My parents' neighbors just called (Kilmarnock, VA, north of VA beach, on the Chesapeake Bay). Their docks are covered with water and water is creeping up land. Winds in our area (near Richmond) are 50 miles an hour and getting faster. May have to unplug soon!

Great thread! - Bake and cook while we still have power - iPad apps - reading - plan my lessons for CC Essentials next week - girls have already had a fashion show from mommy's closet :lol:

Wind and rain picking up big time. Power flickering. Baking cookies before we lose lights :D Northeast of Richmond, VA.

We listen to the CD in the morning on the way to CC, which meets on Monday for us. So my kids hear the new material once, but that's about it. During the week, we review each morning. I set up a trifold board based on what I saw at this site. http://halfahundredacrewood.blogspot.com/ She has a lot of cool ideas!

I am in LOVE with EasyLunchboxes. These are like "Lunchables" but much more durable. Great for on-the-go. Divided food containers. (Disclaimer: I am doing a fundraiser for orphans through EL right now -- the EL owner is helping my fave charity, Reece's Rainbow. You can click on my blog site below for a link to the Easy Lunchboxes site)

Same here just northeast of Richmond. I expect we'll lose power in the afternoon and grill in the rain for dinner. Next door neighbors have a generator, thank goodness. Going now to fill up bathtubs for flushing water. The joys of living on a well! :)

So, so sorry. My middle DD and I are both celiac. Hugs. No words for how your father is treating you.

I loved Little Hearts and found it just perfect for our first year of homeschooling. This year we are doing Bigger and I am not as much of a fan, but perhaps that's because my DD doesn't fit on the page -- she's ahead in LA but behind in math. Involves more tweaking than I'd like. But I think that's more my situation than the guide.

Waiting here. Skies are getting dark. I'm supposed to host a fundraiser at my house tomorrow night (outside of Richmond, VA). Think I'll be canceling.

Read this idea (maybe here on another thread) -- take water bottles, empty a little, then freeze. Remove to use as ice for coolers. For us, we're going to do grill and canned food (tuna, chili, beans). I'm going to move some perishables to our smaller fridge (wine fridge, LOL) so that if we lose power and need to open a fridge, it will be the small one to keep the bigger one cool as long as possible. I'll make some dips for chips/veggies to use up leftover cream cheese and sour cream. We also have shelf-stable items like dry milk, beef sticks, etc. We'll have four adults and three kids in the house to ride out the storm. Take care!

Yes, keep us posted! We are just east of Richmond and hosting my folks from the Northern Neck of VA (on the Bay). Can't believe the colleges are evacuating, but I'm glad they are erring on the side of caution.

My list is very similar to nestof3 (including wine, LOL!). I am two hours from the coast in VA, and so we may experience significant rain and possible power outages. My folks (who live on the Chesapeake Bay) are coming to stay with us. Biggest concern here is loss of power, since we are on a well, and so we have lots of bottled water, and I'll fill up a tub tomorrow for toilet flushing water. We're also getting propane to cook on the grill if needed. Thanks for the tips about laundry. Our last big hurricane here was Isabel, and that was (right) before kids and all the laundry they generate!

Sorry! I don't know from personal experience, but my DH's parents could barely stand to be in the same stadium for graduations, etc. We are hosting my folks during evac, and DH has already bought tons o' liquor, LOL!!

- Definitely go to the Cheese Shop! Order a sandwich with extra "house" dressing on the side to dip it in. Worth the wait. Bathrooms are in the basement. - Take a short walk off Duke of Gloucester Street (DOG Street to us W&M alums) and walk around the old campus section of William and Mary. Christopher Wren building and the Sunken Garden are neat. - Jamestown-Yorktown homeschool days are Sept 10-25 http://www.historyisfun.org/homeschool-program.htm - Other restaurant ideas: Pierce's Pit BBQ (off Rochambeau, I think), Food For Thought, Green Leafe, Second Street Have fun!

My son will be starting preschool this fall, 3 hours, four mornings a week. I hope it will be a positive experience, and I hope it wills be for your little one, also!!

Oh, how horrible. So sorry! To adoptive parents, I can relate somewhat. Ours was a domestic adoption, and people make "unique" remarks about how "I didn't know you could get white kids in the US ". OMgoodness.....ignorance and inane comments abound.

Loved the book!!!

I have a BONA and it is easy to use. My oldest can mop the floor with minimal supervision. I have hardwood.

This is so hard. I will be praying! She is so beautiful. I am a Prayer Warrior for two boys on Reece's Rainbow, Isaiah and Vilis. Praying they get adopted before being sent away!

Also -- I believe the law says you have thirty days to send a NOI. http://www.heav.org/basicinfo/howtobegin/beginningafteraugust15th.html I would be happy to send you my NOI if you want a sample. gwensmith93 at gmail dot com

Welcome to Virginia! You may enjoy looking at Ashland, VA. It is a small college town and has many neat features -- coffee house/music venue, nice cafes, etc. It's a few miles from big box shopping (Target, Best Buy) and about 20 minutes from Richmond, which is an eclectic city with art, culture, restaurants, and home to Virginia Commonwealth University. Ashland is in Hanover County, which is very homeschool friendly. Duncan Memorial Methodist Church is right in town, and there are other churches in the area as well. Feel free to PM me, as I live in the area. Good luck with your decision!

Our church sponsors a family in Latvia. http://app.razorplanet.com/acct/43846-0963/tmpl/index.php?nid=158541&s=ms&grpid=7670&grpDetails=true&null=0

For Richmond, I'd recommend the American Civil War Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Very informative about the war, history, battles, etc. Goes year by year through the war and it's aftermath. Museum of the Confederacy is also a great museum. When I last went, I was surprised by the balance and scholarship in the exhibits. Other area museums include Valentine History, Poe Museum, Virginia Holocaust Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, VA Science Museum. St Johns Church is cool, too, as the location of Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" speech. Have a great trip!

Check out the Eat Clean Diet or one of the other Eat Clean books (library should have one). Healthy food, no processed junk, and sensible suggestions and food plans. Good luck!

Childrens farm is nice. Tap an animal and the name pops up and it makes a sound.