My children are still on the young side but I do have one child in particular that I believe I will have these issues with. When it comes to matters of religion, my plan is to start taking apologetics classes in a few years to prepare *myself* to be able to answer questions thoughtfully & deeply. As that child approaches young adult years (I detest the term "teenager"!), I hope to enroll in apologetics classes together. I'm hoping that taking the classes together would help me to be able to guide that child without it feeling overbearing to that child.

Daily Geography by Evan-Moor?

I have been asked by family members how I will teach them and I am a certified teacher (I used to teach 7th grade Social Studies) and I have my Masters in Middle Grades Education. SERIOUSLY??? I'm qualified to teach middle school age kids but you don't think I can handle teaching my 1rst grader her math, etc.??? I just had to laugh, I mean, what else can you do when posed such a ridiculous question?

Something else I often see is that people assume that overweight=unintelligent & uneducated. Our pediatrician has treated me with disdain for years. About a year ago we somehow had a conversation about education & it came up that I have several degrees-2 BA's, 1 BS & a Masters in Middle Grades Education. You wouldn't believe the difference in the way he's treated me since that conversation. It's such a stark contract that it's almost funny.

I dunno, April- I am overweight but keep a neat & tidy house & we are debt free (except our mortgage). I'm pretty good at managing our money & living within our means and I have excellent time management skills. I fold my socks but not my others... ;) I would not say that our house has an excessive amount of clutter- I mean, I'm certainly no minimalist & we've got 4 children & homeschool so we've certainly got stuff- but I don't think anyone would describe my house as cluttered.

I think Evan-Moor's Daily Geography for Kindergarten would be fine for a 4yo. Especially if you do it orally- show him the map, talk about it & then just ask him the questions instead of having him read them & circle the answers.

Another vote for Nancy Larson!

oh, how could I forget? My maternal grandmother's name is Marvel! I've never heard that name anywhere else. She is 93 years old & still likes to go dancing, get her hair done & does her make up every day! Oh, and she has a boyfriend! I love it.

My great great grandmother's name was Harriette Phidelia Lucina Haskell Orvis. Quite the mouthful, eh? She went by Delia. ;) My oldest is named Mary after my grandmother. It's a lovely name and has really grown on me.

Here you go: http://www.vrbo.com/78492 This is the 2 bedroom condo but if you email the owner, he will give you the information for the 4 bedroom.

Is your friend open to accomodations other than hotels? I recently booked a 3,000 sq. foot, 4 bedroom condo for $350 for 5 nights at Colonial Williamsburg. A 2 bedroom condo for 5 nights was $175. (Not per night, that's the price for the entire 5 nights.) I found them at vrbo.com They were at a resort, I think it had a pool, etc.

I make my bed every day & require all 3 of the big kids to do so as well.

I would do Option 1. I've called Nancy Larson Science & found they were very helpful- I think you'd find they were would be very helpful in determining which level to start with your children.

Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown & the Powhatan Village have 2 Homeschool weeks in September. I found a 3,000 square foot, 4 bedroom condo for 5 nights for $350. (total, not per night) awesome deal. Tickets during this time are fairly discounted. Our family of 6 can go for the whole week, to all of those, for around $140 total. I can try to track down a link if you're interested.

TOG, Year 2- loved it- lots of fun! Daily Geography has made geography so fun & so easy. Newer favorites: Nancy Larson Science 1- for the first time Science is getting done in my house & the kids are loving it. Nora Gaydos Readers A Reason For Handwriting Evan-Moor's Daily 6 Trait Writing and Building Spelling Skills

Another vote for Daily Geography- it's a favorite with my kids! Fun, easy to do, short & quick. Love it.

I don't think I'd send the letter worded the way you have it. I might send her a chatty email & in there ask her who she's got planned to watch the kids. THEN, if she responds that she was hoping you would, I would tell her that it's a no-can-do situation.

I've made my own planning book for the past 3 years- here's a link to the first one I've made: http://threelittlejewells.com/2009/04/07/new-planner/ I've just finished making some changes/updates for the coming year. This works SO much better than the store-bought ones & really wasn't that hard to make at all! I use this to write down the work that my older two do (7yo & 6yo) and also preschool stuff for my 3/almost 4yo.

I found a great deal for a 3 or 4 bedroom condo at Emerald Isle (pretty close to Onslow Beach)- $540 for 4 nights. It's on the sound side of the island, has it's own pier, etc. Lots of fun things to do there if you don't already know about the area... I found it via VRBO.com so you might check there. I meant to add- our favorite, favorite ocean front beach house is Give Me A Break through Emerald Isle Realty. We've stayed there every year since 2006. Beautiful house & a pretty good price for ocean front.

I know what you mean, I almost choked on the price! However, we bit the bullet & went ahead and ordered it. I am so, so glad that I did. Here's what I wrote about Nancy Larson on an earlier thread: We've been using Nancy Larson Science for about 5 weeks now with my 1rst grader & Kindergardener. We are so, so pleased with it. I was initially not sure how I would like using a scripted lesson because I am very much someone who likes to tweak, do my own thing, etc. But it turns out that, for a non-science person like myself, the scripting is wonderful. I'm not struggling with how to explain a concept or how to word things. The kits come with everything you need & my kids have REALLY enjoyed the hands-on sets that come with it as well as the picture cards. Another reason that I chose Nancy Larson Science over the others I was considering (R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey, A Reason for Science, Noeo Science) is because it required far less writing than the others. With two emerging readers & writers, I just felt that we already do so much writing between their handwriting assignment and the writing they do in their phonics, math, grammar, spelling & writing books that I really did not want to add a bunch more writing to their day. For the first time ever, Science is getting done on a regular basis. The kids are learning & really look forward to our science lessons. (I started out the year with Apologia but because our main curriculum is literature/reading heavy- Tapestry of Grace- I was just totally overwhelmed with Apologia.)

I have not used their complete curriculum package BUT I have to say, Timberdoodle is my FIRST stop when choosing curriculum. We use Tapestry of Grace for our core curriculum but when it comes to planning everything else I look to Timberdoodle for guidance. I love that this is a company that does not sell it's own products which gives them the freedom to pick & choose from what they consider the best. So far, I've been thrilled with whatever I've purchased from them. Based on their suggestions, I bought Daily Geography and Daily 6 Trait Writing and we love, love, love them both. I bought the Bubber for our "fun" item this year & it's been a hit. We also got the Mini LUK for Nathan & Mary and the Bambino LUK for Savvy and it is one of their favorite things to do. I think we got a few other things to but it's late & that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

We also have the PLAN doll house & love it. I believe we got it for Christmas either 3 or 4 years ago. It is very sturdy- both of my big girls (7yo & 3yo) play with it daily. We have the PLAN furniture & also some Calico Critters furniture- both are fine with it. If you can swing it, the Kathe Kruse doll house dolls are very nice. I can sometimes get those for a really good price at Gifted Imaginations- (http://www.giftedimaginations.com) every so often they have a 20% or 25% off your entire order. They also carry the PLAN doll house & when they are running a 25% off sale it is the best price that I've seen.

Phonics: Explode the Code & Nora Gaydos Readers Writing: Evan-Moor's Daily 6 Trait Writing Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting, Level B Spelling: Evan-Moor's Building Spelling Skills Grammar: First Language Lessons Math: Right Start Level B & (hopefully) Level C History: Tapestry of Grace, Year 3 Science: Nancy Larson Science, Level 1 Bible: Focus on several books of the Bible during the evening- maybe James, John, etc. Haven't decided for sure which ones yet. "Step Into the Bible" for lunch time devotions. ABC's of Church History. Missionary Tales with the Millers. Leading Little Ones to God (maybe in the morning?) Geography: Evan-Moor's Daily Geography Music: Piano lessons PE: Tae Kwon Do & Swimming with the local Acquatics club.

I usually used hand-over-mouth to put a stop to the screaming. If I fond myself getting on edge, I'd put that child in the crib, close the bedroom door & walk away.

We've been using Nancy Larson Science for about 5 weeks now with my 1rst grader & Kindergardener. We are so, so pleased with it. I was initially not sure how I would like using a scripted lesson because I am very much someone who likes to tweak, do my own thing, etc. But it turns out that, for a non-science person like myself, the scripting is wonderful. I'm not struggling with how to explain a concept or how to word things. The kits come with everything you need & my kids have REALLY enjoyed the hands-on sets that come with it as well as the picture cards. Another reason that I chose Nancy Larson Science over the others I was considering (R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey, A Reason for Science, Noeo Science) is because it required far less writing than the others. With two emerging readers & writers, I just felt that we already do so much writing between their handwriting assignment and the writing they do in their phonics, math, grammar, spelling & writing books that I really did not want to add a bunch more writing to their day. For the first time ever, Science is getting done on a regular basis. The kids are learning & really look forward to our science lessons. (I started out the year with Apologia but because our main curriculum is literature/reading heavy- Tapestry of Grace- I was just totally overwhelmed with Apologia.)