You could also try Rusk's Str8t and a blowdryer - but go for the hair straightening:)

You sound like a great candidate for getting your hair professionally straightened. Expensive, but worth every cent (NO more frizzies and it lasts about eight months).

Just ask him to sound out the first AND LAST letters. He'll begin to fill in the middle sounds in no time. It won't be long before it all comes together... hang in there!

Zillow.com is another interesting site...

Please let us know what you find! It sounds interesting... and, you've got me thinking twice about our power bill!

You almost, always, probably do not need to do Saxon K. If you do Saxon K, do the last 1/2 of the book over the first half of the year, then move into Saxon 1 for your second 1/2 of the year - and keep going with that pace each year. Or, chuck it all and just start Saxon 1. The calendar work in S1 is gently worked in, and reviewed with each lesson using the strips. The sequence for a "quick" learner would be: K - S1 1 - S2 2 - S3 3 - S5/4 4 - S6/5 In 5th grade, you can continue Saxon or start the Life of Fred series (eight books covering Fractions through Calculus and Stats). With LoF, you can add the Saxon fact sheets each week for practice. The sequence then is: 5 - LoF Fractions and LoF Decimals and Percents 6 - LoF Decimals and Percents 7 - Beginning Algebra (add reading living history/math books) 8 - Advanced Algebra (add reading living history/math books) 9 - Geometry (add opportunities to work with simple statistical data, charts and graphs using teaching supply/store workbooks) 10 - LoF stats 11 - Saxon Physics If you have a mathematician, you can continue: 10 - LoF Trig 11 - LoF Calculus (add Saxon Physics) 12 - LoF Stats

A blog/article from 2007: http://theprotagonist5.wordpress.com/2007/11/04/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-your-appliances/ It's $0 if you use a solar oven... If you are in SoCal or the desert, your bread will even brown in a solar oven (it comes out with a light, light top with out intense light/heat).

I hope my response didn't sound too curt! I do want to say that you are VERY fortunate to have found such wonderful friends. Keep building (protecting) the relationship until you are at a time when you do not feel you need to self-censor your activities and conversations, and all will be understood as love rather than a possible ulterior motive.

Read beyond your rationality...If it "feels" wrong...it probably "is" wrong. Take it as a prompting that this is not the right way to build this relationship on this earth at this time. How about a beautiful bookmark from a commercial outlet, and a handmade one from your daughter? At that age (9), kids want to express themselves-a homemade gift may be the way to do this rather than give a part of her possessions. Side note. I hate the book Rainbow Fish. It teaches kids to give away a part of themselves to get friends. I'll admit, even though I'm a child art/play therapist, as a parent without that experience, I still would probalby mull over the motives behind why a child would give away their personal possessions to others.

Oops. I came in after your decision. I'm glad that you are at peace!!!!

I'd go with Becky. Get the basics down. Spend the time with your 4 yo - get her excited about lessons as well. If you choose Becky or Beth - just make sure that they allow time for your student to practice songs of HIS/HER choice and not just be limited to the progression of books in one series. A good teacher will let a student plunk out STAR WARS or HSM songs along with technical work. We've run into piano competitions that are more of an ego builder for the teacher (and for some parents, more than their child). Some competitions end up being more between the teachers and are used to build up piano businesses rather than truly be used as an outlet to help a student progress. Competitions can build confidence in the student, or stress them beyond what is necessary. Before the pre-teen years, and especially before Level 5 in most series, I'd observe one before I would enter my child...

I look at SWB... you could use her as a role model... even if you try to do 1/5 of what she does:)... Working, writing, teaching, travel, speaking, researching, running an inter-generational home, whew!

I come from the POV that we all need to keep up with educational pursuits - even if they are viewed as hobbies by others. So... While you may be inspired to put off your formal education for now, you need to ask yourself, really, how much would you put off? I imagine that you would still be interested in the field of education, and would continue to read about it, research different parts of it, and by osmosis, pick up tons of info and opinions by continuing to homeschool, research hs products and continue to keep up with hs boards. Weigh the time spent on those pursuits with time spent on your formal education. You may find you will have to give in your personal areas to fulfill formal needs to obtain a degree. If you choose to delay your education, don't feel you will be delaying your "education!" You will be building your knowledge about the field and could be very prepared once to do go back. It's a win-win if you keep it all in perspective. Now, if you continue your education, remember this: Many, many homeschool philosophies (WTM/WEM, CM, TJEd, LCC) stress the importance of continuing your own education - the minimum of that would be reading ahead of your student learners so you can teach/mentor/supplement your home teaching. This is also stressed in TOG, KONOS, and other curricula. Their hope for us as homeschool parents - is that our own passions are lit and that we move onto a higher phase of learning for ourselves. Example: When I first started out, I was weak in history. I would have been around oh, eight years old in my grasp of cultures beyond America. I began by reading tons of teen and adult fluff historical fiction about people around the world. This built up a base to move onto deeper readings from factual books. In keeping "at it" it became fun - I now am a nerd that enjoys reading original texts, some even, in Latin (thanks to teaching Latin to my kids, I grew an interest in this area as well). The perfect time for you to attend to your own academic pursuits is while your children are attending to theirs! While they are doing school, you can do school too. You can block out time where you are not to be disturbed (spin it so your kids view it as time THEY cannot be disturbed). During this time, your kids (any age) can do quiet activities (reading, computer, worksheets, timelines, coloring pages, etc.). Through the day, have short intensive teaching moments with each child, and as a group whenever possible. These moments should provide a base for them to go off and continue to study (through reading, worksheets, computer, a DVD etc.). The adage "It's about you, not them" is misunderstood and hard to wrap your head around - but it is true. If you are able to pursue your own passions, you will become a model for THEM, your kids. You are ahead in the game in that you already homeschool and understand that learning happens ALL the time, not "just" during formal lessons. There are many stories of parents that obtain degrees while homeschooling or while working full time - and how they have inspired their own children as students. It's not egoistic to put yourself first - the key is to balance this with short, intensive teaching times 24/7. As you learn about classroom management and pedagogy, you can also home teach some of those sub-subjects: conflict resolution techniques, scheduling, interdisciplinary learning, etc. AND, you can implement different learning style techniques in your own home. You may be able to use your homeschool as an independent project, or for your journal. Good luck! I believe it is wise to have a plan to fall back on! Consider the time and effort a form of self-life insurance - it is a way to take care of yourself and family during trials.

We block too. I love being able to flex the subjects within the time blocked out while working with my youngest. My older child appreciates having time blocked out for her subjects rather than do them hour by hour. Blocking lets her have control within each period to do her "work".

What worked for me (20 lbs, over 5 mo., kept off 1 1/2 years now) was a combo of wisdom from WW, JC and SBD: Limit your daily sugar intake between 30 and 60 grams per day (a 1/2 glass of milk has 11 grams - you will be amazed at all the hidden sugars in other foods!). It's ideal to hang out around the 30-40 mark when dieting AND maintaining. Eat fist size meal portions (about 1/2 cup), or less for TWO meals per day (lunch and dinner). Meals should include the following: 1 protein, 1 veggie, 1 fruit, 1 grain per meal. You can start by eating anything you like if you limit the size. As you progress to life changes, you can make your meals to include raw/whole grains, veggies and fruits. Limit breakfast to 200 calories per day. Limit snacks to 100 calories (anything you like; 4x per day). You may want to also limit your fats between 10 and 30 grams per day. Go for the lower end when you are dieting, hang out at the upper end to maintain.

We had to "call" the tooth fairy (aka molenator for our son) when DD lost her first tooth - she had it knocked out and swallowed it. Her second tooth was knocked out in a sledding accident - blood in the snow, but no tooth. Again, we figured it was swallowed. Calling worked for us when we did not have a tooth as proof. Calling also worked when we had to have a tooth pulled for early ortho work.

DD11 has black tee style shirts from Target that she pairs with colorful print tanks or wears under jean jacket style blazers. She also has a black church skirt and dress that are paired with colorful or print shirts. I have not thought about black as being pegged to an age. DD is not into the "goth" look and at this time (I'll never say never...) isn't attracted to that look or culture in our community. My favorite black story is from my mother. In the 50s she was meeting her future MIL. She worked in the fashion industry as a model (as did her mother). When she met her future MIL, she was worried about wearing black nylons. They were VERY cutting edge at that time and was afraid she might have been thought of as a "tart". Well, low and behold... when she stepped out of the car, she was greeted by her future MIL who too, was wearing black nylons! For many today, a negative connotation to wearing black is just a remnant of a past cultural mores.

If you really get into making these, you can even make your own tortillas with a simple dough recipe (or an elaborate one with spices and veggies) and a tortilla press. The tortilla dough balls can be frozen in advance and take out to make a week of tortillas (or as needed).

Favorite candy?

It's still "early" here:) Favorite comfort food?

I've never hosted, but I lived with them when my parents hosted them:) We had one the following: One from Mexico - a delight! One from Mexico then her sister, making it two (her exchange fell through and my parents took her on). These two were very privileged, elite, girls. They were appalled that they had to empty their own room wastebaskets and do a few chores. They came with ball gowns that they insisted on wearing to a fall/harvest/homecoming dance. It was rough for most of the year, but in the end they turned around and have been very close family friends. My parents visit them and travel with their parents now. One was from Germany. He came to us after his first placement didn't work out. He left is after six months thinking ALL Americans were ignorant. It was not a good placement for him, or us (or the people before us). We believe he was just one of those type of people that think their heritage is the best - and the type that compares, and compares to see only the negatives. One from the Czech Republic - another delight! We are still in contact with all but the German. All have come from families with servants so you may need to ease them into your "humble" routines. Over all, our students had "ideas" of how Americans are (media, magazines, Baywatch, Dallas...) and are often shocked that most Americans dress simply (prudishly). They thought that the outfits of people on the American game shows were a poorly dressed minority of our population. They clearly understood the freedom of speech that we had, but were perplexed by the lack of other freedoms that they took for granted (wine with dinner, expresso drinks through the day, nude beaches, school clothes rules that curb sexuality rather than accentuate it, and makeup - they loved makeup). They were appalled at our educational system (again, these student were elite, and often from private schools). Because they were academically ahead much of their year was spent in pursuit of social activities. You may need to be willing to do lots of day trips and cultural outings depending on the program your exchange is through. At one point, each student went on either an east coast or west coast trip as part of the program. Each exchange student came knowing how to read in English better than they could speak, but after a year of immersion, all left fluent. You will only have a month or two of pantomime, drawing and writing things out before things settle in. It obviously was a great experience for our family - we did back to back students through the high school years! Good luck with your decision.

As far as female hair removal fads and uproars through time, first there was the dress that covered it all, then the razor (especially when pantyhose became popular), then NAIR, oh and Epilady, waxing, and now, LASER... There is no right or wrong on this one, it has more to do with cultural mores and community customs. If you live by the beach, are a gymnast or swimmer, you'll probably partake first with the razor, then move quickly onto something that goes to the root of the problem for convenience. When you get to that "stage" your personal product choice is either chemical (depilatory) or "natural" (wax). We're in a social trend to use more natural products - so waxing it is... That is, until you are tired of it all and head to the mall for a few LASER treatments. But, to push a girl into any of the above before she feels she needs to address the issue... well, ugh.

Even though your child is doing fractions now, it's worth getting the LoF Fractions and doing two to three lessons per week. At that rate you will complete it by Christmas. Fifth graders can easily start LoF Fractions. Use LoF Decimals and Percents for the rest of the year. This gives your child a solid, solid base. After Decimals and Percents, jump into Beginning Algebra. I have to admit while we are loving LoF, we do a large amount of reading from Dover math classics, and other living history/math books. I also "assign" one Saxon lesson per week letting my DD choose one lesson from the four I would have regularly assigned (if we were solely doing Saxon).

Love, light, hope, miracles, comfort, peace, tranquility, clarity, time, strength, legacy building, vigor, freedom from physical and emotional ties, correct counsel, fortitude, friendship, privacy, solitude, continued dreams and aspirations fulfilled, faith and trust, ease, reassurance...and all else that is in my heart to express right now. Peace to you as well!

I love sweet potato fries! Ditto on the advice to coat in olive oil and turn once in the oven for a more roasted version. If thin enough, they will crisp easily in the oven. I also sprinkle sea salt on them. As for eating... They are great with pineapple or mango salsa. My all time favorite meal is to spread red pepper hummus on toasted garlic bread and top it with a few slices of roasted sweet potatoes. They are also great with a balsamic, spinach salad. Enjoy!