Thank you for responding to this post! It had been so long, that I forgot that I asked the question, lol! I am going to go back and research that, because I put it on the backburner. I am trying to figure out what to do next year, etc... Thanks so much! Christina

My kids go to Aquatots swim school (a chain). It is $16.00 per kid, per half hour, in a group of 4 kids Two of my kids go, so I pay $32.00 per week total. I am not that happy about that because with 4 kids and only 30 min, I think there is not enough attention given to them. However, they love it, and need it, so we keep on paying... Christina

My ideas would be: Johnstown, OH (near columbus, tons of great shopping and great schools/universities nearby, but far enough to live on good amount of land, 4 seasons, close to fun stuff ) Atlanta, GA area is nice Powell, Oh is nice

We have FuzzyBunz and Happy Heinys I have tons of the Happy Heiny's because I got a great deal, but I much prefer my Fuzzybunz. I put 2 inserts in every time. I have never had a leak and love these diapers. The fuzzy bunz are slimmer than the Happy Heiny's imo. I really don't think you can go wrong though, all cloth diapers have come a long way! My dd is 20 months old and still fits perfectly in the diapers. I think they will go all the way until she is potty trained. She is 25lbs. hth, christina

Thank you! What a wonderful site! Christina

What are overnight pancakes and waffles? Thanks!

I have a 20 month old. She generally eats just whatever my big kids are eating, lol. Our main options are: -whole wheat waffle w/honey and earth butter -scrambled eggs ( i am lazy, i pour it right out of the egg beater carton and add some cheddar cheese and garlic salt, that is it) -oatmeal -cream of wheat -yogurt -bananas/blueberries/strawberries -I buy kashi heart to heart cereal and she loves that! It is the one with o's and hearts and honey flavor -whole wheat toast w/earth butter and cinnamon/sugar mix -Buddy fruit is also a favorite with all my kids unfortunately, we have a starbucks around the corner and many mornings I get her a strawberry vivanno and a slice of pumpkin loaf! she is addicted to pumpkin loaf, lol and loves smoothies just like my big kids! We do make a lot of smoothies in the house too! Lunch is where we struggle! I think she eats mostly turkey, cheese stick sliced fruit, annie's Arthur O's or yogurt way too much. I really do not have good lunch choices...very boring and often the same thing over and over.... Christina

We live in the suburbs of Atlanta. The houses in our subdivision are not super close, but close enough that all of the kids play together. My door bell is ringing all.day.long from kids wanting to play, lol... However we have a nice large wooden playset and my next door neighbor has a nice trampoline so we have a standing agreement that the kids can play on it anytime. No need to ask, etc... Our neighborhood is extremely kid friendly, kids playing up and down the street, in the cul de sac, and in the yards or in the creek and woods behind all of our houses. Kids are always back in my woods and in the shallow creek playing. There are times when I wish that kids weren't ringing my doorbell or playing at my house...however, really for my kids and their friends to grow up playing with friends and all of us knowing each other very well, it is worth it! Our subdivision also has a pool, it is right across the street from my house. All of the neighbors bring tons of pool toys and they are pretty much community property at the pool. You just write your name on everything and it usually gets returned to you if someone else is playing with it when you want to leave. Christina

We have a Honda Odyssey and I think it is perfect! Plenty of room, leather seats are wipe-able and the dvd system is good. I think the gas mileage is ok, probably could be better. We also have an Acura MDX with the 3rd row seat (that has never been used). I really love this car too, but it is our "nice" car and my dh drives it mostly. However we have 3 kids and it works perfectly for our needs also! It has a nice 3rd row, but we do not use it, it still smells new back there, lol. The gas mileage is not as good as we expected it to be though. We are actually considering a prius or something similiar for my dh's commute. Christina

I cannot change a tire. I have AAA for a reason and have had to use them several times. Just a few days ago as a matter of fact. I always see people LAYING on the side of the highway under their car and trying to fix something or change the tire...their heads are so close to the highway! I think it is crazy, lol. I would never ever try to fix my car on the side of the road...plus I have 3 kids and it would just be dangerous... I say if you can, have AAA, or your insurance roadside or something and use it! Also, if someone asks you for what you want for your birthday/christmas, etc... a great gift is AAA! I can pretty much pump my gas, check the oil, and wash the windshield, lol! Christina

Karen, I am North of Atlanta. I would love to see a pic! I will PM you with about where I am. Christina

Ok, 3rd option....I have an older kitchen table that is regular height in the garage...I use it for them when they are outside doing painting/playdoh etc... maybe I should put that table in the school room. It is this table: http://www.daniafurniture.com/home_dining_tables/item/1849 wow, I can't believe they still sell that table, I got it soooo long ago at Dania and I hate the style of it now, lol. So, is this table better? I really never thought of putting it back into the house because it does not match my style anymore, lol Thanks!

I am catholic and use the NAB version. Christina

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/fuo/1835786895.html Would you get this table for homeschool? Is it worth the 70bucks? The chairs are not included. I used to be the director of a Sylvan Learning Center, and it reminds me of what we used to teach the kids 3 to a table. I already have a table in our school room. It is our old kitchen table that is bar height, it is large, seats 4-6. this is our first year homeschooling and I am wondering if the bar height will be annoying. There is not enough room for both tables. My kids are 6.5, 8, and 20 months Thanks! Christina

I am currently drinking a venti nonfat iced mocha no whip from starbucks, lol.... darn starbucks is right around the corner....i stash cash for my daily cup, lol! Even though I have a perfectly good Keurig here...Starbucks just keeps calling my name! Christina

I have read and am currently thinking through so many of your posts and I am very grateful for all of your perspectives and advice! I am wondering though, when is it considered "pushing" him to move along and when is it considered "meeting him where he is?" I mean for example, my 6.5 year old knows his multiplication facts (i did not teach them to him, once he understood the concept, he just figures them out). He can do all addition and subtraction already. So, do I meet him where he is and continue to review add/sub/mult and keep going on w/division (which he can do in his head, but hasn't learned to write and show is work). Or, is that considered pushing him, and I should go through the 1st grade math? Thanks~ Christina

The going rate in my neighborhood is around $125-150 per house. The first cleaning is anywhere from $250-400 though. I'm in a North Atlanta Suburb. The houses here in my neighborhood are 2700-4500 sq. ft on average. I would love it if I could pay by the hour! You cannot get a cleaning person here for 10 or 15 per hour. More like 25 or more I think. Actually, I have a 4000 sq. ft house and I used to have a cleaning person and her husband clean and they were done in 2.5 hours! The cleaned every room, changed bedsheets (6 bedrooms) and did floors, etc... They work fast! Christina

Thank you again for your replies. I am so glad that I asked this question because it gives me much to think about! You all are great! I think I will see about enrolling with MODG, at least enrolling my son, I think I can use the syllabus perfectly as is for my daughter who is going into 3rd grade. I totally understand your point also about MODG possibly not being the right curriculum for acceleration. AFter you explained, it really makes a lot of sense. If we do not enroll, I will do the 2nd grade syllabus as written with my ds and the 3rd as written with my dd. I will definitely have to skip the 1st grade, there is just nothing there that will work with my son at all. Maybe I should not do this program at all with him. I am going to try it and see, and switch if necessary. This is a child that just "gets" things. He can play a game of scrabble and score in the 300's, do division in his head, etc...likes looking at the scrabble dictionary to learn new words, lol! Definitely didn't get this from me! Again, thank you for your input and insight on MODG. I really understand better now how the program works together. Christina

Thank you for all of your replies. I have a lot to think about! I really do believe in the MODG philosophy, but I also need to meet my son where he is academically so that he is not bored. That is one reason I have pulled him out of school. I may need to think about enrolling in MODG to get their advice. Thank you! Christina

Hi everyone, I could use your advice on a matter. Today I was able to purchase the 2nd and 3rd grade Mother of Divine Grace complete Curriculum at an amazing deal. I am at home with all of the books, etc.. and looking at the 2nd grade material, it seems way to easy for my 6.5 year old. He just completed Kindergarten in Public School, but is very bright. This is one of the reasons that I am homeschooling my kids. I thought I would put him into 2nd grade work, but now I am really thinking about putting him into the 3rd grade curriculum with my 8 year old. Has anyone moved their kid up 2 grade levels? He is a math whiz and can probably already skip the 3rd grade math, but I want to put him into the 3rd grade math and make sure we aren't missing any specific skills. I am thinking that some of the writing assignments may need to be adjusted, but the content doesn't seem to be over his head. Do you think this is an ok thing to do? Will I be missing too many concepts if I skip both the 1st and 2nd grade levels of MODG? I am doing the WP science that is for k-2nd grade for both of the kids. I am also going to be taking some of the Guest Hollow curriculum and adding to the history portion of MODG so the kids get enough crafts and hands on work. I still need to find a fun Art course for them. If anyone has any pros/cons/advice that would be great! Christina

I am curious as to whether I should check out this program. I am wondering if any catholic's have used this and if it is ok. Also would love to know everyone's experience with the program. thanks! Christina

I am looking at the Usborne website. I am just wondering, as I look through the website, if anyone has developed a curriculum with their books? It looks like one could possibly make a full curriculum of history, science, literature, poetry, health,e tc... with their books. It seems like you would definitely need to add in grammar and math and possibly religion if you do that. They even have some languages. Anyone every done that? Also, has anyone ever used the 10 Terrific Weeks curriculum that they offer? Thanks! Christina

Has anyone used the easy packs from Queen's Homeschool? I am looking at packs c, d, and e. I am not sure how religious they are or if they are easy for a Catholic to use. Do they really include everything except for Math? Do you find the work to be challenging enough? Do you need to supplement reading? How has it worked for your family? Does it come with a schedule or guide? Thanks for any help! Christina

I am wondering exactly what this program covers. Is it a full curriculum except for math? What needs to be added? I am looking at this and it looks really good. I am thinking that I would need to add math and Catholic Mosaic (I would do my own religion). Is grammar covered? Is it missing something else? Christina

My husband works all of the time, lol. His job is very flexible, so that is great though. He works from home on Monday and Friday. Goes to the office t/w/th. There is no set clock in/clock out time. He gets his job done and does it very well. He usually leaves for work around 8:30 (has a long commute, lik 1hr to 1.5 hours) and then gets home around 6, sometimes earlier. He tends to work though answering emails after work, so it often seems that even when he is at home, he is still working. He does most of his meetings on the phone, so he can do meetings on his commute to and from work which allows him to come and go as he pleases much of the time. He also owns his own company and has people working for him, so he is often checking on them and with clients when he is home from work. Or, if he didn't contract out the work, he might be doing the work himself in the evenings after his regular job.