Thanks so much!! That was a great break down! I like the idea of a spelling / WW rotating schedule.

I have the exact same question. PLUS how does one determine where to start? On one sale sight someone lists book for as 6-8th grades, then another has book 3 listed as 3rd grade. I am confused!!!

Most retailers have special pens to mark the bills to check them. They may even sell them? Is your local bank open? They will check with the pens as well.

Check your local Goodwill or Children's Orchard or Once Upon A Child stores. They always have good choices for cheap!

I don't bother with links/blogs. What I do is google things like, "teen girl room" "teen girl bedroom decor" etc. Any combo of words you can think of. THEN I don't click on links, I go straight up to the images link near the top of the page and then you'll only get pictures. You can scroll through tons and skip the words all together. Hope this helps. :001_smile:

You are not alone! I only have 3 (one with physical disabilities though so that's like an extra kid sometimes) and I have many of the same struggles as you! I have a VERY strong willed 5 yo, and 2 tweeners with attitude. I too struggle with getting going in the morning, staying on task and getting it all done before they 'escape'. The rule is supposed to be no electronics until after 3pm but I have not held to this and it really hurt us this last week. Last year we had so many places we were running to and from each day with the littlest in preschool and the older two doing art/music at the local school. DS also had PT and OT appts. as well as 3 mos of Psychologist appts. Then we volunteered once a week at our thrift store. We were often behind and I was often overwhelmed!! This year I thought it would be so much easier with littlest at home doing K and the older two only doing after school activities. No PT/OT or otherwise..... Well, I have discovered it is still as tough because of ME! I am not the most disciplined person in the world, I spend too much time 'gearing up for the day' and too much time on the computer. I am really struggling with myself now that I realized how much of our day depends on my attitude and my consistency with discipline! All three constantly test me, only take me serious 1/2 the time and I often don't get results / obedience until groundings or consequences are threatened. Sigh! I say all of this just to let you know you are not alone AND to thank all of you who answered her post. I gleaned from them as well. We are leaving to go out of town for a week and I am praying upon our return I can work harder on my own discipline. I loved the idea of PE first thing each day. I have a good month til it gets too cold around here but I will try!

Beautifully put! I just don't like when people say that 'saying' to me as if it were biblical! There are many times I have had way more than I can handle!

OK, I just realized I was so tired I thought I had written 4'7" but actually posted 47 inches. He is actually somewhere between 4 foot 5 and 7 inches. We can't get an exact measurement as he feet are fixed in a toe down position. Thank you all for the info. on your boys. I do have a referral to a dietician on base from the ped. I have yet to call and make the appt. as we have been very busy. You all have encouraged me to get on the horn asap. The boy does LOVE his carbs. I keep telling myself I am not going to buy them....but then keep doing it. My biggest problem is that my entire life I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain a pound (not so much anymore). I struggle because I never learned to cook healthier and have a hard time finding recipes that are low carb that the family will eat. I was told diabetic cook books are great resources but the recipes don't look like something the family will eat. Looking forward now to seeing the dietician for some accountability.

No charges with our system. And you can return them to any library in the system as well.

Ok, my son is 10 1/2. He is on the 'husky' side. He is only about 47 inches tall and weighs 100lbs. BUT he has a disability which limits his calorie burning. Folks with his disability tend to run on the heavy side as adults if they are not careful, further limiting their mobility. I am wondering how much 'typical' 10 yo boys eat? I know growth spurts affect things, as well as meds, but for those of you at a typical point in growth with your boys, I need your input. For example, tonight I made breakfast for dinner. Before dinner he munched on some Baked Lays (a handful) and some cashews. I then let him have about 20 Cheese Nips as dinner was running late and he'd had no afternoon snack. For dinner he had 2 egg burritos with cheese, a sausage patty, grapes and a string cheese. He had a Dove mini choc. for dessert. He is now complaining that he is still hungry. I always ask him to wait 20 mins to be sure. If he is still hungry I will give him fruit, yogurt or string cheese, etc. I won't let him have any more carbs after dinner if I can help it. Anyhow, is this a lot for a 10yo boy or normal range? His 9 yo sis had the same dinner but only one burrito and is full.

Ick, ewww, shiver, blech!!

Going soon ourselves. Only 3 days though. Doing air/space museum and Amer. history (which we are studying this year). If you want to tour the White House, email your state reps. 3-6 mos. in advance to request tickets. It has to go through them. They need at least 35 days to do background checks. We are not able to do this because we didn't have foreknowledge of this. BUT we do get to tour capitol hill (again contacting your reps). Hoping to get face time too since the SBAA (Spina Bifida Assoc. of America) is trying to set us up with appts. along with their lobbyist to escort us. My son has SB and they love to bring in families as the 'face' of sb. Those others of you with any special needs in your fam. contact your national associations. VERY COOL! We are excited and nervous. he he

To the OP, so sorry for the loss your family/friends are going through. Prayers have been sent up. As parents of a child with special needs (very physically obvious) we call these remarks "bathroom cross stitch". And that is where they belong, in the bathroom with the rest of the crap! I have always hated the comments, "God never gives us more than we can handle." (which by the way is NOT in the bible), "I could never do what you do." or the worst, "God has special rewards in Heaven for parents of special needs kids." Really, and you know this how? Again, not biblical. Not helpful either. I would much rather someone say, "You know it really sucks to have to deal with what you do each day. But from the outside looking in, you handle it so well. But please, let me know if there is ever anything I can do to help out." Anyhow, I try and show grace as I know folks just can't understand sometimes, and don't know what to say. But a simple, I am sorry, I am here for you, I am praying for you or what can I do to help are by far the best!

We used just MUS Gamma last year. I am continuing this year with MUS Delta, BUT adding in MM. I felt a bit 'worried' because of the way MUS moves up by mastery. I felt there were some gaps in the kids' math skills. We have started this year by only using MM 3rd grade as a review. When we are past the multiplication lessons, we will jump back into MUS. I will continue working in MM as review, differing approach and gap filler and to touch on lessons not covered in the MUS Delta.

We have received the flu shot on occasion. Our first year in Indiana we all got the shot, and still got the flu ('03). Then I had us all get both the flu and swine flu shots the year that was a menace. That's it. I don't like getting the shots. I heard somewhere it can contribute to getting Alsheimers (sic). Last year was our first year in Mass. and I decided not to get the shots. We haven't had the flu since '03.

Maybe it's hyperthyroidism? My cat began vomiting quite a bit. A blood test can tell you. It's 2 pills a day and not too expensive. The generic is about $25 for 3 months worth of pills. Anyhow if you are not likely to want to pursue medical, I would lean toward euthanasia if you can not find someone who would be willing to take the cat. My other cat got very sick and we couldn't afford to go to a vet. Husband had no job at the time and I was only part time. Barely getting by. My cat lingered for way too long and I feel horrible for not having had her put to sleep much sooner. I feel guilty that she suffered and was miserable.

I don't know too many areas well enough yet (only been here a year) for suggestions on where to live. As far as HS'ing, I was very surprised how easy it was to homeschool in Mass. All districts are not the same, and I did hear that one district/family went to litigation over it, but in our district it's not been difficult at all. And I think that was a high dollar/ritzy area. I only had to file a paper with the district letting them know I was going to HS. The district provided the form. The district admin. also asked for an education plan for the year. Some of my friend's were as simple as 'here is a link to the curric. we are using this year' to much more detailed. I chose to list the titles of each curric. and for math also added the chap. titles. Last of all I had to state my qualifications. For me that was easy as I am a former PS teacher. My other friends vary from different backgrounds and none have been denied. At the end of the year I had to send a letter stating they had met/exceeded the initial expectations for the year. They said if I wanted I could show proof with grades, portfolio, etc. but I just sent a simple letter. I also said whether or not we were continuing the next year (we are), along with the new educ. plan. No one calls, no one checks up, etc. I am pretty much on my own. My kids did attend the local school district for Art/Music but I opted out this year. Too much driving. When we moved here I googled co-ops, etc. There were none near us. The closest was not our cup of tea. Anyhow, hope this helps.

No advice, but know that you are NOT alone. sigh

If I could accomplish just one of those things per day, I would be a happier camper.

I like black. You can distress it and it still looks good. Can be 'Pottery Barn", "Colonial", "French Country", whatever. Very versatile!

Here is a book I plan to use this year http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545094372/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

My 10yo son decided last year he was going to stay home and give out candy. He uses a wheelchair for distance, and after 7 years of trick or treating him around I was really thankful he did!! I took the girls T and T'ing and dad stayed with him. We had two containers. The bigger kids got the little candies. The littler kids got pretzels, gold fish, teddy grahams. The parents seemed to appreciate that for the littler ones.

This year we are doing NO gifts as we are taking our first trip to Disneyworld around that time. So we have forewarned them that THAT is their gift. I may try and find Disney jammies before then, since new pj's are tradition, but that's it. Looking forward to not having to shop and wrap. :)

Call and ask if you can have the discount. If not, can you cancel your order and reorder??

I just wanted to post about my fun find tonight when the kids and I popped into the used book super store. I found books 1-6 (minus 5) of Hakim's "A History of US" for $2- $3 each. Woo hoo! 2 paperback, 3 hardback. SCORE! Also found "Liberty's Children" about kids from the Rev. War. We are doing US history this year and these were all on my short list. Yeah!