Oh, yeah! CARSLAND! That's probably the #1 reason I'm going to ask DH we go to DisneyLAND instead of DW next year! Oh, and the weather is almost always very pleasant in CA compared to FL.

There are ALWAYS Law & Order re-runs! One of my favorite summer shows is "The Closer" - I think it's on TNT or USA.

The only thing that works for me is Mary Kay - been using it since college, and had to sign up to be a personal use consultant in order to afford it. If/when I ever try something else, I break out all over.

There's a very kid-friendly water park nearby in New Braunfels (I always mess up the name - and don't say it fast - something like Schlitterbugs or something) that we alsolutely LOVE - one of the best in the country, in my opinion! No visit to San Antonio/Austin area is ever complete until we hit that water park!

Also ... do not use SALTED water! If we boil, it's just for a few minutes to get it hot. Prefer to grill them in the husk. Yumm...

The best way to describe it, is that DisneyLAND is much like the Magic Kingdom in DisneyWORLD - except in the city, not surrounded by miles & miles of "country" (so more hotels are really close - do not really need to stay at a Disney property, which are more expensive. And lots of food choices nearby, also making it less expensive to eat). Once you're inside the park, it's still lots of fun! Do you enjoy Magic Kingdom? If so, then no doubt you'll enjoy Disneyland! Oh, and then there's California Adventure park "next door".

We have all of the D'Aulaire books in our library - love them. Oh, and the Holling's geography books, as well. Oh and I almost forgot (ha!) - our favorites - the Rachel & Obediah books (really cute stories).

Okay ... this post could have been written by me - we have such similarities! My ds is 7 y/o and in 1st grade; my dd is 8 y/o and in 2nd grade. They are currently attending a private Christian school that uses Abeka. Both are reading well above grade level (especially my dd) and are doing well in math. DS is a great speller; DD has the most beautiful cursive handwriting I've ever seen (ds cursive is pretty good, too). I plan to homeschool next year and have pretty much decided on MFW Adventures! I'm wondering if I should continue with the Abeka LA & Math program (since it's worked so well thus far) or follow MFW suggestions. What do you plan to use? Or for those who have already done MFW Adventures, what worked best for you?

My children (ds 1st grade, dd 2nd grade) have been in private Christian school this year (plan to homeschool next year), and they learned Abeka cursive. BEAUTIFUL handwriting!

What do you add? I'm thinking of using MFW Adventures for my 2nd & 3rd graders this fall. Thanks!

Oh - I forgot to mention - I've the recipient of hand-me-down curriculum (my wonderful sister-in-law). The good thing, obviously, is it doesn't cost us. The bad thing, though, is that I feel as though I have to treat the books better-than-ever so I can give them back and allow her to sell or give to someone else.

Thanks for the facebook link! Like others, if/when I buy used, I really want a bargain (at least 50% off). I will pay more like 70% if in like new condition or offer free shipping. I don't mind paying full price from publisher if/when part of the money goes to missions (like MFW). I wish there was a list somewhere of local homeschooling fairs where one can buy used and not pay shipping - how does one find out about these?

As another poster said, I'm having a good laugh over some of the replies! Seriously, though, I love hearing what others like/dislike about certain curriculum - learning so much! I tried BFIAR when my kiddos were 3 or 4 - didn't work. The kids either loved the recommended books and devoured it in within one sitting (not to mention "read it again, mom! read it again!") -or- they hated the book and wanted nothing to do with it. My dd went as far as hiding books she didn't like or didn't want me to read to her.

Like the original poster, my daughter loves, Loves, LoVeS, LOVES workbooks and she had no problems with 1A/1B and ones we've used since then...

Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere (I don't follow this forum on a regular basis), but what, or who, is Biblioplan?

Great post! Thank you!

I was wondering the same thing, so I've been following this post. Thanks for all the suggestions! Keep them coming...

I remember tweaking Kindergarten so much, that it took all the fun out of it for my kids (and me). I was so frustrated! A friend told me to just follow the program as written, using the suggestions of the publisher, and sit back & watch the results. It worked!

Just wanted to chime in to say thank you, ladies, for all your input ... like the original poster, I, too, have been struggling with the same problem and will be trying out some of the suggestions. My kids do call me "teacher" when we're homeschooling!

I have considered the Horse unit study for my daughter. I see that Winter Promise is now offering it, as well. Would love to hear from someone who has actually used it and hear how they liked it!

I love books, too, and cannot seem to part with them. My husband's family grew up with no TV and every single one of his siblings are avid readers - as are all of their kids! Grandma (my mother-in-law) kept all the books and now has a HUGE library - all the grandkids love going there to "check out" books (yep, just like a reg library!). But I know her books are great classics, missionary stories, boys adventure, modest girls - almost all with character building/high morals - not just fluff. So I'm going to keep the tradition going here at our home, as well!

I used HOD's LHTH for our 3/4 year olds; my daughter kept wanting more, so I let her work on the R&S workbooks. She **STILL** wanted more, so I would pick up the Kumon workbooks, Brain Quest (from Costco), the beginning "Explode the Code" workbooks (Get Ready! Get Set! Go!), and anything I could find for cheap at used Homeschool Curriculum fairs/sales. Never planned on using workbooks, but she LOVES them, and when school is "done" she just gets out her workbooks and keeps going .... Now that summer/spring is finally here in the Pacific Northwest, she's opting to go outside to play and explore. So I just follow her lead - I let her do these extra's to her heart's content.