yeah. duh, me. The Half-a-Moon Inn by Paul Fleischman and I'm not going to read it to them, because I think my reluctant reader would actually enjoy working his way through it.

My 10 year old son helped me find it. Hooray! It's ordered, and I'll begin reading it to my boys next week.

I remember reading a book as a young girl that was very, very creepy and good. I don't, however, remember much about it except vague snippets... forest at night (the essence of creepiness, yes?) boy traveling, goes to an inn, where his shoes (I think) are cooked into the soup and he is made a slave eventually he escapes :001_huh: I agree that this is not much to go on. Are there any sites I can plug in such vague information and get the title of the book? or do any of you know or such a book? Jennifer

Yes, I originally wanted to get a Chariot Cougar 2 with multiple gadgets, but the price tag was going to be $800! Do you have the hiking harnass? I could only find one review on-line, and surely more people than one bought it.

I am looking to buy a Double Jogging Stroller. The Consumer Reports ratings for the InStep Run Around and the Baby Trend Expedition were decent. Anyone have real on-the-road experience with either of these, or any others? Is it really possible to run while pushing two children? Thanks

I'm assuming that since you wrote you are going to get back to P90, that's what got you those great results. Amazing. But even more amazing is a homeschooling mom who has (or takes) 90 minutes to devote to fitness! Good for you.

I am looking for a good workout video for children ages 6-10 that can be used when it is too gross or dangerous to go outside and play. What are your favorites and why?

LOL I read disorganized COOP, as in a place to keep one's chickens. I couldn't resist seeing what the problem was.

Gothic Gyrl, I know you weren't implying I was weird, but lots of people would say I was because of my beliefs. And I'm glad you posted. If I only wanted to hear good things about the museum, I would check their website for comments. I was looking for, if not nasty or snarky, at least honestly negative or neutral comments about the museum. Your saying that I would have to believe man and dinosaurs lived together does not change my mind about the museum, because I do believe that. Your saying that people come away and say "Cool dinosaurs" makes me think twice, because I would hear that after spending a lot of money getting my six kids to Cincinnati. We are now thinking of taking the kids to Fernbank in Atlanta, telling them that we believe the dates they give to be wrong, and maybe we'll even go all out and take them to Red Lobster rather than McDonald's on the way home. :)

We have done the Children's Catechism (Who made you? God. What else did God make? God made all things.) when our boys were younger, but now we are using a shortened version of the Shorter Catechism which I absolutely love. Instead of learning completely different questions and answers, they hear the exact same questions as the Shorter Catechism, i.e. "What is the chief end of man?", but the answers that are long and involved are pared down, using the same words of the Shorter Catechism whenever possible, and the answers that are simple enough are kept the same. This version was put together by an elder in our church, and it just makes so much sense for young kids to go through. As to learning man's words over God's, I can sympathize, but I would encourage any person who is struggling with this to realize that the catechism builds a logical framework for the theology of the entire Bible. Children who have memorized the catechism (Heidelberg, Westminster, etc) tend to be better able to think logically and systematically about everything. It helps children compartmentalize what they learn. For instance, a friend who viewed one of the Abeka video lessons reported that the teacher asked "What is sin?," and the children answered "bad things," "murder," "hitting my sister" and such like. Obviously none of those children had memorized the WSC, which clearly states that "sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God." The Westminster Shorter Catechism includes the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, and those are broken down bit by bit and explained in the questions. I'm finding it very helpful, and it is not overwhelming. I would never advocate learning man's words exclusively, however. I just announced to my almost 10-year old today that he would soon begin his first big memorizing project. Along with about 1 question a week of the Shorter Catechism, he will have the choice of memorizing Philippians or Colossians. Blessings to you.

Thanks so much for the input, believers and otherwise. Obviously, I'm one of those weird 6-day creationists, or I wouldn't even consider going. But six children (including 18-month twin girls) going 8 hours in a 12-passenger van (read gas-guzzler) for something that might not be very fun for them. Hmmm. Sometimes it sounds like fun, and sometimes it makes me nervous even thinking about it. We may end up doing CityPass for Atlanta, instead.

Go girl! Come on, it's only two more months and then think of the extra money you'll have for stuff you need. Chant with me, Two months, two months.... This, coming from the woman who just spent $60 on 2 swivel sweepers, which was not in the budget but deemed necessary for some unknown reason. So, you have set backs, but keep at it, and soon enough you'll find you're where you want to be.

We have three sons, 9, 7, and 6 and three daughters 3, 1, and 1. I have heard from one person that it would be way over the heads of my children, and I'd be better off going somewhere else for vacation. Anyone been there? What is your opinion? Thanks so much Jennifer