The "teachers" at IDEA here in Juneau are just wonderful, and so are the other homeschooling families. I don't know much about Raven, but our town is pretty evenly split between IDEA and Raven. There is also a local "public" homeschooling group (the advantage with it is you can participate in ps things like band or, uh, ???) but it is only a few years old so I don't know much about it. IDEA is nice because they have a resource room where we can check out materials on almost any subject. It is well-stocked because you have to give back all your homeschooling materials when you leave the program. Some stuff is pretty new because a family may have left the program unexpectedly. We also have lots of activities, like skiing every Friday and special swim lessons just for homeschoolers. HTH, Julie

We are in Primer C and many times I have said, "This is just too hard!" and each time ds has encouraged me to continue. "No, mom, you can do this! 'Cmon, I'll show you....":blush: Since we homeschool year-round, sometimes we do need to shake it up a bit. We add a little Lingua Latina here and there. Familia Romana is the name of the first book, I believe. But I think 4th grade will be perfect for starting Latin for Children "A." I recommend getting it directly from the publisher (and getting the MasterPak or whatever they call the full-blown package) because they have revised the DVD recently. The two (or three sometimes) homeschooled girls will be a fun addition to your homeschool. They are respectful to their teacher (Dr. Perrin), but they still have fun. Julie

I really liked 1066. Howarth writes in an engaging fashion, and I especially enjoyed his flair for character portrayal. I really cared about these folks! I discovered it in the Veritas Press catalogue; how did you find it? Was it maybe suggested in Story of the World? I can't remember. Julie

I just checked the contract to make sure. He was barely 8 when he got the palate expander, which he wore for maybe four or five months. I was suspicious, because I have a small jaw and I had to have FOUR teeth removed just to make room for my adult teeth (I never got wisdom teeth). Anyway, he got braces on after that (at 8 years old) and he is going to have them removed at his next appointment (9 years old, almost 10 years old). I think what really makes a difference is WHEN did your orthodontist go to school? It is important (IMO) that you go to one who has the latest schooling. I would NOT have gone to the orthodontist who was previously the only one in town. He put MY own braces on 20 years ago and even back then his technology was way behind the times. JMHO, Julie

It is extra polite. If English works the same way as Italian, the use of the conditional adds an extra measure of politeness. As in, "Mother, would you please tie my shoes?"

you are going to have a BALL when you get to the middle ages if you are Christian. There is such beautiful art in the Medieval era that is overlooked. What is your art history spine? Or is that what you are looking for in your post? The reason I ask is that older art history texts can imply that medieval art is somehow inferior because they hadn't "yet" figured out how to do perspective, or how to really show people standing on the ground (and then Giotto came along and all was right with the world).... Well, as much as I adore Giotto, medieval art is so beautiful and I am so impressed with the soaring spirituality of figures that don't rest on the ground (or in the chair, in the case of all the Madonna & Child Enthroned paintings). I do not believe that the artist intended for them to look "real" since they were not of this earth, and I get annoyed when art historians imply that they are somehow primitive or not as skillful (comparing them to Renaissance painters such as Masaccio). Since you are Christians, don't skimp on this stuff and hopefully you can find a spine that does it justice. JMHO. Not a Christian here, so I can't answer your OP. Yes, I was an art history major. I also took an extra year traipsing around Italy. Then I ran out of money and had to come back. Julie

I am asking this VERY respectfully, so please don't insert a snotty tone where none is intended. Since you are legally divorced, how do you support yourself? What is your source of income? The sale of his father's house will do great things for his bank account, but what about yours? I'm just wondering, since courts do not order divorces if they are financially inequitable. Did you tell the court that you would be obtaining full-time work? I'm just curious, so if this makes you feel defensive, you don't need to answer. I used to work in the court system with divorce/dissolution/child support/domestic violence (fun stuff!), so my curiosity is piqued. Julie

We have a lot of fetal alcohol syndrome adults in our town. The justice system is at a loss over how to treat them because they just do not understand that their actions are wrong. There is one young man who keeps robbing banks. (This is a small town, and bank robberies are few and far between because there is no road out of here!!) He doesn't even bother to use to a disguise. When he was 7, his behavior would have been classified as "impulsive." As an adult, it is criminal, but what to do about it? I am so sorry, CalicoKat. Obviously, punitive measures will not work with this child. You have tried that. So perhaps look into completely different methods. My heart goes out to you. Julie

I just ordered the 2nd edition of Latin-Centered Curriculum and also the Living Memory book. I would be happy to send my first edition to anyone that PM's me (and doesn't mind waiting forever for media mail from Alaska!). Oooh, "first edition," doesn't that sound fancy? ETA: We have a lucky winner already! My 1st edition LCC is spoken for. Julie

I sincerely hope that he finds something else soon. This is just so difficult. Hang in there. Breathe.:grouphug: Julie

I recall seeing an old map at Rancho Los Alamitos that referred to the Los Angeles harbor area as "Bahia de Los Fumos." That is because even before the Spanish arrived, the smoke from the native American fires would just hover over the area. Los Angeles is just really prone to smog -- even without automobiles. It doesn't help, though, that they destroyed this http://www.oerm.org/pages/pehistory.html to build freeways. (If you live there or have lived there, click on the map to enlarge it and you will see the amazing network of 1000 miles of streetcars all throughout the Los Angeles/Long Beach area.) Julie

I developed a gluten intolerance later in life. Bloating, indigestion. So I encourage you to examine whether the symptoms have always accompanied cereal. The cereal itself might be the culprit. Julie (who just baked a very odd loaf of garbanzo bean bread)

Toohy and Wood, by Mary Elise Monsell. (Sniff. Snort.) It was the first book that brought my son to tears. He was five or six. He was startled by the suddenness of his grief, and came running into the room holding the book and yelling, "MOM! Read this, read this!" He had tears running down his face. I told him to always remember this book, because it was the first one that moved him to tears.

I know this isn't really what you are asking, but writing Greek is so completely different than writing English that I needed to do all the writing (workbook) in order to really learn it. I have had to do so much copying! I would definitely get myself a workbook if I had to do it over again. I haven't found the need for this in Latin for Children --- probably because my son and I work on it together (except for the tests). HTH a little (probably not) Edited to add: not helpful at all! Sorry. Julie

I have not used this exact series, but it looks good. I wouldn't try to do everything in one year, though. Pick a region and really stick with it. http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/United+States+Past+and+Present%3A+Level+H/008895/1231048383-1703586 Also, we did a "Mapping Skills" series of workbooks that was good, but I don't think it goes into the higher levels. Julie

Which movie did you watch first on New Year's Eve? Because Wall-E is really, really LONG. Did you perhaps watch it after enjoying Kung-Fu Panda and didn't have the patience for it? I loved Wall-E and saw it twice in the theater (within a few days). It is NOT for little kids (even my 9-yo was VERY concerned about Wall-E when he got thrown down the trash chute and he actually yelled at the screen! But he cried, and he does not cry easily. I cried, and I do not cry easily. Were you really not moved when he takes care of Eva even though she really "isn't there" to know what he is doing? Or when she saw the security video and realized what he had done for her? Didn't like Kung Fu Panda. Well, I liked the relationship between him and his dad, and how his dad is so content being a noodle soup seller and can't imagine that the panda would want to do anything else. Which reminds me....there is a kid's book called "The Bear Who Wanted to be a Bear." Tee-hee. Yep, it's a Buddhist book. Haven't seen Mamma Mia, but I probably agree with you on that one. Julie

Here is a yummy recipe that uses 4 cups of milk! I've made it with great success -- even my picky eater son liked it. http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1571487

I would just use a swifter. Or if you don't like gadgets and you don't have a Swifter, a dustcloth will work. OK, five dustcloths. Can you recruit the children to do this?

A small town which will remain nameless. And also the upper part of the Lower Peninsula. I was lucky enough to be stationed in Michigan TWICE! Sorry, but I just had nothing in common with any of the people I met. I did enjoy our rousing games of broomball in the bar parking lot, though. :tongue_smilie: Now, see, I just offended about ten people. This is a dangerous thread.... Julie

It is quite advanced for a 9yo (especially the comprehension-type activities or "add ons" - whatever the heck they are called). But we enjoy it very much and are holding on to them for coordinating with SOTW in the future. The issue about the Byzantine Empire was particularly fascinating. Enjoy! Julie

You know I'm not Christian, and I'm not trying to take away from the "pray and listen" advice. I think you should, of course. So, now that's taken care of....... When you (all) made the decision for dh to attend seminary, did you really think that he would leave seminary debt-free? If so, wow. That was extremely ambitious planning, if neither of you have a trust fund. Maybe a childless couple could complete seminary with no debt, but in your situation it would be very unlikely. So.....if you did plan to incur debt while in school, why the sudden need for dh to work full-time? His studies should come first, so they are not "forever." Also, one more consideration. You have never mentioned whether dh is enjoying seminary, or at least being fulfilled by his studies. This should be a consideration too. If this is something important in his life right now (second to his family, of course), leaving seminary might not be this best decision for your family. If he is a seminarian working to pay the bills, that is one identity (and like it or not, many men think one's profession is who you are). But if he is a ___________(whatever the 8-5 job is), that is a whole different ball of wax. And by the way, I read all of your posts because I could never, in a million years, do half of what you do. I am amazed. But I do think you should sleep more. Will your little ones remember the special Christmas dress that you worked all night on, or will they just remember that mama was always tired? Best wishes, and I know you will come to a decision that is right for your family. (Sorry to bypass the church questions, but others have addressed that pretty well.) Julie

It's not "for school" because my son finished it a week ago. (Right??) It's just fascinating, especially because we used to live near Fort Mackinac. Happy reading, Julie

Nobody has mentioned my favorite series. I enjoy it because it is NOT dry... in fact each book follows a real child (REAL!! child!!) as he/she practices her faith. I remember that in the Muslim one, the boy explains that when he turned seven, he could fast and pray like his father rather than a child would. I have linked to the one on Buddhism, because, you know: http://www.franklinwatts.co.uk/RELIGION_Books_MY-BELIEF_Series_I-AM-A-BUDDHIST_26388_56141_69986_PB.htm but all of them are on that page. I enjoyed this series because it was one of the few that was not really, really "off" about Buddhism. Even "Story of the World" is pretty bad on Buddhism. To be fair, though, Buddhism is pretty difficult to explain to a child. One teacher explained it to me this way: "I should just say 'be kind.' That is all, really. But that is too simple for people to understand, so that's why Buddhism has 10 of this and 8 of that and 6 paramitas... If you really understand 'be kind,' I could stop talking now and we could all go home." Now I just hope this really is the series I read...... ETA: Oh, dear. I think it was actually this one: http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=TAHIf99sbZMC&dq=I+am+a+Buddhist&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=M1Quu2i7_m&sig=7-jbp0NXREesq2GhEUbFiKAmw_E&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA5,M1 No, it wasn't. But I like the definition of "enlightenment" in this one. It simply means a complete understanding of the true nature of reality, discovered for yourself rather than taking anyone else's word for it. Even the Buddha said, "Don't take my word for it." Julie

The zoo and the Wild Animal Park are both run by the Zoological Society, so they will both probably be on the same website. Just look around a bit. This is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the Wild Animal Park because it is just too HOT (in my opinion) to go there during the summer. It is quite a hike from San Diego, though, so plan accordingly. I would make it a point to enjoy Legoland while you are there. Please bring swimsuits and at least a few towels; the pirate land has a really fun playground that will get your children very wet. They have a towel and swimsuit (and sweatshirt) stand right there which gets lots of business! In every part of Legoland, there are special places for toddlers (including the aforementioned wet playground), and there is a special area just for kids around 3 and under that is all just their size. And there is a special roller coaster for younger kids (the dinosaur one). We are members of the zoo, Legoland, and the Natural History Museum. I would also recommend the model train museum (in Balboa Park) if you have any train fanatics in your family (your dh?). I wasn't there over the holidays, but apparently they had an elaborate Lego "city" with trains and skyscrapers and such over the holidays. Not sure how long it is supposed to be there. Outside of the zoo is a train you can actually ride in, but after the holidays it will only be open on weekends. Same with the carousel outside of the zoo. Cute story: when I was growing up, I really thought that train outside of the zoo was going to all the places on the signs (Tijuana, Los Angeles, etc.) That's why I loved it so much --- adventure! The open road! Tee-hee. It only takes five minutes or so to do the whole loop, but I believed. And about Scripps Aquarium: it is actually called Birch Aquarium these days, and is very good. It is not really near anything else you will be seeing, but if your hotel is near there be sure to check it out. I guess it also depends on whether you have a good aquarium at home -- might not be special for you! Here's the website, which includes the tidepooling schedule: http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/ Lastly, I love Cabrillo National Park. It has loads of cool displays, both at the Visitor's Center and at the old lighthouse. There is a trail down to the ocean with very interesting interpretive signs. It is one of the only places (besides Torrey Pines State Park) that one can see California flora and fauna as it was originally. But you won't have time to do all of this, so good luck choosing! Julie

I always thought TEA on a deserted beach (with the waves softly lapping nearby) would be very romantic. The reality of this is *nothing* like I imagined. One must have a tolerance for getting sand everywhere. Like, you know, everywhere. :glare: Julie