My ds has College Board accommodations. It was a bit of a pain for us because we moved after I started the process but overall it wasn't too bad. It's pretty much a "done deal" once you get the paperwork/doctor's notes done. They can't really deny the medical necessity, kwim? His accommodation was clock stoppage if his bgs are out of range, and not re-starting until recovered, plus of course pump, juice and all that jazz. He took the PSAT (2x) and the ACT (1x) without accommodations, and the SAT (2x) with. Honestly his scores were consistent across all them, regardless of accommodations, but I'm glad we had them in place in case it was an issue, and I'm also looking towards college and thinking that having College Board in place will help if he needs them later. We fortunately had no issues getting a testing site. After registering, College Board contacted us, asking for three possible testing sites near us. I listed them, they contacted them and then the one that could/had space/was willing contacted us and set up a time. (He was alone with a tester, and took it on a school day rather than a Saturday. He also started later than normal (9:00) because the tester had ordinary administrative duties at the school. That was a very good thing for him.) He took the SAT at the same school with the same tester both times. As is normally true for me, my memory of the events fades pretty quickly afterward, but I'm glad to dredge up anything else I can if it would be helpful to you. Feel free to message me.

It's so funny to me -- my youngest is SUPER crafty. Left to her own devices, a ream of paper and a six-pack of tape, she'll have the best time of her life and create beyond my wildest imaginations. BUT (and I've tried this experiment more times than is logical -- what's that old definition of insanity?) every single time I try to get her to cut on the lines a lapbook cutout, or paste together a lapbook craft, she digs both heels in and RESISTS... Lesson learned: Cutting and pasting = free-time activities

I've been eating marinara sauce on homemade Mac and cheese for lunch the last few days and it is SO good!

What about taking a ferry ride? Riding a ferry is always fun to me. From Seattle you could ferry to Whidbey Island and then drive back across Deception Pass - a long but nice day. (Or do you have time/passports to go to Vancouver?) Olympic Natl'l Park would also be a (very) long but great day -- pick one or two things to do/see (i.e. beach and a short rainforest hike). I think the Ballard Locks are interesting, too. Both of those things are way out of ordinary for people from land-locked states! Are you a zoo or history person? Depending on your route for visiting Rainier, you might consider Northwest Trek. It's an outdoor ride-through zoo/park and a nice chance to be in the woods. I'm kinda "eh" about the Seattle Aquarium but it's pretty popular.

It's not the *same* smell, but the only thing I have found to reliably remove a sour smell from laundry (and I've tried vinegar, specialty products, etc.) is to wash the load with 1 c baking soda (nothing else - NO detergent) on the hottest water possible.

I need small, simple words. Is this at all a somewhat accurate, albeit very simplified, summary of what I'm reading above and trying to understand? If not, could someone correct/expand for me, please? So some people with the flu develop a cytokine storm, in which their immune system, in a misguided attempt to fight the virus, goes into a (potentially lethal) loop/spiral of overactivity. Elderberry/sambucol is widely regarded as a beneficial immune-system builder. But because of that very immune (building) response, there is concern that for a) people with influenza, elderberry could actually incite that cytokine storm and b) people who already have auto-immune disorders, elderberry could activate unnecessary immune reaction and create more auto-immune issues.

It's been a few years but I remember my son working mostly independently through Rainbow Science for middle school. It was very laid-out, lesson a day and the lab kit had everything you needed in it.

After you posted this, I ordered one for my son. It came on Saturday, and it's great. He uses it for his insulin pump, and now he can wear that one pair of sweats that doesn't have pockets, and hang out in his onesie and not have to hold the pump. And it's going to make theater so much easier -- especially when he has to change costumes. He use to just unplug for an entire production, and then his blood sugar would be really high by the end. I know it's not the "intended" use, but oh so helpful for us!

I'm confused. Are these photo thank you cards of the item received? Or the item AND the recipient? Or just, say, the recipient's senior picture?

Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I guess I just needed that affirmation of my own gut instinct. Out it goes, and I'm excited to have a fun evening looking at your suggestions. I don't have a lot of $$ left in the education budget right now (theater for two teens -- eek!) but some of these look affordable and fun. And truthfully, she does so much on her own -- so fun for her, and maybe a little bit of structure to orient her learning, and we'll be good. I'll just use something else around the house to give her independent text reading/answer writing practice. Okbud, the Zoobooks look great. She would love them! She has been reading and re-reading a rather graphic shark book at bedtime for the last several weeks, and we're both ready for something new. :-)

I need to "externally process" this and get feedback. :-) We love CLE math. It is working so well for both my girls. Because CLE math was going so well, and because my youngest (7 yo) LOVES animals, and because I was looking to add a (somewhat) independent class for her, and to integrate reading practice into another subject for her, I decide to get CLE's second grade science, "Animals - A Gift from God." Each lesson has a short amount of reading and then some comprehension questions. A lot of times, in CLE style, there are some review questions at the beginning also. For reading practice, it's going well. Right lexile level. For the comprehension/writing answers part, it's also going well. Just the right level -- writing out sentence answers is a challenge but not overwhelming. For the science part... Well, there's the problem. Honestly, this child lives and breathes animals. Nearly all her play is animal-focused and most of her learning synthesis has come through the lens of animal study (i.e. word roots from what the big science words mean, measurements and estimation from animal sizes, all that delightful to watch, best of homeschooling learning). So there's really not anything new here for her. She has so far been familiar with every animal the book has introduced. But I'd probably be inclined to keep her going for the reading/comprehension stuff IF it weren't for the fact that-- IT IS RIDDLED WITH ERRORS. That *she* points out, all the time. In a very frustrated voice. According to the worktext 202, "the weather in a rain forest is always warm." She has NOT TRUE! written above it. Likewise, it says that deserts are always hot... Stuff like this. Penguins live in Antarctica, where it's cold. I get that there's a certain amount of simplification that's necessary to make the information accessible to the age group. And I recognize that her level of knowledge on the topic(s) isn't normal for the age group. But where's the line between appropriate simplification and accuracy? So, if you've made it this far, here are my dilemmas: Do I keep her doing these for the reading/independent work/etc? Use the errors as teaching/critical reading moments? Do I scrap it? If so (actually, I guess, whether I scrap it or keep it) what can I add that would challenge/increase her animal knowledge without overwhelming her or destroying her enthusiasm?

Anglican (ACNA) Reformed in the reformed Catholic sense (not TULIP), and sacramental. Our journey away from big-box evangelical began with PCA but we found "home" as Anglicans. Love, love, love Anglican liturgy. Anglican theology is prayer book theology -- our prayers shape our beliefs. Anglican fundamentals are firm but it's a focus on the majors, not the minors, mentality i.e. there's never going to be a church statement on the age of the earth!

I had to get a new computer unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago and decided to use it to make my break with YNAB (older, non-subscription version). I like the idea behind YNAB, and how it focused on budgeting, but oh my word... The HOURS (weekly!) I've spent the past few years reconciling my checking account... I just can't justify it anymore. I'm currently trying out mint.com, which I'm incredibly hesitant about because of the online presence. I've also looked at my bank's own budgeting plan (USAA) but it doesn't give me enough real-time data (days and days before transactions update to categories) or flexibility. I miss the good ol' days of Microsoft Money.

My "traditional" my favorite is Kathy Mattea's "Mary Did You Know?" However, this year I was introduced to "The Canticle of the Turning" by Rory Cooney, Gary Daigle and Teresa Donohoo, and I really, really love it. It's the Magnificat, paraphrased, and put to an Irish tune.

LOTS of flags to me in what you've written. Some of the things that stand out: she felt better after a lot of water and food, that she isn't gaining/growing at the same rate as your other girls, the fatigue. These are all symptoms of Type 1 in kids. As a person develops Type 1, their immune system kills off insulin production. During that period of time, while the body is still producing insulin, it can often overcorrect and you end up with wild swings -- highs AND lows. PLEASE get her back to the doc for a bg/A1C check. I don't mean to be alarming, and I'll be praying that it is not, but I would definitely encourage ruling it out. ETA: At diagnosis, my ds had not *lost* weight, but it was noted that he hadn't been *gaining* weight the previous couple of years.

So will she be at your house Christmas morning? Or whenever your adult children open their stockings? That would affect my choice, I think. Just, cuz, I'm guessing her $ amount is different than your kids, and that'd be weird, so I'd probably go for a GC just so it's less... I don't know... obviously different. If she's opening hers at a different time, the $ difference wouldn't really matter and I'd go with cash to be consistent. Convoluted, but there it is...

I can't give a review of it yet, but we got our son a MoviePass. It was available through Costco for $90, and if it works like it's supposed to, he'll be able to use it to go to one (regular) movie a day for a year at any participating theater. (There are 24 in our city.)

Such wonderful ideas! THANK YOU all so much! Dh really wanted the scooter, so that's what we went with. We got one with bigger tires and it's pink so I think it'll be good. However, thanks to you all, I have a great list tucked away for the future (or even this year, as I don't think her older sibs have shopped for her yet). I especially think she'd love a fish/aquarium (don't know why I hadn't thought of that), a science mag subscription/box, or something like the Little Pet Shop/Calico Critters. I also thought of setting up a desk for her -- for doing aquarium business - with envelopes, order forms, calculator, etc., and also a place for her crafting supplies. Maybe during the February doldrums as a together project, or for her birthday.

We'll have Lessons and Carols on the 24th in the morning, candlelight service that evening and a regular Eucharistic (well, Christmas, of course, but... regular) service Christmas morning.

That doesn't sound like an eggnog problem. That sounds like a fairly alarming GI problem, and I'd probably be at the ER, tbh. Can you call and talk to a nurse line right now? Or a nurse at your regular doctor's office?

Thanks for the ideas. We have a lot of origami around -- she likes it but still needs lots of help with it. We got her cousins a lap loom for Christmas and she was not at all interested in it.

Somehow we got to the 18th of December and I'm still short the big/wow* gift for my 7 year old. *Only in size/impact, lol. Budget preferably not over $50. She recently bought herself some Legos with money from her grandparents. She isn't into dolls. At all. She mostly uses (LOTS OF) paper and (LOTS OF) tape to make animals that live in the pretend aquarium she manages. (She's already getting a Costco size package of tape refills and more printer paper, so she'll be very happy.) She has stuffies but doesn't really play with them or utilize them in her pretend play. She has a bike but is scared to ride it. Dh would like to get her a scooter, but she doesn't seem interested. Her permitted range in our neighborhood is just a few houses in each direction and she seems content running that. She saw skates at the store and was interested -- but we're somewhat hesitant because of past experience with kids and skates, especially without a lot of good sidewalk to skate: 15 minutes to get the skates on, 3 minutes of skating, 5 minutes to get them off, rinse, lather, repeat. I'd love a swing set but obviously that's not in our price range. We have no trees so no hammock or slackline. I feel like I'm missing some obvious ideas... Help, please?!

I bookmarked this company a few years ago -- The Mystery Experience. I think maybe I saw it mentioned here? It looks like a totally fun gift *I'd* never get myself. It doesn't lend itself to something to unwrap under the tree -- but he could get one of those at-home escape room board games to wrap... Or maybe there's another similar sort of "crate" you'd like?

Those kid activity atlases. Travel bingo and/or a game like "Are we there yet?" or travel scavenger hunt A travel activity pack with a storage clipboard, some twistable color pencils (don't need sharpeners, don't melt), and some paper, washi tape, etc. A photo book for a postcard collection, or a storage book for a smashed penny collection. A junior ranger something (hat, vest, game) if you're going to be visiting Nat'l Parks

You've gotten some great ideas, I think! I would be terribly frustrated at the tight timeline on this project, but I wanted to put in a good word for the basic idea. :-) Our family does "theme" giving -- my brother and I started it a few years ago just to make things more fun. We like exchanging gifts with each other and didn't want to stop, but we usually aren't together at Christmas. In fact, we usually only see each other's families once every year or so. So it's hard to really know a particular interest or want. Having the theme lets us be creative with it -- something fun rather than something perfect, you know? We brainstormed a list of 15 - 20 theme ideas. Early in the year (Jan/Feb) my brother runs them through a Randomizer app and announces the theme for the year. Last year was "hot;" this year is "Luddite."