I sort of agree and sort of don't/ We do have a Wii, and a DVD player. The kids watch a few movies a week, play Wii on the (Wii)kends ;) for a bit, and play computer games a little during the week. The time they spend outside, or drawing, or playing far outweighs it. When it is time to turn off the technology they do fine. However...when friends come over for playdates video games are not an option. If it is a sleepover then they get to play for an hour after bedtime.It is a treat, they enjoy it, yet they play other stuff for the most part. I have one family that tends to plug them in when they go over there. I am talking walk in the door and turn on a game with a tv playing in the background.I limit playtime at that house because they do turn into video zombies. SO I am on the moderation wagon. We do what we do, and I think any parent can do what they want and that's ok. I hope you can find some like minded friends for your kiddos!:001_smile:

I agree, it is huge. That is part of the draw to me! Welcome. :001_smile:

Yes, all the time. Usually two at a time :lol: . I am not at all concerned about it either.

We average 6,500 gallons per month for a family of 9 plus animals. We are crazy conservative with our water though.

Congrats!!! I think it is sweet that he pays attention for you.

I saw that one. It haunts me. Truly made me anxious being in a car for the past month. I see the images when I close my eyes sometimes. My husband said the same thing. Especially the real footage halfway through, with the highway...heartbreaking.

I google "easy ice cream recipe" and try a new one each time. Easy is my key word! I really like the ones that you have to cook the day before though. Good luck and happy eating! :)

:iagree:

No flu shots here either. We haven't ever done them and have no intention of starting now.

I have had a couple of friend/families enroll their children after homeschooling and they both had to have their children tested at the new schools. One was Sapulpa, one was Bixby. The tests were not standardized tests, they were put together by the teachers and were not difficult. They did accurately assess some learning delays, but the kids also scored high in their high areas. One family had all the kids placed in grades 2-3 years behind what they wanted, the other family had all children place at level or even a grade higher for one. Another family I know from our homeschool group has contacted Hominy about enrolling and they also require their school test to be administered. They told her that it is not a state test. I hope your friend is able to make a decision she is comfortable with. OK is very homeschool friendly in general , but they do(as a previous poster said) try to actively discourage bouncing back and forth.

Hi, and welcome! :)

Loved this thread. We tried that chocolate smoothie for lunch and it was a huge hit! I didn't tell them it had soy sauce until after they drank it :D . We try to do 1 a day, I really want to move to two a day.This board is inspiring on so many levels.

I have noticed that I have certain triggers for yelling, and it usually is not even the children! When I am overly tired or hungry or hurried I tend to start yelling. It is not rational yelling either, it is me venting on my poor kids. :confused: Since I paid attention to that(because I also recall my mom going berserk and it was terrible) I have hardly yelled at all. I told the kids that these conditions affect me, asked them to politely tell me if they thought I was doing that, and to forgive me for when it did happen. I think they felt good about being part of the solution to (admittedly) my problem and things have been smoother around here ever since.It has been almost 2 years since we made this change and I think I have only yelled a couple times. I don't know if that is exactly what you were looking for, I hope it helps to at least know it is a common thing. :grouphug:

50 minutes to the nearest hospital from us. We have gone and made it in 40 when Griffon needed stitches, and our neighbor who is an emt said that for most injuries they would bring a helicopter for speed out here. I think it would only be 15 minutes flying. We homebirth, our midwife is comfortable with the distance to the hospitals. My last 3 babies have all been less than 2 hour labors.

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful baby!

Another large family where everyone has at least 1, most of us have more, and there are multiple translation copies on the shelf.

We drive a 12 passenger "church" van. I have 2 carseats per row, with the middle seat empty in two rows, and the end seat empty in the front row(smallest of the littles). Carseats are so bulky...good luck to you in this tetris like quest.;)

We have a wood table from Ikea, with mismatched wood chairs and benches. It is huge, and is the hub of our house. We eat there, school there, play games there, and just sit and hang out there(way more than our couches). So far everything wipes off easily, and the pen that was gouged into the wood came clean, though it left a path to remind us.:001_huh: It is not my dream table at all, but it is a very good functional table. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20182315 I had my dream table before we got this one. It was destroyed with paint and toddler distressing attempts. :glare: Good thing I value my kids more than said furniture!

We spend about $1000 per month, for 10 people.(My nephew lives with us). We buy raw milk, organic when available, and alot of fruit. Little in the way of prepackaged,lots of bulk ingredients. We raise our own eggs and meat, and have a substantial garden...that helps a bunch. I look at food as preventative health care in alot of ways, so I do sacrifice to have us eat well.

Country, hands down. We have done both, and there is no chance we would willingly move back to a city. We can drive to a large city in one hour, so we have choices, but it is quiet, we have alot of animals, and it is simple out here.

They look great! We are starting SOTW 2 in two weeks, I am very much looking forward to doing this.:D

You just fueled my fear of parking garages to new heights. :lol: I will not park in them(12 passenger van) and am clutching the armrest when dh does, although he has no fear at all.

:iagree: I feel far more comfortable "talking" online than I ever do in face to face social situations, and I avoid calling people like the plague.

That's great! I would be floored too.:001_smile:

DH works until 10, gets home around 11. We obviously eat without him and try to have breakfast be our big family meal. In your situation I would maybe eat dinner alone and try for special family dessert time? Or as MamaAkins said...enjoy the times he is home and plan on your own system the rest of the time.