We just started the 2 month free trial with it. I am loving it. I think the kids (6th grade and 3rd grade) are liking it too. I've heard good and bad reviews, but can't think of anything specific at the moment. Is there anything I should really focus on or pay attention to- to verify it is really working for us? Does that make sense? We have used Khan Academy for a while and the reporting was just so confusing to me. The time was also off. This is pretty clear and I don't see any discrepancies in time.

:grouphug:

My first thought with your age was low progesterone. I went through this a few years ago. I thought my issue were memory loss until I supplemented with OTC progesterone cream and realized it was more brain fog. I couldn't think straight (and problem solving was getting to be an issue) to realize that was what it was. Just my 2 cents.

I don't know anything about your situation or what expenses you had, but my understanding (and anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) is you get the discount, too, if you used an in- network provider. Follow? If insurance (and I have Aetna too) reduces the costs from 2000$ to 426$, you don't then owe the provider 2000$- you owe them 426$. If it was some kind of purchasable expense before insurance submission (like medical supplies, equipment) then they should be able to tell you before you actually spend the money where you can get the discount. Maybe? Ya, I agree insurance stinks. :ack2:

Lots of great ideas. I just had a moment of weakness. I have a 6th grader, 3rd grader, 1st grader, and a Kindergartener. This is the first year for all 4 of them and the oldest is into middle school work. Part of the problem is, at the end of last year, we decided to use Florida Virtual School- specifically because of the above. That lasted a week. We reverted to our umbrella school and our own schedule. The UPS man is finally coming today to take the 6 gigantic boxes of Public School curriculum out of my home (it was full time). :party:I will be happy to get rid of this stuff. But with that, I am trying to gather a plan for the year (you may have seen my panicky post a week or so ago). So, we are just in a time of transition and disorganization. We just have to get back into a routine. I know that. I just need to :chillpill:. Thanks so much for "talking me down."

It is almost 10:30 am and I am sitting here- emotionally paralyzed. How am I supposed to fit it all in? 4+ hours of school, meals, housework, an hour of exercise, extracurriculars that go 2-3 hours a day, grocery shopping, constantly fighting to keep the kids off the computer, oh ya- and breathing? sorry for the vent- just a bit overwhelmed.

Thanks- now I wount stress about it.

I signed up over the weekend to get the 2 month free trial. It stated 3-5 business days, but I didn't get any kind of email saying it was was received. I'm just concerned I'll wait 5 days and they'll say it wasn't received.

Ya for deals! I did Salvation Army at 9 this morning to for their 50% off. If course, I'm in Florida so no sweats for us (where is the "melting" emoticon?). I got 50$ worth of THEIR stuff for half off and that is probably 150$ in stuff brand new. :party:

I was really excited to see this thread as I could be the one writing it in a month or so (except my daughter is 6 turning 7 over Thanksgiving break). She had been doing ballet for a few years now and is very passionate about it. We do it through the local company that works with the Moscow Nutcracker when they come to town. Ours is right at Christmas, so it sounds like practices would be October, November, and December. She and I went to see it last year. I haven't told her yet that girls from her class can try out. Her teacher also told us she should go to auditions. I was more concerned they wouldn't let her since she wouldn't be 7 by the audition (a few weeks after), but would in plenty of time for the show. She was really encouraging about it and assured me the age limit wouldn't be a problem. I've been trying to find info on what it is really like. Dobela- please come back here and update on what the rehearsals are like. I would really like the feedback. Our try-outs aren't until mid Oct. I'm a bit nervous about what my daughter will experience with DianeW88's review. My biggest concern would be that a little one would walk out on stage and freeze. I don't think my daughter would do that as we have done performances and she has been in the theater where it's held. That would be heartbreaking to me.

:drool5:CINNAMON ROLLS:drool5: Get a pack or 2 of the 6 cinnamon buns on your way out down stairs at the snack bar (with ice cream, hot dogs, pizza?) and have them for breakfast tomorrow. *Don't forget to sign up for the family card (free). You get discounts on certain items each month. Look for a Kiosk when you walk in or online before you go. White hand towels (I use these as my dish towels and always need them) clear plastic (?) tumbler-type glasses- cheap cheap cheap little plastic bowls (and plates, cups, tableware-if you still have littles that age) stools (great little kids stools for 4$) laundry drying racks (all sizes) *FLYT*- 5 pack of (white cardboard) magazine boxes to sit on your new Billies. 2$ a pack

We are dealing with an 11yo son with serious math issues. He has been struggling with it since 3rd grade (darn multiplication table!). By struggling, I mean there could be some kind of learning issues specifically regarding math. He is extremely right- brained: artistic, creative, word-oriented (reading & writing). He is also ADHD so focus is a very sensitive issue. We have tried Math-U-See (closer to 3r grade), the (older) text version of Mr. B, Math Mammoth, and Khan Academy. As you can probably see, the expense of the curriculum is a factor so we can't just go willy-nilly and try anything and everything. With his personality, it sounds like Life of Fred (starting with Fractions) would be a perfect fit for him. BUT- I looked at some samples- :001_huh:? It all seems so random to me. Yes, the stories, but more importantly the math content. Of course, this is coming from a left-brained mama who would drool over pages and pages of straight calculations. Is there some rhyme or reason to the "flow" of the math content? Does it cover a tradition scope & sequence type of progression for the equivalent grade level? I hope that makes sense. I'm probably just at least going to order Fractions and try it. I think I heard it's free shipping and guaranteed if you don't like it. I'm probably more concerned with wasting more time than anything else.

I know that in a few weeks we will see an orthodontist for my oldest- 11yo son. He wount be 12 til early next year. I have worked for a pediatric dentist that had a close relationship (he was friendly with the whole office) with an orthodontist. I already have my personal opinion as to what I think we should do, but I just wondered if any of you decided NOT to have them. Did you regret it? What did your child think?

I know there are tons of videos, but there is all a simulation program that is over 100$. Anything free like that?

Does EEBA do this? We use Microsoft Money (old) as our basic check register/to balance accounts/run reports to see spending by categories & payees. We want to implement an envelope system for expenses, but are stuck in the "some debit card expenses/some case expenses". We don't want to go all one way or all the other. So, we have to go digital with the envelopes. I don't want to have to double entry everything. I want to continue to have a traditional way to have check register/balance account/run reports while *at the same time* setting money in envelopes and spending according to those envelopes. I guess I could do the 30 days trial of the paid account, but I don't really want to go through all the trouble of setting it all up if it isn't going to do what i want it to. This is what I mean: 1. Set up monthly envelopes. 2. Receive actual paycheck- record in register. 3. Use money throughout the month. 4. Record these expenses in register. 5. WHILE RECORDING THESE EXPENSES, choose what envelope they come out of. 6. See a running balance in each envelope as I spend the money. 7. Reconcile bank statement end of month. 8. Run reports to see a list of transactions for each category/envelope. Any ideas?

I know its been a while since I posted this, but I wasn't getting email updates that there were posts. We have been to 3 troop meetings so far. The people (parents and kids) are a great bunch. We are comfortable since it is at a church where we do a lot of homeschool activities. It was emphasized that this is a church ministry (so, I would assume they foot some % of "official" expenses). So, the initial registration was bare minimum. We have our first car wash fundraiser this weekend and a first trip to a tubing river in a few weeks. My husband will hopefully be able to go on at least the very first trip with him. I don't know that he will want to go every month. Maybe he will surprise me. I can't imagine him gone all weekend every 4 weeks. We got our book and he has been reading through that. He thinks its absolutely hilarious that there is a Nuclear Science merit badge. Oh, we started just in time. Our first night was listening to stories from the various summer camps (recent and past). There was a lock-in that weekend that he wanted to go to. The troop planned the whole year and watched movies. I'm impressed so far. I am :eek: from sticker shock with the uniform costs. We did check with the troop and there isn't anything for him at this point. We were assured we didn't need to rush and purchase though. I am scouring for scoutstuff.org coupon codes and may put an order together with a friend. Thanks for all the input.

I don't have anything to offer you, but empathy (in relation to family). All of my extended family feel we are damaging our children. On one hand, we hear lots of offers for "being there for us." At the same time, they are obvious in their disdain for what we have chosen. I don't have a clue how to handle it. One family member in particular seems to think we can have a close relationship (between her and our family & between she and I). Every time I have "tried," it feels so fake to me. I feel like I can't say anything about anything important to our family, because I feel like she is negating everything in her thoughts. I cannot relate to her. Our relationship is extremely superficial and there is this HUGE pink elephant in the room. It's not so much that the differences of opinion create hostile conversations or anything like that. It's more importantly, that feeling that you "know" what is going on inside their head. It's just sits wrong inside of you.

I just found this. Don't how accurate it is. http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/migraines_list.aspx

Chiming to add my 2 cents. I moved from Middle Tennessee to Central Florida about 2 years ago. My migraines (about 1 a month) increases to about 4 a month. They are the worst during the summer. I can walk outside and feel it starting. If I stay inside all day, I am fine.

Same here- 3 sons, 1 daughter. It's amazing how she be such a girly girl and at the same time run with the guys. She carried match box cars in a frilly little girl purse for a while.

Has anyone used Dimension U before? Just getting some feedback. thanks

I didn't read all pages, so I hope I'm not duplicating. I did this post a while back on printing and the Continuous Ink System. Please read it. If you don't use it now, at least it may change your mind about downloadable curriculum. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=398835

My son has a real talent with art- drawing and 3D (modeling...). He is very shy when it comes to his work and doesn't think he is talented, but truly enjoys the process. He's never asked for any art class curriculum and says he doesnt want to do one when I offer it. We choose not to make it a requirement for homeschool. We've just left him alone to do his own thing when the mood strikes him. At the very least, I want to boost his self- confidence so maybe he would maybe participate in contests or pictures on a blog. Short of requiring anything, what would you do?

Thanks guys. I just had a little "freak out" moment this morning. I have plenty of stuff, I think. Just need to get it organized and ready to go.

We made the decision at the beginning of the summer to enroll all kids into the state virtual program full time (for reasons that don't need mentioned). Well, after 1 week of school, we have decided that was a huge mistake. The enrollment docs are on the way to the umbrella school as we speak. I have no homeschool back up plans. Nothing. I have various curricula from the past few years. I can get it together, it is just gonna take a few days. I also bought corresponding Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills- or whatever it is they sell at sams club- just to have something to do right now. We alse use Khan Academy for Math so we can just jump right into that. I have Story of the World- all 4 books. Also- both Kingfisher History and Science Encyclopedias. Language Arts has always been my downfall (I am a numbers person). I need one of those "Quick Start" charts you get with new electronics. Our umbrella school has no requirements except for attendance- so we are on our own as far as the what, the when, and the how. But I have close extended family members breathing down my neck and that isn't helping. Where do I even start? 6th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade, K :banghead:Why oh why didn't I make a homeschool back up plan?!?! :banghead: