FLL1 does look scarily repetitive. Is it possible to just start with FLL2? Has anyone done this successfully?

I forgot to post my progress last week! This is two weeks’ worth. Dreamers, Discovers, & Dynamos was ok – DD is definitely a Dreamer (so is DH). It was just another part of my education freak out/bender. The Mislabeled Child was interesting, but I don’t know that I’m ready for it, honestly. I think it was too much to digest this early in the process of figuring out what is up with Little Miss. Once we’re further along the evaluation path I think it will be more useful. My brain was so full that I took a break with The Kill Artist, first in the Gabriel Allon series. All fluff, all fun. I’ll probably keep reading this series whenever I need a mental break. STILL in process: The Histories by Herodotus – I’m on Book 6 and determined to finish it this week. I can’t take much more of this. At least the war is starting. The Iliad: No progress this week. Soon. Finished: 11. The Kill Artist (Gabriel Allon), Silva (Just Because) *** 10. Dreamers, Discovers, & Dynamos, Palladino (Education freakout) **** 9. The Mislabeled Child, Eide (Education freak out) *** 8. The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids, Walker (Education freak out) *** 7. The Paris Wife, Mclain (Library Spree) ***** 6. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Chua (Library Spree) *** 5. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, Heath (Library Spree) **** 4. Book Was There: Reading in Electronic Times, Piper (Library Spree) *** 3. Alias Grace, Atwood (Library Spree, Canadian) *** 2. The Song of Achilles, Miller (Library Spree) **** 1. The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood (Canadian/Continental, TBR/Dusty) **** In Process: The Iliad, Homer The Histories, Herodotus Aggie Amy's Rating System(which I’ve adopted): ***** - Fantastic, couldn't put it down **** - Very good *** - Enjoyable but nothing special ** - Not recommended * - Horrible

I must have my feet covered, no matter how suffocatingly hot it is. It can be just up to the ankle, though I prefer mid-calf. Otherwise the monsters will get me. :)

Traveled in February through DFW and ORD. No body scans for us as DD is only 5 and I was traveling alone with her. Everyone was kind and helpful, even when I spilled my entire purse on the floor trying to get it on the belt for the X-ray machine. So embarrassing! DD loves being able to leave her shoes on and tells everyone that she can because the rules changed for little kids. I'm sure the TSA "loves" getting the refresher on the regs, but she's so stinkin' cute and excited that they just chuckle.

Wonderful.

The Perot is awesome. It is unbelievably crowded on school holidays - suffocatingly so (ask me how I know), so shoot for Thursday. Go early and see if you can get tickets for your preferred time an thn mayb get lunch or play in th park if you need to kill time. DMA is wonderful, but I've always felt uncomfortable with DD and that museum (and she's a good kid). They SAY they are child friendly, but the glares from the staff have always made me feel otherwise. YMMV, but I'd be wary of taking a whole brood. As another has said, be prepared to bail.

DD likes to pretend she is a cat and will try to give us or the cats baths too.

I don't think you can rent phones here, but you could buy a cheap one and a pay as you go SIM card. But honestly, it's usually cheaper to buy Skype credits to call a regular phone from your computer. It's not video, but it's communication. All he would need is the Internet connection, which might be free at the hotel or at least covered by his company if he needs it for work.

Skype, FaceTime, email. The trifecta of overseas travel and communication.

I've ordered a book from them (last week) and I'm waiting for it to be delivered. Once it's in my hands I'll be more confident in ordering more from them in the future. For some reason getting things delivered here is always touch and go. (I ordered WRTR.)

Great minds! :coolgleamA: What would you recommend instead of FLL? Is there something else I could get via PDF? Either that or I have to order and get it this summer and carry it back here as a backup. Hmmmmmm...... Back to researching....

Will you please help me think through first grade for DD? Let me give you a little background. We are living in Turkey and DD is attending a private school here and, as you might expect, everything is in Turkish. I am teaching her reading in English. I’m not worried about math, science, art, chess, music, French, Turkish language arts and Turkish history. I do want to make sure she gets American and European history, English reading, and writing. I’m also thinking of getting a math curriculum just in case, but even in Kindergarten she seems to be doing well with what she has at school (they’re already doing addition and subtraction). Here’s what I was planning for afterschool/weekend/holidays: WRTR for phonics and spelling (OPGTR just isn’t working for us and I learned Spalding as a child) FLL 1 WWE 1 SOTW 1 The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia Lots and lots of books – paper, electronic, and audio Miquon (just in case) I was going to start this summer with 30-60 minutes a day of language arts and history. That would take some of the pressure off the school year as I don’t know the homework requirements in first grade here. I know middle and high school are extremely demanding. The school has asked that we teach DD reading in English before she starts first grade so she’s not confused and trying to learn to read in two languages simultaneously. Those of you who have followed my posts about DD’s potential learning difficulties: we are getting her evaluated here. I’ve found a practice that specializes in testing for gifted, learning difficulties, and children’s psychological issues. All this is subject to the outcomes of those evaluations, which have just started. I just need to plan because everything has to be ordered from here in the next month or two, shipped to our US address, and picked up in early summer when we’re back in the US. The initial opinion of the evaluators is that she is very smart and perhaps behind in emotional/social development. What sayeth The Hive?

Monopoly. Helped DD.

I used to live outside DC. For your kids ages, I would wait a few years, personally. Disney World would be my choice.

Sounds like mono to me too. I got it in college and my spleen was so swollen I couldn't sit up properly. I had to hold onto walls to get to the bathroom. I was almost too sick to return to school in the fall (contracted in May). Keep us posted.

Liver failure is scary, fast, and often fatal. We pulled our cat back from the brink and she's now on a special diet for life. Do take her back soon and check her again. My cat deteriorated so fast it was frightening. I agree with Chrissy. If you think something's wrong, it probably is. Cats hide illness and injury well. Keep us posted.

This is the first I have ever heard of leprechaun pranks or prizes! (Here's hoping DD stays oblivious!)

Whenever I start to get frustrated at such rules I call to mind the scene in The Walton's: http://www.christmastvhistory.com/2011/11/homecoming-christmas-story-1971.html The heartbreak on the Elizabeth's face when she receives a doll with a shattered face broke my heart. I wasn't a whole lot older than Elizabeth and couldn't imagine giving someone a broken toy as their only Christmas present.

I was curious. I think I have a crush on Mr. Molina's voice.

Who's reading your Iliad? What edition? I'm listening to Alfred Molina read Stephen Mitchell's translation. I love it! I'm so sorry about your Saturday. Hopefully kiddo will be better soon, a dryer will be procured, and the cleaning goes easy.

Thanks for the info!

I cross my heart promise I will read the whole manual through. Multiple times. Did you do the extended lessons?

DD5 gets 9 hours a night. It should about 11 hours, but she's a night owl and will not go to sleep early enough to get more. She has to be up by 7:30 for school.

While I'm waiting for WRTR to get here.... :toetap: Is First Language Lessons extraneous if you are using the Spalding Method?

I think I would like this too. I'm on pins and needles waiting for my manual to come. Next week, I think!