The Oxford series look very nice, but they don't cover more recent events. So we can't use that (we will be studying WWII and other more recent events) so we need something that kind of covers it all. We don't do history in order because we move a lot. We try to take advantage of the area we're in to study what we can visit. So it seems like our best choices are Human Odyssey and History Odyssey. But it feels like flipping a coin. Off to read more about them.

My oldest never really liked SOTW, but we used it as a backbone with a lot of other books, trips, and activities. In the end it worked out, but now we've outgrown SOTW - even as a backbone. We need something with a bit more meat to it. Can any of you lovely people recommend something that we can use as our backbone? We will still be reading elsewhere and adventuring as much as possible, but I like having a go to place as a wrap up.

Thanks.

I voted no. Female over 18.

Love this!

I finally found my word: Aim. Aim to eat healthier. Aim to take better care of myself. Aim to grow my photography skills further. Aim to be calmer. And a few others... I feel better now that I have my word. :hurray:

I'd love a private place to post. Otherwise we'll just talk about them.

Thanks! I couldn't find that , but I'm off to read. Hoping for some inspiration.

Action Move Proactive

For those of you who choose a word for your year, can you share what you've selected? I'm having trouble deciding this year.

I've been toying with this idea too. I'm just still iffy on posting to the internet.

I'm glad I read this thread. Gift giving for us usually stays in the immediate (in this house) family plus one friend who is like a grandmother to my children. I do allow my children to decide if they would like to give a gift to anyone because I want them to be able to make that choice, but I do not require them to give to instructors or the like. In the past oldest has been very excited to make treats for certain people. I do not understand giving gifts to every single person in your life, or something similar. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

Halloween here. I love fall. Halloween is a really fun holiday and I can do as much as I want or as little as I want without expectations from anywhere. We celebrate all month long with crafts and treats and making costumes and we have a party every year.

Is transportation a privilege or entitlement in your district? Because clearly if you document they should be losing a privilege. If the bus driver doesn't want to step in because she is scared then she should be the one calling dispatch or the police. If she's too scared to protect the others then I'd demand a new driver. Either they can switch two drivers routes or remove her completely and hire someone else. I'd also find out what exactly she can be held accountable for as the authority on the bus and make sure someone in that chain made her aware of it. Encouraging and even helping with the false accusation of others would be enough for me to demand she be removed. Beyond that I would file a complaint with the police every single time. And then I'd file a complaint with the school every single time letting them know I've already filed with the police. And depending on who is in charge of the buses I would file a complaint with those people as well. I would make it very clear that there is a record of everything and no one is going to have the ability to claim ignorance if these girls do anything to another student. I would be fully cooperative and forthcoming in what I have documented in any incident of violence involving these girls. Typing it out, it sounds like I'm ready to pounce on these girls, but I refuse to be the one who suspected but did nothing. And when exactly are they expected to learn and behave appropriately?

Sent it in a PM.

We use the Thermos brand with the Under Armor logo. http://www.amazon.com/Under-Armour-Dominate-Vacuum-Insulated/dp/B005H0R5M4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449924180&sr=8-1&keywords=thermos+water+bottle+under+armour We get them cheaper locally. They keep drinks cold, never used it hot, and as long as you lock it and the seal is in properly (we've only had it not in properly once when a little person was playing with it) it doesn't leak.

I also have a vegan double chocolate chip recipe. It don't really think of it as "Christmas" but it doesn't use butter. I don't make it vegan anymore, but it's easy enough to keep it vegan - use soy milk and non-dairy chocolate chips.

We make a recipe we call "mint balls" that uses oil. They are my favorite. You have to like mint though. Can you not have butter, or are you just trying to avoid it?

Or a husband who forgets he has small children who get up super early regardless of whether or not it's the weekend.

Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas presents I love the little surprises, though it does take a bit of work. Ideas I didn't see mentioned Small tools and sand paper Duck tape in their favorite sports team logo cleaning supplies for the car new ornament if you don't care about the actual orange you can use a chocolate orange instead nuts - plain, flavored, or fancy sports socks - for a favorite sport or supporting a favorite team slinky if they are into essential oils, one or two more or favorites craft supplies for anyone who crafts or has mentioned wanting to learn to do something along those lines card game new deck of cards or themed deck of cards snack packs of food you don't normally buy or eat, but that they like any basic item they forget to buy - lotion for the car and desk happen here I'm not sure if they still make it, but the Lego calendar is still a hit around here. Buff

I can't really speak to price, but they are played with all the time here. We have a few of the larger sets...it never seems to be enough.

Thanks for pointing this out.

Does anyone have a good source - website, line of books, online program, any format will do - of extra word problems? I really don't want super easy problems and I don't want to predictable.

We've never had a lot of screens in the house, but screen time was becoming too whiny so I cut it off. We don't use the TV M-F in general. If we do it's to watch an episode of Liberty Kids or Magic School Bus or the like on DVD and then it goes off again. And that is generally after an appointment of some sort to help mommy figure out how to adjust the rest of the day. Sometimes they will get tablet time on tablets from the library (our librarians really wanted us to check them out and see what we thought) but that is for 15-20 minutes after everything else they were suppose to do for the day is done and not everyday. Otherwise we do allow cartoons on Saturday and Sunday morning because we're old school. There was complaining and begging in the beginning. I stood strong and it came to an end. Since then, and really it's only been a few months, days are just more pleasant. Bedtime is easier too. They always find something fun to do and the oldest is much more productive. Personally, I find it a much better way of life.

Do you by any chance have link to the fort kit you put together?