:lol::lol:I'm laughing so hard I almost spit my pick me up coffe all over the monitor. I can so relate. And here is mine. "Please leave your clothes all over the living room, especially your socks, and then complain loudly to me that you have no socks because I didn't root around under the coffee table to get them for the wash." "Please leave the air conditioning up so high I am shivering constantly. Really, I love that."

:grouphug:s for all of you. I will pray.

:iagree: It is a constant struggle for me, even with only one ds who does visitation with his father. If he is not around, my fiancee is, or my brother's visiting, and it just drives me crazy. And when I ask for accommodations to have some time to myself, the fiancee or the brother gets offended! Maybe I just don't approach them correctly, I don't know anymore. Anywho, I feel your pain.;)

I bought both books in preperation for next year, but as I'm pre reading I am finding that SOTMA is probably going to be saved for our second time through the cycle. It is just a bit dry, imho. Read a bit of OIS with ds 7 yesterday, and he really enjoyed it, so I will be using that for sure along with SOTW nest year.

Thanks. I have also bookmarked.:001_smile:

Apparently I kept with the animal theme without knowing it.:001_smile: Link is in my siggy. Be gentle, it's my first time.

:iagree: I am eagerly awaiting my first order from them. Awesome site, reasonable prices and shipping.

Great idea! Once we get more comfortable with nature study I may join.

I am glad this has started to work out for you a bit.

That would be my reason in a nutshell. I read it and went "Wow, I wish my mother had schooled me this way!" It's been a bit of a struggle with my less than fond of writing son, but it is the philosophy that I believe will enable me to provide him with the best education. Though I am going to start adding some Charlotte Mason ideas in for Nature study, Art appreciation, and composer study, I feel the WTM is going to remain my favorite resource for years to come.

Apparently you need 50 posts on the new board to sell stuff. There's a post called How do you get 2,000 posts... that you could probably use to help get your number up. HTH

I am against extra work for no extra pay at any time, but if this company has a history of trying to get as much extra work out of him as they can w/out paying for it, I would be even more against it. If you and your children could travel with him, it might be worth it, but if you can't, then no, it is not. I understand looking on the bright side of life(anyone want to sing with me?), but *I* would be resentful in your situation, no matter how much I wanted to be the better person.

We do Reading, Language Arts, PE, Religion everyday. We school 6 days a week year round due to state requirements and his father's visitation schedule. Science and History are two days a week for longer periods. Music one day a week, Math four days a week, Health one day a week. In the process of adding Nature Study one to two days a week.

To start, I will say that I am generally pretty liberal, and I am obviously pro-homeschooling, because I am on this board and I am homeschooling my son. In fact, the legislated institutionalizing of Americans is something I am against in all its' various forms. However, I appreciate your information about his voting record, or lack thereof. I am not surprised. Now, it is jmho, but I have noticed that *most* politicians are for the said institutionalization of our children and lives, whatever their party may be. More legislation, more government, means more money for them, regardless of party lines. I would be more on McCain's side when it comes to these things, but am against him on the war and quite a few others. But, I recall he has tried repeatedly to reform campaign financing and kickbacks in DC, and for that I must commend him as well. Obama reminds me too much of stories of Jimmy Carter, and his constant rhetoric disturbs me. I agree with Jessica and other posters that if one looks at how legislated education has gone in our country, "voluntary" becomes mandatory, slowly but surely. I for one never want to be forced to put a child in public school. Period. But what do I know? I can't bear to keep track of politics anymore, I just end up screaming profanities at the tv or computer screen.:D

Have not REALLY started yet, but I have aquired Handbook of Nature Study, Keeping a Nature Journal, and some Moleskine notebooks. To start I think we are going to be collecting at least one thing per walk, hopefully 30 min walk two times a week. We will draw said item and look in Handbook of Nature Study and the internet for more info. I am going to slowly pick up some specific nature guides as I become more aware of what his interests are in nature and what is around the area. Also got handheld microscope and bug jar because I thought they would be fun for him. HTH

I ordered early last year because they are kinda slow at the beginning of school year, from about now on. I had a backordered item last fall, but it didn't really hold up my box being delivered. Listed on reciept as backordered, ended up getting a check because they never got it in last year. Now I buy anything that is that publisher from amazon.com, their prices are better on some other stuff as well, so I order those items from amazon now as well. I guess I have lessoned my business to them to stuff that only they have, but that is more of a price decision.

No scrapbooking here. My son will have to be content with the SOTW1 personal timeline on his wall. Which I need to add to, but he will not be scarred for life. At least he stays home with a mother that loves him, and that's the important guard against scarring imho, keeping the children away from the institution.

Yep, I am feeling it fly by. Part of that is being really gung ho about schooling in the summer, so it feels like it's not really happening. But, I was supposed to find hiking and camping sites for us to visit as a family, and haven't really started with that, as the summer flies by.

I usually ice cookies on wax paper, but I'm pretty sure you can't bake it. Parchment paper is used for that.

I am going to list the top three, because we really have enjoyed them all in one aspect or another, and since we got ours somewhat hand me down from my brother last Xmas, and he already had games for it, and we have bought more, I've played quite a few. I second the suggestion to buy at least one more remote and nunchuck, but would go far enough to say that if there are at least 3 in your family that can play, and at least a few people you can think of that will want to come over and play, I would get enough remotes and nunchucks to equal 4 all together. Our absolute favorites for multiplayer games have been Mario Party,, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, and Super Smash Bros.. My son loves Twilight Princess and Super Paper Mario, my hubby seconds the Paper Mario and also enjoys downloading old school games, most of which you can play with the Wiimote or a Gamecube remote if you have one. I have really enjoyed Twilight Princess, Marble Madness, Super Mario Galaxy, and Link's Crossbow training.

First of all :grouphug: for you. Secondly, I don't know how the law works in TX, but here in MD, it is nigh on impossible to take custody from the mother unless she has SERIOUS problems. Thirdly, the ex being unemployed is not going to help his case at all either. Finally, Tammy, I understand trying to play devil's advocate and all, but, personally, I find your comments pretty harsh and slightly offensive. But that is JMHO. I will be praying for you Joanne. There is legal aid here, maybe you can find the same in your area.

You are not alone. I love this line. I laughed loudly at home when I first heard it on the DVD, and I quoted it to people for months-they always looked at me strangely, I might add. I love the original, one of my favorite movies ever, but the new is good too, and more faithful to the book.

"MOMMY, the tv isn't working!" Saturday morning cartoons are a tradition here, and now are the bulk of his allowed tv time per week. The cable box was off. I turned it on, then stumbled over to the coffee pot.

Depending on how your state is, I would have a copy of the state homeschooling laws.

My son has really liked using Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein this year. Really funny.