How wonderful :D

I'd personally prefer to see an unrelated person working there as well, but I have no issues as such with a husband and wife working together running a preschool, or with a guy working at a preschool. But perhaps this is because my cousin and spouse ran a preschool for many years, building an excellent reputation for themselves locally. The husband in particular was really good at calming the kids and many a baby fell asleep snuggled up in his arms as he went about doing things with the other kids. I don't want to be unrealistically positive, but at the end of the day when you set up a business like this, you have to start somewhere and maybe they don't have the resources to employ someone else right away? Your choice at the end of the day - I'm not sure what I would do, except perhaps spend as much time as I could getting to know them before I made a decision.

:crying: This is hurting my heart. Kalanamak was one of the first people to be really friendly to me on here... please, if she remembers Hedgehog, tell her that I am praying for her and wishing her the very best. She is someone I would love to meet IRL. Big :grouphug: to her please...

:grouphug:

- this from a mom who much prefers open and go curricula! But I've found this was definitely worth the effort.

I don't think so. I bought all three Sentence Composing books and the explanatory booklet (it probably has a title but I can't remember it off the top of my head) and had a good peruse of each. The Snork Maiden does a couple of pages a day, almost entirely on her own.

We've had quite a bit of success using Sound Foundations spelling and phonics books - Apples and Pears, and Fast Track AB.

My 11yo has enjoyed - yes, enjoyed! - Rod&Staff English and Killgallon Sentence Composing.

Title says it all - any really good programs out there that you would recommend? The dysgraphia is moderate, so current handwriting is messy and varies from day to day but it is legible. I'd be quite happy with a simple slanted manuscript type handwriting style, it doesn't have to be Spencerian cursive!

The Snork Maiden has dysgraphia/verbal dyspraxia and she is learning Latin and Spanish. Latin she hates; Spanish she loves. I haven't yet worked out what the difference is... that's an ongoing issue for me to figure out... but whatever, I can tell you that she had no issue with the grammar side of either. Learning vocabulary is harder but she's very determined to do it. We're thinking of having both The Snork Maiden and Moominmamma take Latin and Spanish iGCSE soonish.

I hear you! My MIL is lovely, but I have other - ah - connections - who make me want to scream! :banghead:

Most cats don't like citrus smells or certain herbs - I think Rosemary may be one. You could have a plant in a pot by your front door... nice looking and all... but secretly to disuade the cat from repeating the offence :sneaky2:

May sound over-simplistic - but - do what works. I'm a night owl; my mornings are just horrible. So the kiddoes do independent work in the morning, and work with me in the afternoon and evening (on and off).

Spain - Granada (for La Alhambra) Italy - Venice, and Tuscany.

If you can get a hold of them, the ABRSM produces books (and has corresponding exams) for jazz which includes improvisation.

Totally not okay. From the flirting, play-fighting, to not helping you out. Yes, I would be livid - and I have been. I get it. :grouphug:

Hmm. Mine would be - don't chop onions and then go to try and take your contact lens out. I swear I washed my hands in between but it was pretty dire!

I'm afraid I'm not up to date with your travels - but I'm glad you had a good time and safe journeys, wherever you went. :)

:( I hear you. We have a somewhat similar situation, although the relation in question isn't so overtly unpleasant - they are the master of suggestion and hidden meanings, so you're never quite sure exactly what they are implying. Or not. :confused1: It got more openly nasty recently, and I'm having to make some hard decisions about whether I want to see them again or not. So you have my sympathy. :grouphug:

:iagree: These are all great ideas. I get you totally though, I am just the same and I could have written your post!!

German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Akita. All large/very large dogs, and therefore need proper training.. but I'm sure you would plan on that anyway. :)

The Snork Maiden and I have black suede imitation Uggs ;) and I've sprayed them with nubuck and suede protection stuff... as I do with all such shoes... and any muck that gets on them seems to brush off. So yeah.. I agree with the PPs.. spray is the key!

Has anyone had success making sugar-free cakes? I don't mean with grape juice or dates to sweeten, I mean with sugar substitutes like stevia or xylitol. This is really for my 7yo ds, who for various reasons eats a sugar-free diet. I made a chocolate dump cake today, and substituted the sugar with stevia. But it came out rather tough on the outside, although moist within, and there's a slight odd after-taste (which we may have to accept). Any tips? Good recipes or websites? Other suggestions for sugar substitutes which keep their sweetness when cooked at ~350 F? TIA!

Halcyon, I missed the details for week two. I see the thread got lost in the changeover. Are you going to do the master bedroom again on another week? ETA Or please could you post it again/PM me with it?

Praying for God to guide you and others associated with this little girl to make the best choices for all. :grouphug: