I don't agree with her decision at all. He could have looked by accident, in an un-focused way or even one of those things where you KNOW you're not supposed to look but for whatever reason you can't NOT look (does that make sense? lol). If he didn't cheat then he didn't cheat. Black and white in my eyes.

Awesome!!! You will love the freedom of having a country property that allows you to loosen your reign on your kids (and they'll love it too, lol!). Sounds like a dream property. Congrats!

WOW! I don't think my 6 yr old can even reach the sink, let alone know how to wash the dishes!

We have a place here called Brusters (it's a chain, but not sure how many of them there are) - they have the BEST flavors. Key Lime pie with ooey gooey graham cracker swirls. Blueberry cheesecake with real blueberries. Raspberry truffle with swirls of raspberry and chuncks of chocolate. Pumpkin cheesecake. I could go on and on. That place is the best!

I'm due in March, too :) A few girl names: Savannah, Penelope, Olive/Olivia, Samantha/Sammie I have no help on boy names... It took me forever to find names for both of mine, lol!

Yes! I have onions, lettuce, asparagus, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, broccoli, herbs and spinach started so far. :D

Yep, I always do a gallon. If you add a cup or two of dried milk powder when you add in the started yogurt it will be thicker. Or you can just strain it to the desired thickness. :)

thanks!

Baker Creek!!! Their catalog is fantastic. They're seeds are actually cheaper than many other sites like burpee. They have seed variety packs and a significant savings if you're not too picky about what you get (I believe they list the seeds you get on their site). I actually have a bunch of seedlings going already (all from Baker Creek) and everything is doing really well so far. :)

Homesteading is something that has always interested me... DH is put off by the amount of work involved though, lol. This: http://www.simondale.net/house/ is the house I wanted to build soooo badly. He thinks I'm crazy. We just built a traditional house, no solar but we are on a well. We're in the process of slowly working out way to being self-sufficient. Talks of raising quail and rabbits are in the works - both animals that can be butchered pretty much right before eating (no mass processing which is a huge turn-off to me with meat chickens). We're also looking at raising a hog or two. We are buying half of a grass fed cow in may. I have some of my seedlings for the garden started already. We're trying to grow enough to freeze/can to last us through the winter. I *really* want a milk cow or goat but the commitment is HUGE, so we've decided not to make that step yet. Have you watched Food, Inc.? That will get you on the homesteading/self-sufficiency path very quickly. ;)

DS6 has done great in math (currently using MUS Alpha). We breezed through addition and are now on to subtraction. The problem is that he has a very hard time memorizing facts. I can do the same 3 facts for 3 days straight and he still won't remember them (but he has all 70 phonograms memorize... go figure). What can I do??? We can't move on in subtraction until he gets his addition down because of the way it is taught in MUS (6-4 = what number + 4 equals 6?). It is too tedious and frustrating (mostly for me) to have him use manipulatives for every.single.problem. Should I stop the book work and do just facts with him for a couple of weeks? Is there a game or something that would make it fun instead of going through flashcard after flashcard? Thanks!

Keep in mind that spring in KY and VA are usually pretty wet - the weather should be warm enough but you need to be prepared for rain.

Thanks for posting the link - that will definitely help :)

I've been on that website for 2 hours trying to master the techniques, lol! I hadn't even ever thought about learning a different style of script before this thread. :D

I came across this website with scans of some of the older instructional books: http://www.iampeth.com/lessons_spencerian.php :001_smile:

My 4 yr old hardly ever stops and I am successfully using SWR with him. We started on letter sounds (using the flash cards) and are now moving on to phonograms. I go over them every day with him - adding 2 or 3 every few days (once he has mastered the current ones). I just go through the flashcards and he will YELL the sounds and make a game out of it on his own, lol. I am amazed how quickly he has picked it up and that he will sit and do it... it only adds up to about 5 minutes a day but it's enough for him to memorize them.

It's crazy, isn't it? Mine are only 6 & 4 and they're already out-eating me. My 4 yr old JUST started really eating in the last month... the 6 yr old has always eaten a lot. Between the two of them they could eat a whole large thin crust pizza... or 2 boxes of strawberries, blueberries (any berry, lol). My 4 yr old will go through a whole bag of apples in 2 days. Craziness, I tell you! :)

My boys are not anywhere near that point yet, but what about more menial type work - farms, stables, greenhouses, summer landscaping, etc? Many times those jobs are passed up for something more cushy - even if it is only working at the drive-thru.

I don't think that you spoiled him, I think it's part of his personality that he is unable to express any other way (or at least that is what he thinks). Do you spend one-on-one time with him without his brother (or anyone else, for that matter)? It may be that he just needs extra 'mom' time to feel secure in his relationship with you. From what you posted it seems as if he is scared that you do or will love someone more than him so he tries to sabotage the situation. My older son is not quite so violent but we had a period where I was watching another little boy and my son got into the habit of doing things for negative attention - because that's the only way HE felt he would get it. Once I made the connection and started spending one-on-one time with him his behaviour improved immensely.

I agree that the term 'therapy' dog has become rather lax. Both my mom and my brother have tiny yorkies that they registered as therapy dogs. My brother definitely does not need one, my mom can have severe depression at times so I *kind* of understand how it could help her. Honestly, I just feel bad for the dog, though.

So many people are just too quick to judge. I, too, would think alternative-schoolers would desire to stick together instead of excluding certain groups. I learned to read young and would stay inside for hours reading until my mom kicked me out to play... and even then I'd be counting down the minutes 'til I could go back in, lol. I would stay away from that particular woman and perhaps try to find a group of home-/un-schoolers that is more accepting of all different approaches. Or maybe seek out a couple of women in the groups you've already visited that don't seem quite so judgemental? Hugs to you.

I would recommend buying/borrowing a book that focuses on overall health - exercise AND diet. The one mentioned above sounds good, Body for Life is good and I know there are some others. Incorporating protein into your diet is essential. One serving (size of your palm) of protein, one serving of a carb like brown rice or sweet potato and a bunch of low-glycemic veggies is a great way to start building your daily diet. Many of the 'healthiest' will have oatmeal with fruit and some eggs/egg whites for breakfast. If you can't tolerate dairy it will make your food choices a bit more challenging, if you can eat *some*, greek yogurt is a great addition to a high(er) protein diet.

DS6 (1st grade curric for the most part) - Usually around 1.5-2 hrs 4-5 days a week. I'm in my last trimester so most weeks we have a day that ends up being a bust b/c of doctors appts, etc. DS4 (pre-k/K curric) - about 30-45 min 4-5 days/week

How much do you make on average? Any other details you'd be willing to share?

If you go to a local kitchen salesroom they will design the kitchen for you for free (or at least most of them will).