Did anybody mention down comforters yet? Sams had them for a good price, and I've found CuddleDuds there, too - along with 3 packs of wool socks for under $10. Warm tea- we grow a lot of herbs and that keeps the cost down but we usually have a tea-pot on the table during school. Socks and house shoes- I wear birks (Sams again- under $30) -thicker sole than slippers. We plastic the windows inside and my dh does the outside too, on both the west and north sides- what a diff! and we plastic in both porches- I always joke that we shrink wrap our house each winter. But when it's sunny the porches act like solar collectors. We've painted furring strips oru trim color and dh uses screws and builders plastic- it doesn't look tacky and really makes the house a LOT warmer. After baths and showers, keep the hot/warm water and open the bathroom door- heats the air. Space heaters! and I agree with scarves. Keeps your neck and body warmer! Kids on laps :001_smile:, simmering soups, applesauce, baking bread...

This is totally consistant with what I've experienced teaching homeschoolers regardless of the structure of the co-op.

Just listened to "How to Get Boys Motivated Who would Rather Build Forts Outside" by Andrew Pudewa last night (title might be slightly different). He says that for any consequence to be truly effective it must have a reward and a consequence. If the kids are only going to lose something anyway, than why bother? I'd work in some postitive, short term rewards for work completed. He might fell like he's fallen into a hole without anyway of climbing back out. I'd spend a lot of time checking and re-checking what is supposed to be getting done. Sounds like he is needing more personal attention from you:001_smile:

Can I just say that I think that this is a weird assignment.

TeenPact is also a good hands on experience and some of the Uncle Eric books (Richard Mayberry) give some ideas that are, at least, good pov's to discuss.

I thought how he handled this election was tacky. I don't personally care but others do. I did write and say that I thought his comments earlier were in poor taste and that he should retract them. Got a nice reply from a correspondance secretary. He does carry influence and I thought it was ill-used this go-around.

I'm up, "Putting Summer to Bed." Love your pictures, friends! and agreeing with HenJen- comments welcome:001_smile:

Many years ago, pg with my 3rd I spent the day at a friend's house, along with another friend and our kids, and her small petting zoo. Including a large, obnoxious, smelly pot-bellied pig that snarfled pig snot up and down my pants leg while the owner kept saying how cute and friendly her pig was. I spent the day on the verge of throwing up, unable to leave because friend 2 picked me up. All I can say is yuck, yuck and more yuck. It was NOT cute.

Thanks to JennifersLost and her blog give-away I am now the proud owner of the "Hundred Mile Diet." Wow. It's a good read. It is eye-opening and to be honest, a little shocking. Anyone else read it- or did I miss the discussion already? What did you think?

Totally agree, Bill. But even with lots of folic acid and a diet high in veggies and clean H2O and juicing daily I developed the "mask of preganancy" that never quite went away. I don't slap tons of foundation on but I am thankful it's available!!

I'm all about the natural look but as an over 40-year old who gave birth 5 times (the last at age 40) I appreciate make-up more each year. Thank-God for foundation. And mascara. And blush. And lipstick. And eye shadow. And cover-up. And foundation....

I see it as a part of a whole. My job is to train up my kids. Homeschooling is one of the tools that we use in order to do that. It is as much my job as my dh's though more of the pragmatics fall on me- curriculum choosing and development, academic goals for the year, day-to-day teaching, etc. I don't feel pressure to perform up to others expectations with homeschooling per se, though we still get it from many sides (some things just never change), but I do feel pressure to give my kids the tools that they need to be the men and women that they are created and called to be. I love the idea of education and the hope that it brings. I wrote a Master's thesis on education and homeschooling over a decade and a half ago and have been reading and researching, blogging and speaking on and about it since, so it's a hobby, too :001_smile:. More than a job, it's been a consuming passion for (almost) the past 2 decades.

We picked up some Moon Sand at a garage sale. It is a blast! The lady we bought it from said that WalMart carries it and I know that Timberdoodle carries it. My 3 youngest kids have been fighting over it!! I'm going to buy re-fill sand for stocking stuffers but wanted to give everybody a heads up. If you have tactile kids, it is very cool.

Hen Jen- thanks for bringing ChinaBerry up- I'd forgotten about them!

Yes, my Gram rocks!! - I do agree wholeheartedly that "knowing" is a gift. It has been a wild and fun ride to learn along with my kids. One of the things I appreciate about TWTM boards is how much I learn from all of you; so many different perspectives.

Liz- thanks for catching my goof- I am lol! :001_smile:

All of the above came up as jokes or in relating a joke. My kids have recently nick-named me Pax RoMomma and my 18 yo dd was relating that to friends when they asked her how homeschooling was going. We were at a bon-fire last night when sparks flew at us and my dh asked me and the friends I was standing by why we moved away from the warmth. He joked that we were wimps from moving away from a few sparks and I said, "it was like Mt. Vesuvius erupting," which led my dh to call me the queen of hyperbole. At the same church picnic he built a Sukkut booth becasue it's the Feast of Sukkut. Many people were curious about it but we were both surprised at how many had never heard of it. It's just an observation - not meant as a "I'm better than you type of thing." I think it's intersting that my g'ma, 94- never went past 6th grade but worked in an accounting office at a large corp for years making very good money, can take apart a car engine, is an incredible gardener and can knit a sweater with her eyes closed, would know all of those references. I'm contrasting this with a friends son who enrolled in p.s. this year for the first time and is being ridiculed for "knowing too much," my dd who is in college for the first time this fall and is criticized for "studying too much."

Some of the Foundations memory work, IEW's poetry Memorization, Latina Christiana I, AlphaPhonics, ETC, lots of books. Latin and English Bible memory, AlAbacus. Co-op, Shurley grammar, U.S. geo, drawing and crafts, My Body, weekly presentation.

depends on shipping. I've seen cast iron skillets for $2 at thrift shops- but with the babe maybe having it shipped would save wear and tear on you?

Mil a copy of "Crunchy Cons" as she told my dd's this summer that their dad and I were hippies- LOL. We are anything but dropped-out and drugged-up. I want to give her a more accurate definition:001_smile: Hoping that Peter Lawhead's 3rd book in the "Hood" series is out for my oldest dd. We're having a local book-signing by Jan Brett soon and want to get dd 5 one of her books (signed of course).

Thanks, Chris. We've had an on-going interest since reading, "When the Celts Saved Christianity" (hoping that's the correct title).

I would have emphasized memory work more. Started Latin (and worked it) earlier. Hired a math Tutor. I would have started grammar instruction far earlier. I wouldnt' have been so intimidated by what I didnt know- kwim?

The Wilderking series- analogy of King David's life but set in swamplands- it's a great read-aloud, and perfect for your age kiddos. We love Narnia :001_smile:

Very fun! We've done one by color- the kids have to find as many colors as possible.

Alessandra- lol!