[Who would like to manage this group? ;)]

That is why I am here. My inbox is full of pending members. I haven't posted on the boards in about 3 years.

[Water for Elephants]

Yes! Although I am not going in with high expectations, the movie is never like the book. And Water for Elephants is one of my favorite books, so I hope they don't mess it up too much. :001_smile:

 

Not sure about the casting, not what I pictured...but we'll see, it may work. :001_smile:

 

I may have to go to the theater for this one, which I rarely do. But not sure if I want to wait for the DVD.

:iagree:That has to be my favorite book ever.

[Are the gas prices changing your lives?]

It won't affect us too much until May. We don't do too much driving this time of the year. Once Summer comes around here though we might have to change what we normally do or combine trips.

[would you purchase a TV series on DVD?]

If Mad Men was on Netflix(streaming) I would not have bought them.. I have watched Firefly a few times as well, but since that is on Netflix streaming I won't buy it.

[would you purchase a TV series on DVD?]

Already have. I have the Mad Men seasons 1 through 3 on dvd. I can watch those over and over. :001_smile:

[Pi Day]

I make 3 kinds of pie that day: apple, pumpkin and cherry. I've never thought of doing pizza, but we might include that as well. We also usually read the Sir Cumference books just for fun that day. Yes, I know I am a bit of a geek.:D

[Story of the World book vs audio?]

We use both, but we use the cds so much more. If I had to choose one or the other, I would choose the cds. The kids listen to them over and over and over..even as bedtime stories.

[Which TV series should I watch next?]

From that list..Quantum Leap! Great series!

[Would you let your child get a DS or a DS lite?]

I get that this is some sort of game, but what is a DS? I am so out of the technology loop sometimes. :lol: I like it that way, but then it leaves me scratching my head...

[How have your DC shown they're learning-even in Feb??]

At the moment I know they are learning because the two older kids where explaining to the 4 year old all about how his machine wouldn't work because he hadn't completed the circuit. Then they helped him make it work.

[Does anyone have a simple recipe for homemade moisturizer?]

I just use coconut oil. it doesn't require any refrigeration. It is solid under 70 degrees, but it melts when you touch it. I use just a little and rub it in. I love it.

[What projects are on your dining room table(or wherever you put them)?]

The past 2 weeks here we have been doing more projects than usual. The kids are stuck inside more than usual and without the projects they start to bicker more and more.

So, at this moment we have a very large pyramid made out of sugar cubes complete with inside chambers almost complete on the table. There is a volcano on a nearby table that the kids nt to "explode' at least once a day. jars of what may turn out to be rock candy are on the hearth. There is a crystal garden in our dining room as well. At this very second, our living room has become snap circuit central. They have made radios and door alarms and at the moment are making different types of fans(much quieter than door alarms).

 

Any projects at your house? I'd love to hear about them, I think this winter will be lasting a bit longer and I could sure use more ideas.

[Totally Random, is it odd in America to not own an eletric can opener?]

I have a manual one, but years ago(25) I had an electric can opener. I also had a very smart cat. That cat would put his chin on the top of the opener every.single.morning. at 5 am. It would wake me up. I got rid of that opener and vowed never to have one again unless I no longer had a cat. I still have cats, no electric can opener.

Jenny

[History audio cds]

My 8 year old has devoured SOTW. We are studying modern times right now and I need something else. He listens to SOTW vol 4 every single night and just about knows it by heart. Is there any other history on cd for modern times? Audio cds for adults are a bit beyond him and he loses interest...is there anything out there that we are missing? He has asked if there was anything just about WWII, but I am looking for more than that. Thank you in adance

Jenny

[Diet Frustration!!!!]

:iagree:

Eat more fat.

 

You will not survive long term on a diet that is low fat, low carb and low calorie.

:iagree:

[Fiscal and Social Conservatives]

That would be me! Hi! Less Government in all areas would be lovely!

[Any one go gluten-free just for the heck of it?]

I am gluten free and just fell into it after eating low carb for awhile. all inflamation issues I had before are all gone as well as hay fever. I don't bother trying to bake gluten free though, I just go without baking. I find it easier to just give up breads, pastas and cakes, than to try to make a substitute. But, I also eat no grains at all, so it isn't just gluten, no rice, no barley, no oats, etc... I don't know if that is helpful.

I don't find it any more expensive, we just eat lots of meats, fish, nuts and seeds, fruits and veggies, and eggs. Without the "fake" foods it is a great and easy way to cook.

[Reading]

This is what I have done with both of my children about that age. ( my daughter two years ago and my just turned 8 son now).

 

I went through and found as many books as I could in our own library that were very much below his/her reading level...not even grade two but really easy books ( with a few in there that were close to reading level but not over). I put those books right by his/her bed ( no school books allowed, this was enjoyment reading only). Then I told the child that these books were to read at night if the child wanted to. and, if the child wanted to read at bedtime that they could stay in bed and read as long as he/she wanted to. When I got low on easy books, I got some from the library and then started putting in ones I thought the child would like, but were slightly higher in reading level. I always make sure there are more than 15 books to choose from at night and gradually they become a bit harder, but always something I think the child would really like. Of course, then they pick out their own books, but at first I did the choosing just to make sure there was no frustration to interfere with enjoying a book.

 

For my two oldest children who were both very reluctant and unsure readers this has worked like a charm. There are nights though, that I do now tell them they have to go to sleep. and if I find my son in bed playing with legos instead of reading( has happened a few times), the lights go out immediately. lol

My daughter is rarely anywhere now without a book nearby, and my son is becoming more fluent daily. plus, he loves certain series of books and that really helps too!

HTH and good luck!

[Ped visit and mom having to leave the room]

Aggie, I can't remeber if I ever knew where you live or not, but I have to say that would make my mouth drop open to the floor. I can tell you, that law or no law, not only am I NOT leaving my dd alone with a doctor, but no doctor is talking to my child about sex...that would be my job.:glare: They can tell her about sex and stds when she is paying for her own appointment and is an adult.

[What are my other options?]

 

Ah, sorry. It gets really complicated when there are multiple books with the same name. :tongue_smilie:

It does indeed! ( But I have found some great books that way too):001_smile:

[What are my other options?]

Well, I have a 5th grader and not an 8th grader..but I am willing to say that it would be on the lighter side. I think though, that Mrs. Mungo is thinking of the Landmark biographies that are totally unrelated.

[What are my other options?]

We have the audio cds of William Bennet's books but there is also Larry Scheikart's "A Patriot's History of the United States". We love that so far. also, The Landmark History of the American People". by Ruth F. Boorstin. FWIW I also own Hakim's books and did find that I had to skip over entire pages, and did not agree with things she wrote, especially as we are getting into more modern history (1900's). HTH

[Which spelling program should I use? And why?]

All About Spelling here too! I didn't get SWR at all, and spelling by learning lists seemed too much like busy work. With all about spelling it it all in the books and on the white board. My kids don't like the tiles anymore, but they did when they started, so if i was doing it again I would buy the whole program. We will not change again! This last year was our first year using it.

[FIAR - just for fun?]

FIAR never worked well for us. We read the books and did the geography lesson and that is about how far it went. My kids were not interested after day #3. We found quite a few very good childrens books this way though. So, I ended up using it as a literature guide when they were little. So, for us we did end up doing what parts we liked just for fun.

[What "consumer math" programs do you like?]

I had never really thought about this before. Thanks for asking the question, now I am off to look at a few books. :001_smile: