Let's share our reccomends! We love DragonBox+ for an intro to algebra. What are the best ones you've found?

Another vote for Timez attack. We actually paid for the full version and my girls looooove it! They beg to play it, and whenever my "forgetful" kid starts to waver on her multiplication facts, one or two days of playing gets her all caught up again. My other two never needed review after mastering it - they just play it for fun now. We also used Times Tales for my creative kid - she loved it and it really helped her memorize. We also tried Math Rider for my girl who didn't like the intense graphics of times attack. She really liked it, but I found it didn't help as much. She eventually just played times attack to master them.

Praying for you today! He is your sheild and gentle Comforter. And He will not only bring beauty from ashes but He will make you a rock for your children. They need you and you need them!

I'd love to see it! I write children's books, too! My kids are 5-13

I've read both and like both. Peace child is a wonderful example of a foreign missionary findig a cultural link to share the gospel ad the powerful change that came about for that people group. The reader will clearly understand the gospel (if they didn't already) by how it corelates to the story line. Wild stories. Amazing. Heavenly man is a recount of how God used a man (plus visions and miracles and impossible stories) in his own country to powerfully proclaim the gospel. It paints a real picture of the persecution today's church experiences in other parts of the world and hightlights how God uses scripture to speak to us. Both really good. I think I would go peace child if my kid had any interest in missions or had any confusion about the gospel, heavenly man if I felt they needed to see God's power and provision. ETA - It's been a long time since I read these, but I feel the theme of peace child is God will make a way when there seems to be no way to communicate the gospel that is needed for every heart. Heavenly man more along the lines of My grace is sufficient for you in times of suffering and when God decided to move, who can stop it?

wow! Thanks, ladies. Unfortunately, there is no way to know why. And the area he is from (international), it is unlikely he spent any time in a nicu. No oxygen, no feeding help, no incubator. Just picked up, looked over at the hospital for a few days, and taken to the orphanage. Don't know if he's premie or IUGR. Mother unknown. He has been cared for wonderfully by the staff, but without much medical help. He is about 2years, walks with help, puts multiple words together, has the most captivating smile and has captured my heart... honestly, I'm not so worried about the physical issues, it's the congnitive and behavioral. I have four kiddos, one with special needs, and I wonder how much I can take on - but oh, my! he's beautiful! This is so hard.

Hi! We are adopting and are considering a child who was 2.8 lbs at birth. Do any of you have a very low birthweight child, and if so, what have been the affects? Thanks, Rondi

Hi! We are adopting and are considering a child who was 2.8 lbs at birth. Do any of you have a very low birthweight child, and if so, what have been the affects? Thanks, Rondi

We ran into this around halloween and went to the dollar store and bought little (12 inch) plastic skeletons. (our friends used Barbies from the dollar store) We talked all about what they did to the bodies. Then we made the flour goop, added the spices, and used first aid guaze strips and wrapped them. Then, as they dried, we spraypainted craft boxes gold (1 dollar at Michaels) and wrote all over these golden sarcaphagus the names of the mummies (they googled famouse names such as queen nefertiti, king tut, and cleopatra and such) and decorated them with jewels and metallic paint. Turned out real cool and it only took one day!

We just read My Father's Dragon. It was young for my tweens, but they enjoyed listening (its pretty silly) and talking about it with thier 4 and 8 yr old sisters. We also love a little princess, narnia, cricket in times square, pippi longstocking, oz series, little house, and litte pilgrims progress.

Best mommy quote of the week at our house: "Long division is the dirty toilet bowl of the mathmatical world. No one likes to do it - but you just gotta scrub until it's done."

I have. :)

My husband. I'm so lucky to live life with him by my side. Comfy pants. They are worth their weight in gold. Friends who take the time to seek me out, instead of me always making all the effort.

My hubby only says the last half, and then puts in load of laundry himself. :)

I like you advice on frontloading freshman year to free up jr. and sr. years. Gives me something to think about! Thanks! My oldes is in 7th so I'm trying to figure HS out before she gets there!

"Are you embarrassed that your son can be bribed, or embarrassed that his price is so low? " hheee hehehhhehe hheee hhehheee If only that low price could be locked in for life!

Thank you for this post! It makes me feel good about my decision to stick with MUS. We use MUS and my kids all looove it. I considered switching for jr hi/ hi school due to pressure from reading the boards. I literally had to chant to myself, "don't fix it if it aint broke." Whhich is the first piece of advice I ever got from a homeschool mom about curriculum jumping. That and, "relax, have some fun - that's the most educational thing you can teach your kids."

I'm a born messy and have learned to live with less stuff. But I don't go crazy and throw away everything. I have four kids and we have decluttered, but not to any extreme. Here is what we do: coat hooks that hold 2 jackets int he laundry room. All shoes go in their room. They do the dishes and sweeping ad wiping of the kitchen table after every meal. Right before dinner, we do a "sweep" of the house where theya ll start in the top floor and sweep through every room, putting stuff away. it takes about 15 minutes and we get to eat dinner in calm, clean house. I still have messes, still have a few things that don't have homes, but overall it no longer makes me want to sit down and cry. I've added all this structure, but i'm trying nnot to give up on being "fun mom."

Junk drawers across the nation are in shock! (I know mine is!) Day one done. Looking forward to doing this with everyone.

I've never read that book but I know alot of people that love flylady. you can sign up for a free email that comes daily with a to-do list. She breaks the house into "zones" and works on one zone a week. It focuses a lot on deluttering. I love motivatedmoms.com. for 8 bucks you download a year's worth of "chores." it's a checkoff list that tells you exactly what to do on what day - takes no time at all and is great for upkeep. Sometimes I do the list myself, sometimes I have the kids run and do a couple things each to help me. It includes daily things like wipe down the kitchen and sweep and such, as well as once a week chores. it even includes when to cut the kid's nails, change the air filter, and other yearly tasks. They also sell it for kindle.

I'm in! I'm "nesting" too - adopting in the spring! So, it's 20-30 minutes a day starting Nov 1st? Can't wait to see the list! This'll be fun and productive! :)