My experience was with a 2-yo tasting it, but I'm glad to know I need to keep my guard up in the future! BOYS!

Not to long ago I had a pretty serious amount of cash and was going CLOTHES shopping just for me. I went to Banana Republic at the mall closest to my home. The sales staff was HORRIBLE. I was waiting for a dressing room and when one opened up, the lady went and put another person, who had been behind me, in the room. When I asked her she made some lame excuse. So I promptly handed her the stack of clothes I had been considering and explained that she had just lost a significant sale and I would be taking my business elsewhere. Of course the manager noticed that I was unhappy and started offering discounts keep me in the store. Sorry, that doesn't do it for me. You can keep your discounts and you can keep your clothes. I know I looked like a "mom", not one of their normal clientele, but there is no excuse for treating any customer like that. Now, I take myself and my four kids (the herd, as I affectionately call them) and troop through that store on every occasion just to see them cringe. But they won't be getting my money.

If the fat free is that good, think how good the full of fat version is... yuuummmm!:thumbup:

Hamburger from Texas. And we drink coke (any carbonated, sweetened beverage)

I've come to the realization that I've really not taught writing to my girls at all. Yes, they are young, but now that I've noticed this, I am not sure where to start. We do *some* narration with history and science. We do quite a bit of copywork, usually a bible verse, a few sentences from a book we're reading, and their grammar rules every day. They do great with the copywork (aside from the penmanship). So, where do you start with writing. Last week we dissected an owl pellet and I asked my oldest dd to write about it. What it looked like, what it felt like, what we found, and if she enjoyed it. You would have thought I asked her to write a book. There was just a deer in the headlights look on her face. So we tried the old, "How do you make a peanut butter sandwich?" routine and we had a great time. However, she still didn't write in complete sentences, but then I've never taught her how to write complete sentences. I've never really looked at writing curriculum before. We've used FLL/LLATL (red book). But I need some direction here. Any ideas? Thanks!

I am one of those people that does not have to have " AN ANSWER". I go back and forth on so much of this. I am a creationist, but young earth/old earth, intelligent design, assisted evolution, ARGH. I don't know. And I don't need to know. It isn't going to change the way I live my life. I feel the same way about the end times prophecies. To me, the bible clearly states that we will not know the time or the day. The end will come like a thief in the night, so, other than reading the warnings to the churches in Revelations, I'm not going to try to decipher it. All the debate in the world cannot come up with "THE ANSWER" so I'm not going to spend the time and energy on trying to find it when I am completely comfortable not knowing that answer. I know that won't work for everyone, but I figure that is something I'll get an answer to someday without making myself crazy in the process.

I would say something to her. I haven't read all the other replies yet, but hope this is helpful. I have a *friend* who is also a ps school teacher. She taught my middle dd at our church preschool when she was 3. My dh had just joined the military and was gone a LOT during that time, and this dd didn't handle it very well (either did I). Since then, and my dd is almost 7 now, this woman still makes comments about being concerned about the 'socialization' aspect of hsing. It was always in relation to my middle dd, who is now the sweetest, funniest, most caring child I know. She took that one experience and has determined that it was my fault that dd was very quiet and shy when she was 3 and going through a very hard time, and it must me hsing that has caused it. Finally, I turned around and asked her if she was concerned specifically about my child or if it was a general hs concern. She was a little blown away when she stopped to think about it. I invited her to actually spend time with my child to see that she's fine. I also explained to her that hsing is hard enough without my *friends* questioning everything I do. I have made an educated decision about what is best for my children, and until she has actually spent time with my children and witnessed what we are actually doing, I would rather her not belittle my children, me, or our choices. Now, I do have to say that we are not terribly close any more. We are still friendly, but it seems like this really put a wedge between us. Know what? I don't care. I have enough doubts of my own without a completely ridiculous doubt being forced on me all the time. If she were actually concerned about my child, that would have been different. She was just speaking out of ignorance though. I don't accept that as a reason to attack me or my child.

That is so true of me too. That we made it through my teen years is a miracle. I don't really know who she 'expected' me to be, but I know she's very content with where I am now. As am I. *I* never expected to be a stay-at-home, homeschooling, wifely character, but it is a perfect fit for me since I got over my dreams of grandeur (I was sure I'd be a ballerina with the ABT in New York, then I grew up). I wouldn't change it for the world.

I use the Pur minerals from Ulta and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I'm not sure, but I believe most of the mineral makeups are very similar. It is $23.00 for the compact, but that is concealer, foundation, and powder all in one. So, that is really not a bad price. Plus, it seems to make my skin less prone to break-outs and all I have to do in the morning is brush on the make-up and I'm set for the day. Can't say enough good things about it!

I know I've heard this mentioned, but I know nothing about it. They are starting up classes this fall and I'm wondering if it is something that would be useful for my girls. I have an 8 yo and almost 7 yo. We've avoided co-ops of all sorts for a while. My dh will be deployed this fall and I don't want to get involved in something that isn't flexible about us being out of town. One of the biggest reasons I hs is for the freedom to run home to mommy when dh is gone and I'm losing my mind! But I want my girls to get involved in something with other hsers....they are feeling a little lonely in the world of ps kids at church. Any info or opinions (and I'm sure there are some!) would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

We use the website, www.mathisfun.com. They have an addition trainer where you can set the amount of time and they see how many problems they can get through. My middle dd loves doing this. They also have a "test your multiplication skills" which goes through each family of facts. I have my older dd do it three times for each family. It has helped alot.

I've seen this before and it freaks me out. I can ONLY see her going clockwise. DH and kids can see her switching directions. HOW??? I know it is something about the side of the brain you use, but it really weirds me out to watch the kids think she's changing directions, when OBVIOUSLY she's only going in one direction! (obviously my control freak self coming out)

It isn't a big deal for my other kids. If the tv is on, they will watch. If it isn't, they're content to do whatever. My oldest is definately a tv fanatic though. We've taken long breaks from the tv because she couldn't seem to realize that the things on there are not real. She argued with me for an hour about whether there was a Tipton Hotel in Boston or not (a la disney channel). Now she does LOVE Discovery and Animal Planet, but she is addicted to Hannah Montana and junk. If I hear the phrase "sweet niblets' out of her mouth one more time, I think I'm going to scream. But all that aside, she is grumpy when she watches tv. It's like her patience goes out the window. So, we're off to the library to find some good books on tape. We have to get this figured out before DH gets deployed or I'm going to be in a world of hurt. Of course, the weather is getting nice again, so out the door they go! Hooray!

I know, it's my fault. Well, at least mine and dh's fault. Genetics probably play into that addictive personality. DD LOVES television. I limit tv to time in the afternoon when the baby is sleeping, so I can have a little time by myself. But, Sunday we didn't have any tv. The girls played well together, it was a great day. At 2:30 this morning though, DH woke up and oldest dd was in the living room, watching Flintstones. At 2:30 in the morning. She couldn't sleep, so she decided it would be fine to watch tv. She's 8 for heaven's sake! Already a tv junkie! :confused: So, now, I have to figure out how to go without an electronic babysitter for the next week. I just crave that hour in the afternoon. (But it isn't about me):crying:

My BIL is a firefighter in the air force. My sister, who lived in one city her ENTIRE life, picked up with her two children and her husband and moved to England with him. It has been the most wonderful thing for them, but with communication as easy as it is now, I still talk to her 2-3 times a day. My brother is based in Germany and when he's there, we talk to him regularly as well (he's in Iraq right now). Just a little :grouphug: and hope you can be peaceful with whatever he decides.

I had a wonderful, eloquent amazing reply all typed up and my computer kicked me off....so here's a short version of what I was going to say earlier. My entire problem with bumper stickers like this is that there is no way to target who reads this. If a fellow Christian reads this and agrees with you, great. If someone says they are a Christian and disagrees with you, all that happens is that someone gets angry. If a non-Christian reads it, they think "How ignorant." But most importantly to me is the person who is considering an abortion, or who has had an abortion that reads that and thinks, "There's no place for me in Christianity." Like someone said earlier, a person who has had an abortion isn't automatically ****ed to the hot place. I know people who have had abortions, suffered through the consequences and have gone on to be great Christians. I know a friend who will have nothing to do with Christianity because of the condemnation she felt for something she did when she was 16. Is that what Jesus wanted? She can't see Jesus for the Christians. Things like that defeat every bit of evangelism and light shining in this world with one stupid bumper sticker. I believe abortion is wrong. I believe someone, no matter what they think might be ok for another person, if they truly KNOW God, will realize that the inconvenience of an unwanted child, or the result of someones r*pe, or inc*st, can be overcome without taking the life of an innocent child. A teen girl who is in one of those horrible situations may have a hard time because they think the world revolves around them, but, hold on a minute....It doesn't. Perception is NOT reality. The reality is that the abortion would more than likely add to the problems already caused by the circumstances they are in. The people I know who have had abortions are still, more than a decade later, dealing with unbelievable guilt and sorrow over their choices. Even those who aren't Christians. But if they have an abortion for any reason, it doesn't mean they can never experience salvation. The person who tells them they can't is in just as scary a place, IMHO! So, no, I would never have a bumper sticker like that on my car. However, I did see one last night that I would LOVE to find.... WWBD What would Bubba Do?? :lol: (It's a southern thang!!!!)

I totally agree. And the biggest problem I have is that after the politicians decide to fight, they refuse to get out of the way and let the military do their job. Someone said earlier that they don't think the President needs to be an expert in military matters. I agree. BUT, the politicians, once committed to combat, need to allow the military to finish the job, not yank them back (or talk of yanking them back) the minute their poll numbers drop. This isn't a situation where we can just change our mind in the middle. We have to finish our job there, i.e. a stable Iraq, or all of this would have been in vain. THAT would be a waste of the last five years.

If you look at the government that is being put in place, it isn't a copy of an American government. Look at the text of the Iraqi Constitution. The similarities are there, but there are glaring differences also. It is a religious government. Islam is the official religion of the government. Do you think that would fly in America? If we want it to be just like America, they should not be allowed to impose their religious beliefs through the law of the land. But they are doing just that. Is that wrong? I don't think so. It is their country. I know our model of government isn't perfect, but it works relatively well. I can't think of another framework that they could build on that would work better. There is also the point that again, we are referring to these Iraqis as something different than us. Yes, they have different history, culture, lifestyle. But saying they are 'different' than us, they don't want freedom like we have (had), is demeaning and belittling to them. I will grant that their idea of freedom may not be as far reaching as ours simply because they haven't experienced it. But that they don't have the desire for that freedom, and that they can't live with freedom because they haven't experienced it is absurd. Right now, their freedom may equate being able to worship as a Shiite, Sunni, or Kurd without fear of persecution. Tomorrow, it may be the freedom to be educated equally, regardless of ethic background or gender. It will grow with their experiences. I don't believe we are 'forcing' our experiences on them. Just giving them the opportunity for their own experiences. There are so many different aspects to this war, political, humanitarian, mercenary that there will never be an answer for all aspects of it. But again, the facts remain that we are there, we have created a situation that will only erode if we pull back immediately, we have a responsibility to do leave something better than we left it.

This is the best website. He was embedded with my brother's unit in 2005. Amazing coverage. Scary, but at least I felt like I was getting a true picture of the situation.

I really, really, really am bothered by the idea that the Iraqi's don't desire to live in a free country. Now, obviously, it won't be a replica of the good old U.S. of A. but a country where you aren't killed for disagreeing with the leadership, or for being of a certain ethnic/religious background. Are Iraqis less human than we are? Is it an Arabic trait to desire living under a dictator? We throw it around that they aren't "ready" for freedom.....well, how do you get ready? How long did it take America to live together as a nation? We've always refered to the Civil War as when America really had to grow up. That was 90 years after the start of our nation. We expect them to have a perfectly organized nation in 5 years? Also, I think we have a seriously warped perspective on time. If it wasn't done yesterday, it didn't happen fast enough. How long were we involved in WWII? Vietnam? The idea that we can go in, remove the leadership, aid the formation of a new government and be out in 5 years is naive. Believe me, I want this over as quickly as possible. DH, my brother and my BIL are all military and have been deployed numerous times, but the reality is that doing the job right, i.e. training the Iraqi National Guard, the police, helping the government and infrastructure get up and running effectively, is the only way to ensure that we aren't back there in a real mess in a few years. Progress is being made, troop reductions are in the works, the Iraqi people are taking an active role in the stabilization of their country. Wasn't it Anbar Province that was handed back over to the Iraqi's a few months ago?

:iagree: Couldn't have said it better Antonia.

The website, www.mathisfun.com has an addition trainer, and test your times tables. The addition trainer is timed, the multiplication isn't, but the repetition is great for my girls. Plus, IT"S FREE!!!! Also, Timez attack has a free basic version that just basically drills the multiplication. The girls loved it initially, but got a little bored. Good for a change though. We also do worksheets. We time how long it takes to do 25 problems, then we do it again (the same sheet) in the afternoon and they try to beat their time. We can't do this together though because whichever child has the longest time pouts for ages.

I was just introduced to this a few weeks ago, but let me tell you, it is a HIT! We use it as a main dish with salad at our house, or as a side, veggie....you decide. Broccoli Cornbread 2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread Mix 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 eggs 12 oz cottage cheese 2 sticks margarine (melted) 10 oz. chopped broccoli (cooked & drained) 1 small can chopped green chilies 1/2 cup chopped onion Combine all ingredients. Heat 9 x 13 pan with oil & cornmeal until hot, pour in mixture and bake @ 350 for 35-40 minutes. That is correct - NO liquid.

The Dallas World Aquarium is amazing. It's set up like a rainforest and you start at the top and walk down through the layers of the rainforest. It is well worth the money, IMO. http://www.dwazoo.com/default.html This is absolutely beautiful. Dallas Blooms is going on at the Arboretum, and it is stunning. There are LOTS of fun things for the kiddos. This is the place that always gets my vote. http://www.dallasarboretum.org/ *Just looked at the ages of your kids. They probably aren't into face painting and petting zoos, but it is still a beautiful, peaceful wonderful time for the bigger kids. Old City Park is alot of fun also. I haven't been down there in a few years, but it is fun to visit. We always go to the Farmer's Market while we're down there also. Of course, the Farmer's market is fun for me anytime, the kids love too. You could also go down to Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum. I've never taken the kids, but it's interesting. http://www.jfk.org/ http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org/ http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.org/ Have a great time! Dallas Blooms would definately get my vote. It's supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, so you could definately enjoy the time.