The Colin Firth version is definitely closer to the book and has some scenes that the Kiera Knightly version does not. Although they are both excellent, in my opinion, I prefer the KK version. I feel that artistically, it is more beautiful, and the music is gorgeous! I definitely recommend watching them both!

Someone beat me too it, but I always have trouble with cavalry...it always comes out Calvary (must be my Christian heritage). Another tongue-twister for me is the word wasps.

Lots of good ideas here...I remember getting a powder compact in my stocking when I was 12 (my first cosmetic). I did the same for my girls, and it was one of their favorite gifts that year. Maybe girls are more sophisticated these days, but something grown-up-ish is nice at that age. One of my friends got a set of fancy glasses for her hope chest around that age, and I was very envious!

I just got a tablet, and I have been reading books on it. It is convenient and has nice large print. I also have quite a few books on it and can choose what I feel like reading at the moment without having to carry around a library (I usually have numerous books being read at once). And yes, classics are free! Occasionally there will be a mistake in the book that somehow occurs as a result of it being scanned (I don't quite understand all that). And I never know how much more of the book there is because it just comes up a page at a time, whereas with a paper copy I know when I'm getting to the end. It not the same as a real book,but we have run out of space!

The day after Thanksgiving. We used to wait until December, but I think when the girls were doing The Nutcracker all through December it was too hard to get everyone together at the same time. Since we all have off on Black Friday, that's when we do it now.

I put after Thanksgiving for listening, but being a musician and choir member, I do play/sing Christmas music much earlier in rehearsal.

The Getty/Dubay Italic Writing Book G is for grade 6 and up. It is quite appropriate for adults.

dd1: public university, biology/pre med (subsequently went to med school (private) and graduated at the top of her class). ds: public university, electrical engineering. dd2: public university, studio art/honors college. No problems with transcripts. Dd2 also applied to a private university that required a GED from homeschoolers. We challenged it, "educated them" about homeschooling, and they changed their policy. Dd was accepted into their honors college, but decided to go to the public university after all. All three had SAT scores that qualified them for full tuition scholarships. I agree that the test scores were probably more important than the transcripts.

Is it mandated by your state that you specify grade levels for your children? If not, they have no right to ask for that info, and you may be setting a precedent if you give it to them.

I have graduated 3 so far...homeschooled all the way. The oldest is now a physician, and the next 2 are in college. I have 2 more to go -- grades 10 and 11 now. This is my 21st year of homeschooling. It has been a joy.:)

:grouphug: It's ok. School can wait. I'm so sorry for your loss.:grouphug:

But where does it end? What if they decide that a vegetarian diet is the way to go and that all meat is unhealthy? The trouble with this is that they don't know when to stop.

:iagree:

:iagree:

It's ridiculous. Keep the government out of my pantry!

:grouphug: Things will get better. I had a few years like that. We thought we had everything under control when we had 3 kids. And then along came the 4th. God figured we needed the challenge :D. He was different, to say the least.( He's now 16, and an absolute joy -- still very intense, but a great kid!) Don't worry about the house being clean. Have your older kids help as much as possible, and have easy meals. Your 10 year old can help with that. Sleep when you can. And get the kids to bed at a decent time so that you can relax with your hubby a little in the evening. These years will fly by, and the next thing you know, you'll be sending the kids off to college.

Many stores in our area will not take checks. That's why we finally started using using a debit card. I guess it will have to be cash or credit cards (until the credit card companies start charging a fee as well).

:001_smile: Very cute!:001_smile:

My kids all took the PSAT beginning in 9th grade. It's an inexpensive test, and it's good practice for the SAT. Colleges will not see the scores, or how many times the PSAT was taken. As Creekland said, the only way it might hurt is if your child would be discouraged by a low score. One of my daughters got a score that did discourage her for a while, but she kept at it, took a gazillion practice tests, and got an SAT score that earned her a full scholarship.

Welcome back, and I wish you the best!

:grouphug: I'm so sorry.:grouphug:

Congratulations! It sounds like you are blessed with a supportive and understanding husband. Relax and enjoy it. Your body needs time to recover. Books and movies sound like a nice way to spend time with all the children. Forget about housework.:)

:grouphug: I'm so sorry.

Amen, to all these comments! People should learn when to keep their mouths shut! I'm so sorry for your loss, OP.

When I think of school-at-home, I generally think of families that use materials that were created for the classroom. Readers, some with poorly written stories, are used instead of good children's literature, and science textbooks are used in the early grades instead of looking at nature and reading real books. Multi-level learning, in which children of different ages learn about the same topic using age appropriate materials and assignments and actually doing things together once in a while, is unheard of. (The idea of children raising their hands and asking permission to use the bathroom seems ridiculous to me.:tongue_smilie:)