We also use Flash to Pass for multiplication. It's not anything special but it's good for practuce. :)

I can't seem to find the Harry potter spells - can anyone give me the entire title? Thanks! My kids have used and enjoyed: Music Theory Pro - naming notes, key signature, and playing songs Stack the States Rocket Math

I would recommend reading Girls on the Edge by Leonard Sax. His book on girls (and the one on boys) is excellent. It isn't just about texting but he talks about how girls are more likely to get addicted to texting and Facebook while for boys it is the video games. My kids aren't that age yet so I'm not sure what we will do yet...but I thought about that book and thought I would mention it.

My 7yr old would love a nerf gun and extra bullets! :)or maybe a small-ish Lego set of some type. I usually spend around $20.

That is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

Most of my favorites are listed here: http://www.mercyisnew.com/p/blog-roll.html?m=1

There is a debate about that. :) some people truly want "all natural" and make enough lotion to last a few weeks and make more. I didn't add preservative the first 2 months I made mine and never had any go bad. If you click on the link where I got my "basic" recipe, she does give a preservative to use and I did order some to put in the lotion I gave as gifts. So far though, I've been using some jars for 2 months and its been fine. I think it is just a matter of preference, how often you want to make it, etc.

Ok, yall, I know I sound like an infomercial but I promise I'm not! I've been making this lotion since December and it is amazing! I use it on my face, my body...it is all natural and CHEAP and wonderful!! People I gave it to for Christmas are asking for more. :) http://www.mercyisnew.com/2012/11/homemade-coconut-oil-lotion-it-works.html My blog post is long because I didn't want to leave out little details...but the process literally takes about 2-3 MINUTES to make it! and less than $1 a jar! I'm telling you, it's perfect. :) I'm also using (and diluting) Dr. Bronner's for a lot of things now!! http://www.mercyisnew.com/2013/01/uses-for-dr-bronners-quest-for-health.html

Oh please can anyone help me?! :)

Www.mercyisnew.com Love blogging!! And today I have a great homeschooling post up: our homeschooling day {in pictures}

here are our favorite Christ-centered activities to do with the kids - we will be doing several of these this week! You can do these at home, building new traditions, whether you can make it to extra services this week or not. My favorite way to teach my children about the faith is to do things like this...meaningful, fun, traditions centered around the church calendar!!

By the way, I have been reading that HUMONGOUS thread about organization...and even downloaded Evernote because of that thread. However, I haven't used it because I can't figure out how to get it to do what I want it to do. I've clicked around a bit and tried a few things and feel rather dense. I'm not usually technologically challenged but maybe I need a tutorial. Can evernote do what i need it to do? or anything else? thanks!

I used to consider myself organized. :lol: This is now very funny to me. :huh: Anyway, i get to the end of my day and realize I forgot to have my 8yr old practice piano...or I look around and realize we forgot to get the chickens clean water this morning... It isn't JUST school or chores or menu, etc. It's ALL of it. Is there a way to organize it all? I need reminders, I can't just put it in my phone or write it down...I forget what I wrote down. :) I need something to beep at me until I tell it to stop. I would love to have something that can be checked off as we go...maybe something for me and for each child?? But I need it to be easy! I know, I"m so easy to please. HELP!! I feel like I'm losing my mind!! (my kids have lots of chores compared to other kids we know...I need a place for all of it and non-regular stuff that pops up each week...)

His book for girls is excellent. I need to get the one for boys next...

www.amomentcherished.com This next one doesn't have her kids yet but has some great ideas for fund-raising and other neat stories of God providing...and she is a friend. :) www.walkingbytheway.com

My kids have all had this short, less than 24 hour, stomach bug!!

www.mercyisnew.com I love blogging and reading blogs!! :)

Milk paint is another option that I am loving!! I have painted 2 pieces of furniture with it so far and have written about my experience here: http://www.mercyisnew.com/2013/03/another-milk-paint-success-tips.html?m=1

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/blog/2013/03/whats-new-on-hss/

Yes, lots of brand new units and re-worked units!! Did y'all see the blog post today?? Lists lots of New stuff!! 23 new units!! Some fiar and some not! We are very excited, too!!! :) If you are still have trouble looking for a particular unit, let me know! (I'm on my phone and can look better or ask ami tomorrow.) And yes, some other units, non-fiar, are being re-worked too!!

Thank you all so much!! So I have the light, the starter feed and a waterer. Do they need the pine/hay stuff in the bottom of this container as chicks? Or does that wait til we put them in the coop? I have read that about their bottoms but had forgotten! Thank you so much for that reminder!! Don't want that! :) And great tip about the thermometer!

Thank you!!!

Ok, we are taking the plunge...have baby chicks coming this week! We are SO excited! We are in city limits, so we can only have up to 6 and they will be in a coop that hubs is building as we speak. I want to go get a few things that we are going to need and would love some input!! 1. If we keep them indoors the first few weeks - what do we do about other pets?? Tips? 2. I've seen red lights and white lights at Tractor Supply, is there a reason for one or the other? 3. Do we feed them anything different the first few weeks of life? We have organic chicken feed already but is that what we feed them from the start? 4. For the coop: i read another thread on here about the flooring of a coop and ya'll said they will tear up the yard so it's best to have a bottom to the coop. We are making this coop out of leftover/random wood - should we just put slats of wood down for the bottom of the coop? Is this where we also put straw/wood chips? Or is that only in the nesting area? I will probably think of more as ya'll start helping me out here...but those are the main ones. :) THANK YOU so much!!

We love east TN! We are east of Knoxville. The homeschooling is easy here. We also use Homelife Academy and I love that I can do it all online and don't have to go to any registrations, meetings, etc. :)

And now Miss Rumphius has been added back. :)