Leaving from Houston, TX area. Help me plan other fun things to do along the way and on the way back. We've thought of Dollywood, Branson, Memphis or Nashville sight seeing, saw good reviews of the Cincinnatti Historical Museum, Guy Fieri's Diner's, Drive In's and Dives list. What else???? DS13 is interested in money. He collects coins and loves old coins. Anything related to that? DC ages are 13, 11, 4, 2. Thanks for the help!

We just recently moved out to the country. Uverse, dsl are not options. We've tried the hotspot on my husband's phone, but it didn't last long at all. Our only other option is satellite Internet. We've not heard good things about it. Just wondering if anyone could share their experience. The main option in our area is Hughes Net. If anyone can offer other options I would appreciate that, too. Tia.

We are pursuing a property that has a pond on it, but it has a green scum issue. They currently have two aerators going in it, but that is all. We have no experience with this and would like to know how much we would be looking at to resolve this problem. Also, who do you call for this problem? Do pond management/cleaning companies exist for personal property? It is probably 1/3 of an acre in size. Thanks.

We are interested in buying some local property. There is a mobile home on it along with a large carport, storage shed and a small barn. The appraisal district record shows two things listed as "commercial" and not residential. Why would that be if nothing is used for commercial purposes at all? We are concerned about this because of financing rules. Thanks.

Ok. Thanks. That helps.

I'm confused. Does a prime membership not mean that movies/tv shows are included? When I add my watch list, each episode has a cost. ?????

We've only used MOH1 and read lots of library books about history. We also do AO. I do like having a separate history spine to go through history chronologically even though we do AO. I really like MOH, but then found HR and really liked it, too. So, I recently bought HR for our second year of history. It's been sitting on my shelf. We've listened to the cd's and we all like listening to her. I would, though, like to use the curriculum more. I don't know how much we will actually be able to do (i.e.. projects, research paper, etc...). How do you use it? Did anyone tweak it? Please share the way you use it so I can wrap my mind around how to use it. Thanks! BTW, school-aged dc are 13 and 11 and then the littles are 4 and 1. :)

Being that I'm going to be a rookie, first time high school/homeschool mom, I would love to know what curriculums to consider if the others mentioned don't work. :) I just recently heard about VideoText or Chalkdust. I also now know what AoPS is. :) I'm learning. Thanks so much for all the info., everyone.

I was planning on using TT. First time TT user. We've always used MUS. Is there a better one that will do a great job of both conceptual and procedural?

This is wonderful information! Thanks!

One more question... what exactly does math, math and more math mean? :)

My husband works for an oil products company and goes to OTC every year. :) He will be going with Dad eventually. Dad is in Logistics, not engineering.

Wow! Thank you, everyone!

How do we help him prepare for this exactly? I know he's only 13 and this could change, but, it can't hurt to go along this track anyway. So, my questions are... What are the best courses to cover to prepare him? (math and sciences, I'm sure) Best curriculum? Need outside classes/online classes to help accredit our homeschool for acceptance to college? How would something like College Plus work for this? My brain is tired today, so that is all I can think to ask right now. He's our first, so this is new territory and we want to plan well. Thank you!

DD11 loves the Mandie series and the Baker Family series.

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DS13 is just now finishing up MUS Episilon and still has to do decimals and percents. He is in 7th and will be in 8th next year. I think pre-algebra or algebra is where he should be next year so that he is on track for his high school years. My thoughts are to have him skip the next MUS and do the Key To... workbooks to catch him up and then begin pre-algebra TT. Thoughts? Thanks...

I'm a bit overwhelmed. I shut down when I start trying to think about transcripts and credits and the fact that my ds13 hasn't even completed fractions/decimals/percents yet! I've looked at CLP, Sonlight, Abeka because it seems safe and easy and I do have 3 other children (11, 4, 2). Ahhhh!!! A little overwhelmed! I am going to a high school seminar in a couple of weeks and that will be my first meeting of that type. I would appreciate any tips and advice. Thank you! :)

Weighing all my options coming up for DS13, this, online classes, outside classes, etc... Thanks!

He understood fractions with MUS, but needs help now remembering how to compute them. Practice, not necessarily that MUS is awful. There have been times, though, when MUS confused my kids and we had to just skip over how he explained it and teach them the way we learned. He is good, don't get me wrong, and I like MUS as a whole, but there are parts that get too detailed and it's confusing for my kiddos and even me. Like I said, DH and I have had to just say, "oh, just do it this way." and then they get it. :)

After thinking through it and trying to pinpoint what his difficulty is exactly, I really think it's just in the computing and knowing what to do for each operation (+, -, *, /). He "gets" fractions as in the idea of parts and wholes and comparing them, etc. (he understood even when I was confused!) I think the Key To is what will help him for practice. I think even just making a chart for him that tells him what he does for each operation (just add across, use the rule of four and cross multiply, find LCD, etc...) So, he understands what fractions are, just needs to memorize how the computing goes for each operation. His confusion started when multiplying and dividing fractions came up and I'm thinking it was just confusion of "what do I do?" MUS isn't awful, but he is frustrated with it. He's not my easiest one and won't say easily that he doesn't understand, but has more of a give up attitude, gets very irritated that he can't do it and has to think and try, etc... He's very smart, but shuts down if he doesn't understand something easily. Ho-hum. Thank you all for all your suggestions.

DS is 13 (just turned 13 in Dec.). We've been using MUS all the way through. Well, there was a short time around age 6 that we used Shiller Math, but didn't like it, so went back to MUS. I put him back a book so as to be thorough in learning his math facts and operations. We are in Episilon right now and I'm just not liking how they explain fractions and he's not totally getting it. He's gotten through adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions, but he really doesn't understand it. I'm having him do Khan Academy starting in 3rd grade and progressing through because that is the grade year that they start explaining fractions. Any other ideas or something that will help him? I'm thinking about changing to Saxon as I've heard from other friends that when they switched to Saxon with any math topic, it helped their child. Thoughts? I'm getting desperate and not wanting ds to end up with the man under the bridge because his mom failed him in teaching fractions. :)

Making dinner for a sick friend and her family tonight on short notice. She mentioned beef stew. The beef stew I've made in the past is acceptable, but not comforting and very tasty. It doesn't hit that "ahhhh..." note. Please share the best beef stew recipe you've ever made! Thanks!

Not true. We are members of a family integrated church and it WAS NOT started by Phillips, is reformed Baptist and holds to the London Baptist confession of 1689 (obviously not written by DP), encourages hospitality because it's biblical (not because we have "wacky" beliefs), and are not Reconstructionists. There are others who care about the family worshipping together and don't find biblical grounds for Sunday school, youth group, etc., but that do not hold to his ways or follow him. He is not the leader of family values, that would be God and His Word. Do not lump us all in with him. ETA: I take communion by myself, praying and examining my own heart before the Lord and my husband does the same for himself.

Requirements: -- non-secular -- for ds13, mainly, and possibly dd11 -- student accountability to someone other than parents, but parents still very involved and respected -- easy for Dad to implement, track and be involved along with having full time job -- uses lots of good literature Other ideas/options welcome! :)