I think I would stop giving 'school' as the reason you can't do something with them. You can just decline without stating a reason, or if you do want to do something suggest a time that does work with your schedule.

I just got mine a day or so ago :-). My kid likes the walls so far.

What were the need based scholarships? For instance is it just that you need X amount for all the materials for the number of kids, and Y amount of families could afford to pay Z amount each to cover X. So that families of 'need scholarship' could still come? Depending on amount of supplies you have, and what would be needed if her kids left - I might offer them a chess set or something (assuming that they had 'purchased' it and now they have enough kids leaving that you can run club with one less set). Or just explain once again: sorry, every penny was used in the expensive supplies to set up the club in the first place. I can't refund the money, sorry.

As far as how much time - they would be fighting the currents the entire way. I couldn't even guess, but it would take a while. Like it would be more realistic to cross the ocean to the South Pacific, go up, then cross over to Alaska. Or, start in the PNW and go up the inner passage, IMHO of course, not knowing anything about why the characters would want to get to Alaska from being in Panama.

I would say at least 30 Ft sailboat. Most people go in 30-45 ft range, it takes exponentially more money and means the bigger the sailboat. Why would they be going to Alaska from Panama?? In general people go to Alaska in the summer.

We took our boat out, rollerbladed, played at the park, and watched movies as a family. For some reason our fresh water system on the boat is acting very funny and we can't get water out of the tanks, or have lost the water in the tanks somewhere, issue to be looked into tomorrow. . .

Not gymnastics . . . I am going to guess horse riding. No idea about the girl, other then my kids (10 & 8) probably would not understand what you were trying to communicate with 'naughty puppy', especially if they didn't think they were trying to act like one in the first place. They would need much more direct 'please do X, not Y'.

When we have left the kids for an extended period of time with grandparents (a week or two, one time they actually drove the kids across country to bring them back to us) - we have always had a number of people who could be 'back-up' care givers. Both of our families live in the same places where we grew up and honestly I can't imagine them leaving our kids with people that I (or my husband) have not known for years. When we leave them it is with the understanding that they are going to care for them as if they are their own kids (and they are grand kids) which includes making reasonable and prudent decisions about who can care for them. I am positive they have done things like take the kids to church and let the kids go to Sunday School. Is this something like a 'babysitter'? I would not personally think so, but then again, this is at the church where our families have attended for over 30 years, so we actually probably know who is running the program, ya know? And would have sent our kids off if we had been there anyways. And they also live in places with quite a number of extended family members in close proximity, as well as long time family friends, so I feel like my kids are in good hands with either my parents or in-laws and they both would have a number of people to turn to for help that I am ok with being around my kids.

I would add in a small lap white board, maybe one for each kid. I do our homeschooling out of materials that will fit in a box all the time, and I really appreciate being able to write out a math problem or example from the electronic device (or my head or the book) on the whiteboard for the child. Then it is easy to erase for the next thing. It saves a ton of paper because we just don't have room for paper personally. Use them for math problems, diagraming sentences, lists, spelling, tons of uses.

We lived in Europe when first married - loved the duvet/cover for each person. Have never looked back. When we sleep in other beds when visiting or on vacation it actually kind of bothers me now not to have my own blanket.

I'm glad someone has resolved issues. I hope to get there one day, hopefully soon. But no, I have a sick kid who puked in my bed and now I have to wash sheets at midnight because we only have one set, and of course this happens when DH is out of town for work. . . so I have to complain to someone :-)

I agree with knowing why you want a dairy free creamer, I think that it is key to knowing what a good alternative for that person might be. I personally prefer coconut or hemp milks. But depending on why - a festive 'non-dairy' might be better for a gift - but for 'me' I wouldn't drink them either. ETA: With that information I would probably get a non-lactose, non-dairy festive creamer for the gift.

So where is the link to the thread that is worth reading at 5 am? I think I missed it - lol

I would suggest joining the meet-up group called Homeschoolers of Pierce and Thurston Counties. Tacoma/Olympia is a pretty wide area - but that group is pretty active and has quite a bit going on, as well as lots of members (several who post on these forums) in general.

Good luck

Thanks for all the input and ideas - I really appreciate it. Note - it looks like training for a Ferry Boat captain might be a good job opportunity for some younger adults in the area.

And I just find the debate interesting. I posted to another Internet group of women - and they favor Bremerton to Edmonds at about the same rate that you guys favor Edmonds. Lol

It is a walk on walk off ferry connection. There are no busses at all. No cars at all. It does not matter if it is a ferry or a train - no car is available to be a part of the commute either in B or in E. No car on either end, no bus on either end, he can walk both to the house and to the job in either commute. The job is as stable as any job can possibly be. I can not even imagine them moving the offices from where they are located, they are not going out of business. And I appreciate all the Seattle love. I'm just wondering when does making daily life more difficult (and expensive) for me in E balance with the commute for DH in B? At what point would it tip for 'you'? And no, don't worry, our family will make the decision that works for us. I am just curious what others think and want to make sure that we are considering all the different angles.

Lol - I totlly agree - well kind of at least - we have been in Bremerton for the past few months and actually I kind of like it - I personally think it is really possibly on the up and coming. It feel a bit safer then Edmonds just hanging out during the day, although a little empty, but you can tell tons of money has been and is being poured into the area. There is an awesome spray park area right next to the ferry terminal with the 'navy submarine' theme. And I am shocked that no one thinks the 'opps I ran late at work and now there is 'no' transportation home on the train so I am going to have to not come home to my family tonight' is not on anyone's list of why a longer but more predictable ferry commute might be better.

Also - let's add in that laundry facilities in the two places are different - on-site laundry in B - have to go to a laundry mat in E town - and the closest one is 15 or so minutes away, by car.

Because those are the two that we have housing available in :-)

Assume that all transit would be on foot - you can 'always' walk on to the ferry (and then walk home) or walk to the train station. Part of the issue is that the commute can have no car involved.

This is in WA state - if these were your choice of where to live, which would you choose and why? For those who need more information: -DH works in downtown Seattle, commute from E - 30 minute train, from B - 50 minute ferry. Note, ferry runs all day and most of night, train runs one way in morning, other in evening, miss the train, opps, he thinks he would spend night at parents house if this happens. - our house is about the same in both locations. Closer to small park (that is dog friendly) in B town, further but much nicer park in E town but parks have huge 'no dog' signs all over them. - library and town in general is more dog friendly in town B (we have a dog with serious anxiety issues kids refuse to consider re-homing her). -DH likes the high schools in town E better (which might play into the future) - in town E, basic life living things are slightly further away or more difficult. Where would you want to live?? What to consider??

How do the tolls for non-carpoolers in the carpool lane know if you are carpooling or not? Especially if all the other passengers are in the back seat??

A jacket designed and fitted for the activity at hand is important. I would not use a jacket met for activity A for activity B. That said, for younger kids - I really like the jackets to have a handle on the back so that you could pull them out of the water if they are unconscious or freaking out. Which probably would not be the case if you were water skiing or wave runners as the person is actually expecting to be in the water and/or get wet. So that option migh not even be available.