"Fat man and Little Boy" is the movie about the making to the A bomb. Excellent movie and very accurate on the details (although John Cusak's character is based on a few different people). Some adult content though (how could there not be!). Our family visited the Trinity Site in New Mexico this year. It's only open two days a year. It was truly nauseating to be inside the little house when they built the bond. Lindsey

Love Rabbits as pets! My only caution would have been if you had dogs with predatory issues. But it looks like dogs aren't an issue for you. I had mini lops and rex rabbits growing up. The rex followed me around like a dog and the lops we sweet gentle little bunnies. Check the animal shelter. Ours usually has a few bunnies. Rabbits can be litter trained which is nice--but they still need a cage for safety reasons as they tend to like the chew . You might also want to consider Ginny pigs (although my preference is bunnies). Lindsey

Those of you with several pets, how do you keep you house from smelling like an animal shelter. We have a cat and two dogs and an assortment of foster pets we take in for the animal shelter (that are too young to be adopted or have had surgery, respiratory illness etc.) and I've found that when we have foster pets it's so hard to keep the house from being smelly. I clean litter boxes and bedding daily, scrub the kitty cage a few times a week, shampoo the carpet between litters, use the plug in type air fresheners..... but it still doesn't smell great much of the time. Any advice..... Lindsey

Wish my 9 year old could write like that, let alone my almost 7 year old (who thinks writing his name is a chore)! Shoot what was your other daughter writing at this age? :tongue_smilie: Lindsey DD 9 DS 6 DD3

looks like I'm in good company! My big problem is the the Belgian loves to "rearrange" the blankets, so I make the bed and ten minutes later the blankets are all over the place. Oh and the poodle likes to sleep under the covers! We don't have quiet so many cats. 1 permanent cat and usually a few foster kittens from the shelter. And sadly no horses in our city house.:glare: Lindsey DD 9 DS 6 DD 3 (And dear cat 14, dear dog 10, dear puppy 7 months)

Thanks for the suggestions. We don't eat wheat which is why I didn't include breads, pancakes etc. I can't believe I forgot the eggs--we eat eggs a couple of times a week! Lindsey

Amen sister!:iagree:

I'd be concerned about the message these people are sending your daughter. IE you and your family are not capable of making good choices regarding sexuality and attire. Also, agree with the person who said the mom should have addressed things with you not you dd. and I'd be concerned with the message that the mom is sending her son: "Your not responsible for your own sexual feeling people should all tiptoe around you so you never have any." Sorry you have to deal with this icky situation. How do your children feel about the family? Lindsey

I'm working on coming up with a "Bare Bones" Cook book for myself and for my kids. Really basic stuff for when I'm not feeling creative and also recipes that I want my kids to know how to make when they leave home. So what recipes do you think every one should know? (Oh and we are a "low-gulten" family). Here is what I have so far: Tacos Enchiladas Fajitas Burritos Spaghetti Chicken/ shrimp/or tuna Salad Chili Stew Chicken soup Pot Roast “Meat and Potatoes” (Chicken, Steak, Pork Chops Chrispy Chicken (ie Fried Chicken but baked not fried) Beans and Rice Gumbo baked beans Curry Baked Chicken So what am I missing? Lindsey

How do you keep memory work from becoming boring and tedious? I have several things I would like the kids to memorize this year (time line, Classical Conversations Science Cards, Map Work, Math facts) My kids are not great memorizes and I'm worried they will become burned out if I just have them recite things every day. Also do you do all the memory on each day or one subject per day, half the memory work for each subject each day. How do you do review as you gradually add more. Do you use some kind of incentive system for memory work...... Help any and all memory work advice welcome! Thanks, Lindsey

Alright! Guess I'm just spoiled by Denver. I'll just pay my fine, and quit my bellyaching and remember to say "Thank You, Denver Gov." Next time I go to my wonderful Denver library!

What does your library charge for late fees? We live in CO and usually go to Denver although we live in Aurora. Recently we went to the Aurora lib. I returned the books today and was told I had a $30 Fine!!!! The books (15, all kids books) were 1 week late! At the Denver library they give up several weeks grace for kids books! Any way that's the last time I will be going to the Aurora lib. I'll stick with Denver thanks you! So is this common do most libraries charge .25 a day per book with no grace period? Lindsey DD 9 DS 6 DD 3

I would assume it would be based on the grade level of the test because there would be a much larger sample size for the students who were taking the test for the grade level they are in. So it the example you stated I would guess the percentile scores would be that of the 4th grade students (unless otherwise stated on the results). Also for the Grade Level Equivalent score it shouldn't matter if they are scored as a 3rd or 4th grader right? Lindsey

Cal. Natural is a good food. We occasionally feed avo derm but mostly our dogs just eat food--as in what ever the rest of the family is eating. The older dog has allergies and the hair around his eyes was missing for 10 years until I switched to feeding "people food". If what we are having really wouldn't be good for the dogs or we don't have enough then I feed the avo-derm. With such a small dog it would be easy to feed real food. By the way any food is likly to cause digestive upset if the change is sudden. You might just need to give it time. Also I dog that small might just not need a lot of food so the Iams might be fine--he (she?) might just require so little food that it looks like she doesn't like it.....

For the Barking: Start by teaching both a speak and a quiet command, it gives you control over the behavior. First when you know she will is about to bark (maybe have the kids ring the door bell) say "speak" when she barks (because the doorbell rang) quickly give a treat and say quiet. She'll be quiet for a second (because she has food in her mouth) now HUGE reward: several small treats so it takes a long time to eat it, lots of praise. Work on teaching "speak" and "quiet" like this for about a week (it usually takes about 50 pairing before the dog starts to learn the word) Then start to increase how long she needs to be quiet to get the treats (go slow, very very slow here) Don't use it at the door until the dog really understands what it means. After the dog understands I introduce a punishment for barking after being told to quiet (I like the high frequency air-horn type thing called Pet Corrector but you can also use a shake can). The key to training is always follow through! Sometimes this means I let the dog bark when I'd rather they didn't because I can't follow up on a quiet command. (Oh and I've had shelties and mini poodles so I know barking!) For the over excitement Work on a stay command. Start with short time no distraction (ie no kids) and gradually work up form there. Also really think about having your dog around other people's kids. My dogs are well trained obedience titled dogs (one even has search and rescue experience) but I usually put them in crates when we have other peoples kids over unless I'm right there. Why? Because dogs are dogs and kids are kids which means both are unpredictable! MY dogs and MY kids are totally trustworthy together, but other people's kids the dog might not put up with the same indignities. Just my two cents. Lindsey DD 9 DS 6 DD 3

Well some where around the end of 1st grade my DD was reading well so I dropped phonics thinking she could just read lots. I have come to regret that choice and picked up a "advanced phonics" workbook for her to do this year. She is a great reader, but if she meets a new, long word she is lost and her spelling is horrible because she just doesn't know the sound patterns. And yes, we have done spelling since first grade. Needless to say with my son I will be doing phonics until at least 3rd grade. Lindsey DD 8 DS 6 DD 3 DP 6 months

I never tried A I went straight to B when my dd was in 1st. With her I loved RS! We did level B and level C. Then it was time to add DS to the mix and doing RS with both of them was just too much! So I took what I learned from right start and used it with CLE Math with is much more of an independent learner program. I still love RS but just couldn't do it! You may want to try level B or just read through the teachers manual and use the ideas in a less formal way. Lindsey

I would put it on par with "being read to" as in book I read to the kids and book they listen to on tape are equal. I haven't really been keeping track of either books on tape nor book I read to them at bedtime--but now that you mention it I think I will ( in a separate place from where I keep track of books they read to them selves):glare:

Hi wondering if anyone could give me a recommendation for a devotion book. I'm looking for something short (like 5 minutes) to start the day. We are slowly getting back to school and my kids are pretty young still so they've got the wiggles this time of year. Here are some devotions we have enjoyed in the past: Leading little ones to God The 5 minute devotion book (the one with an animal theme) One year devotions for preschoolers In general I don't like the devotion books where they present made up kids with made up problems--not sure why but those just rub me the wrong way. Thanks, Lindsey DD 8 DS6 DD3

Dee, That's exactly what I ment... Thanks for saying it so well!:001_smile: Lindsey

I wish I had spent less time looking for the perfect curriculum. There is no such thing! My advice (to myself) would now be do a little research, pick something and stick with it. There will always be days when it's no fun, too repetitious, when the kids don't get it, no matter what the curriculum writers say! Also sometime less is more. Sometimes the outline of history book that leaves time for free reading and free crafts is better then the all bells and whistles!

You may want to take a look at URthemom.com --self-taught homeschool ideas using any curriculum.

Thank you everyone. This really helps. The point about each child being ready to be home (no sib. babysitting) is really good-- I was wondering about that already. Especially since the 6.5 year old is almost as responsible as the almost 9 year old. I think I will start working on getting the older two ready to be able to stay home for short periods while I go for a quick walk (3 year old can ride in the stroller). I think I'll need to get a phone for them, talk to neighbors, go over rules. The front yard and biking issues are a bit more tricky as we live on a fairly busy road . I think if they had a phone or walkie-talky I'd be OK with sending them across the street to the cul-du-sac to ride together. Thanks, I think I now have some goals and a bit of a plan to get there (for the short term). Sometimes it's overwhelming to think of all the steps involved to go from where they are now to being full-fledged living on their own adults! Lindsey DD 8 DS 6 DD 3

My nearly 9 year old is starting to want more freedom. While I'd love to give her more freedom and more responsibility I'm not sure.... And I can't remember what age my parents let me have certain freedoms. So, what age do you let your kids... go in the front yard without you? stay home for a short period of time with you near by (like if I took the dog for a walk around the block)? Babysit younger sibs? Ride bikes close to home but without you right there? I know it depend a lot on the individual child, I'm just trying to get an idea. Also what would indicate to you they might be ready for such responsibility? Lindsey DD 8 (almost 9) DS 6 DD 3

I have kids of a similar age (just not as many :001_smile:). I agree that combining as much as possible helps, but some things don't combine well for that age range. Primarily Math and Language Arts. At our house we combine for History, Science, Literature, Bible etc. but use Christian Light Education LightUnits for Math and Language Arts. Seriously it changed my life last year! My 8 year old is able to go through her lessons COMPLETELY on her own (only occasionally asking for clarification on new topics!) My 6 year old still needs me to read directions and do reading with him, but even he is learning to do his work independently. Also the 8 year old is able to help the 6 year old by reading directions if I need her to. Lindsey DD 8 DS6 DD3