How old is your youngest? My kids all made their own breakfasts by age 6...including scrambled eggs, pancakes, and yogurt parfaits. Let her do the work and make you breakfast.

The Rock School offers boarding for students. Why would your dd need an apartment?

I love Facebook, and I never understand the "too much drama on my news feed" posts. Who are you people friends with??? :D If you want to join any secret group on FB, you will need to friend a member of that group, or allow them to friend you, and then they have to admit you. You can't do it on your own. Private, but not secret, groups are the same way. They will be searchable, but you cannot add yourself.

I know the answers to all your questions! :D

Nope, I love being outside! It makes me happy! As soon as it's warm here (above 50 degrees), I spend most of my day outside. We do school outside on our back patio, and I spend the afternoon reading or doing some sort of needlework on the front porch...otherwise known as "Mom's Office". LOL

Both of my kids have full rides, so their tuition and expenses are paid for. Everything else, they pay for themselves. We still cover insurance and cell phones. My dd is now married and is a professional ballerina, as well as a student, so her salary covers most of their living expenses. Her dh works in the evenings. My oldest son still lives at home, but will be transferring to another campus next year. He has worked and saved his money to cover any expenses not covered by his scholarship.

And what is up with your FREAKY spiders??? Funnel webs in the pool filter about did. me. in. And those Huntsman spiders..what the heck?? There is NO need on this planet for a spider with an abdomen the size of a dinner plate. At all. However, I do love Cherry Ripes and Violet Crumbles. And egg on pizza. And even beetroot on hamburgers. Sometimes.

Just learned today (in a history lesson with my son) that Ulysses S. Grant always had a private tent for bathing, because he did not like being nude in front of others. I thought that was interesting. LOL

I've watched all of Season 4, and this is not a spoiler at all, but there is speculation (and hints from the powers that be in the Downton Abbey production team) that Gregson is somehow involved with the rising Nazi party in Germany.

Oh, and the man who lived next door to me used to mow his lawn wearing a singlet with shorts so short that all his bits would hang out. And dress socks and shoes (can't remember if they're called something different). It was quite the look. :D

Just waving my toast over the jar of Vegemite was enough for me. ;) Musk sticks. Why?

I'm LDS. Your family won't be intentionally left out of things, but we are VERY busy with church activities, and the majority of our time is taken up with them. By default, we don't often have much time to socialize with those who aren't in our ward, and it appears exclusionary. Having said that, we do have neighborhood block parties in the summer, and we do meet our non LDS neighbors simply by being out and about. Your kids shouldn't have any trouble, as long as they're allowed to play freely outside and meet other children. Your kids are always welcome at any LDS social gathering, but non LDS folks aren't always comfortable with that. As for the answer to your original question...no. My social life does not dictate where I live. Because I'm LDS, I have instant friends wherever I go through my ward, so I never worry about social opportunities and moving.

I second the Sherlock vote. Or Downton Abbey if you haven't been sucked in by that yet.

I've always loved February.

They will not call the parents. They will probably call CPS or a hospital social worker. As long as the nurse doesn't drop the ball. If that happens, nobody will be notified.

24 inches plus for where I live. School has been cancelled here twice in 15 years, and that was for 28 plus inches.

Ugh...I HATE crying in public. Because I am not a beautiful crier. My nose gets red, my voice breaks, I do the heaving sob thing...seriously, I'm a mess. It's embarrassing. And the older I get, the more I cry. If I can prepare myself, I can avoid it (I didn't shed a tear at my dd's wedding, I was NOT going to look like a freak in every photo taken that day), it's the things that catch me off-guard that ruin me. And I absolutely will not click on that Budweiser puppy commercial. No freaking way.

I, too, have had friends who regretted using TT once their child tried to do university level math. They simply didn't have the skills necessary. I investigated this program for my youngest, because it looked fun and exciting. He had barely started MM 4A, when we did TT's online assessments. He easily understood the concepts in TT 7, and almost tested out of it, except for one section that MM hadn't covered yet. That's when I decided TT was not going to be rigorous enough for us. MM has served my son well, and I'm glad we've continued with it. So, ultimately, it depends on your child. If you feel like she needs a bit of a break, and TT would fit the bill for her, then try it. But I would supplement with something else as well....Life of Fred or Beast Academy...to make sure she doesn't fall behind.

My 13 year old is my youngest, and as a result, is an "only" technically. His two older siblings are in college, and one is married. My son has lots of friends in our neighborhood, church, and Scouts, so I, fortunately, have no need to be a social director. At your child's age, I would start him in organized sports and after school activities, Scouts, and also look around your neighborhood for a playmate. We don't do homeschool groups or co-ops, and honestly, when I tried those (my kids were much younger), we never found any friendships worth pursuing. My son's best friends have always been kids in our neighborhood that he can play with on a day to day basis without much interference or arranging that needs to take place on the part of the parents.

Ravelry has this pattern. They are knitted in the round. Have you ever done that before? It's not hard...but it can be a little frustrating if you're not experienced. Of course, with all those tiny hexagons, you'll get plenty of practice. LOL

It won't pass here in Utah. It's not even on our radar.

Meh. The first standardized test my two oldest kids ever took was the ACT to get them into college. They aced it. My youngest (13) has never taken a standardized test...nor will he until he's ready to apply to a university. You know your kids. If you don't think they need to take one, don't bother. If it's causing consternation with your dh, try and explain it to him. Mine never questioned my methods or results, so I can't really give you advice in that department.

No. This is my twentieth year of homeschooling. I started (and have continued) because I feel that it is a superior means of education and that my children are far better off than they would be in the public school system. I don't actually know much about what is happening with my local schools, and I don't base any of my educational decisions on what they are...or are not...doing.

It is! And the mountains are actually closer than they look in the photo. I love my mountains! Everyone who lives along the Wasatch Front gets the same view for free. It never gets old!

Oh, wow, I have no idea, but I'm exhausted just reading your post. LOL I have 8 cats (combo indoor/outdoor), and I just leave out dry food all day and they eat when they want. They get wet food twice a day, and they all share from one can. That's it. I don't know if I'd have the stamina to deal with all the issues you're having. Good luck!