When I taught upper elementary PS, the subject that my incoming homeschoolers had the most difficulty with was writing and handwriting. Many times their handwriting was very hard to read (size, spacing, as well as messy). Also as others have said, those kiddos had a hard time elaborating ideas to write complete essays or stories. When they would first start in my classroom they would write just a few sentences of a persuasive essay or creative writing story and say they were done. I worked with them on graphic organizers, word choices, etc. (6 trait writing techniques).

Thank you everyone for the advice. He does seem fine and back to his 4 year old sassy self. He said his tummy hurts when you push on it, but he doesn't really wince in pain, it's just a verbal ouch. We are keeping an eye on it, dad checked him over when he got home. We are litterally 3 minutes from the hospital, so I will watch him through the night. The baby still wakes up a few times a night, so I will go in and give kisses each time tonight (he always wakes up, gives me an "i love you too" and then goes back to sleep. Thank you also for helping me not feel like a horrible mom!

Yes, dad is doing that when he gets home! The stupid on our part thing is that every tall piece of furniture in the kid's rooms are strapped to the wall. I don't know whay we never did this one. :crying:

I am still shaking... my almost 5 DS was sent into my bedroom to get something from Daddy's dresser. As he was running to our room I yelled to not pull on the drawers and if he can't reach to call me. Seconds later there was a huge crash and I screamed his name. No answer. I went flying into our room, didn't see him, but did see the dresser on the ground. He was hiding next to our bed crying. I asked if he was hurt and what happened. He told me he was climbing the drawers (has been told a million times not to do this!) and it tipped over. He was still holding on when it crashed down. The bench at the end of our bed caught the end so it never fully hit the ground. He said he hit his head and sholders on the floor, but crawled out through the small space the bench created. He says he's ok, I don't see any bruises... but what would you do? I had called my husband when it happened, buy he is now in meetings. I didn't ask him about dr or er. Do you think there is any need to go get checked out?

Wow I love those! What a creative girl.

I was due last July and had the same plan. I used Once a Month Cooking http://www.amazon.com/Once---Month-Cooking-Family-Favorites/dp/0312534043/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328670247&sr=8-1 and loved it!! The meals are really yummy and the lists/recipies were easy to follow. It took me a day and a half to make most of it (I did send my older to Grandmas to keep him out of my hair). I also spent a few weeks getting prepared so I could shop sales for the food. I was surprised the food tasted so good and everyone in the house liked it as well. I am actually wanting to do it again soon because it was so nice to just pull out meals, stick them in the oven and be ready for dinner.

It's funny you should ask this now. My DH is watching it right now, and I'm in the office playing on the computer. Last season I watching it a litter, but this year not at all. I never used to miss a show and even have a few seasons on DVD that I was just thinking about selling.

I've had mine for three years and love it. But... I bought it because I scrapbook. I have used it for school, but only for preschool type things (we made a chicka chicka boom boom tree with the lettters). I have also used it to makes lots of birthday party invites and decorations and holiday decor for our home. I have an expression and have learned to never pay full price for cartridges. I get mine off of ebay, a few internet stores, or wait for Black Friday when there are tons of sale. QVC is a good place to buy a bundle from when they are offering flex pay and free shipping. You can get an exteneded warrenty through them ans also have 30 days to play with it and return it of you don't like it (I did that with a Gypsy through them). I am very happy with it. My DH actually surprised me with an Imagine (the one that prints and cuts) for Christmas, but we took it back. It was way more machine then I needed and didn't want to have to worry about buying ink for it all the time. The mats are not to expensive to replace at Walmart, but you can also just clean them with baby wipes if they get too dirty and respray with repositionable spray adhesive. If you have any other questions, just ask. (I was actually hired to demo Cricuts at Michales, but they stopped the demos the week I started training)

Yes, I was worried when I tried one of the codes thinking it would void my paid subscription, but it didn't. It just extended it from the time it would have expired.

We have had that exact conversation here. :001_rolleyes:

Actually, no. I taught PS for ten years before having my kiddos and was shocked at how underprepared the kindergarteners were. Many came knowing no shapes, colors, letters, or even what their own named looked like. I too couldn't figure out how this basic information wasn't learned just by living for 5 years (even if they were just placed in front on the TV, some of it should have soaked in), but sadly it wasn't.

My 4 and a half year old is finishing book 2. We take turns with the handwriting part. He writes one, I write the next, but the deal is that he must tell me the answer and point to the word (if the words are given) or tell me how to spell it if it is one of the blank pages. So far it has worked well for us. I like that he is getting some handwritng practice and then sees me modeling good writing as well.

Thanks so much for that website! I found a sale nearby that will be half price tomorrow. I know where I'll be:D

:iagree: I love these and actually bought both books. There are a few more recipies that what's on the website, but it was more bacause I like flipping through the books and having them in the kitchen when I cook. http://www.amazon.com/Make-Fast-Cook-Slow-Everyday/dp/1401310044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326593734&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/More-Make-Fast-Cook-Slow/dp/1401310389/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326593734&sr=8-3

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I wanted to clarify that the 2 hours of school is workboxes with FIAR projects, crafts, cooking, science expreiments, and such in addition to the formal math and reading. We don't really just "sit" and do school for 2 hours. I guess I felt I just needed to keep pushing since I had all these plans laid out for the year, but I do see that he will still learn even if I back off for a while. He does still want to do FIAR, science, and our countires, just not any of the math and reading. He just used to beg to do school with me, but now I catch him reading on his own in his room and begging to play on reading eggs. I wanted him to be more independent, I guess I just get a little sad that's it here. I do think the 45 minute each way drive is one of the main things holding me back from the school option and honestly... I'll miss him!

Wow... just wow :crying: My heart goes out to that family.

We have two (1 for each car) and love them! The only tough thing about ordering it online is that each color is actually a different fabric. We bought ours from Amazon and at first got the Onyx. It was plasticy and not comfy. They let us return it with free return shipping and we got the cow hide. That one is completely plush. I think the blue is the same yucky material as the Onyx. I believe Rushmore is soft. It looks like our older Britax and that one is soft. My DS will have issues too. He is almost 5 and will be in the 5pt harness for a long time (he's on the small side) All his friends have regular booster type seats already. The was he was happy with the frontier is that he got to pick out the color and it has 2 cup holders that make him feel like a grown up when he has a drink in the car. :001_smile:

Well, I will admit this out loud... I had our second DS 6 months ago and tried to start the 30 day shred last week... Let's just say that everytime I have to do the jumping jacks, um... I wet myself no matter how many times I use the bathroom ahead of time. :blushing: My DH thinks it's funny... me not so much!!:glare:

My DS will be 5 in a few months. My plan was to HS him till he was more in the upper grades. I am a former teacher and former "gifted" kiddo and know that schools today will not be able to teach him and challenge him where he is at. We do 2ish hours of school a day right now. We are about to finish Saxon 1, ETC 2, is reading at a late 1st grade level, and just discovered (on his own) what multiplication means and how to do it in his head. He loves science and can tell you a lot about many of the biology subjects we are studying this year. I knew that sending him to PS next year would be horrific. He would be bored, while the other students were learning letter sounds and 1+1, he would be in trouble every day and I would be getting calls home. I was excited to just continue HSing him. The last few months have been a little rough, a new baby brother, and 2 deaths (DS's favorite grandfather and the family cat). We have been butting heads a lot, so on one rough day I was looking around at PS options. I found that a school district about 45 minutes away has a gifted academy that students can test into. They have open enrollment for out of district students. But... I am torn. I really do love HSing, but many days feel like a break may be good. The program sounds great, but the school is 45 minutes one way (my DH and I would share drop off/pick up duties) and a full 7 and a half hour day for a 5 year old. On the positive side they offer Mandarin as a special and work extra science and technology (my DS favorite things!) into the curriculum. On the negative side he wouldn't get home till at least 4:30, so by hw, bath, dinner, I feel like I would never see him. My DH keeps saying nothing is forever and we could always pull him, but my DS doesn't handle change well at all and if he is happy and has friends (whether it's the best for him or not), pulling him out would be tough. If you made it this far, thanks! I just don't know what to do...

:iagree: Mine is not mature for his age, mainly because of his intense emotions about EVERYTHING!! I always think of that childhood rhyme, "When he is good, he is very, very good, but when he is bad he is horrid."

Wow! Great job :thumbup: I have such great intentions to make the toys look like that, but by the time they go to bed, the intentions become mere fantasies.

An 8gb iphone 3gs is only 99 cents with a two year contracts through at&t. My DH had said it was free, but 99 cents is not too bad (he's trying to talk me into one). We have 2 iphones and 1 ipad. I don't take the ipad out and about (my DH does), but love having my DH's iphone for maps on longer trips and internet connections when I'm book shopping and such to compare prices... We use them both a ton for educational apps for my DS and netflix streaming.

I thought kids weren't supposed to use adult formulas in case they swallow too much... am I wrong?

I am hoping someone can help me out! My 4 year old son does not like the blue gel toothpaste. He wants the plain white kind that mom and dad have, but I can't tell if any of the kid's toothpaste comes this way. From the bottles they all look pink or blue gel, but I can't be sure without opening them and I don't want to keep wasting money. So... if anyone uses a plain kid's paste please share with me the brand. Thanks!!

I usually just lurk and read posts, but had to share my frustrations somewhere (because my husband is tired of me yelling at the tv!) Has anyone noticed that several black friday ads keep saying that they are opening at midnight on Thursday? That would be in several hours. How can these ad agencies make tens of thousands of dollars and not know that when midnight hits, it becomes the next day. The kohls ad is the worst, it's in huge writing all over the tv ads and they are runnimg nonstop. Thanks for letting me vent, I will now go back to lurking ;)