Like Lorna, I wanted to add that ds (then 14 yo) and I installed the dish by ourselves on a very, very steep roof. Dh helped us by carrying it up the ladder for us, but we did the rest ourselves, screws, power screwdriver, roofing caulk, and all. For us the hardest part was running the cable through the attic, as I hate insulation. We did not need to pay for installation, and if I can do it, you probably could as well. Pointing and setting the reciever and dish were just a matter of following the directions, but, BUT if you choose to do record the Homesat broadcasts, please, please practice before the real lessons. I needed time to figure out and run trials on programming the timers in the receiver, programming my two VCRs (this was before the price on DVD recorders and/or hard drives came down into manageable range), setting up my weekly schedule, etc. There is a learning curve, and I needed time to figure it out. They usually schedule a pre-broadcast week during which they broadcast extra lessons and sundry supplementary materials before they start the "for real" lessons. There is also almost always a second broadcast in case you miss one or something goes wrong, but I was "marathon recording", so it was harder for me to recoup anything that went wrong. If you get a used satellite dish, you may need to get a software upgrade which they can send you via the satellite receiver. One other correction, the Biology and many of the other LINC classes have tests in the course packets which you can purchase, but not all of them do. You'll have to ask for each individual class. hth

the costs of doing Homesat classes are as follows: -the dish -the monthly subscription -the media you tape or record on -the class packet of information (for Biology this amounts to two huge notebooks of material) -textbooks, lab books (the packets include tests and keys) You might be able to subscribe monthly only for the summer, you'd have to ask if there is a minimum subscription period. Usually over the summer they compress the broadcast schedule on some of the LINC (highschool) classs and broadcast an entire year in 6 weeks. In the past they have broadcast all the sciences and literatures this way. It makes for a very intense summer! :) You need to allow a month or so to order, install, debug, and get used to taping, before you actually want to tape *real* broadcasts. It just takes time to figure it out. HTH

how to put this delicately...a carpet cleaner is worth every penny? :blushing: V

many times, elderly folks (and even some of us middlers) simply don't have the acute sense of sight or smell any longer. It is very frustrating to those around them. This would be the time for a frank, honest talk with your loved one, if the relationship will bear it. For example, "Dad, you have certainly earned the right to choose most any path you want; if you want to be more relaxed in your hygiene, it is your choice, but if "such and such" would bother you, would you let me help you get to the root of the issue?" I've BTDT with my FIL, and it was his desire to scrupulously maintain his hygiene (shaving daily, etc.) until just a few weeks before his passing, when he simply did not have the energy to make it a priority any longer. I did the "tactful dance" with him quite a bit to help him with the things he couldn't see or smell, knowing that he *wanted* to be presentable. When caregiver types came into the home, he felt better knowing he could count on his being presentable. In addition to helping him from another person's perspective, you may want to look into safety issues. Is he ready for a grab bar, non-slip rugs and tub mats, a seat in the tub, a shower-head with a detachable nozzle? These were life-savers for my FIL. hth Val

I have known two kids who were too frustrated by their lack of drawing skill to draw. These kids were perfectionists, and their own drawings were too painful for them to tolerate. One was given the opportunity to take drawing lessons, and he has blossomed into a fantastic artist. He now has the skill to make things look like he always wanted them to look, and boy, can he draw and paint! As a kid, I used to draw palm trees and houses. They were the only things that I liked, because they "halfway resembled" what I was trying to draw. :) Any chance that might be part of what is going on with your dd? Not that everyone has to like to draw, but she might be persuaded to draw more if you could identify what was "bothering" her and help her work past it. HTH Valerie

but I'd pay really close attention to how her other skills are coming along. Does she do well with recognizing sounds, rhyming, can she ID letters?, can she write letters?, numbers? was she late, normal, early verbalizing? Any family history? IOW, are all her other developmental milestones within a normal range? The reason I ask these questions is that, for one of my children, the lack/aversion to drawing and writing should have been an early elementary clue to his dyslexia and dysgraphia. He had great fine motor skills, so one of the evaluators who saw him early dismissed dysgraphia out of hand, but she was wrong. If we had paid attention to that clue, we could have started remediation much earlier and worked on shoring up his skills and actually helping to strengthen the wiring in his brain. I wouldn't worry about it *at all* if it is merely the subject matter that doesn't interest her and if all the other indicators are within normal range, but if you are getting multiple red flags, please follow your heart and get her seen. Earlier is better. Remediation pays off!! Stepping down off the soapbox. :blushing: Valerie

I taught high school Spanish for two years. The first year I had an hour at a once-a-week co-op. I taught a lot on paper, via email, via phone conferences, etc. By spring we were scheduling once a month on Sat mornings, but it was difficult for the kids and families. The next year I put my foot down, and told the co-op admin that I wanted to bring the kids in on Tuesdays at the same time as band met. I did not increase the price, as my kids were all continuing from the first year. So we went to T/Th for an hour each time. As soon as the math teachers heard that mine was to be a two-day/week class, they opted for the same thing. It made all the difference in the world to the success of both classes. HTH

and watch it for twenty seconds :eek: . That is all... except...DO NOT EAT IT! Valerie

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Dh's cousin got married when he was twelve. She was about 15 years older than him and his younger siblings, and, as the first of the daughters to get married she was as invested in a "perfect wedding" as were her mom and her grandma, after all, they'd waited a long time for it.... The wedding went off without a hitch. At the reception, dh was seated next to his grandma (Mimi), so that she could keep a very close eye on him, and his other siblings were also strategically placed. (They were the youngest cousins in the whole family, children of a rather absent-minded/inattentive mom and were known for being pretty wild.) Champagne was served, but every provision had been made for the youngsters, who were thoughtfully served white grape juice. Toward the end of the reception as the toasts flowed, my smart-alek dh stood, swaying and slurring, as he delivered a toast "to the waiter who was so ill-acquainted with the liquor laws in the state of Texas". Mimi was mortified and never lived that down...to this day the story comes up with laughter in his family! :lol: Valerie

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exactly "how" the eggs fight each other? It sounded like there were several ways to play, and I'm not coming up with anything by Googling. Thanks! Valerie

I also want to bump this thread up so others can see it. :) Valerie

Great job, Laura, Calvin and Hobbes!!! Isn't it nice to have a little independent confirmation?! I'm so happy for you all! Valerie

and get their input. My dd's AP teacher (many years teaching AP english classes) is still waiting to hear back...last year, it boiled down to the fact that they simply did not have a mechanism in place to audit independent teachers, unless they were part of an institution like PA homeschoolers. HTH

Thank you so much for reading this! He has a meeting with his veep this afternoon at 2 cst. Dh's company does manufacturing for government contracts, and the corporate office was called on the carpet recently for some *huge*, embarrassing issues. Dh works for a department that, among other things, has an internal audit type function, and last week he was given two projects that should have had a lead/prep time of 2 months in order to get good, solid, truthful answers to the questions being asked. Dh says that if the answers turn out to be wrong/incorrectly estimated, heads will roll, as the offending parties and messengers will be made examples of. There is much more, but the sum of it is that he needs supernatural protection in this situation. Would you pray with me? Thank you so much!!

Thank you *so* much for coming to post an update! I have been praying for both you and Stacey, and for both your families. I'll specifically be praying that God will "light a fire" :glare: under the medical providers who are caring for you, and that you will see his hand working in every detail--the timing, every person you meet, every detail, small and large. God bless! Valerie

Granted, this may not be the month/quarter to have this discussion, given all the hormonal/stress/overtiredness going on in your life. :ohmy: You know how "they" say to not make major decisions during other big stressors; I'd put this in the same boat. Here's the root of the discussion that I'd want to have with dh, were he mine, where is your heart? Do you care more about our family, what we need/think/feel, or do you care more about the outside world? You've said that he's a great dad/husband, etc., and if his heart is truly oriented toward you and his children, then the "spouse envy" thing is inconsequential--you recognize it, take measures to get past it, and move on. But if others always come first in his priorities, then you two need to work through that issue and come up with something you can both live with. The reason I bring this up is that we have been dealing with this in light of my FIL's recent passing. The sum of his life was that he was others oriented, and his family always came second. He was a much better family man after he retired and his family became, to a larger degree, his "others," but the pattern remained, and there are repercussions that we continue to live with. As to the spouse envy, list what you'd hate about his day. List what you love about yours. Tally the lists, and give thanks--intentionally--daily for one or two of those items. I find that I am often in need of "thankfulness redirection", and it does wonders for my attitude. :blushing: Then, later on after you and the new babe settle in, could you list what you'd love about his day/week, and list what you hate/would like to change about your life? Then see if there are things that you can reasonably change. hth! Valerie

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http://www.fwmuseum.org/plan/index.html I didn't mention these earlier, because, like Aubrey, I kinda think your boys are past most of what is offered at the two science museums. The one in FW is closed now for major renovations, although some of its exhibits are open in the Cowgirl Museum across the street. The Science Place in Dallas, and the museum of Natural History are side by side, but, again, I fear that they are not "old enough" for your guys, if they are "hard core". :lol: You might find an IMAX film you'd like in Dallas. One other thing I hadn't thought of earlier: the botanical garden and Japanese garden in FW are very nice. In May, the rose garden should be in full bloom, although you might want to confirm that with the staff. Finally, there is a nice train ride available from Grapevine to the museum district in FW. It goes along the Trinity levee in FW for a way...if you are train buffs, you might enjoy that. If you are over in FW for any reason, make time to enjoy a family style mexican lunch at Joe T. Garcia's. It is quite tasty, although our all time favorite mexican food in the metroplex is Los Amigos in Grapevine. Very good and very reasonable; more diner in feel than nice restaurant. I'd invite you to come see us, but we are booked solid in May!! :willy_nilly: I hope you have a great time! V

Air museums: The Cavanaugh in Addison. (Pardon me if I let you do the Googling for times and admission info.) They have a number of vintage WW2 and Cold War era aircraft, including a MIG or two, in several hangars, along with a small gallery of warbird art. You may also be able to arrange a flight for additional $$; don't know if they still offer that option. Frontiers of Flight museum at Love Field. Many educational displays; many aircraft; a variety of flying craft, from dirigibles to space items. Very nice museum, especially since it is largely run and staffed through volunteers. American Airlines CR Smith Museum Vintage AA aircraft including a DC-3 that you can climb into. (Amazing how small it looks these days!) Geared toward the airline industry, its inception and history. Heavy on memorabilia vs. aircraft, but still interesting to an airline buff. Swimming: -Hurricane Harbor water park -- for your guys' age, this would be the place to go if you wanted a full-fledged water park; should be open on weekends in May. They often offer "after 5pm" deals. -Sandy Lake (community water park and picnic grounds; old-fashioned) -NRH2O -- water park with several good "water coasters", but might be a bit "young" for your guys -there are some *really nice* community swimming pools w/ multi-story slides, but most are not open in mid-May. The one in Lancaster is open all year round, but that would be quite a drive, and you have to have a high tolerance for chlorine vapor. ;) -there is a brand spankin' new indoor water-theme park/hotel in Grapevine, The Great Wolf Lodge. I don't think that's what you had in mind though, if you are staying w/ family. The next thing on our list is the Bureau of Engraving; dh and ds are ready to go! PM me if you have more questions! :) Valerie

Could you tell me what your boys enjoy? For example, there are several air museums in the area, a GM plant (don't know if they are offering tours right now), etc., many "not so touristy" things to do. More later... Valerie

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We have a patio/porch, and the porch roof is *very* useful providing shade. We can use it many more hours because of the roof. However, if it were on the other side of my house, the roof would not be as useful, due to the angle of the sun. The roof is probably as expensive as the floor or deck material, so it depends on the $$ and what the roof would buy you in functionality. HTH V

I have three teenagers now (youngest ds turns 13 tomorrow -- :biggrinjester:, but :eek: How'd that happen?!?!?!) I'd like to explore some new family recreation ideas. Thanks, Valerie