We had this issue with our kids. Mostly, they just used too much toilet paper. So, we switched to the cheapo Scott toilet tissue and haven't had an issue since, lol.

Has anyone been to Asheville, NC? it is less than 4 hours drive from here. Something i am currently looking at. I have a ton of tabs open! christina

Ok, so every idea you all have is great! How long does it take to get a passport? I don't think I have time to get one. Right now, I am focused on the Outer Banks...it is a 10 hr. ride though from my atlanta suburb. However, there is a bed and breakfast that is way to expensive that looks great called the White Doe Inn. It would be a splurge, that is for sure! I need to narrow down like 3 ideas and have my husband choose I suppose.

Thank you! I am googling all of these ideas now!

Thank you for the suggestions! I should say that my inlaws are in Boston and Maine. So we go there every summer and they have a home right on the beach in Maine. So, I also want to exclude New England from this trip. We did our honeymoon on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, so we have done that too... You are so correct though, the heat is awful. North would probably be better, but I don't know any other places to go. Thanks!! Christina

Hello! Well, we were supposed to go to Las Vegas with our whole cul de sac and none of us were taking kids. This was to celebrate my neighbor's 40th birthday and also to just have a fun time together. Well, my neighbor lost her job and is unable to go, so we have decided as a group to put this trip on hold. However, I have already paid for plane tickets for my parents to come to my house to take care of my 3 kids from july 22-26. So, now my dh and I have decided that we still want to go somewhere alone without the kids. We do not know where to go. I do not have a passport and probably don't have enough time to get one, so we need to go somewhere in the US. We live in Georgia. We have already lived in the nicest areas of California (La Jolla, CA, Cupertino/San Fran CA) and visted all over California and also lived in Seattle for 5 years... So, I think that coast is out. We also took the drive from san diego all the way to seattle along the coast. Amazing btw. So, we are not sure if we should just go to Las Vegas as planned. My husband loves Vegas and was actually there in April. I haven't been in many years and I have fun there too. However, maybe we should go someplace new and someplace where we can reconnect. I was thinking maybe the Florida Keys? Does anyone have any other ideas? We are not wanting camping/fishing at all. More like relaxing spa/great food. I really hate flying, so I would have to have some meds in order to get on the plane also. If anyone has any suggestion on that, it would be great! Any ideas? I am all ears. I actually need to book something, today if possible, lol! Talk about last minute! Christina

I love it! I love seeing all of your kiddos in there with great space to work and play. Even the toddlers have a great place to color! I cannot wait to get my school room organized! We are going to start schooling in August. I better get on the ball and get it together, huh! Great job! Christina

My four sons! Thank you for your information. There were several things that I didn't know about and I am now researching. I think I am going to join the cath swap group and check out lulu.com and mainlesson.com. I am trying to incorporate a Catholic Viewpoint or secular viewpoint. My kids are already confused enough being raised mainly catholic by me yet also incorporating some Jewish tradition to respect my dh who is Jewish, but not really practicing, lol! Thank you for your help! Christina

Hello! I was just reading the Cathy Duffy Homeschool Review book and saw that she recommended unit studies called The ABC's of Christian Culture by Julia Fogassy which can be purchased at Ourfathershouse.biz. I have never seen these recommended before. I was wondering if anyone has any experience using them? Thanks! Christina

Thank you for your help! I am still so torn as to what to do. I have been trying to give my husband all of the options that I like, and then have him help me narrow it down to 2 options and I choose the final option...however he has been too busy with work to help or really dig in and make an informed choice. I was thinking last night about a more frugal way to homeschool. I came up with this idea which seems really less expensive. Math Math Mammoth: $30.00 http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete-curriculum.php http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=23376&it=1 Language Arts: Learning Language Arts through Literature Curriculum: $66.00 Yellow Book for Abby w/readers and Red Book package for Adam $80.00 http://www.lamppostpublishing.com/languagecommonsense.htm *Poetry/Dictation/Copywork: The Harp and Laurel Wreath ( I already have this) *Read aloud to them and them to me History: Guest Hollow History: http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/history/americanhistoryindex.html Science: Nature Study using Handbook of Nature Study and online website $50.00 Science kits from Usborne Usborne Science Encyclopedia ( i think we have this?) Study a topic each kid likes like space, flowers, etc... Character Building: Character Building day by day ( i own this already) Catholic Liturgy/holidays and Jewish holidays PE: Tennis/Swim lessons/Wii Fit (we already pay for this regularly) Music: Piano/Music lessons including music history/theory/composers (I am a music teacher, so it is free) Art: Drawing in Nature Journal Crafts and projects in History Program Extras: Brownies/Cub Scouts ( I am the brownie leader and my friend is the cub scout leader) Weekly library-free Online games-free or subscribe to some educational sites Board games-have Cooking-need to do anyway So, what am I missing? Isn't this super inexpensive even if I bought new? I figure I must be missing something or overlooking something? Are these not good programs? I am now more confused as there are just too many choices out there! I may end up just doing HOD or MODG. There is a local Hybrid school here in my town called Regina Caeli and they use MODG. AH! My dh likes HOD and MBtP and also Oak Meadow. But, he really isn't able to make an informed choice. I am rambling! Sorry! Any thoughts or advice is welcome. Thanks! Christina dd 8 ds 6.5 dd 19 months

The only reason I was thinking of doing them simultaneously is I think that is what they do in the Charlotte Mason approach? If I am wrong about that, I think I will then do only American History using AS1. Is that more normal? Christina

Hello! I am pretty new here. I have been reading for awhile and have posted a few times. I am still very confused as to what curriculum to use next year. I go back and forth between MODG, WP, HOD, Mater Amabilis, and MBtP.... So, I have decided that maybe I should try to put my favorites of each program together. Does this look ok for an advanced 1st/3rd grader. Both excellent readers and my 1st grader is a math whiz already doing multiplication and division in his head. Please critique and let me know if this is too much or not enough or if I am totally off base here! Language Arts: (reading program, spelling, grammar, handwriting) Winter Promise Language Arts for AS1 For copywork I will use The Harp and Laurel Wreath Poetry selections American History: Winter Promise American Story 1 for both kids to do together Ancient History: History Odyssey Ancients Level 1 for both kids Science: Nature Study using Handbook of Nature Study Catholic Heritage Curricula http://www.chcweb.com/catalog/ScienceAndMath/ScienceAndHealthPE/ThirdGrade/BeholdandSee3BeginningScience/product_info.html Math: Singapore Math for both kids, not sure the level I think 2a and 2b and 3a and 3b Literature: Daily Read Alouds that I will read to the kids (not sure if other programs already have this included?) Character Study/Religion: Character Building Day by Day ( i own this book) Catholic Liturgy/Holidays and Jewish Holidays I will probably use Catholic Mosaic and pray daily also, since my dh is Jewish we will learn and celebrate those holidays Practical Work: Each child will have a specific set of responsibilities or section of the house plus an order for their morning to get started with school on time Art: There are tons of hands on craft/art projects throughout the history programs, plus we will do crafts for each holiday, etc.. Music: Piano Lessons PE: Tennis Lessons, Swimming Lessons and Wii Fit plus outside play Ok, so am I on the right track? I really have no idea as it will be my first year to homeschool. If I don't do this plan or something similiar, then I will most likely do HOD or MODG complete curriculum..although MBTP and WP look great to me also. Thank you so much for your thoughts! Christina

The town I grew up in South East Ohio, had a store called "The Carryout" and basically you drive thru and it is mainly alcohol and cigarettes, but also pop, chips, snacks, milk, bread, etc...

575 Exit 1 is Monkey Joe's and Chuck E Cheese and Town Center Mall w/a small play area there. 575 Exit 14 is The Bounce House in Canton Not sure exactly how NW you mean. hth, christina

I really love the movie "Best in Show" I always say it is my favorite movie, but noone ever understands why, lol. I think it is hiliarious. I love this cast and all of their movies. Christina

Thank you for your help! I am researching the Catholic Curriculums more closely. I do like Seton, but I think it is too "Catholic" for my husband. I don't mean that with disrespect, but for my husband the imagery I think is too much. I really like CHC, it is so cute. I think my kids might need at least one grade level above? it seems they are almost a grade behind what they learned in Public School. I am really thinking about this one though. I have the Portraits of American Girlhood curriculum and maybe the CHC curriculum combined with the American Girlhood would work. My husband is currently loving MBTP and Oak Meadow...due to the fact that we can add in our own religious studies and not worry about content. I just love the AS1 in WinterPromise... I like MODG I also looked at St. Thomas Aquinas and like that too! I guess I like everything! Thank you so much! I am hoping to make a decision soon, as I can't wait to get started. My local homeschool fair isn't until July 31! That is so late in the year! Anyway, thank you for all of your advice! I am reading past posts now. Christina dd 7 ds 6 dd 1.5

Thank you for your help. I do have some questions about MODG. Are there hands-on opportunities like history pockets/timelines or fun crafts scheduled? Is it a program that gives good detailed instructions for the teacher? Are the tests/quizzes/some worksheets? Do you think the program is academically strong, or does it need a supplement other than the grammar? Do you recommend it often or is there something else that you think would be a good fit? Other programs you like? When I look at WinterPromise I am in love with the materials and all of the books and activities. I want something that combines that, with the quizzes/worksheets that both my kids and husband like. There are just so many curriculums that look so fantastic, I wish I could use all of them. I am drawn to both HOD and MFW, but not sure I want to worry about the religious content. My husband would be very happy if there were no religious content and we just added our own religious curriculum to supplement. This will be my first year homeschooling and I am nervous and just want to make the right choices. So, basically any curriculum advice would be so valuable to me! Thank You, Christina

Hello, I am Christina. I am looking for reviews of the Mother of Divine Grace Curriculum. I am also wondering if enrollment is worth the cost, or if it is ok to just purchase the materials only. I also love the Heart of Dakota layout/format and My Father's World, WinterPromise and Moving Beyond the page, lol! We are an interfaith family, Catholic and Jewish and we attend the Catholic church and try to instill my dh's jewish heritage also. I need a program that is not anti catholic or anti jewish. I am drawn to MODG due to the Catholic Content and Classical curriculum plus it has living books which I love. I would love to know if anyone has seen any anti-semetic (sp) content in either HOD or MFW also. My kids are in Public School currently and in the AIM (TAG) programs and I want a curriculum that will challenge them also. They like both worksheets and hands on/art projects. My dd especially loves crafts projects. My kids are currently in K and 2nd grade. My k'er is doing very advanced math, like long division and reading at around a 3rd grade level. My 2nd grader is reading at level 4.5 and is on schedule with math. If any of that helps you tell me which program I might like! I really want to start with a pre-planned curriculum as I am not an organized person by nature. Please help! Thank you! Christina ALB 7 ACB 6 ARB 18 months