My son is in the 1a class too, and it's been a very trying first week, especially for someone who has never formally studied a language or has been in an actual class. It also doesn't help that we have a massive timezone difference being in Japan--he takes the class at 11PM. He missed the first homework assignment because the site was down. And we're still trying to figure out the keyboard issues. (Windows doesn't have polytonic Greek.) I think this is going to be more of an experience than anything else. I just hope DS catches on before it's too late to get a passing grade.

Lots of hugs. My grandfather had Alzheimer's. My dad always said it's a disease that has no effect on the patient, but kills the family. Going off our situation, there will probably come a point where they'll need help whether they want it or not. My grandfather got violent too, he didn't even know who my grandmother was anymore--they'd been married over 60 years. Can a doctor come to the house? I think when you said FIL enables, that's a sign that the children are going to have to become the parents. I wish you the best. This is a horrid, horrid disease.

I love all of Woolly Wormhead's hats. Ysolde's Peaks Island Hood was fun. And for a quick, easy knit, and free pattern, Gaptastic

I always thought the whispersync was discounted when you bought the Kindle version. The thing is, many of those kindle books, especially the classics are public domain, and therefore free. Then you get the whispersync at a much discounted price. I think that's how I got some Henty's. They're available on kindle for free, and then I think the audio was just a dollar or so with whispersync.

Road tripping: Travels with Charley, Steinbeck Can't remember how child appropriate it is though. One of the few Steinbeck's I actually enjoyed.

I just got my fitbit yesterday!

Audible! I play the samples and let me kids pick who they want to listen to. Generally go with unabridged.

My boys prefer the Odyssey. I'd also recommend the Great Courses lecture on the Odyssey by Vandiver. You can get it on Audible.

I'm almost done with the trial. I've been reading a few things on it. Got a few books for my boys through it too.

If you look at some of the prices of audio books, they can be well over $50. I just got a lecture series from Great Courses that sells for $300, all for my one $14.95 credit. I only use the credit if the book I want is over $15, otherwise I purchase at the membership discount price. (I recently came across some foreign books for just a couple bucks.) My kids LOVE audio books. They listen to them constantly, especially Rick Riorden and the How to Train Your Dragon series. It's also how my boys "read" the Odyssey and the Iliad. We have more than gotten our money's worth from our subscription.

Did you see they've been given the go for Season 2, Dragonfly in Amber?

I'm also looking for suggestions on this. I'd really like to get the book completed in the next nine months, using the study guide.

Not petty at all. If it hasn't been suggested yet, I'd highly recommend reading Third Culture Kids. The section on re-entry was really insightful. We've been away from the US for almost 8 years now, so this is more home than not, but I totally understand--the idea of big parking spaces is so unbelievable! Wishing you all the best as you come to terms with the decision. ETA: just an observation from living in a very nomadic society--military base--be prepared to start finding all the wrong with the country as you prepare to leave it. So many people on their way out start focusing on the negatives I think as a means to compensate for the loss. I've gotten used to it, but it's still disconcerting to hear people so negative even if they don't mean to be. Hope I said that right.

Another vote for Janson's. It was my college text and I still reference it. You can find older, used copies pretty inexpensively.

Best thing for my skin was anti-malarial meds. ;)

Thanks!

Thanks. I kind of figured that the SATIIs would be allowed more than once. I'd never heard of APs being done more, but then there usually is that time crunch. More curious. (When I was in school, there wasn't an AP for everything. LOL) We're still trying to decide about DS and biology and were thinking of supplementing and letting him try the test. Which got me wondering if he didn't pass, could he take it again later when perhaps he was more prepared.

I was wondering and couldn't find my answer quickly on the college board site. Can you take these tests more than once to better your score or are they one time only tests?

Can you embed Youtube videos into OneNote? I tried the web clipping, but that didn't do anything.

I'm REALLY hoping iTunes carries it soon. I haven't seen anything though. The White Queen didn't show up until just before it was released on DVD. :crying: We don't even have the option of getting Starz. This is so sad.

Two completely different places. I think it really depends on your kids and what they like more: animals or legos? We like Legos, so hubby and I thought nothing of just the two of us going to Legoland in Denmark, no kids and had a great time. Yes, the rides were young, but it was fun. My boys want to forego Disneyland next year for Legoland, but still have the zoo on their list as they love that too. The San Diego Zoo is amazing and worth an all day trip. Good luck in your decision.

I can relate to that one! Outside Tokyo here. It's been in the 80s, but humidity anywhere between 70-90%. At least it's cooled down a bit, last week were above 90 with the same humidity. Ugh! How long until winter?

I think there's a difference between being a "good writer" and knowing grammar. You can write really well, but not know the hows and whys of grammar. Perhaps that might be an issue? I really liked Analytical Grammar, but my son prefers Winston. He did admit to me though that Analytical did teach him how to diagram.

I was looking through all the books available and it might be worth it just for the cookbooks and knitting books. :D

You should be able to grow just about anything, providing you can give it enough water. The wine barrels are really large. I've been able to grow tomatoes, herbs, peppers, and cucumbers very well in a fraction of the space. Check your library for some container gardening books. They're great for showing you what grows well together and how to maximize space. They'll also have calendars for when to plant what. Have fun! I've been really surprised at what we've gotten to grow in our planters.