Sigh. I'll have to strategically place tables. I had actually already considered placing the kids on blankets. I'm so mad at myself! DH isn't too thrilled with me either.

I am hosting a big party in a few weeks, and I figured I'd give my grass a little boost before the end of the season by spreading some fertilizer around. Now our grass looks worse than before with multiple patches of yellow, dead grass. Everything I've read states that you have to reseed those areas. Anyone have any luck with just watering the heck out of the grass? I'm so mad at myself. The party is the 21st.

My son started bringing these sheets home last year as a gear up for CC starting this year. Now my dd is bringing them home. I LOATHE them. He is dyslexic- the writing portion was far more difficult for him than figuring out the problems. And for me, too. I just don't think that way.

It'll drive you crazy if you have to pay $11 a head and you see kids walking around eating nothing but chips or a plain tortilla...but it WILL happen. This. My count didn't actually even include kids 2 and under. Communication is a little difficult with the caterer as her English is not the best, so BFF's dh is the mediator. He's all business. He stated "everyone with a mouth." I wonder if I could still negotiate the kid thing though. My kids are super picky- they WILL just eat chips. I think it would be hard to keep the kids separate with their own babysitter and food since there may be quite a few, although I may consider that. It would be fun to make it adult's only, but I know a lot of people wouldn't come, and family would be irritated. My neighbor says she knows someone that may know someone else that does the same thing. So I'm waiting to hear back on that long shot.

So maybe leave off the "children are welcome" part as well, and let people decide for themselves re. the late time?

Hhhmmm... I hadn't really thought of that. Of course if you got a sitter, you wouldn't have to worry about your OWN kids getting fussy, since the party starts at 7. I thought it might decrease the number of people. I wasn't planning to provide children's activities. Although my daughter suggested glo-sticks in balloons to play with in a dark open area in our yard. Lol. If my kids aren't around- it's a date, so maybe my date-night expectations aren't that high. Even if it's a trip to Home Depot with DH sans kids.

I'm throwing a surprise fiesta for my husband's 40th this year. I have about 65 people on the guest-list, including several of his professional peers and clients. I'm suggesting that children are welcome but that it would make an excellent date night. Most of our friends and all of our family will bring their kids, though, I think. I'm not sure about his coworkers, etc. My bil/sil have generously offered to supply the alcohol. I have a friend doing the music/emceeing. I will have to rent some tables/chairs. I will need to borrow / purchase linens. I want this a nice affair, but not formal. DH hasn't had a party since he turned 30. I have several options for food. 1) Catered with my friend's in-laws. They would do carne asada and chicken tacos grilled on the premises with rice, beans, green salad, chips, salsa, and horchata. Everything from scratch. They are Mexican so it would be very authentic and the carne asada would smell wonderful adding to the ambiance. And, I wouldn't have to worry about setting up/cleaning up. I could actually enjoy myself! I also know the cooking is excellent. We don't have a grill and my in-laws said they would buy a cheaper model for dh's bday. However, it's $11/person which I'm cringing at. My husband is.... thrifty. "Surprise! Happy Birthday! Here's the bill!" I've considered trimming the guest-list to make this work, because I really think it would be AWESOME! I've found "taco bar" options on Craig's List for a little cheaper, but I don't know what I'd get. There aren't real websites, and the few pictures are meh. Our neighbor, who gave me the idea originally, used someone that quoted me $13/pp for essentially the same thing. 2) Get take out from a nearby restaurant. I have access to two chafing dishes. My original plan. 3) A friend- not a super close friend- offered to grill fajitas for the smell and suggested taquitos and stuff from Costco. I'd be concerned that I would "owe" her though, since she's doing me a favor. What say the hive? I have about a month until the party.

Oops. Posted in the wrong forum. :)

I'm throwing a surprise fiesta for my husband's 40th this year. I have about 65 people on the guest-list, including several of his professional peers and clients. I'm suggesting that children are welcome but that it would make an excellent date night. Most of our friends and all of our family will bring their kids, though, I think. I'm not sure about his coworkers, etc. My bil/sil have generously offered to supply the alcohol. I have a friend doing the music/emceeing. I will have to rent some tables/chairs. I will need to borrow / purchase linens. I want this a nice affair, but not formal. DH hasn't had a party since he turned 30. I have several options for food. 1) Catered with my friend's in-laws. They would do carne asada and chicken tacos grilled on the premises with rice, beans, green salad, chips, salsa, and beverage. Everything from scratch. They are Mexican so it would be very authentic and the carne asada would smell wonderful adding to the ambiance. And, I wouldn't have to worry about setting up/cleaning up. I could actually enjoy myself! And, I know the cooking is excellent. We don't have a grill and my in-laws said they would buy a cheaper model for dh's bday. However, $11/person which I'm cringing at. My husband is.... thrifty. "Happy Birthday! Surprise! Here's the bill!" I've considered trimming the guest-list to make this work, because I really think it would be AWESOME! I've found "taco bar" options on Craig's List for a little cheaper, but I don't know what I'd get. Our neighbor, who gave me the idea originally, used someone that quoted me $13/pp. 2) Get take out from a nearby restaurant. I have access to two chafing dishes. My original plan. 3) A friend- not a super close friend- offered to grill fajitas for the smell and suggested taquitos and stuff from Costco. I'd be concerned that I would "owe" her though, since she's doing me a favor. What say the hive? I have about a month until the party.

Agreed.

Thanks. I had a hard time finding a modern history program for early logic stage.

I'm using K12 this year. We haven't started it yet, though, so I can't attest to it yet. I wanted it to be super easy for me.

Finding modern history for 6th/7th grade was a challenge, so I decided on HO since I liked all of the literature and maps. Now that I have it in hand, I know there's no way ds could do all they ask without a lot of handholding. I really need it to be more independent with less writing. I went gung-ho and already have the lit books and encyclopedia, so it's been a large $$ investment already. Scratching it and going with something else isn't really a good financial option. Besides I really LIKE large portions of it. I'm just not sure how to tweak it. I did find this: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/454809-history-odyssey-has-finally-defeated-me/?hl=%26quot%3Btimeline+software%26quot%3B&do=findComment&comment=4700882 which offered some good ideas. Other ideas without making a huge monetary investment? I need him to be fairly independent with history.

:iagree:

I had never heard of this book, and it is included in History Odyssey Modern 2. It seems like it may be a bit intense for even a mature 6th/7th grader like my son. Does it have an anti-Christian slant?

Thanks! Looks like I'll need more.

I'm just curious as to whether there is enough grammar in the program in order to drop formal English grammar. Or is that just a crazy dream? My son is in 6th grade.

I really need something fairly independent. I would love it to include literature. Any reviews for history odyssey modern period?

OK, I can really empathize. My daughter was so unengaged and difficult I finally put her back in ps. When asked what she was interested in she would say nothing. Her attitude was demoralizing for her studious brother and left me angry many days. I grit my teeth at all the richness she is not exposed to in ps, but it has been the best choice for my relationship with her. Her grades are fair in school, as she is the master of getting by with doing minimal work. She just doesn't care! Sigh. I also worry about her success as an adult. I'm not suggesting you go so far as putting your daughter back in school, but it had really reached a point that she was unwilling to put forth any effort. Hugs to you!

I know this was newly released last spring with discounted ebooks... Has anyone used it or thoroughly looked through it yet? Is it worth the price? We used RSO chemistry 2 years ago and loved it, but, wow, what sticker shock! Other recommendations? I'm not sure we can justify the price.

Thanks! It's printed and handed off!

I did. I figured there would be more traffic over there. Thanks for taking the time to answer me....twice!

Is there something downloadable to teach multiplication/division of fractions? Somehow DS missed a thorough explanation of this as he missed everyone while determining placement for CLE next year. I looked at Math Mammoth's green book, but it doesn't appear to explain how they are done. Maybe MM with Kahn Academy?

Anyone?

Anyone with any on-line suggestions?