Signing Time has worked well for our family, as our 3-year-old has very limited verbal skills. He knows 40+ signs, though. Sorry I can't help the OP for adult-oriented ideas.

Thank you all for your input! I decided to go proclick for the option of adding/taking out pages. My oldest is pretty good with books and hopefully won't open/close all the time. However, when it's time for my son to have his books, I'll probably get the spiral in bulk from Amazon. Thanks so much for all of the amazing ideas!!

Hmmm....this is getting hard to decide. :) Thanks for all the opinions. I'll keep checking. :001_smile:

The LA and math sounds just right! I also do CC and have kids 8, 5, and 3. I tried TOG this year and found it to be too much for that age (thankfully, it was on loan from a friend and I didn't invest in it). For early elementary, there is such a need to focus on LA and math, and I felt that we were spending too much time on history with TOG. Yes, the list of readers is awesome, but there are all kinds of lists out there. So now we just use SOTW and the accompanying maps. I bought coloring pages from Biblioplan, and I may get the Ancients plan next year. Biblioplan incorporates SOTW and Usborne and also gives age-appropriate reading and writing activities. A bit less intense than TOG, but still very useful. Also, given that Cycle 1 history is focused on Ancient history, I think it will be VERY easy to find readers and library books that will fit with the topic and/or appeal to curiosity spin-offs, etc. For science, we are going to do Mr. Q's life science in the fall, the animal and plant sections. I am doing this in part because it is FREE but also since it lines up very well with CC Science. http://eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm For the spring, I am leaning toward God's Design Our Planet Earth, since it fits with the geology aspect of weeks 13-24 for Cycle 1. This also is a good text to use with multiple age levels and is simple to read. Good luck!

Thanks for all of the ideas. I like the look of the Proclick. Chandler mom -- I saw your post after mine went up (hence the edit). Thanks for the perspective. Yes, the ongoing cost is an important consideration as well. Thanks!

We are doing God's Great Covenant after reading a recommendation on this board. It starts with Genesis. My older one does the workbook pages, as she likes that sort of thing. My younger two listen and color/play. I like that it is a historical as well as biblical approach. It also has a weekly memory verse. http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=90

I'm toying with getting a comb or spiral binding machine. Hoping there will be good deals this summer. My oldest does better if I break up learning into smaller chunks. I'm thinking that if I put some of her material in smaller, bound books, this would help. This would be for things like copywork, math, Mr Q science, etc. Any pros/cons to comb binding versus spiral? Thanks!

AAhhh....yes. This would be a fabulous retreat. Little does this man know that a bunch of homeschooling moms from all over the world would PAY to stay there for the weekend, quietly alone in a house filled with Tolkien thoughts and things.

I did Bradley and had a doula, since my DH is a bit squeamish. (Disclosure - I did end up with a Csection after 2 days of labor, and it turned out that baby had the cord around her neck). I found Bradley helpful, though each instructor varies.

Thank you. And thanks to ALL who responded, whether we might have felt the same way or not. This is what I love about this place. In fact, it feels better to read posts from varying views. Thanks.

Yes, says the OP. :D

Yes, I do feel better having time and perspective (and a chance to vent here - thanks). It was a pain in the a&^ morning, and while I wish that things had been different, neither am I helpless. Deep breath. Making a nice dinner for my DH, because I love him, no matter what.

Great idea. Thank you!!! Thanks for helping me process this before talking w/DH. Thanks to all who added their opinion. Each family and dynamic is different. I can -- and have -- handled things when DH was out of town. But this time felt different for some reason. I realize that I was disappointed -- unreasonably so -- but that verbal tone and other support (AAA, family) meant a lot in this situation as well. Blessings!

He just called to say he was sorry, but that it was a very important meeting and he was in charge. I have no problem calling AAA....but it was frustrating to have to wait on hold for a while and then learn that he did not pay the bill. This is not the first time DH has done such things (like once I was at the airport and my flight got canceled and he was too tired to pick me up...). There are few taxis in the area (and no public transportation until the next county) and getting any taxi to carry me and three kids would take a while....directions to my house include "turn left at the cows." I think this is very much a difference of opinion between us, and I thank all of you for sharing your thoughts and letting me vent here first. I am the sort who would drop anything to help him or our kids (and I do work, but very part time)...and he thinks differently. Not wrongly, just differently.

Thank you all. I didn't realize this was potentially a rule breaker. Honestly, I'm trying to process my feelings before he comes home from work. Yes, he definitely gets in "work mode." I think the 10 min thing, then the AAA thing, are def bothersome. In his defense, we weren't in any danger.

Excuse my while I vent and have a mini pity party. Thank you. :) This morning at 8:10 my car wouldn't start. I think I need a jumpstart. I call my husband, who is ten minutes away at a gas station, about to get on the highway to head to an 11:00 meeting a two hours away in another part of the state. He declines/refuses to come home, saying that he is "cutting it close" for his meeting already. I remind him that I am taking DD to an appt @ 9:00 for which we will be charged $80 if we don't give 24 hrs notice for not coming. He says he's sorry, but that he has to go, and rattles off a list of folks to call before he hangs up. So I try to call all whom he suggested.... -- AAA. My first inclination. On hold a long, long time. Turns out, the membership lapsed for non payment. He pays the bills. I specifically remember AAA calling last year asking us to renew, and DH told me he had already done so. -- My insurance co, which does offer roadside help. Just not our particular type of policy. -- My mother in law, DHs stepmom, who was going to watch the other kids while DD is at her appointment. She says she's sorry about my car and sorry that she won't see us today. No offer of help. -- My neighbor, who isn't home. -- The car dealership - no such service offered Finally, I call a friend who graciously drops her plans, comes over, gives me a jump, then watches my kids while I drive to Auto Zone to get the battery tested. I don't know....I guess I'm just hurt that DH was willing to let his wife and kids sit at home when he is 10 mins away, knowing that it would cost $$ to miss the appt. And that we don't have AAA, when he told me we did. And, I am getting over the flu and feel like crap. :) Thanks for letting me vent.

This case is similar in protectiveness to the Otterbox, but not as expensive or bulky. http://www.tridenteer.com/products/Kraken-Case-for-Apple-iPad2-%28Black%29.html My 3 yo has thrown the ipad onto the hardwood floor with nary a problem.

We make "blessing bags" and keep them in the car (in fact, we need to make more). I take a gallon-size ziploc and put travel-sized hygiene items in there, plus a granola bar, bottle of water, tissues, and a dollar. My daughters sometimes include a note to the recipient. We had a recent situation where we gave at the stoplight, and the woman immediately started digging in the bag. I was so worried, thinking, "Don't go for the dollar, don't go for the dollar...." She found the chapstick, opened it, and put it on immediately. She said to us, "I really needed this. God bless you." Made my kids' day. More info here: http://kwavs.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessing-bags-how-to.html

My DD was transferse at 36 weeks. I saw a chiropractor like the PP mentioned. DD turned head down in two weeks.

Definitely fewer intestinal problems. Don't want to go TMI, but when I cheated recently, it was horrible. (I've been gluten free for 7 months). The other thing is that it has forced me to eat healthier, such as more fruits, veggies, etc. I have leaned more Paleo style versus just replacing processed foods with the Gfree version of bread, crackers, etc. I have lost eight pounds, but going Gfree is all I have done, as I still will eat out, have wine at dinner, etc. Good luck!!

Something of high play value, meaning it can be used for many different activities. Lincoln logs, soft building blocks, arts and crafts things like paper and nice colored pencils or crayons. Good luck!

http://gapsdiet.com/

I can't access either (though maybe because I am on an iPad?). Sorry!

Not sure about any in that area. There's a Book Exchange in Norfolk. Maybe Richmond would be better? Diversity Thrift is awesome. There's also a used homeschool exchange there http://www.edexbooks.com/

A family at my church has two limb-different children and will soon be adopting their third. Here is one of them playing guitar with his toes. He also plays cello. He can drive and text. He has no arms. No advice for your DD. But maybe the video will be inspiring?