire you if they know you're most likely going to move in 18 months or so. It's perfectly alright with me. I did enjoy what I did before I got married, but I enjoy being home. I even liked staying home before I had kids. It gave me time to work on quilts and do other crafts I enjoy. My dh loved it to as there was never any conflict with schedules when a big Navy function would come up.

I am a SAHM Technically Luthern but don't go to church Military spouse Used to be a Medical Secretary Republican Pro-Choice, pro-Gay Rights Never wears denim Jumpers Loves Animals Bakes my own bread and uses all natural cleaning products but isn't what others consider "crunchy" Here's the low down on my dh Completly supportive and active when he can be hs dad US Naval officer Nuclear engineer Technically Luthern but don't go to church Republican Pro-Choice, pro-Gay Rights I can't say he doesn't wear denim jumpers because he does have to wear dark blue denim like coveralls which is kind of like a jumper :p Loves animals Startrek junkie Hope this helps with your quest

For ds age 9 hits Growing with Grammar Evan Moors Write a Super Sentence Spelling Workout SOTW2 misses Writing strands FLL3 SL Science 1 Ok for a while but needed something different: Horizons 3 Not sure yet: TT5, it's looking good, he's enjoying it and doing well, but we'll see in the long run For dd age 6 hits Click n kids phonics Nora Gaydos readers level 1 Saxon math 1 SOTW2 misses Horizons K Spelling Workout SL Science 1 Ok for a while but needed something different ETC, she did ok so far in book 1 but want's more colorful things I guess it just goes to show that when they say what works for one it may not work for another is so true. My ds loves Spelling Workout my dd was trying level A and can't stand it. Oh well

sounds like a deal to me. I just spent that much for 2 kids:eek:

I think a lot depends on where you are. I recently moved from FL (Jacksonville) to Virginia, I haven't been able to find out much about farmer's markets here as it's not really "in season" for much, but in Jacksonville I know that even during "in season" for strawberries we stopped going to the "farmers market" as they had the same clear plastic jewel box strawberries that I can buy at the grocery store, the difference I spent more on gas to drive to the farmer's market. I think the "farmers market" there was a joke it was basically a bunch of people that bought large quantities from a food distributor and then tried to sell it in the open air market. I'm hoping that things are better here in Chesapeake.

Don't worry about it. It's a breeze. I had mine removed 4 years ago and was so greatful when it was out. It was a pretty simple, fairly painless thing. I wish you the best

My dh isn't involved in the day to day. Being in the military that just isn't possible but he does fully support me hsing the kids. He thinks it's best for them especially after the problems we had with our oldest who was in PS for K and part of 1st grade. After we started he is always commenting on how happy the kids seem and hsing just fits with the military lifestyle for us.

thanks, I like the pudding one so I may just wait and run to the store tomorrow. I guess I'll do a search though just in case. :)

I used to buy the King Arthur bread flour but then I found a giant flour bucket for $25 at King arthur's online store and now I buy my bread flour from Sam's in a 25lb bag. I buy my yeast from Pleasanthillgrain.com as I prefer the SAF instant yeast. I also use a receipe that came from Pleasant hill with my Bosch mixer. It is for use with Whole wheat flour but I just use my bread flour and knead for a different amount of time. We've been eating home baked bread since New Years (when my mixer came) and my dh swears we'll never go back to store bought "Fluff" bread. My kids love the bread I make too, even my former bread hating son. I use honey in it instead of sugar and buy bread bags from Pleasant hill to store the loaves in. I bake 4-6 at a time and then freeze. I bake more the day the last loaf comes out of the freezer. I also use the same dough to make pizza crust. I will just freeze the balls of dough and then when we have pizza night I just thaw the dough and roll out. Sometimes I make Hamburger, hoagie or hotdog buns with the same basic bread dough. HTH

Hi all, I've been nourishing my Amish Friendship bread starter (I know many see it as a beast, but I keep it all for myself and don't put it onto unsuspecting friends :p), but I realized that today on day 10, baking day that I have no vanilla pudding mix and my kids are in no mood to go anywhere. I was wondering has anyone used prepared vanilla pudding instead of just the mix. I have some of those single serve pudding cups could I use those and just lower some of the liquid in the recipe? Thanks for taking time to check this out

I was looking at Kathleen Desmaris's website tonight and she posted on Wed that she's found writers for R.E.A.L. Science. There are no release dates yet but they are working on Chemistry, Biology and Physics. I'm so psyched. I will be starting Life level 1 this fall and then will do earth/space the following year. I can't wait for the new books to come out.

Yep we do here. Just small things and no candy since my kids wouldn't eat it anyway.

We have an area between our kitchen and living room big enough for our dining table so we have used what should be the dining room in our house as a school room. The kids each have a desk (I just bought these, so before this is was a smaller preschool table) and then I have a couple of wire shelves I bought at Target for about $14 that's where the educational toys that aren't used specifically for school as well as all the art supply bins go. I also have 2 cubbies units. Each has 9 cubbies and I store workbooks we're not using and manipulatives in there. The books we are currently using are on top in cardboard magazine boxes that I bought from http://www.reallygoodstuff.com If you'd like to see pictures check out my blog. On the left sidebar right at the top is a slideshow of our schoolroom.

I'm in the same boat. I don't have an Associates or Bachelors degree. I have a few certificates in misc. health fields but nothing that would allow me to get a teaching certificate in an amount of time that would allow me to make it useful for my oldest 2 kids.