Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the supportive tone and nature of your replies! All of this is good. I like the idea of the kids making a list, and then getting to help set up the menu. Maybe our "health" lesson each week should be helping me make a menu plan and the accompanying shopping list!

I made a mistake way early in my elder son's life: I didn't establish a regular routine. He gets up when he wants, eats his breakfast when he wants, chooses what he wants to eat... THEN we finally get to start school. When it's time for lunch break, we go through this "what are you going to eat?" process again until he finally feels full. Then I usually give him some time to play with his brother until we can finally get back to work to finish our day. So the problem is multi-faceted: 1) no set wake-up time 2) I let the kids decide what to eat for breakfast and lunch which sometimes takes too much time making the decision and then "finding" enough to fill their growing tummies. 3) This sets us up for an irregular schedule making us feel rushed once we finally get started and putting us [or me at least] into a "mood" I'm looking for suggestions on how to gently establish a routine. The boys do go to bed at reasonably regular hours [though the elder boy often reads in bed at night; I hate to stop this, but....]. The younger one has been getting up REALLY early despite no changes in his going to bed time. But he's pretty good about going to the playroom and playing quietly by himself until one of us gets up to feed him breakfast and get him changed. I've tried before to suggest having a family breakfast ["We're all going to have X for breakfast."] but elder son balked, and I think younger will protest now. Still, I think that makes the most sense, unless elder is willing to get up earlier and feed himself. I know I need to have a family discussion about this, and come up with a family plan. I just want to be ready with suggestions for the inevitable objections. Thanks!

Re: why spectators came to watch the 2nd & 3rd tasks of the Triwizard Tourney: I don't think so because Dumbledore talked Mermish to the Merpeople to find out what happened under water and why Harry took so long; he in turn explained to the other judges and that caused them to score they way they did. Maybe it was a masquerade? And Cinderella had teeny-tiny feet; very few if any girls in the kingdom had the same sized foot, right?

Oh, that's good to know! I only have the primers so far, not sure if I said, so I didn't know that. I'd heard there was a lot of writing, but didn't realize it was like that. :) Do you think I should stop having him do the writing in the primer, or have him do it cursive? Will that confuse him that his book shows him to do it one way, and now I'm saying to do it another? Hmmm, maybe I should get the sandpaper letters afterall.

No, they tilt in so the cats can't get into them, and if it /were/ blood, it was a lot of it, and I'd notice a wound that big on the 3yo. All I can think is some sort of oxidation, but I just can't figure out what. :(

It is my son's job to "swish" the toilets at least once a week. I used to do it every day a la Flylady, and would put Mr. Clean in the toilet brush holder. But with kids and cats, I stopped doing that for fear they'd get into it. The other week in what I thought was a fit of pure brilliance, I decided to put some vinegar in the brush holders instead [keep in mind, these are the kind that tilt in when not in use so I can't see in them when they're closed]. I only managed to get one of them done though. I've been noticing that there was some dirty smudges on the floor around the brush holder [DS8 isn't too observant in these matters], so today I went in to check on them and clean up a bit. When I opened the brush holder, the vinegar was blood red!!! Like, forgive the TMI, as if my period had started into the brush holder!! I can't figure out what happened. These aren't the kind that are bristles twisted into metal wires; they're the "French" style like this. I guess I can't rule out metal inside it, but.... And if I can't use vinegar, what CAN I use?

I bought the Get Ready For the Code series for my 3yo because he enjoys doing "school" with his big brother. But I've also been reading about cursive first, and wishing my 8yo had done that since he REALLY struggles with reversals, spacing, etc. [We just started Logic of English] Is there a way to combine the ETC and cursive first? We're almost done with the A primer; is it too late? [he often skips the writing pages]

Awesome! Thanks, ladies!

:auto: :bigear:

by Mary Casanova? I was planning to do this for our next read-aloud [we just learned about Louis XIV and read "Man in the Iron Mask" [adaptation]], but one review on Amazon mentioned "love scenes" and another rec'ed it for girls 11-14? My son is 8.5. How mushy-lovey is it? TIA

Popeye's Taco Bell [ETA: shoot missed it was on your list--poo!]

Bolt is another bus company in my area.

The app didn't turn out too helpful. I'm switching back and forth btn BBC News and CNN on our Roku.

Has anyone ever had an au pair? The exchange student thread got me thinking about this again. I just think it might be fun and a rich experience. I don't need it so much for the childcare.... Hmmmm... DH thinks it might be expensive though; I've only skimmed the surface. Pros? Cons?

I just downloaded the app "Elections-2012" that promises to have live results and videos from election night at my fingertips. I can only hope. But if anyone has some other resources I'm :bigear: We have a Roku, and obviously internet.