I have a friend who knits socks a lot. I haven't done them yet. She says you can do them out of cotton but they will stretch out of shape more if they don't have a little some else in them. My favorite socks of hers are 100% cotton I love the way they look but she says they stretch and slip in to her shoes. I say if you like it for socks why not?

How scary for both of you! Good thoughts are being sent your way.

I don't know sometimes it seems to slow down for me. I can't figure it out either.

Dd (12) wants a formal home ec class. She says she doesn't care if I make it or if I buy something. So what do you think? Part of me says come up with it myself but I am worried I will leave out something? What is modern home ec. I took home ec a hundred years ago and I am sure it has changed. So enlighten me what is included. Thanks for the help

Great! With the reading struggles of the last year before our diagnosis anything that seems like learning is work. Therefore it is to be dreaded. It is so nice for him to look forward to the reading reflex, even the writing that I want to carry that on into the math which also suffers from the visual issues.

Works for me. This non-native Minnesotoan is dying through her first winter. I got here in March last year and frankly I could skip ahead to the end of May. That is when we truly warmed up and the last snow fell last year. I am so tired of being this cold. Hasn't anyone told the weather man that negative numbers are not real. It can not negative anything!!!

Oh games! He loves games. It is why he is liking RR right now. He says it isn't really work because it is fun. This is good to know.

OK I am impressed. I am still figuring it out. Actually had planned to get it completely planned out today but contractor issues got the better of me in the kitchen. So now I am still planning. Oh to be done already. I would rather be stalking the mailman. Well at least for part of it. I will be getting some at convention in April.

My dd needs a spelling program. Her spelling is becoming worse. She is going into seventh but the questions is what to get. I was thinking of running her through megawords from beginning to end. Would this be ok or is there something better? Thanks

Well I am not good at convincing grown up males but my 7yo thinks girls know everything. He says "if you don't know something ask a girl, they know it all." We have no idea where that came from and when asked he says he has know idea who told him he just knows it. Boy, does his future wife have it made. Thanks for the info. Right now for me lesson plans or even a here do this sort of thing is a godsend. I think I am so concerned about what he needs that I can't quite focus on the detail of how to do it.

Ok so that should probably say Claire the all knowing. I am looking ahead for ds and I am wondering if you have a suggestion at what sort of math would be a good choice for him. We will be working on automaticity with number this summer but I know I get to see Math U See and Rightstart at the convention in a little over a month. I know I need to research before I go and see the pretties. Is there something like RR only for numbers. He understands the concepts of adding and subtracting and can show how it works with manipulatives but seems sometimes perplexed with the written equation. He is better with numbers though than words. We were using lifepac math but I don't know that that is the best fit. We have been trying so hard with reading and writing that math hasn't been a focus. I want to gradually start adding it in once we get our feet under us again. Thanks for the help Melissa

My daughter is starting seventh (we are a weird schedule going on here) and I am certain she could benefit from IEW. Now I am trying to figure out what to get for the SWI. Should I go with B or C. If I get B will I need C? How did you decide? TIA

We are have really clear skies tonight. A perfect night for skywatching. Well from the window at least we would be people pops in 15 minutes if we were outside!

Might I suggest paper cutting only scissors. Yeah don't ask. Also you will want to watch the bingo dobbers as they don't come out as some other paints. How about some big beads and shoelaces for stringing? Envelopes so they can make letters and play post office. Do they like puzzles? Sounds like a fun basket to put together.

I think the strides you have made with your children more than makes up for the lack of extras. That said, I think you can get creative with the extras you have mentioned. If you have a keyboard (if not try craigslist or freecycle) then you can order the basic books and she can learn herself. Or what I have done when funds were beyond tight I bartered. I would babysit for the teacher in return for lessons. In Georgia a friend of mines high school daughter gave 30 minute lessons for five dollars. If you have a good library you can nurture your daughter teaching her about the masters and also checking out books on various technique books. As for the singer if you go to church perhaps there is a children's choir. I have also found good piano and even art teachers that way. Honestly it sounds like you have done so much good for your children. Good luck with your choices.

I don't think it has to be Sylvans but I am not sure someone from your group is a good choice either. I tutored some in high school but the kids were always from a different school. If your son already feels embarassed and "dumb" having someone he knows from a group may make it worse. Do you live near a college some of their students might be willing to tutor. Also sometimes school districts have a list of private tutors.

They won't work for cookies but how about brownies instead??? Or refrigerate and try again. You are quite a woman to attempt cookie baking and being sick. ((()))

I would think this would be a great opportunity for her. At worst she would find out it isn't for her after all. If she loves it it will put her ahead of the game.

I love my hardwoods. We have a hundred year old home so I would say they have held up to a few kids in their time. They have been refinished. The living room had carpet in it when we moved in and I yanked it up immediately. It was the first time those hardwoods had been refinished and other than I wanted them to match the other rooms I wouldn't have done them. There was a spot where some one had spilt water on the carpet and never bothered to dry it up that is slightly dark than the rest but it isn't much. As for care, I sweep a lot but no more than if I vacuumed carpet. Also it is easy to clean up after spills. We have a dog and kids and they are holding up. Oh an dmy kids ride their razors in the house since we haven't seen the ground in MONTHS!

I think if she has said you can't call you really shouldn't. That said, since she is claiming grown up status she has to take the grown up responsibility and deal with it. She can't/won't deal with it until you tell her she can't stay at home. Offer her some suggestions and hand her some chocolate as you walk her to the door. My sister had a difficult roommate in college and she would come home until my parents moved 8 hours away. The move was planned which is why she was in the dorm but it did make her step up and deal with the problem. It is so hard to let them do their thing but this is what we have been preparing them for all of their lives. We have to trust we did it right and them push them to fly on their own. Oh and although she may think you are doing the right things later right now she is not going to be one bit happy with you. Good luck. (((Kelli)))

((((Doran))) Do not think of yourself as a failure. P happens! And my dr has always said once you get it you are just a bit more susceptible to it. My dad has gotten the shot, I haven't I am needle phobic but have managed to go two years without getting it. I too have a lower lung capacity and I am asthmatic. I hadn't thought of trying an instrument to build up some lung power. I may have to look into that! Just rest up and be grateful you caught it as early as you did.

Rod, Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was just doing it because the book said to do it. My question now is do I use your workbook with the RR or is it stand alone for advanced code. Also do you know of any reading centers in the Duluth MN if I need help figuring out what to do? Melissa

It is ok I found it. I am just glad to know that I was looking at the right things. Ds was telling his dad about the games we played when he was going to bed tonight. He also had to show off how nicely he writes on notebook paper. Ok so that part is relative but it was really good for him. Hopefully by the end of the week he will still be enjoying it this much.

Thanks Claire. Should have just asked you last night. Their answer was amazingly vague the names had changed but not into what or anything. I will order tonight. Well after I make sure I know what I am doing for tomorrow he really loves this so far.

I had to write the company. They have changed the name but did say to what and referred me to the work book section. So I am guessing it is now the two workbooks for advanced code. I am just not sure. I may have to write them again.