No drilling.

We read this outloud a couple of summers ago. My girls really enjoyed the antics of Tom and Huck esp. the suspenseful parts towards the end. The Whole Story edition includes illustrations and helpful definitions/explanations of things that were common when the book was written. And my favorite thing about this was that the explanations are in the margins of the page so you aren't flipping back and forth. I found it really made the book much easier to understand and enjoy. Hope this helps, Cindy H. in NC

Wednesday and re-read it with my younger dd. Your kids sound like alot of fun. Thanks for posting this, Cindy H. in NC Mom to dd 10 and dd 7

CM type group that meets every other week for poetry recitation/art study and one of the leaders has been working on lessons from this book- Drawing with Children - with the kids after lunch. This is so great because I had no clue how to continue with the book after the group switches to a different after-lunch activity. I am passing this website along to the leaders of our little group also. Thanks again. Cindy H. in NC

We have been looking forward to seeing this and today's been so busy I nearly forgot. Thanks again for posting about this. :) Cindy H. in NC Mom to Samantha ( age 10 ) and Kate ( age 7 )

I pledge the flag, I teach my children to do so. However, not everyone feels the same way and I have a vested interest in making sure *their* rights are protected because I want *my* rights protected when *I* go against the majority (like my decision to homeschool). :iagree: completely.

is in the same boat. I have tried several programs also, and we are currently using a Calvert Spelling cd. Even if she works to learn the correct spellings and pass a level the correct spellings nearly never are used when doing writing assignments or in her personal writing. My daughter is also a great reader. Sorry there's no real help here but know that I will be watching the replies as well. Cindy H. in NC

These are illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. The titles we have are The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde and The Deliverers of Their Country by Edith Nesbit. (The Nesbit book is a fun dragon story.) Another from this series that we have read from the library is Little Red Cap by The Brothers Grimm. I'm not sure if this book, The Matchlock Gun, would be considered a short chapter book or a longer picture book. But it has several pictures and the story really grabbed my 10 and 7 year old dds. Hope these help, Cindy H. in NC

My (then 6 yr old) dd had a very small part in a local community theater's Christmas production and I think the acting bug has bit. :001_smile: That's great for her as it is something that can be her own - as in her big sister is so NOT an actress/singer. But she has a tone deaf mother and father with no experience at all with either singing or acting. Anyway she wants to try out for the summer musical and she has to have a song prepared. For the Christmas show she just had to sing a holiday song and they provided musical accompaniment. I need ideas for a cute age appropriate song. I am truly at a loss. Maybe I am overthinking this but all I can think of are the old Shirley Temple songs or maybe something from Annie. She wants to sing something from Cats but all of those seem too hard for a child of her age. Any ideas would be appreciated? Thanks, Cindy PS The musical is Honk! (which I have never even heard of before).

My dd ( age 10 ) is learning to knit and we are planning to read The Secret Garden aloud this spring. I need this book :) and can't find it listed on Amazon. Thanks so much for mentioning this book. I am always amazed at the wonderful things I learn about on these boards. :) I know it should be where. I will now go lurk quietly ( said with head hanging in shame ). :0>

I will check out these sites tonight. Cindy H. in NC

purchasing/trading website? We are interested in entering the stock market both for ourselves and our two girls. But we have had two recommendations from friends and just from looking over the sites, I am still not sure which one will be the most user friendly - (definition beginners):). What do you think of E-Trade or Vanguard? Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance, Cindy H. in NC

Which could be nothing:). But what about photography or movie making ( if you have a camcorder you would be comfortable with them using ). My two are girls also, but are only 10 and 7. However my oldest really loves photography and what works well for us is she can work on it herself doing nature photos or using photoshop elements on the computer. BUT she also has a very willing model in little sister so this can keep them busy doing something together. I don't know if that would be something your girls would enjoy or not. My girls also would like to make movies, but I really haven't let them mess with the camcorder yet. My girls also enter lots of things in our county fair - from crafts and photographs to baked goods - and that seems to give mine something to work towards with their hobbies ( my youngest loves to cook ). Whether they are trying new recipes or a new craft, coming up for ideas for the next year's fair entries keeps them trying different things, and it is a great way to figure out what they like and don't like.

I found a VHS copy of several of the PP episodes at a local thrift store last year, and my youngest loves these. My absolute favorites growing up were Johnny Quest, Inspector Gadget and Scooby Doo. Of course I watched almost all of the others already mentioned also. :D

find the mate is to throw out/destroy the sock you have been hanging onto for however long. :D:D I almost always find the lost mate as soon as I let the girls turn the sock I have been holding onto into a sock puppet or paint rag. :D Cindy H. in NC

( which is a big if these days :-) there was an older version as well. The version we used 3-4 years ago was too young IMHO for a 9yr old esp. one that is already reading well. My dd used the program to help with auditory processing during speech therapy and for additional practice at home. It was very good for what we used it for but I would be hesitant to pay $40-50 in your situation with out a specific reason for the program. Perhaps you could google "Earobics and see if there is a higher level. I hope this helps some, Cindy H. ( excuse me if I am not coherent because I have been in a Nyquil haze for 3 days now :-)

I am homeschooling our two girls, and have from the start. Cindy Mom to S age 10 and K age 7