Susan, I hate that something like this is causing such upheaval for you all. I do hope it is settled quickly! And a waving hello! Twas informed via floo network ;-)

Rosie, I've not been around here in a very long time and you may not even remember me. But I remember you very fondly. Another long timer let me know what has happened. I'm heart-broken for your great loss and so very sorry for your family. You've been a constant in my heart, thoughts, and prayers. Words fail me but I am sincerely, truly and deeply saddened for you dear.

While rats may require a bit more maintenance sometimes, we've found them to be lovely pets. We also have 2 cats. The rats are more loving and attentive than the cats are. They love scritches and food. Love love love their food. Homeschooling is nice for the rats since they are usually in the room with one of us while doing lessons. They like crawling around on the desks or snuggling under a shirt. Having several in a cage together is nice so they are not alone. We have 3 brothers in one cage and an older single male in another cage. We were never able to put him in with another group once his mate passed. So we take him out a lot. He is very sweet and loves a snuggle. I'm sorry you are not enjoying yours. It sounds like a lot of other things are negatively associated with them. That's too bad. :-(

Also, Roddy and Remy kept this behavior up until Remy died. They just keep on doing it. What was funny and would irritate the heck out of Roddy was when we would let them out for roaming time upstairs. Remy would trot behind Roddy nose to tail like a little rat train. Roddy would get so irritated -- kind of like, DUDE, back off! no tailgating okay! A little space!!! They would tussle like you mentioned above and keep going with the whole cycle. It was hilarious! But it's also a form of play too. They are such fun and sweet pets, aren't they? We have 4 currently and adore them.

They do have pecking orders so to speak. One is usually the most dominant of a group. We have 3 brothers as well. They are 4.5 months old now. Colby seems to be the main dominant, Gus next, and Jack bottom of the group. They do forced grooming to keep their position. We have also had pairs together in cages who were not sibling, but intact male cagemates. Roddy and Remy would do that kind of "fighting". Remy would try to make a move to test dominance and Roddy would put him back in his place. This is pretty normal rat behavior from my limited experience. We called the ones where they are up on hind legs, sissy fights. They were not serious fights but tests of pecking order or one telling the other to back off. If there is no blood being drawn, then it's not really serious. If there is blood, then definitely separate them. True fighting is scary. We tried to introduce a rat who lost his cagemate to another pair and that was a real fight. It looks like crazy, scrambling with the 2 locked together rolling around. Here is a link to a good page describing normal behavior with pictures involved. I would keep an eye on them. Give them extra attention outside the cage to have some time apart from each other for a bit too. But that sounds quite normal from what ours have done and what I have read. This link calls those behaviors as Dominance Behaviors and not actual fighting. http://www.rattyrat.com/guidebook/language.html

I had decided to do the first 10 lessons in 2 weeks but kind of went ACK for the rest, lol. I plan on adding midterm and finals and extra assignments as well. And I am looking at Destinos videos to see how to use those as well. Thanks for the ideas for all. I really appreciate it. I'm taking notes on all this to get it laid out for next term.

I have looked on the site and while helpful, somehow, I felt overwhelmed with how to actually jump in and implement. Maybe my frame of mind was just not right at the time. Stressful day today so maybe not the best time to try to figure it out, kwim? I will call him to ask, thanks for the reminder. He is very nice! I spoke with him initially when ordering. I'll give him a call about this as well. Thanks!

I am planning for 9th grade. Ds will be adding Spanish this year. We're using BSB 1. Looking through it, I am not finding it all that easy to decide how to break it up for lessons. Has anyone found a way that seems to work well and doesn't mind sharing please? I am anticipating each chapter to take anywhere from 2-3 weeks on average. But how to actually divide it is not obvious for me. Thank you!:001_smile:

Hi darling!!! I miss you so much!!! Yes, a certain Lynx has a few pairs of socks from me. OY! I have Pinterest fail, lol! It is sorely neglected except for the yarn. I can't even decide what to name the silly boards much less what to put on them. It's too much pressure to decide what is "pin-worthy" hahahaa! I'm a goof, huh. I can't believe you have 2 in high school this year! Our babies are growing up. My older will be high school next year. I am ordering and planning now. It's crazy. Hugs dearie! I've missed you so.

Oh and Foil Hat Amy is on FB too. She's so busy with her grown up boys now! They are doing quite well. She is a hoot, isn't she? I keep in touch with her often.

I was pinged on FB that someone mentioned me. How sweet! I am still around and kicking. I hang out on Ravelry for my knitting and FB for other stuff. I still search around here occasionally but had to cut back on the online time. Kids are getting older and the work is more involved. Yep, I am planning high school now. Older is 8th this year and younger is 5th. I miss so many of you that I don't see on either Rav or FB. It's so nice when I run across someone I've not heard from in a while. Thanks for asking about me -- that makes me feel special! :D

Yes! I have! Thank you. I am looking at that one for sure. I just need something to pull it together better for me.

9th grade plans are in the air here too. I cannot believe it. Silly kids growing up way too quickly!! Tentatively what is on the plate at the moment: Geometry -- Jacobs(?) English -- grammar R&S 9, Vocab from Classical Roots (C-E) Writing -- WWS -continue and use WTM ideas across all areas studied (?) Literature -- I have Windows to the World and Teaching the Classics and plan to follow the history cycle using Great Books Ancients History -- SWB's Ancient World and ??? Biology -- I have Exploring the Way Life Works: The Science of Biology (Mahlon Hoagland, Bert Dodson, Judy Hauck) and Biology: Concepts and Connections (Campbell, Mitchell, Reece) I need to make it into something though Latin -- MP's Third Form Once I get these nailed down, I'll consider electives.

I go over and baby talk to mine. I take a tissue, hold it up to their nose, and tell them mommy's going to help them bwow their widdle noses and make it all better. Then I rub their heads and give them a poor bunny. lol They tend to start getting their own tissues and blowing after a couple of rounds of that. :tongue_smilie:

Agreeing with the others re LoF not good as stand alone for those 2 books. Ds is in 7th this year. I handed him Lial's BCM to work through. It's been fabulous. He has done quite well with it. I think it is a great preparatory text for Alg. But it just depends on your child.