My husband is a programmer (for a bank, not games, so a grain of salt here) He says you couldn't do wrong with these choices, but he'd probably choose Java and that the python rec above would also be a good choice.

Have you tried the Leapfrog videos? The Letter Factory, Talking Word Factory I & II are excellent. I think my 3 yo is ready to start on CVC words where a month ago he really didn't get the idea at all (even though he knew his letters). I am *not* a video mommy, but the recs here were so good we tried out the Letter Factory, loved it and bought the set. The Storybook Factory and Math Circus are OK, but the others are great!

Here is a list of Baptistic catechisms (the main page has confessions as well) from a Reformed source that might be a better fit for you. The Westminster things would certainly be paedobaptistic (which is perfect for us!) and might not be what you want. The only drawback I see to using one of these instead of the Westminster is that there are more resources (like what others have rec'd) available with the Westminster. I haven't read through any of these, but I see that there is one adapted by Piper which might be a very good fit.

Sorry, nope. I, conveniently am able to stay with my in-laws (free babysitting, too!)

Last year I had a stroller; this year, I'm thinking backpack.

From the convention's website: I'm totally bummed about this ... I don't know if we can bring our own water bottles? I'm thinking this sounds like a "no".

I drool over Summit Ministries' worldview curriculum (haven't used it, my littles aren't big enough yet), but it has levels for elementary school. I also like Christian Perspective's understanding of math. They have a free article and a helpful (albeit occasionally redundant) $6 e-book here.

We had the JWs today, too. Hawking their "Jesus was really killed on this day" thing (service? class?). They seem to show up once a year right before Easter here, and they were just passing out invites to this event. I took his paper and he went away without an arguement. In the past, we've also had some Baptists (or maybe a non-denominational credo church?) who wanted to argue me into not driving the 1/2 hour to our church. We're decidedly paedobaptists, so this was pretty annoying. No LDS though. My question is why do they always come during the daytime on weekdays where they'll find no one home or SAHMs? And it is always at naptime and wakens my kids. [sigh]

Is there a link for this Spanish?

Thanks, everyone! I think this'll be my next book purchase ...

I've been following your experiences, JudoMom, which is part of what got me to think about this. But I also don't think I want to do the LFC series (I have friends who use Memoria Press' and love it and I've looked through it pretty thoroughly ...) so I was hoping to make sure 1) I understood the two philosophies and 2) had a handle on which was which [grin] and make sure they would compatible enough for what I want.

I have no Latin background. My background is 4 years of Spanish in Highschool (where I was somewhat successful, but that was almost 20 years ago!) I guess I plan to use PL/LC1/LC2 fwith my kiddos and want to do some self-study ahead of time. Would GSWL be a good primer for me? I think the MP sequence is parts to whole? It sounds like GSWL is whole to parts? I'm pretty sure whole to parts will give me a better idea of where we're going with the parts to whole, so I don't think that will be a huge deal breaker, but I would like to know if they're completely incompatible. I also wanted to ask if no one uses Matin Latin now? I never see it listed here.

I do the white vinegar thing ... works great! (even on towels ...)

I apologize, no offense intended. Tutor's explanation was posted while I was writing so I didn't see it until after my post went up. Again, I totally see that my explanation could be read as if I were "talking down," but that was certainly not my intent.

Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door at Wittenberg October 31, 1517. In France, Calvin converted to Christian (probably Luther-esque) belief and broke from the Catholic church sometime between 1529-1532. According to Wiki (again, and I know it isn't a great source, but it is quick and easy here), "Calvin's authority was practically uncontested during his final years, and he enjoyed an international reputation as a reformer distinct from Martin Luther.[47] Initially, Luther and Calvin had mutual respect for each other. However, a doctrinal conflict had developed between Luther and Zürich reformer Huldrych Zwingli on the interpretation of the Eucharist. Calvin's opinion on the issue forced Luther to place him in Zwingli's camp. Calvin actively participated in the polemics that were exchanged between the Lutheran and Reformed branches of the Reformation movement." There were agreements, of course, including things like the 5 Solas. (I think Lutherans would hold to these, or maybe only 3?) The Reformation was not a lock-step movement, rather several men who were coming to similar understandings of RCC teachings at the same time (and certainly the influence of Luther cannot be overlooked). I don't know, but I don't think Lutherans call themselves "Reformed" (I could be very wrong on this point). I'm not entirely sure why, but Reformed seems to refer specifically to Calvinistic teaching (maybe because Calvin gets such a bad rap, so people "soften" it by using "Reformed"?) Anyway, "Martin Luther, no more pope, and everyone should read their Bible" aren't necessarily the distinctives I think of when I consider the Reformation; so much more was going on that led to some of these conclusions. And, as I said before, the Reformation was more of a grass-roots type movement than your terminology would convey. These are very general impressions from what I've studied in the past and some quick google searching. I hope they are truthful representations of historical fact and I'm certain that if they aren't, they'll be corrected. [grin]

Most OP churches would not fit into this definition of "evangelical." If by "Rapture theology" you mean Left Behindish, then I don't know of Presby churches that hold to this (the PC-USA church that I grew up in didn't seem to have an eschatalogical view as far as I can tell, other views (historic pre-mill, postmillenial, and amillenial eschatology) are held in the OPC). Some PCA churches do the praise-band, contemporary service but there is a greater diversity there than in the OPC; some of their churches are as traditional (or maybe moreso) as the congregation where I'm a member. Both, in my experience, are (were) hymn singing churches, but we also often sing from a Psalter at the OP church. Enthusiastic preaching could have different meanings; our pastor preaches through a book of the Bible in order (my brain isn't working, there's a term for this) He's been preaching through John for a year and a half or so and we're only through Ch 7. (there have been breaks for occasional sermons at baptisms, Christmas, Resurrection Sunday, and for others to fill the pulpit including our pastoral interns) The sermons tend to be long (30-45 minutes). I'd say he's very enthusiastic, but there is no power point or clever entertainment value. My PC(USA) church tended to do 4 week topical series that lasted 15 minutes at the max, generally 10. Dawn talked about baptism a bit; I'm pretty sure our congregation encourages all voting members to be paedo-baptistic, but have some "regular attenders" who are credo-baptists. We are baby sprinklers because we believe that the Lord's covenant extends to the children of believers. While all OPCers should recognize God's creation of all things ex nihilo (and deny evolution), not all of us are 7 day creationists (I am); there are some differing views on just how to read scripture on this point. I have never been asked to go door-to-door a la Evangelism Explosion. We do not ordain women to office (Deacon or Elder). We do try to adhere first to scripture and secondly to the Westminster Confession of Faith (and catechize using the Westminster catechisms). TULIP is a summary of Calvin's theology that Calvin did not write; it was created to counter the teachings of [/url]Jacobus Arminius 50-some years after Calvin's death. While the WCF would agree with what is stated in TULIP, the Canons of Dordt (where TULIP was formulated) is not one of the confessional documents we would use as our standards. Presbyterianism, as someone stated is a system of church government, its name derives from Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros), the comparative form of πρέσβυς (presbus), "elder" (see Wiki). John Knox studied under Calvin in Geneva and brought the system back to Scotland where it was accepted and the "Presbyterian" church grew, imported to N Ireland and eventually to the US. There are other reformed churches that come out of the Dutch tradition (see the Heidleberg Confession) that would also hold to very similar teaching. The Presbyterian church in the US has had several splits; the OPC off the mainline church in 1937, the PCA in 1973. There have been talks between the two denominations to join, but something has kept that from happening ... the greater variety in PCA churches or what is sometimes seen as extreme stringency in the OPC. There are other Presby denominations in the states than have been listed here the RPCNA being perhaps the largest of those not mentioned, but there are some others as well. The PC(USA) remains the largest (I believe), then either the PCA or EPC (I don't know if the recent exodus has made the EPC larger than the PCA?), then the OPC.

Shaving cream is best done in the bath tub. Easy cleanup, tell her it's soap.

I agree with Audrey. I've only used A,B &, C, but that one page I find the instructions helpful ... and in the A, B, & C books it gives 2-4 book ideas per letter that I try to use from the library. I understand that wouldn't be helpful to you being in Mexico, but I do use that, er, feature of the TM. It probably isn't actually worth buying it for what it is, but since I have it, I use it [grin]

I think I started some Agatha Christie in 4th or 5th grade ... I always did like Hercule Poirot, I didn't like Miss Marple so much, though.

Bulk sausage can be used in place of ground beef in shepherd's pie, chili, and I'd imagine most other uses (an all sausage meatloaf might be a bit much, though). I do love it in shepherd's pie.

According to Wiki, the 12th Amendment was established in 1804 to have the VP and President run together on a ticket.

Is he Engineering minded? If so, I just ordered these for my nephew and think he's going to love them and will (potentially) get many years play out of them ...

Oh, and this one is super yummy: Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese. I used bacon instead of pancetta and added some cooked chicken. So good. I need to make this again.

We make pizza on Fridays, too. Last night my kids requested Mexican pizza: crust, refried beans (I'd use only 1/2 a can next time [grin]), salsa, some taco meat and cheese, done. It was a hit and a nice change from pepperoni.

*That&* sounds like a fascinating story! Do tell ... (pretty please with sugar on top?)