hi! I'm a fellow Ohioan....I just wrote any sports for Phys Ed, ie soccer, table...even Girl Scouts. If I was planning a field trip to the firestation, I put that. I had a book of manners I used for health, and one I wanted to use from the library, so I jotted those down. My list for those things were basic...truly, it was fine. Hth!

This is something I appreciate and agree with. Very thoughtful.

i try to plan but i guess i don't get it, or understand how to keep it in place. i get more stressed trying to keep with my plan rather than doing things more flexible.

HI! These replies have been great to read! Well, we have 3 children and live in 950 square feet. Three bedrooms/one bath/one unfinished bedroom. Fairly good sized yard- enough for a campfire, outdoor get togethers, etc. It feels snug at times, and we have had to put more toys lately in the basement- I think as they are growing, are posessions are growing and it is TIME to do some purging. I like the fact that I don't spend all day cleaning, kwim? I think that is the thing that helps us- we have time to spend together and do stuff we want to do.

Oh, forgot to say I'm sorry you had some outside interference with this. :( I hope you can feel better by posting here and seeing what others say!

I can totally relate. I have had two people after child #1 ask me when I was due as well as after child #3. It is completely humiliating. I wish I had the nerve to say: the same time you are! Nahh..I am not rude like that but wish I could. LOL. I wish I could say I had the answer for our problem. I . Do. Not. I try crunches, exercising, cutting out sweets....nothing helps. Right now, I so look pregnant if I wear something that is even slightly form fitting. The thing is, I wear a size 8 so I really think I'd have to starve and exercise allll the time to not have a pregnancy belly. Oh, and I'm 155 and 5'3. I also have a thyroid issue that contributes to this I think as well as fibromyalgia which makes it hard to exercise as much as I'd like. Sigh.

:lol: love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am a bit overwhelmed by this thread! LOL! good luck to the "op." i've been wondering what to get for my kids this coming year so will keep looking at this thread.

I JUST discovered Happy Scribe just moments ago, myself! Too funny! I am using the New American cursive for a little bit of summer school, for my second grader. She seems to like it, and so do I.

I would think this would be true. And, I do think that switching should be a very personal thing- and made with proper discretion! I didn't switch out any item this past year...I finished it or in one case, since it was extra, didn't like it and dropped it. LOL. I will be willing to make changes next year if I have to.

Boy, kinda off topic, but I would be totally intimidated by her myself! LOL! About the house cleaning thing... Interesting thoughts your friend has!

HI! I used a volume of Truthquest for my DD this past first grade year...we did the Americas, explorers, and beginnings of American history. You can get what you need from the library, like we did! I did implement something I found from a Core Knowledge website about Ancient Egypt, too. HTH!!!!

Another vote for just showing composite- the teacher that proctored my DD's ITBS test this year told me that (we're in Ohio, too). HTH!!!

I'm not sure I have too much direction, but it seems that God is really leading me....there was a presentation at our church on Sunday about the team from our church that went on a medical missions trip to- UGANDA. That service affected me so much. SOOO MUCH. That said, I would definitely insert something your youngest could do- hand out supplies? be with other children? Honestly, all that you mentioned just seems spot on....maybe plan that safari on the way out of the country?

HI! Have you looked at A Reason for Science? We did this for first grade the past year. It went through a little bit of everything. They have a book for each grade level. Also, Simply Charlotte Mason has a 106 Days of Creation that we are going to do- looks great! Sorry if this isn't the type of studies (it's NOT secular) you're interested in, but thought it wouldn't hurt to mention them.

I picked up a neat countries around the world calendar and "children around the world" figures at www.multiculturalkids.com I have a LARGE framed world map that I will put those figure on. I can't recall the cost of the calendar but the children figures were about $7 (compared to the more expensive WP figures, which are probably much larger, but same idea, I would think). I contemplated the WP program but am putting together my own. Oh, in case you are interested, I also go the passport kit at multiculturalkids....they have cutouts for contries to symbolize important things about them as well as passports and stickers to complete! Very cool! HTH!

:) Thanks- I understand what you're saying.

Sure, I'm not worried. I think the age range is broad because it can be used for those ages with the discretion of the parents. And to be used with families that have wide ranges of ages. It also addresses this range on her personal site with the series. I have the book and notebook and see quite a bit that my second grader will enjoy and understand. Some, of course, no, but the way the Christian worldview is implemented and discusses in this book is just beautiful, and I really appreciate it as a mom to young kids. :)

The age rec. for the series is k-6. I (re)checked this morning: http://www.apologia.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

well, it's 900 hours for us....we did 36 weeks.

Well, I got it to pick and choose what we could use for health (DD is in 2nd beginning in fall). There's definitely things that will go over her head but I loved the look of it and will be able to use this book later in our homeschooling years. So, we'll start with little bits here and there. Really like several of the chapters, and experiments. Besides all of that, it's a neat feeling textbook and the photos are great!

I can't recall exactly what I was looking for. LOL. It's been one of those days. Geesh..I feel so stupid because I can't remember..I'll blame my headache. Glad it helps some of you. It's going to be very useful for us this summer.

It's games, etc for the word lists of the WordlyWise 3000 books! I knew about the books but hadn't known of this website. http://www.wordlywise3000.com/ I am wondering if you could get by using the website, and not the books, or at least until you get a book. :) here's book 2 sample: http://www.wordlywise3000.com/word_lists/?book=2&lesson=1

hey, thanks!

oh and what I thought was neat, they are basically nature journal in and of themselves, so the kids can really see how they are put together!

HI! I got a couple of her books for us to use over the summer and next year: http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Nature-Journal-Discover-Seeing/dp/1580174930/ref=pd_sim_b_2 and http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Through-Journals-Walker-Leslie/dp/1580176143/ref=pd_sim_b_4 I don't know how it compares to that one as far as instruction, but there is a lot to glean from the two books I mentioned. Plus, they are great to look at and my 7 year old loves them. HTH!!!!