My MIL got me matching Tiffany lamps in the shape of birthday cakes for my birthday one year. I was very polite, but what are you supposed to do, just pull them out when someone has a birthday?? I get birthday decorations, but birthday lamps??

McHenry does have some experiments, but probably more activities. I am going to teach it to 3rd-6th graders in our tutorial this year and am really looking forward to using it. With your son being a very mature 10 yr old, I am not so sure. It does, for instance, explain the different families of elements in terms of a fairy tale kingdom. It is a really clever approach, but he may be turned off. Some of the other ideas are games and activities like making a periodic chart table on a pillowcase. I am very excited about the program, but it may not be what you are looking for. Another thought though is, the price is very reasonable. It might be worth getting just to aid in your own understanding of chemistry. I did not have a strong background in this area, so therefore have learned a TON just from reading the material. She does an excellent job of making the concepts easily understandable. I may have just confused you more, but I hope that gives you some good info!

You ladies are so smart! Lara, the video link to Cameron Herold was really helpful. I wasn't thinking about it at the time, but she does have a lot of ADHD tendencies. We've never had her tested, but we have definitely noticed those traits in her. I love the way he validated and encouraged those personality types. And her best friend has actually has leukemia right now, so I can't wait to show her that one. I love the encouragement to use the entrepreneurial spirit to love our neighbors and glorify God! Exactly the direction I would like to guide her in. Doing well for yourself, while doing for others! Thank you so much for all of your comments. This is actually what I was looking for and so much more!

Thank you for the responses. I am already getting excited about the potential! OMGoodness, amy g.! I would say they got it from you! I was laughing by the time I got to airbrush t-shirts and then it just kept getting funnier . . . dinosaurs trampling Austin?? My brother went to that UT, so I will have to ask if he ever saw one of your shirts. I will definitely check out the website. Lots of learning potential involved in setting that up, I am sure.

I have a daughter who has a very entrepreneurial spirit about her. Since she was four years old she is constantly asking to babysit, sell lemonade, be a mother's helper, host a "camp" for toddlers or sell handmade things. I haven't found a way to encourage her in this at her young age (dd is 9), but I would like to. Gosh, what a valuable set of skills to have to be able to run a small business from home one day when she is a wife and mother. Or to be able to teach the same skills to other women on the mission field. I just don't know how to go about doing this. Are their books for kids that would like to start their own business to read? If I am honest, I have the same spirit, but have not really done anything about it. I am wondering if I should step out and do something for myself and so that she can learn alongside me. Any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks so much!

Our focus this year will be on modern times. I would like to take my family to one of the Laura Ingalls Wilder homes and to visit a location on the Underground Railroad. Does anyone have any recommendations for either? It is hard to get a real feel for these places and how much there is to see and do there just from looking online. For right now, I don't want distance to be a factor. I just want to find out what is out there that others have felt was a good experience. Thanks!

Sorry, I don't remember the title, but Lauren Winner has a book that shares her experience moving from orthodox Judaism to Christianity. Not for serious study, but one person's experience. HTH!

I think that sounds like a great idea. No need to keep all of the papers afterwards though. Just check them and then throw most of them away, except for a few that you might want to save in a binder for each child.

Your (OP) situation sounds familiar to me. I finally stopped when I realized that it was unhealthy for me, and my husband and kids who are my first priority need me to be healthy. He and my mom are adults and are responsible for their own feelings and responses to things, not me. I will never be able to completely make them happy, that is up to them, not me. Also thinking to myself, what is the worst thing that is going to happen right now if I stand up to him and let him know that what he has said is crossing the line. Is he going to not talk to me, make a scene, hurt me or my family?? In my case, no, probably none of those things. If it upset him that I rebuffed him when he said things that were hurtful, then that is okay. Maybe he will change. I just had to realize I needed to put my big girl panties on and respond to him as an adult and not a child anymore. I did it for the sake of my family, but I can't tell you how freeing and wonderful it has been for me. And, you know what, our relationship with my dad is better than ever. He didn't want to lose us, but he was going to act rudely until we didn't let him anymore. Best wishes!

My kids have loved, loved, loved: kitchen set with food and dishes dress up clothes (princess, star wars and a colonial dress, esp.) Legos Tinkertoys Lincoln logs nice set of wooden blocks (I swear my son played with these everyday for at least 4 yrs straight in different ways.) plastic people and Schleich animals dolls, dollclothes, stroller, diaper bag, etc. expensive markers (they haven't been lost or run out) audio books some playmobiles (not the castles) light sabers American girl Bitty Baby I wish I had never bought: foam craft sheets play musical instruments puzzles glitter glue any of those magnetic toys the game Trouble the game Sorry the game Hi Ho Cherrio craft books those things where you make the picture with plastic pieces and then iron it together Groovy Girl doll stuff

Just want to encourage you to get the help you need. I could recommend things that would help (excercise and sunlight) , but you really need to be seen by a professional. You will be amazed at the difference medication, counseling and/or lifestyle changes, like excercise can make. Like someone else said, run, don't walk to get help. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for your family. They need you to be healthy. Will be praying.

I love baking, but not cooking! Some of our favorite recipes that we enjoy are: Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread (i substitute whole wheat flour and sugar in the raw in this one) Classic Whole Wheat Bread Granola Bars All of these are on http://www.allrecipes.com. Happy baking I am looking forward to seeing more suggestions.

I don't really post that often, but wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you and your family. Know that others are praying for you when you can't pray for yourself. Love in Christ, Amy

Hi! I am wondering if I would like either of these. My husband is considering it as a Mother's Day Gift. It would definitely save space as we travel. I would just have one device to carry instead of my bag of books! As a bibliophile, I am kind of addicted to the feel of the book in my hands. How did you adjust to reading on a screen instead of on the pages of a book? Are the main advantages ease of carrying and savings on book buying? I would love to hear other's thoughts before taking the plunge. Thanks!

Hi there! I started out using a recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com called "Groovy Green Smoothie". Now, I add spinach, yogurt and whatever frozen or fresh fruit I have on hand. If it isn't sweet enough as is, I will add some truvia or honey to sweeten. Last week I did this with spinach and a whole fresh pineapple. Everyone loved it. At first my kids didn't know it had spinach and they loved them. Then they stopped liking them when they caught me adding the spinach. Now they are back to realizing they really are good, despite the spinach. They make me feel so healthy realizing all of the fruit/vegetable servings we are getting in just one drink!

We are thinking about doing the cruise to Nassau in the fall. It looks like it also stops in St. Marteen and St. Thomas. What are those stops like? It looks like there is a new ship, the Oasis of the Seas. Does anyone know if that cruise has changed with the new ship?

My husband and I are visiting Vancouver this spring and are looking for recommendations of things to do, restaurants, etc. We have already booked a bed and breakfast. At first we thought we would drive up to Whistler for one night, but have now decided not to just in order to be more relaxed, even though I know it is beautiful. Being from east of the Mississippi, this is not an area that we are all that familiar with, and we would love to hear from a few voices of experience! Thanks!

Hi! My daughter picked up a few of these at the library recently. She will be 9 this summer. At first glance they seem to include a fair amount of girl type behaviors (gossiping, not being a good friend, cliquishness) that I don't want to encourage and even some dating material, which I would not consider appropriate for this age. Is there anyone else more familiar with this series that could say whether or not my impressions at a first glance are accurate or not? I will sit down and read one on my own later to know for sure, but I would love to hear someone else's impressions now. Thanks so much!

I have this idea in my mind that somewhere I read about a trip you could take with a tour guide to different sites along the underground railroad. I can't seem to find anything about it now. Does anyone know if such a thing exists? Thanks!

My son who is 6, almost 7, sounds very similar to your son in his likes and dislikes. He doesn't not enjoy being read to very much and is definitely not into reading for himself. He did love listening on CD to the Mary Pope Osborne, The Odyssey, and he has enjoyed anything we have listened to by Roald Dahl. It seems to fit with his sense of humor. A couple of years ago we read a lot of the books about Ancient Greece that were recommended in SOTW I and he enjoyed those - Hercules, Perseus, and others. There was also a book recommended early in SOTWI that is out of print about a boy named Tonka. I will never forget the scene in it about the boy losing his dog that made him cry. I can't say he enjoyed it, but it did touch him deeply, which was nice because I can't say that he really connects with many books. Also, I did just find these books at the bookstore that he has tolerated reading to me. The Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow by Andy Griffiths books by Mo Willems Stinky by Eleanor Davis My husband is pretty much the same way even though he is an MD and also has a Masters of Public Health degree, so I just feel like it is something I have to live with about both of them, even though I don't like it. I do feel like my husband misses out on many things related to history and culture because he doesn't read as much. I hope some of those recommendations are helpful.

Thanks ladies! You saved me $20!

I am ordering Vocabulary From Classical Roots from EPS. The teacher's guide is 2x the price of the student workbook. Do I need to order both? What does the teacher's guide have in addition to the student workbook, besides answer keys? Thanks!

Will store bought honey work? what is better about raw honey? Do you grind the aspirin into a paste? what do you mix it with? Sorry for all the questions! Exfoliating is what I really need, I think.

I have never done a facial at home or had one done, but I would like to. Does anyone have a favorite recipe for an at home facial that they use? I have seen some online, but thought it might be nice to hear some different recipes that others have used. Thanks!

My kiddos and I spent a couple of hours recently with a little girl we have come in contact with who has experienced abuse of all kinds and lots of instability in her short life. She is now in foster care. It was very bizarre, and I am not quite sure what to make of it. I am honestly still trying to process it, and thought I would come here for advice as I know I have seen others mention that they have foster children or have worked with foster children. My children are 6 and 8, so I had hoped this would be a good opportunity for them to reach out to someone around their age in need. Not to say that didn't happen, but it was just not what I expected. Basically, while she tries very hard to please, the little girl still needs a lot more guidance and attention than my children do at this age. So, I guess I ended up feeling like my children were sort of ignored in the process, maybe, which wasn't my intent at all. It did make them realize a little more that other people aren't as blessed as they are, but I felt as if my daughter, especially, was leery of the attention I gave to this other little girl. So that was a weird dynamic. I guess I am just very confused. Are my children too young to understand us reaching out to another child in this way? Will they feel threatened? Also, there is the fear of this little girl acting out in an inappropriate way towards one of my kids based on what she has seen and experienced. Even though we were all together there were times when they were hidden from my view for a minute or two. Would that be enough time for something to happen? I guess I also worry about in her confusion that she would make an accusation against one of our family members. I don't even know if that really happens that often, but I have heard of it happening, so it is a very real fear. You may wonder if I have all of these doubts, why would I do this in the first place. I have just always felt a burden for these kids who have been hurt, neglected and abandoned. I want to help them, but I am not sure that it will work while I have my own children at home. Sorry for the very personal message, but it would be difficult to talk to anyone IRL without compromising her confidentiality. Plus, I don't really know anyone else IRL who has done this before. I would appreciate advice from anyone who has done this kind of thing before, or anyone who has had to think through issues regarding ministering to others while protecting your own family. With a heavy heart, gratefulmother