I'm always amazed at what they come up with. I might start with a toy or two...or even better, some cups or bowls. Really, they are great at coming up with stuff. Once, we met a friend at the science center, only to find out it was closed that day. Not wanting to waste the day, we went outside where there is a huge lawn and some giant oak trees. The kids played for FOUR hours. They made houses in the trunks of the trees, collected acorns, leaves, and twigs. Fought dragons and Theives, and made potions and cast spells. (and we aren't even Waldorf inspired lol) My girlfriend and I had a lovely time just chatting. Today we went to the lake and the girls spend two hours with a few buckets and shovels. They found a bunch of moss, made nests, and formed eggs from the sand. They looked in the lake at the minnows, tried to catch them, and decided to go digging for worms to feed them. I have actually found that my kids will play much longer in places that do not have a playground. Or if they do, they also have trees to climb or interesting nature to look at. They love to climb, but nature just holds their attention for much longer. I'd check out parks, botanical gardens, farms, beaches, lakes, rivers, ect. The hardest thing for me right now is the toddler wants to run off a lot or eat things she finds. Otherwise being outside is really relaxing.

We do, for the most part.:) I've found that being outside so much keeps them happier and keeps my house cleaner. Seriously, the times we are inside, we are either sitting down to do school, eat, or taking our rest time. If they get ranbunctious inside i kickthem out. We have very few toys, because theyd really just rather be outside. Typical day is Get up at 7, eat, make beds, chores, ect. I go for a walk with the dog daily at around 7:15-7:30 for half hour. Anyone who is dressed and ready can join me. They love to try and be ready because they like coming with me. I push the baby in the stroller and the big girls can ride bikes or scooters. Start seat work at 8, done by 9:30 at the latest. Head out to the park, pack a lunch. Once a week we have coop at the park, once a week we meet friends at a different park, once a week we have ballet, and the other days we park hop, have play dates, ect. Stay until 1 or so. Come home so baby can nap and big girls can have some down time. They are allowed a movie or computer time. I read aloud, we play board games or put puzzles together...you know, the stuff that can't happen with a toddler lol. At around 3, baby gets up and we all have a snack. I do some chores and get dinner started/prepped. At about 3:30, we take our bikes to the neighborhood park. Lately we've been taking some sand toys and they've spent hours digging in the sand by the lake. Otherwise they play on the playground, climb trees, or ride their bikes down the hills. At about 5:30, we head home again. The big girls (4 and 6) are allowed to stay outside playing with the neighbors until it gets dark, about 6:30 here. I shower everyone, and dh gets home at about 7, we eat dinner. Sometimes I take the dog for another walk after dinner, and they come with me then too...anything to delay bedtime lol. So, if they go with me on my walk, it's about 6-7 hours of outside time. In the summer, it isn't so much, because Florida sun can be brutal...even in the pool. We average about 4 hours during the summer, 2 in the morning and 2 in the late afternoon.

We have a lot already as well. We will be doing- Miquon-we have it, I got four of the workbooks free at a curriculum fair years ago, and I bought the other two used (not written in) for $2. MEP-free BFSU-have it, bought the PDFs for $5 SOTW-have it, bought all four at a used curriculum fair MOH-have volumes 1 & 2, bought those a few years ago. TWRTR-have it, one books covers years worth of phonics instruction, and these are found on amazon pretty cheap used. FLL- bought used for this year. WWE-I just bought the teachers guide, not the big workbooks. I apply the method to our history readings. Art/picture study-found an awesome book this year for $13, it should take us year to get through it. Poetry-plenty of books on that around here. Handwriting- we do copywork and MIL just brought me Abigail packet of nice handwriting paper, so I'm set there. I'll have to buy ETC workbooks, should be under $15 for the year. Debating on getting the SOTW AG...if I find it used for a great price I will, otherwise I'll skip it. I have to buy a few more living books for history. I did get some awesome ones from a used book store, but I think I'd like just a couple more...maybe $20? I'd love to find the D'Aulaire Greek myths book, if not, I can read them from the computer. As for school supplies, I think we are set. Maybe some quality art supplies for our picture study, but we can make do with what we have if there aren't enough funds. Debating on continuing with AAS. We love it, but just trying to be mindful of our money. I will buy only the instructors guide if I can find it used.

My dh is 95% FOR my being a stay at home mom, and his mother was not a stay at home mom.

I try to get out once a week to the bookstore by myself. Every other week, my good friend joins me and we do a book discussion. It's lovely. We drink cooffe or tea, and chat for hours. Dh puts everyone to bed, and I come home refreshed. I've given up some of my ideals in order to simplify my life...I do buy some convinience foods, like deli turkey to make easy lunches. I used to feel a lot of guilt about it, but I realized if it freed up time and lessened some stress and workload, it was worth it. I have three little ones, and sometimes making three complete meals and the clean up is too much.

Miquon and MEP. :)

Low grade fever, I'll wait five days. High fever, like 103-up, after three days, I'll take them in. We've never gone more than 24 hours with a high fever though, and I don't medicate a fever unless the kid is miserable. My dd3 (15 months) just had a few days of fever, the first day hovering right at 103-104, and she did fine all day with no medicine. She was just really sleepy and would nurse a ton. I did offer juice (not something she normally gets) as an incentive to drink more. Second and third days the fever got progressively lower.

Dd1 (6.5) said "You know! A vet that rescues animals!" She is in love with the Crocodile Hunter. :) Dd2 (4) said "A ballerina."

Oh duh! That would be helpful! Next year I will have a 2nd grader and a K'er. :)

Yeah, I have SOTW...and MOH lol. I just can't decide. I loved with the AA, there was a list of about ten (?) chapter books, and I could get them all at once from amazon, and it was about $50 for everything! If I could find ten chapter books (for me to read to her) that would take us through Ancients, I'd be so happy!

I'll admit, my history education was abysmal (as was most of my education sadly) and I'll be learning right along side my dd. We loved doing American Adventures this year, and I'm looking to put together something similar for Ancients next year. I already have SOTW, just the reading book, so I will use that as our 'spine'. Soooo, history buffs, want to take a stab at it? The challenge is to make a list of 10-12 books I could use for Ancients....preferably paperback chapter books that I can find cheaply, and on Amazon...that way i can just place one order and be done with it. We just aren't good about going to the library, especially with the toddler. When we do go, I'm too busy chasing her to actually look for books we will need. Aaaaaand getting them back in time is not guaranteed. I'd rather just spend the $ and buy the books lol. Budget is $100, though less is always better!!! I'd also love an activity book in there...not one with coloring pages, but actual activities/recipes/crafts/ect we could do. Ready, set, go!!!

Elemental History? I love their American Adventures, we used that this year for first grade, and it was perfect for us. We loved all of the book selections, and for the PDF file, the price can't be beat!:001_smile: So, is there something else like that but for world history?

:DWe do all three! I agree, They are truly wonderful resources.:)

I would consider my dd1 to be average to slightly more. In Math/Science/Logic she excels, but in Reading I feel like she is barely on target, kwim? I always considered us fairly relaxed, but when talking to a fellow HS'er, she was adamant that I was being too 'hard' on her...doing too much. Now I'm questioning if maybe I *am* too hard on her, and I could ease up. :confused: If you could, would you tell me what you do for each subject, how long you spend on each subject, and how long you spend daily on school. Also, how many days per week/month/year you do formal school. What are your expectations regarding how work is completed, taking responsibility for school and chores, ect. Dd is my first, so I feel like it's a constant learning experience for me, and she is the poor soul that has to be the guinea pig.;)

I would have been livid if they didn't initiate contact with me after not hearing from me. (since the cell phones were off and the other phone got knocked off the hook) And I would have been equally as angry about not mentioning the allergic reaction, AND giving my child medicine without permission from dh or myself. I would not leave my kids there again.:glare:

That looks great!!! I love that, and I know my bigger girls (4 and almost 7) would LOVE it. I'm going to attempt to make it, thanks to you! May I ask, what is the blue chart you have them all on? Where would I get one? Thanks!!:)

Yikes!!! Totally didn't think of that! No, I don't mean to violate any copyright! Definitely will check my library, not sure if they carry the AG, but I'm looking to buy it anyway. Thanks for the heads up.:001_smile:

Thank you! Going to check those out!!!

I'm planning on starting this in the fall, and would love to start building my home library now... What has worked best for us as far as history goes is to just read living (fiction or non) in chronological order. We are currently doing American history using the book list from Elemental History and it is working really well. I'm thinking of doing the same thing next year with world history...reading the chapters of SOTW during school time and the chapter books at bedtime. I do not have the activity book yet, but will be purchasing that closer to the fall. Is there a blog or webpage that has a listing of books (for early elementary level) for world history in chronological order? One that corresponds to SOTW? that way I can start buying slowly now. Thank you!

:grouphug:I can not imagine what you and your precious family have been through.:grouphug:You have my utmost respect and admiration, although I know that isn't much consolation to the issues you are facing now. I also wanted to say that reading about your experience has REALLY opened my eyes to the reality (and sometimes horrors) of adoption and foster care. We were on the verge of really diving in, and after learning about RAD via your story, I've put it on hold...at least until my biological children are older (they are 6, 3, and 1 now). I can not imagine putting them through the h3ll that RAD children can cause on a family. Adoption is not off the table forever, but for a while it will be... Thank you for sharing your story, for educating others, for being brutally honest and transparent about what the reality is with adoption and attachment disorders. I really wish more people would do that. I have no words of wisdom for you, everything I think to say sounds so trite. Just know I have you and your family in my thoughts, there are a lot of people rooting for you. I wish you peace, rest, and strength. :grouphug:

0-1...I'm really boring. ;) There used to be some boundary issues with my in laws, but reading Boundaries and having a few sessions of marital counseling fixed that. ;)

:lol:This describes me. Exactly. ;)

When I had dd1, all I knew about CDs were the prefolds and pull on covers with pins. I thought I'm never gonna stick a huge pin near my baby! Then when she was 10 months, I started really researching and bought fitteds and covers. I loved them right away, tried every single type out there, and finally settled on prefolds lol. I've been using the same diapers for three kids now, and I love it. Super simple, easy, cheap, and cute. I crochet, so I make our woolies, though we do have PUL covers now as well. Most people think I'm looney for using them.

I feel the same.exact.way. And I only have three!!! My 6.5 year old dd is SO distractible it's not even funny. Add in a three year old and one year old getting into everything...yikes!!! by nap time we are all too tired to concentrate much...my six year old still really needs that downtime, even though she hasn't napped since she was two. It's the only time they are allowed tv/movie/computers for an hour, and honestly I don't want to give up that hour of me time either.:001_huh: :lurk5:For ideas!

Two of my dd's had it, and after being told there was nothing we could do, I started researching on my own. I found that Theives Oil (a mixture of five essential oils -clove, rosemary, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and lemon I believe) had worked for some people. I bought the oils st my HFS and mixed it up myself, diluted it in olive oil. One tablespoon of olive oil to five drops of the essential oil mixture. I put it on the spots twice a day, and in two weeks they were gone! Truly, Theives Oil has been such a great addition to our natal medicine chest, we've learned we can use it for a LOT of things, and I love that it is natural. Hope that helps some!