I hear ya. In the summer my menus change too. Gone are the roasts and crock pot meals (although the crock pot doesn't really heat up the kitchen). I tend to cook more 30 minute type of stuff, only because we're so busy ("sorry dear, been in the pool all day and I forgot to plan dinner" etc.) We like angel hair pasta covered with spinach and stewed tomatoes; ground beef with salsa, corn, and black beans; a version of ratatoulli (not sure if I spelled that right) which I will make in the crock and prepare in the morning; stir fry (from mostly frozen items quick to throw together); shrimp scampi; WILD sockeye salmon which is usually in season the beginning of the summer...I stock up and freeze; and there are nights we just have a large salad and cheese and fruit. Chris (who is halfway there!)

My two daughters are now 16 and soon to be 15. Before we started homeschooling 9 years ago, I did a lot for myself, mostly scrapbooking, crafting, and reading. Then I found (or it found me) genealogy. It was easy to keep up with my hobbies when the kids were in 2nd through 5th grade. After that, I just couldn't think anymore at night. Slowly it's coming back. What's cool, is now I can do the scrapbooking and crafting part with them. It's nice to have something to share together. Reading is still mostly related to school, and the kids will never understand my obsession with dead people :laugh: Chris

I second this. The 4 X 8 size was a bit too big for the area where I needed it, so DH cut it down to size for me, and the smaller pieces made for nice little lap boards. The only thing he didn't do was add some kind of molding, and the dust tends to settle along the edges on the wall. We erase, and it doesn't all catch, so make sure the floor is not carpet, or put down some kind of plastic matting. Sometimes I vaccume the board. Windex type cleaner works well to clean the board, and is cheaper than the stuff they sell by Expo. Hide the markers from the little ones, or if older, keep the markers out, but point side down in a container. HTH, Chris

I'll specifically be in the Hospitality Area serving as a volunteer on Friday from 4:30 till 7 o'clock. My oldest daughter will be helping too. I'll also be there on Saturday, so if you're thinking about meeting at the TOG booth at noon, that would be awesome, since I'm going to order my TOG year bundle at the booth to get my free shipping :) I don't really know anyone, but would love to meet y'all. Chris A. from FOCUS in Howell, NJ

I had a bikini cut because they knew the baby was breech. It was some time ago (16 years actually) but I remember a little itching in one spot for a few months, but no pain, except for a few times for a couple of years afterwards (and I had one other child 18 months after the c section) that I would get a twinge on one of the lower sides of my abdomen, near the edge of the scar, mostly if I was trying to use my stomach muscles in a way they didn't like. To this day everything feels fine. The only thing I complain about is I think the doc didn't stitch me back tight enough, ha! Chris

I copied the timeline papers, and we've been using them to make our own Book of the Centuries. The blackline masters of maps have been used when doing unit studies, or country studies, mapping explorer's routes, etc. We also used the worksheets for weather when we did a Kids Weather Watch science unit (I videoed them as Weather Channel hosts :) And the plain old geography terms were helpful when explaining maps and globes to the kids. It's been a long time since I've used it, and regret that I never got around to the Hans Brinker unit. Chris

I have a biography by John Chancellor copyright 1978 that has a mix of color and black and white plates. It's about 220 pages. Easy read. ISBN number 0-670-14053-8. I also have one that I haven't read yet, by Richard Rhodes. ISBN number 0-375-7193-X copyright 2004 and looks like it's much more in depth, and has some nice plates too. HTH, Chris

:iagree: And God's World News, and there was another by Focus on the Family...Clubhouse Jr. I think it was called. Don't know if it's still available...way beyond that stage now :001_smile: Chris (did I hit 20 yet?)

Large breed dogs generally have short life spans. Small breed dogs generally have longer life spans. Especially mutts. Large breed dogs cost more daily and if they were to get sick expect to pay for higher doses of anesthesia, meds, IVs, larger x-rays...been there, spent $6000 recently. Small breed dogs need less food, and smaller doses of everything when sick (been there too) Large breed (and deep chested) dogs have to worry about bloat. Most small breeds don't. Large breed dogs leave larger waste piles. Small breed dogs leave smaller waste piles. Large breed dogs have to worry more about hip dysplasia. Small breed dogs generally don't have to worry. Large breed dogs are easier to give real hugs to. Small breed dogs are fragile :) I've had a Beagle mix, Springer Spaniel, Poodle/Terrier mix, German Short Haired Pointer that I've lived with in my lifetime, and currently have 2 Beaucerons (large breed...27" 95 pound male, 82 pound female). I love both large and small, but prefer smaller side for the home...less wear and tear. But, it's really all about breed personality, intelligence, and drive. My male Beauce is tied with my 20 lb. Beagle mix as best dog I've ever had. Chris

You know, I'm not sure how much he actually takes. It's actually a calcium pill meant for me, as a pre-menopausal woman, to prevent osteoperosis. I think it's higher in mg than regular, but I'm not sure how many he takes at night. Two? I'll find out. Chris

I didn't read through all the posts, so I don't know if this has been asked and if it's been discussed yet, but when I saw this I just had to write. I used to have a lot of headaches too. I also had a lot of filled cavities in my mouth. I'm 44 and had a whole bunch of those silver fillings. When I finally went to the dentist after many years of not having insurance, I was told that my silver fillings needed to be redone because they were falling apart. As soon as my fillings were replaced with the kind that look like your teeth, I noticed that I stopped getting headaches, except for the allergy kind. I definitly get different kinds of headaches, and the one kind stopped, and they were the worst. Hope this helps. Chris

Calcium works for my husband when his RLS gets bad. It doesn't happen all the time with him but when it does, the bed shakes so bad it's like someone jumped on it and wakes me up, but not him, go figure. Chris

It's gotta be a God thing. I had my hair done today! I use to think I was the only one who came home EVERY time and cried because I tipped the girl for work I was really not happy with, and had to come home and style it before I could go out again. The cut is always awesome, but gosh darn if she doesn't style it the way it should be. And to boot, I almost (thank you Lord I was too timid to insist) had her recut it while still in the chair because I thought she had cut it wrong because of the way it looked. Chris

b. 1964 yup, got one, and I stood in line and bawled my eyes out only because the other kids were. I remember that but don't remember if the shot actually hurt!

I think this one may get me into double digits, and still a long way to go. I'm on here more than I've ever been in the past! It is time consuming, and mostly at night when I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. I have mostly used the boards to gain information, not to give, only because everyone has so much more better stuff to share than I do! I feel intimidated sometimes, and inadequete (sp? - too late for me to think) many more, but still inspired most of the time. And if I stay here for any length of time, I just may learn how to use those smiley face things! Chris