My parents have had their Whisper Mill since I was 13--they use it A LOT and it still works great. We all agree that we like the Nutrimill better though. I don't know of anyone yet who has tried the new Whisper Mills being made. Good luck!

I voted other--I think you should top the brownies with vanilla ice cream. But then...if you're going to top them with ice cream...the chocolate sauce would make a nice addition...

I am the oldest of 9. We have a blast when we get together. :001_smile: We know of a few other "big" families, but aren't that close to any right now.

I think three is the most had by anyone I know.

We stayed through a direct hit from Ivan. I don't say any of this to scare you! I just thought I'd share my experience. First of all, we were fairly near the coast (but not close enough to worry about flooding) and the east eye-wall (worst part) went pretty directly over us. We were the only unit in our "complex" to board up windows. However, we were the only unit that suffered major damage--a pine tree in our bedroom. There were so many houses in our town/area without boarded windows, and I *rarely* heard of or saw any damage caused by something being thrown into a window. There were, however, trees down everywhere--in and on top of buildings. That caused the greatest damage here. It was the high winds that were so dangerous. I know that every storm is different, and if you are further inland you may be more concerned with tornado weather than sustained hurricane winds (in which case the windows could be more of an issue). Also, you may not have many trees near your house. After my own experience, I'm personally scared of trees during storms--its the one think I think about. If it were me I'd stay downstairs (if you have tornado weather you wouldn't want to be near windows, but then, you probably wouldn't want to be upstairs either?). You will probably be awake and aware much of the night and you will know if it is getting really scary out. In that case, you could move everyone to an interior room/closet (my husband and I sat in a tiny closet when the eye moved over). Also, if you are getting a direct hit from the storm, you will probably notice the winds coming consistently from one direction--I'd move to the opposite side of the house (on the main floor)--then you may have to switch sides as the storm moves and winds change. People say Ivan was a major wind storm, so from my experience I'm probably a bit paranoid when it comes to the wind and trees. Your kids may start out in one place tonight, and you may have to move them around, but I think you'll get a sense of how it is outside and you'll know what to do if and when you need to. Sorry this is so long--and it may be no help to you at all--just my two cents. I'll say a prayer for your family to be safe tonight and for you to have wisdom in what you should do.

Not sure if it is "appropriate" to say this on this board...but have you thought about using something like Ebay? I know of lots of people who have bought their homeschool supplies/books on Ebay. It is pretty easy to sell on there once you are set up. Just a thought. Good luck!

I 2nd the Yellow Dock--this can be quite helpful in absorbing iron. Get as much rest as possible and try not to do too much--it will improve in time!

:D It is interesting how simple things like that can differ so much from one region to another. I think here it is almost customary--like, "shame on you for letting more than two weeks go by without taking some baked goods to those new neighbors!". (said like an old lady with a Mobile accent);)

I can't believe it is your first time though. Around here, it happens all the time (though not as often as it used to). We moved a lot and were often welcomed to the neighborhood. When I was growing up, my Mom was often the one taking cookies to the new neighbors though. I'm living in an apartment building now and I certainly don't try to take stuff to all the new tenants! The couple across from us however are the sweetest people, and they leave "welcome wagons" full of goodies at the doorstep of all the new neighbors!

I haven't been by myself yet, but my husband goes alone periodically and enjoys it (he says he likes going with me too though ;)).

I think we have five closing here...including the new one just built last year!

Ummm...well when I was a kid we were neighbors with Roy Jones Jr. (boxer). Then we moved and were neighbors with his coach/trainer. Does that count for anything? ;) Oh wait, we did know John Wayne's stunt man! He wasn't exactly famous, but he substituted for someone who was. :D He was a big man and looked a lot like John. He and his wife always had horses.

One cat named Ned. :001_smile:

Mine is the beautiful Gulf of Mexico--I've grown up around here and have so many great memories of the Florida coast. I'm still not brave enough to use a picture of myself. ;)

:iagree: This is the exact one I was going to post--just the look on that little girl's face makes me cry. (from The Patriot)

I'm the oldest of nine. My sister (#2) is five years younger than me, but we are very close.

a sandbox! Great with trucks, shovels, dishes, etc. And if its dry out--not too bad cleaning him up afterwards (just a little brushing off). It is terribly hot out though in some locations. Play dough with cookie cutters is a hit around here as well. :001_smile:

Here is a similar thread you may find helpful: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33033&highlight=years It seems like you are "home educating" already. :001_smile:

Some people/kids simply do not "test" well. He may know more than the tests show he does, but simply "tested" poorly. I used to struggle with testing (maybe I didn't do it often enough)--even on subjects I was great in. Something about the tests and the setting being different than what I was used to just made me freeze up. I'd get ancy knowing I was being timed, and would sometimes answer things that later (while thinking back on the test I'd just turned in) I knew was wrong--I could tell you right then what the correct answer was, but for some reason I freaked out on the test and chose the wrong one. Anyway, this may all sound silly or not make any sense. I just wanted to encourage you that though he may not be mathy, it may be less about the math and more about the test. Looking back, I think I would have done better on the few big tests I took if I'd been more prepared for the experience of being tested (and less on the subjects I was being tested on). But then, I may just be odd. ;)

...but my son found this one at the store last night and loved it: Ten Bears in a Bed by Sally Hopgood. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ten-Bears-in-a-Bed/Sally-Hopgood/e/9781846661303/?itm=5 It has fuzzy bear faces to count (starting with 10 then going down to none). However, on the last page we found an unexpected pop-up page of the bears' bed (they were all sleeping underneath it). :001_smile:

I hope it goes as well tomorrow! Wow is it hot and boring here--we're in that afternoon blah.

are great too. I know of some people who put the cash amount they want to spend on say a B&N giftcard (or wherever) and then spend the gift card as they want to make purchases. The giftcards usually work online as well (though I don't remember exactly how B&N handles it). Just a thought!

about 12/13 years ago, I think. So I'm guessing it would have been the older hardback edition (???). I was not a big math person, but did OK with it. I found 8/7 to be challenging, but then breezed through Saxon's 1/2 Algebra in fairly quick time (perhaps because I'd gone through 8/7?). It was my understanding (at least with older editions) that 1/2 Algebra was pre-algebra, then you would move on to Algebra 1. I found that 8/7 was great preparation (for me) for 1/2 Algebra. I don't remember if 8/7 specifically introduced algebra or not, but I do know that it intoduced plenty of new concepts to help me prepare for the later courses. I think going through 8/7 is a great idea and would give your dd a lot to prepare/practice for the later courses--even if it is an older edition--LOTS of us used the older editions. Then she could probably move on with Saxon quite smoothly. Just my opinion; hth.

My mom and some of her homeschool friends have done this off and on for quite a while. I was able to join them some (and even "taught" a couple of little classes one semester). It can be as formal or casual as you want and it really helps share the load with other moms. One mom took on an elementary science and could devote a lot of time to preparation and projects, while another mom devotes her time to another subject to teach. It gives the kids fun interaction (different ages) and the moms usually enjoy it as well. The preschool kids played outside and some of the older students helped the youngers. We would also do art or a fun project periodically. Like making candles in gourds or learning how to knit together, etc. Sorry, I'm not really helping you or offering suggestions--I just wanted to say that yes, from my experience it can be a lot fun.

I wouldn't skip 8/7. Everyone is different though. I never loved math, but did OK with it. From what I remember, I had a harder time with 8/7 (or at least took longer) than I did with Algebra 1/2 (or 7/6). Algebra 1/2 went pretty quickly and smoothly for me--maybe because I'd done 8/7??? Saxon is slow and steady, and though it often feels repetitive, it does deepen gradually. Just a suggestion: Maybe if she is bored with it she can do more than one lesson a day or perhaps do every other problem in a lesson (even numbers one day, odd the next)--I know of several people who have done this successfully. Also, you may consider having her work the practice problems only for a while (and skipping some of the actual lessons). Like I said though, everyone is different. Just my two cents from my own experience. Good luck!