I am in the Fredericksburg area and grew up in Northern VA (we visit grandma/grandpa often). I have found groups at both nearby parishes with class or co-ops...just not sure how that dovetails with a packaged curriculum. Thanks for the suggestion!

I could really use some frank advice from veteran homeschool moms. I have 4 kids in grades 8, 6, 3, and 1. Until now they have attended a Catholic private school where we have been happy, but it's pricey and proving a financial burden. I have always felt called to homeschool, but I also work full-time, mostly from home (I go in 2x a week). Hubby has a flexible schedule and is involved. We are comfortable and familiar with learning online. A Catholic education is important to me, but so is maintaining sanity. Currently I am looking at enrolling the kids in the Virginia Virtual Academy through K12. I am also considering Mother of Divine Grace or Kolbe Academy. I can devote about 3-4 hours of time to instructing during the day, and then more in the evenings and weekends. The kids are used to busy lives constantly on the go - to and from school, after-school activities like scouts and taekwondo, birthday parties on the weekend. I don't quite want that pace, but I also don't want a huge change for them either. The 8th grader will most likely be going to public high school next year, so I want something that will be easy for him to transition to. He is an advanced learner with lots of good credentials on his record already. I'm petrified of doing something that will set him back in 9th grade (real or perceived). His passion is science but he is gifted in language arts as well. The 6th grader is born organized and achieves high grades, but her vocabulary and comprehension is really lacking. I don't think that the method of instruction in her school has been a good fit for her, but you wouldn't be able to tell it from her grades. She has a great group of friends at school whom she would miss, but she is positive and open about homeschooling. The 3rd grader is not challenged or reaching her potential at school. She is almost paralyzed by competition and so falls into the background many times, content to goof around with the "fun" kids. Yet her report card was perfect high A's, with very minimal effort. The 1st grader seems to be an average achiever, at least in kindergarten. She loves math, science, and art. She's pretty content to be at home. Do any of these curriculums - K12, MODG, or Kolbe - seem to be well-suited to a mom with limited time for these kids? Or is this a pipe dream that can't be achieved with what I have to work with? Would we be better off skirting financial ruin (a little kidding but not really) to keep them where they are doing OK but life is sane, or jump off into the deep end? I have read TWTM many times and researched so many different curricula that my head is spinning. Thanks for your advice! -Adriana

TracyR - Was K12 too much work? We are considering VA's K12 virtual academy. I have 4 children, grades 8,6,3,1. We have attended private school the last 3 years but it's pricey. I work full-time but mostly at home and it's pretty flexible (as is my husband's schedule and we have local family). This looks perfect for us, but I hear over and over that it's a lot of work.

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We use EPGY to supplement our children's schooling (private school) - it's an afterschooling thing for us, year-round. We do math sessions 5 times a week and we will start to do 1-2 language arts sessions a week starting soon. So far it's been very good, and it helps me feel that my kids will stay competitive in advanced mathematics. I have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader (starting this year) - so far the 5th grader is right at level and the 3rd grader is at 3.5 grade. BTW, my kids do not love it as much as I had hoped, but I think that's because it's tough. They do have a local mentor that they meet with once a quarter and can call if we have any problems. Hope this helps someone to evaluate the program.

I just ordered this for a friend's birthday and may purchase it for my own kids too. Amazon has a great price on it right now.

I am planning a DD and mom morning with this and then lunch at panera's afterwards. I got a good deal on Kit off of eBay and will surprise her with it - I wanted her more than my DD, I think. :-) I am glad to hear you liked the movie and am excited to see it!

We have a king-sized, extra-high sleighbed and we love it. We did have to lower it when baby #4 came - I'm too nervous about small kids falling off of it - and my husband helps change the sheets.

Very pretty. I love the photo narration.

Absolutely. Being around a diversity of backgrounds and opinions should serve to strengthen your own (or change) through reflection and questioning. This is a great story - thanks for sharing.

I am a gas cooktop convert. I used to hate the idea, but I can't deny it cooks faster and better than an electric range. 5 or 6 burners is a must too, for those big dinners. -Adriana

Here's mine: DH and I have been married 11 years and have a 20-acre farm and vineyard in Virginia. We have 4 kids, a son age 9 1/2 and 3 daughters ages 7, 4 1/2, and 2 (in a month). We both work full-time: I am a Web developer for our local library system and he is a network administrator for our local library system. I love WTM and have been rereading it every year for 5+ years. We homeschooled briefly at the beginning of last year, but it was overwhelming because I tried to do absolutely everything (too too much). We are in our local PS after trying a couple private schools (one was great but too too pricey for a family with 4 kids). We read, garden, do lots of scout stuff, attend a catholic church, play at the river, and try to have lots of fun in pretty packed days. I am very happy about these new boards and glad that I can still be part of them even though we are not doing daily homeschooling. I certainly have the homeschooling spirit, even if the reality did not happen for us. Adriana

Oh, that sounds great! I love historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mysteries...all of it. The only thing I am not really loving are the very drama-heavy (as in emotional) literary fiction. They tend to make me cry uncontrollably, which I would rather not do. :-) I will put that book on hold - thanks!

Have you recently read a book that you love? Share it! I am looking for more reading recommendations. I recently enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's "The Host" for some nice beach reading, and I am enjoying a couple new installments in YA series that I am following. I am also eying "An Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett. Has anyone else read that? -Adriana

Almost all of my babies were turned around one way or another...sometimes up until the day before birth. #4 was lying longways across the uterus, which always necessitates a C-section, and then she flipped headdown...and we induced immediately. I would let time see if it really is an issue. Good luck!

One thing to consider is if you are going to want to be downloading audiobooks from your local library's Web site. If so, an iPod doesn't work with windows digital rights management-tagged files. I would look at something like a Creative Zen. If you just want to do music and use iTunes as your management for your music, then an iPod is great. I have an iphone and I really love that as well. Adriana

The local hospital is a great choice, as JudoMom already mentioned. My daughter received a little polar fleece blanket when she was recently in the hospital, and it was the only thing she would sleep with for a while.

What a loving and supportive friend. Thank you for sharing your story. It helps me remember to look out for other friends who may need my help.

What a sweet reminder of why we are doing what we're doing as parents. I'll definitely be more huggable today. :-)

The new Martha Stewart Everyday Food is all about grilling and has some good Emeril recipes in it too. Very yummy sounding. I like to marinate a flank steak in a teriyaki marinade for about 4 hours and then grill that, and slice thinly. This was a favorite growing up. You can also use leftovers for fajitas, omelets, or salad.

I tried last fall but it was overwhelming. I love my job and it is not possible for me not to work. As a new homeschooler, I tried to do everything and it was too much. My kids are in PS now and did really well. I am schooling some this summer and do miss our homeschool. But I am striving for the elusive balance and I found I couldn't do it all. If I were a veteran homeschooler, I probably would not have taken on so much (Classical COnversations, groups, social things, etc.) and focused on the basics.

My son at that age loved Playmobil and Legos more than anything else. And books. Jack Prelutsky's Awful Ogre's Awful Day was acquired around that age and is still a fav. with him 5 years later.

Wizard of Oz Five Children & It The Witches (really wonderful, may be too old for 7, but my DD loves it) Matilda The Secret Garden

Try some activities to go along with the books - Story Stretchers has an older version I think and Esme Raji Codell's "How to Get Your Child to Love Learning" is a really good one. My kids loved it when we did a special author day. We did this with Roald Dahl and really got into his life and work. Sonlight's catalog does a great job of breaking down reading levels aloud and read by yourself levels. It's free. Public libraries have tons of leveled book lists to go off of. -Adriana

I was going to suggest the same thing. My house was built in 1824 and we put in a dehumidifier last year. It has really made an incredible difference. The dehumidifier was around $200 and is between a mid- to large- size.