5) A Walk in the Woods By Bill Bryson This guy can weave a tail. He draws beautiful pictures with words. However, if you were to ask me what I learned from this book I would have to say that the Federal Parks System wastes our money building roads and re-routing roads for no good reason, since the Parks took over more species of animal have decreased in numbers, and the Appalachian Trail is tough. I could have learned that with about 200 fewer pages, lol. He used so many adjectives and dress-ups in his writing that I had to stop myself several times and remind myself what the point to his book was; it wasn't fiction so it wasn't to tell a story, it wasn't autobiographical (technically). It was informative history of the AT interweaved with stories of his time on the trail. I am having a really hard time reading this year. 4) Hannah's Joy by Marta Perry 3) A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck. 2) Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck 1) His Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman

Someone posted about the rewiring that happens during puberty a long time ago (3 or 4 Years) and a friend gave me really good advice about this growing period. Knowing that the kids are growing a lot, their brains are rewiring and the side effect is spaciness is really helpful in being patient. It does seem ridiculous to retrain an older child to take a bath, but repetition is the mother of retention. Discipline is training a child in the way they should go. FWIW, I am supervising my youngest in proper washing, noticed my middle wasn't getting all the soap out of his hair so we had a lesson on how to take a shower/bath.

Finished this week 4) Hannah's Joy by Marta Perry 1/2 way through Emma. Next week I should finish 4 books. 3) A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck. I was howling! This book was hysterical! What a way with words this guy has. 2) Secrets at Sea Peck 1) His Love Endures Forever Wiseman

I think that the dinner time probably also includes clean up, but my kids take a long time to eat. I actually cut my sons chores for the reason of more free time and more time for school. And when I say cut, I don't mean he does nothing; just that he does less. (OP, your son might really like that idea lol) We go the gym 2 times a week in the morning. He and I do water aerobics, sometimes he helps with the toddler swim lessons and then he will free swim. My son actually does better getting his school done in a straight shot in the afternoon after exercise. ETA some of it is mindset. I printed off a block schedule and had him fill in what he had to do each day. The I had him color everything that was work red and everything that was fun green. There was a lot more green than expected. I also had him color blue the things we have to do like eat was colored blue, but clean up red. It gave him a better visual of the reality. A refrain here "It is also a reality that life isn't a bowl of cherries and work is necessary for survival and daily living....so be happy with what you have and not what you have not, dude." (my apologies for whipping out my mom "voice")

Thanks for this post. That is a helpful blog. I was wondering what to have my son do this year. The mindstorms focuses more on the actual computer programming. This is interesting...the junk drawer robotics. Thanks.

My son did Robotics last year for 4H (won the county and went to the state fair). These aren't the books that he used. I think that they have a new set of books/curriculum for this year. the old ones used the Lego Mindstorms and this one talks of platforms. (To be honest, I have no idea the difference).

I dropped the Mother Road. I am still working on Emma and Getting Things Done. I bought GTD because I want to teach my kids to follow this model and I want my dh to read it. I am happy to be reading, but I have been so busy that I am not finishing fast. 3) A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck. I was howling! This book was hysterical! What a way with words this guy has. 2) Secrets at Sea Peck 1) His Love Endures Forever Wiseman

I set a timer to remind me to change the laundry over. I can't hear it upstairs, so I forget about it. It helps to know at 8, 10, 12 and 4 the laundry needs rotated. The habit overcomes the psychological barrier.

I have had this happen. Mine was my neck.

Thanks, ladies. I ordered a blacks basic law dictionary. Thanks for the advice and the Blackstone rabbit trail.

My dh is working on his masters in Public Administration and needs a law dictionary for one of his classes. Anyone have a recommendation. Thanks

what I am working on for week 3: Getting things done, The Mother Road, Emma on Audio, A year Down Yonder with my kids and the perpetual Vanity Fair. None of these might get finished this week, but I really liked the idea someone posted of listening while doing a project. I wish I was crocheting or sewing, but I am organizing.

2} Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck. This was a fun book for me and my kids. It is about a mouse family who goes on a trip with their house family and each one living their own life with the assumptions of what the others are doing. I liked it a lot.

My bright spots are clearer thinking and a spot for everything.

Savingdinner.com She has freezer pleasers freezer menus, she has a selection of GF and Paleo. The really great thing about these menus is there is very little prep cooking done. It is all assembly (less than 90 minutes). It takes a fraction of the time for plan ahead cooking. You pull out the meal in the am, thaw it and cook it. I was very convicted on a blog last week that in order to prepare dinner at home one must think about dinner before 10 AM. I have to think about it before 7. I would love to find the same plan ahead stuff for lunch and breakfast.

We stay at the comfort inn Polaris

I love the cinnamon kit. I am glad that they won't be available until may. I have been taking a lot of pics, but I still need to get them off the memory card. lol

We have Y teams that are more laid back and Traveling teams that are way more competitive. Maybe you could find a team that is laid back and less competitive with a focus on the enjoyment of the game and learning the skills, not winning.

What a great idea.

I finished my first book of 2013---His Love Endures Forever by Beth Wiseman. I have been so busy decluttering that an easy read is what I could do this week. I have a stack of tbr. I have decided what my 5/5/5 challenge will be this year: Dusty Books Challenge Book Club through my library books Books I read to my dc The Continents Challenge Non-fiction I lurked for several years. Last year I was actually able to list my books. This year I hope to record them in either a notebook or blog. It made a difference to acknowledge what I am reading and how often. It made me aware that I lean towards a specific genre. I read many new titles last year because of the recommendations on this thread.

I think one note is simpler. I think the set up is easier, the getting started tutorial was easier to follow. It flowed better for me. In a nutshell, the learning curve was almost non-existent :hurray: . It syncs with computer and emails. I don't know if it goes with an android or ipad because I don't have one.

I discovered the Microsoft one note on my computer......and I love it!!!!!! I deleted Evernote. I also have been employing the Hipster PDA. Thanks for all the great ideas.

I am waiting on mine. it should arrive today. I have been taking pictures. How do you guys print your pics? Do edit and order online, do you pick them up at a local store or have them sent to you?

My ds loved Percy Jackson and the same author has another series out. He also checked out star wars comics in the YA section. He seems to like the quick finish.

Cease endlessly striving for what you would like to do and learn to love what must be done. I dropped a historical literature list and we picked up good quality literature. I also picked more holistic curriculum, a less is more choice. What I would like to improve on is more science through experience like the garden for biology. I still lean towards a text when more experience would benefit. I have cut the fat.