Not a food thing, but mine is greatly helped by adding a good magnesium supplement when I am feeling the inflammation set in again. I use NaturalCalm, and I also do a daily (when i'm good) dose of NOW Vitamin D3. It's interesting what the PP said about produce, I notice that too. I think the connection that when I eat more produce I eat less refined food is what does it for me.

I like Dee Henderson, for Christian suspense/romance. I just finished her O'Malley series.

They must be racking up the orders, a couple weeks ago when I inquired it was May.

We are finishing up Grade 2 R&S spelling. It's easy, cheap, gets the job done, and we move on to other things. I will continue my dd with it next year in 3rd grade, and am looking at it for my 6th grader as well. I also own Spelling Power, and for 2nd-3rd grade, I like R&S better.

Next year will be our 3rd year homeschooling. I'm excited to move into MFW's CtG and AHL, and I'm excited that we are set with a math and grammar that works and we like, and i'm pleased with the lapbooking that we found to go along with our studies next year. But honestly, I'm most excited that I feel like we are finally finding our groove with homeschooling. We didn't start at the "beginning", my kids were schooled for the first few years, so that was hard. The first year was difficult to find what curriculum works for our family. This year was better, as we found the core program we like. The real challenge was figuring out how to get it all done: the school, the housework, the shopping, the extra-curriculars. I think that will be a struggle as long as I have kids living at home, but i'm more relaxed about it. I'm finding my mindset as a homeschool mom settle in, and that feels pretty good. :)

4H :)

My 8th grader in the 7th week of the first 10 lessons. He's doing very well, despite coming to this with zero retention from either his public school years or anything we did at home. He still hates grammar, but he can now parse and diagram with no issue and hasn't scored less than 90% on a test yet. We've had a positive experience with it.

:iagree: I'm re-learning right along with my son, which saves me time. :)

CLE Math (Sunrise) MFW Analytical Grammar

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I've been looking at this for the fall, possibly even this summer. :)

Really liking AG for my ds right now. I wouldn't consider it independent, either. We have no experience with the DVD's, though. It is the best grammar fit for him so far because it's quick, straightforward, building and he is getting it. My ds who is using it is in 8th grade, and has had no grammar retention until now. I still sit with him, but he's whizzing through it, and it's only about 15 minutes of our day. For my 5th grader, Hake fits the bill for him right now. I will probably do AG with him in a couple years to really cement things.

This is our 2nd year homeschooling, last year my oldest was in 7th. I also had 4th and 1st graders. The toughest part about it was finding out where they were at in terms of subjects, which curriculum fit. At first I jumped in with all sorts of different things...and was quickly overwhelmed. Some don't like it, but I still recommend Cathy Duffy's book about homeschooling. It helped me figure out what kind of learners my kids are and what kind/style of teacher I am. If I had started there, I'd have been further ahead. My other hard and fast recommendations: A period of de-schooling. When they've been in the system for that long, they need to learn the new lifestyle. That doesn't mean do nothing, it means explore. Read a lot, explore, take field trips. One or two subjects at a time. Figure out what math program works, what grammar. Read about other subjects in the meantime, but don't add any other curricula until you get the basics. Lots of people told me that and I didn't listen. I should have. Welcome. :)

There is such a buffet of awesome homeschool materials, it's hard to come here and not walk away with a "grass is greener" feeling. SO many things have been mentioned that I would love to fit in, or wish my kids would want to do. Ultimately, though, as much as I love reading about and researching curriculum, i'd like to be happy with what we have and tend to other things. We're only on our 2nd year, but I think i've finally hit a groove with curriculum, so not too many holes to fill anymore. :)

Sometimes you can get R&S used for a song. Right now, my 5th grader is using Hake. It's just a really good fit for him, but I can see where a kid who likes grammar would not enjoy Hake, so I wouldn't talk you into that one. My older is using Analytical Grammar. That's really turned the subject around for him, he's getting it now and has made HUGE headway in diagramming. Another good fit because it's quick and painless (as much as grammar could be for him). If you feel the pull to R&S, go for it. May not be the exciting highlight of the day, but it'll get the job done, and the kid will know grammar. :)

Thanks Melissa, this is very encouraging as we look forward to AHL this fall. :)

We've never done AHL, but I received it in the mail on Tuesday to do with my oldest ds, and CtG to do with the younger two. I think Crystal made a lot of good points about AHL, particularly what I quoted. At one point, I had considered starting it early, too, as most of ECC has been review for oldest ds. But I am glad that I have waited, esp. now that I see it. My ds is 14, will be 15 mid-year next year, and I think he's at a place where AHL will speak to his heart. I sought out a package curriculum last year because I was overwhelmed in my first year homeschooling three kids with three years in between each of them. I needed it organized and I needed it scheduled. Last year was really hard, I had days in tears because I just could not get this hs'ing thing figured out and I would pray to God that since He led me to homeschooling, show me how to do it! LOL Enter MFW (and CLE math). I had a peace about it, and just trusted Him. Fwiw, if you have youngers, and want to make your workload easier, I would consider starting them in the cycle, including your 12 year old. We're wrapping up ECC in a couple months. We have learned a lot more about geography, mapping, etc. But... I honestly see the beauty of it as more of a character study. The Hero Tales with the character traits, mission stories tied in with Bible time: I can't tell you how many times they have tied what we learn here into what they've heard at church. The world is now bigger to them than their own backyard. I am anxious to move onto the history cycle as geography is just sort of "blech" for me. But it has had it's fruits and now CtG looks really fun! hth :)

As far as I know, the 800 series also gets positive reviews (we're just starting it). The few reviews i've been able to find about the algebra have been good, and it seems that the format of the other levels carries over into the algebra for a smooth transition. I did email the company about availability and their response was April 1st for it being in the catalog and on-line for samples. So one more month and you'll be able to see those. I am hopeful about it.

My number one was always lasagne. Then I took my son to see "We Bought a Zoo" with Matt Damon. If you've seen that, you know what i'm talking about. LOL We still do that on occasion, but we also do chicken and rice, tacos or easy assembled things, in summer i've done strawberry and chicken salad with fresh bread. Homeade soups or stews...

Pampered Chef. Going on about a year, so not very long term yet, but it seems to be going well, and I like that it doesn't leave a sharp edge.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a decent one, with a good book that shows how to play?

I, personally, believe it'd be ideal. My 2nd grader is tagging along with it this year. I would buy the Complete Book of Animals to supplement, dive in with some lapbooking of animals and ecosystems. A lot of the book basket books are great for that age. hth :)

If you buy it before the end of Feb. you can get the $4.95 shipping. :)

For me, when I get in that rut, it helps to have girlfriends to talk about it with, pray with. When I see them get excited about a passage that God has spoken to them through, or a devotional, prayer time, etc., it encourages to me to get in the Word again and seek Him for myself. An accountability of sorts. Does she have Christian friends her own age that she can pray with? To talk to about how God is leading their lives into becoming women who live for Him? Could she start a small group once a week or every other week at home, where they could pray together, share how God has been working in their lives, do a devotional or service work? She may need to make her faith a little more "mobile". Do some community service, share Him with people, and see what He's been doing in the lives around her. Just a thought. :)

I love CLE for math, and I have a good opinion of their LA, but it just didn't jive for us. About a month ago, I put my 5th grader into Hake Grammar. It is the grammar version of Saxon Math. Saxon math for youngers was a bomb here, but I like the grammar. For my son, it's just a good fit. It's not terribly complicated, it builds with review, and it doesn't take very long to get it done. At the same time, I put my 8th grader into Analytical Grammar. Another good fit, for this particular kid. This has also been quick and painless, building, and i'm really pleased with how much he's picked up in the short amount of time we've been working at it. I plan to continue with Hake for my 5th grader, and when he reaches 7th or 8th grade, I'll have him work through AG. Right now, I don't think it would be a good fit for him. If you have questions about either of these, let me know. :)