Carrie12345, would you mind sharing your recipes for your oat bars, muffins, etc? My boys love oats and I would love more recipes to try.

Years ago I came across a homeschool association's site that had previous years convention sessions that you could listen to online. Since losing my hard drive, I have lost my bookmarks and now can't remember the site. I think the state was "out west" of me in the Midwest. I think it had "county" in the name but I could be wrong. I really want to find this again. If you know what it is and don't want to publicly post it, please pm me.

Thank you. Somehow last night when I looked at RR, it didn't show sample pages available.

For those using Figuratively Speaking, is there any way you would be willing to share a couple pictures of the book? Table on contents? Sample pages? I can't find any to look at before buying it.

Make sure I am teaching things like onomatopoeia, other literary elements, poetry rhythm, genres, etc. I want my kids to "just read" for reading - without a set curriculum, but I need something to guide me to make sure things will get covered as they get older. Is there something out there to help guide me? A book? A list somewhere? I can find book lists but I need something for the specifics. I keep looking at CLE Reading - it would make sure everything is covered and I wouldn't have to worry. But I don't want (or need) all the extra busywork/workbooks. It's too much and would overwhelm my kid who doesn't need any more stress to get more work done. I just need something for me. (Cross-posting in K-8)

Make sure I am teaching things like onomatopoeia, other literary elements, poetry rhythm, genres, etc. I want my kids to "just read" for reading - without a set curriculum, but I need something to guide me to make sure things will get covered as they get older. Is there something out there to help guide me? A book? A list somewhere? I can find book lists but I need something for the specifics. I keep looking at CLE Reading - it would make sure everything is covered and I wouldn't have to worry. But I don't want (or need) all the extra busywork/workbooks. It's too much and would overwhelm my kid who doesn't need any more stress to get more work done. I just need something for me. (Cross-posting in Gen. Ed)

My family lives about 4 hours away. My standard plan was taking a shot before traveling to and from their home. We usually stayed at least 4 days so it wasn't days traveling back to back. This time though we traveled to their house on Friday (4 hours). Went to visit someone on Saturday - an hour drive both ways. Someone *else* on Sunday (another hour drive), spent the night, drove back on Monday (another hour). Rested at the house on Tuesday for the most part. On Wednesday back in the car for another hour drive with an overnight stay. Back in the car on Thursday. Then the 4 hour drive to our house on Saturday. I didn't think much about it at the time because my doctor had said she wanted me to take the medicine for long trips (more than 3 hours) and an hour long one was fine. I wasn't thinking of it all adding up. They can't "prove" it is when I developed the clot but it is the only thing out of the ordinary I've done recently. I wish I had called to ask if I needed to do anything different (I knew there was going to be some extra traveling but not as much as we ended up doing) but I didn't.

Thank you PrairieSong. That is the kind of information I've been trying to get and no one will tell me. I am so tired of not being informed of things. (Not just medical things at the moment - bills, stores, etc) With my first clot, I ended up in the hospital. I kept telling the nurses how my chest felt tight and I wasn't sure if it was anxiety or not. Not one single nurse calmed my fears.

Did anyone notice that BathFitter is a vendor at Cincy?? :confused1:

I have Factor V leiden. And I was traveling last month - more than anticipated. I called for an appt when I was having some pain in my leg and they got me in to check me that day and found the clot. I started blood thinners right away. The clot isn't as big as the other one I had. I started taking something for anxiety last night and also some mucinex to clear my chest. I am feeling better today. Thanks for all the extra hugs. It is so hard not to worry about everything little thing. That has been the hardest part - being paranoid.

datgh - that is *exactly* how I feel! So glad someone understands. Thanks for all the hugs. It's been a rough week.

I have a clot in my leg. I am on blood thinners. Everyone keeps telling me that if I have a sharp pain in my chest and are having trouble breathing I need to go to the ER. But I can't seem to get these questions answered - Does the pain and shortness of breath come and go or is it constant? Is the pain remarkably sharp and painful (like NO doubt that something is wrong) or would it feel like heartburn or gas? How "out of breath" would I be? I mildly suffer from anxiety (and this event has certainly upped my anxiety level!). My chest will feel tight in the center but it's not sharp pain. Just slight discomfort. I've also had gas lately that will give me momentary sharp pain under my rib (and in my stomach, etc) but it goes away. If I could just understand what happens, I would be able to relax a little about my situation. I don't think I have a PE, just worried about exactly what to watch for.

There are lots of ways to play depending on the region (and the board - there are some extravagant one!) This is how we play - start with 4 stones in each hole except the end ones. Those on the end we use to hold the stones you take (each player has an end). You have your side, I have mine. I take all 4 stones out of one of my holes. Going to the right, I put one stone into each hole (except the ends) until I run out. If any of the stones I placed in a hole was the 3rd stone in the hole (makes 3), I get those stones. Doesn't matter if it's on your side or mine. Then the other person does the same. Each turn you start with stones from your own side. The person with the most at the end, wins. We will have games where we end up "chasing" each other around the board and you know it will never truly end but that's ok with us. We just stop and count what we have in our ends. Does that make sense?

Things I constantly have my Mom pick up for me - Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper Taco seasoning Northwoods Cinnamon Oldest DS loves the Pasta Sprinkle. I can't wait to try the Pizza Seasoning too.

There is a facebook group that is keeping eyes on this - Ohioans for Educational Freedom. CHEO is also watching.

Credit card #1 will be 12%. Credit card #2 will be 13% Unfortunately, we can't pay a whole lot more than the minimum payment right now. Once we get it paid down and the min pyt is less, I will keep some of what we are saving for other things and pay a little more on the card. For example, right now our min pyt on card#1 is $83. I pay $85. Once I lower the balance our min pyt might be around $30. I would pay $50 and "keep" the other $35 for other bills. DH is the only one working and bills go up while his pay doesn't. We are doing the best we can. We've looked at our exemptions. DH doesn't want $0 "taken" out so we have it so the minimum amount is deducted. The refund is the return of what little we did pay, the child tax credit, and the EIC.

I need some advice on what to do - the best way to use our tax refund. I know our situation is not ideal and we wish it wasn't so. Please be kind in any response. Here is what I have. Tax refund - $5700 Credit Card #1 - balance #1 - $2100 at 12% interest balance #2 - $3500 at 0% until July (this was from a major car repair this summer) Credit Card #2 - balance $2700 at 0% until October We have things that *need* to be done on the cars and house and some need to be paid in cash (these are things that can not wait to save up for - safety issues). That total is around $1700. We do not have an emergency fund or savings account. The credit card balances are not from frivolous things. We don't use them unless we have no choice. It kills me to have them but at least we did in the situations we've been in this year. What would you do? Any advice on the best way to "spend" our taxes.

I am a side sleeper who is desperately looking for a new pillow so I can try to get a better night's sleep. I like the memory foam one I tried but it kept the shape (indention of my head) too long when I moved and the smell! I can't take the smell!! Even after days of airing out. Is there anything out there that offer the features of memory foam that aren't made of polyurethane foam? I need to be able to try and return if it doesn't work. I am hard to buy for in this area.

Here in Ohio we have the choice of an assessment or testing. I prefer the assessment. It's done by a certified teacher so not someone from the school district. I just wasn't sure what others looked for or had.

How do you find someone to work with? What do you look for? Do you want someone you click with? Someone who offers advice? Or someone to just "sign the paper"? I've worked with a couple different ones. Haven't clicked with either, no real support, more "just get it done". Look over papers and sign the form. Just wondering about others. Am I missing out on something by having extra support?

There is a local church who offers a karate class for free. My boys have expressed interest in it but DH and I can't decide if we want to let them go. They fight - A LOT. Always after each other, teasing each other, yelling, etc. I'm sure it's typical but it can get to be too much some days. On one hand we wonder if the class will give them an outlet that would help at home. On the other hand, we worry they would use it against each other. What would you do?

OK. But how do you (or will you) find the Olmpics if you can't read the sections? :laugh:

I am looking for a composition/writing program for 10 yo ds who has not had much writing instruction to this point. Need it to cover all basics - from sentence structure to paragraphs, letters, envelopes, etc. and maybe creative writing also. I have curric for other "LA" subjects so am only looking for writing. I know it should be easy to "do myself" but I don't function that way. I need it planned for me.

Thank you Ellie. You were the one to recommend it to me in my other thread. :-) I think it might just work. I'm assuming that 4th grade addresses the prepositional phrase approach and I won't be missing it from somewhere else. Correct? If you don't mind answering a related question - if I have EG, AAS, cursive practice, and reading books, do I only need to add writing to round out "language arts"?

DS is almost 10. No formal grammar background. Can I start him in 4th or is it best to start with 3rd? Is there anything in 3rd that isn't covered in 4th? Or something in 4th that may need a little more explanation? I see the placement on their site but it doesn't quite make sense to me. Also, do I need the test set?