Thank you, ladies! I feel like a menu is beginning to come together. Ideally, I'd like to make small amounts of a couple of different things to serve buffet style. This is what I've written down: Chaa from Jenny's recipe Dal Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes Eastern Indian Chicken from scrapbookbuzz? Does this have curry? My husband last night asked for some sort of curried chicken. Rice Naan (trying to buy frozen from TJs or the local Indian grocer) Kheer/Rice Pudding for dessert

I would not move here right now without a job lined up! Manufacturing has been hard hit here, but it will be easier if you have flexibility about where to live. I don't think having an out of state resume will hurt him as long as he can be there for an interview.

Thank you! Yes, I was hoping to cook the meal. {grin} I don't mind buying a few spices. The problem I run into when I google "Indian Meal" is that an overwhelming amount of recipes pop up and I have no idea if they are good. :D I love the idea of some decorations and music, too! I hadn't thought of that!

We're studying Ancient India this week. I'd like to have an Indian meal on Friday or Saturday to cap off our week. Ideas?

I have no interest in subbing out teaching to a co-op. Maybe for high school, but I don't see the point for now. My kids have plenty of social outlets (church, swimming, scouts, football, FLL, baseball, etc.) A co-op just seems like "one more thing".

:iagree: It appears that a lot of the experienced, rigorous classical homeschooling moms got driven away by the new (the last couple of years) vibe of the board. The (not) funny thing is a couple of the loudest, brashest voices advocating non-classical curricula and/or non-classical methods have now put their kids in school and they still hang out here. :001_huh:

I'd visit in Washington D.C. -- The White House, The Supreme Court, The Capitol. The Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments. The Vietnam Memorial, WWII Memorial, and Arlington National. and also go to New York City: The Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Stock Exchange, 5th Avenue, and the UN. Fictional American History books -- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch; Little House in the Big Woods & Prairie/Farmer Boy; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; and To Kill a Mockingbird -- off of the top of my head.

I'd require it. I remember how mean kids were in high school to the boys who were smelly, sweaty, greasy, and full of acne. We require our son to shower every night when he gets home from football for this exact reason! He complains and tries to get out of it, but .... yuck! He's stinky!

This is our first year. Our team of four boys is getting together 2-4 hours at a time 2-4 times a week! While I see the intellectual and team-work benefit and our son loves the robotics aspect, we probably won't be doing it again. It is just too time consuming for our family.

I'd drop that friend for sure! I'm a conservative Christian (Reformed Baptist). We have illness in the world because of sin in the world. Just as I wouldn't pray away a broken arm, I wouldn't pray away mental illness. (Not saying that God *couldn't* miraculously heal a broken arm or a mental illness ... He certainly could, but that isn't His usual way.) :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

YES!!!!

Maybe you could try having her look up liars in an online Bible concordance and copy some verses to memorize? Like here? "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The route we've taken is to read, to memorize, and to talk about how God through the scriptures views lying (and all sin).

:iagree:

Eeek! When I said we let the boys make lists for my siblings and grandparents, this is NOT the type of things they put down! Usually, it's a few books, a board game or two, a specific LEGO set ... that sort of thing. I can't IMAGINE asking my own parents for a flat screen tv, laptop, or Wii much less someone outside the family!!!

Yes. None of my siblings live nearby and two don't have children ... it helps to give them an idea for what the boys are interested in.

I don't know. If it were me, I'd take a different approach. I think the biggest mistake I see some women make is to make all homeschooling decisions unilaterally without any input from the children's father. (Note: I'm not talking about when dad could care less here.) My husband had many of the same concerns when we started homeschooling. We worked together to address his concerns. In our case, we began private piano lessons, the local scouting group, and sports through the park and rec department. Maybe you could brainstorm together to come up with ways to meet some of his issues so that you can both be confident that you are giving your children the best education possible.

nm

You would be fine just to show up at one of our boys' meetings. I would be there a few minutes early, and ask any leader ... just look for an adult in a scout uniform. I'm sure they'll be more than willing to point you in the right direction. :-)

That movie (along with Food Inc. and The Omnivore's Dilemma) significantly influenced the way we eat. We rarely eat "highly processed edible food-like products". {grin} For sure, we only eat organic corn and use organic oils. We buy our meat right from the farmer. We found the farmer on http://www.eatwild.com/ . HFCS is out completely, but we aren't complete kill-joys. We make sure that we have yummy homemade treats. :-)

My guilty pleasures: Books: Tom Clancy (I think I <3 Jack Ryan.) Movie: Bride and Prejudice (If I'm sad, in it goes!) TV: Battlestar Gallactica :) Music: Journey: Anyway You Want It {blushing!} :)

{snort} LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

:sad::grouphug:

I had the talk unexpectedly last year with our then 9 and 7 year old after they read the Human Body Encyclopedia. We had it up on a high shelf and well ... they found it and read it ... a little earlier then we had planned. It was awkward. "Did Dad and you do that?" "Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Heh-heh. ""How do you think we had all these children?!?!?!" But, honestly, it went very well and I'm glad we got "the big discussion" over with. Since then we've had mini-talks several times, which we've made certain to say, "Yeah, this is a little embarrassing, but I want you to know that you can ask me anything." If you say that right up front, it seems to make everyone smile and relax a little bit. I don't think my boys would want to go away for the weekend to discuss "it". That would put too much pressure on it for us.

Oh my goodness. Praying here.

We have one 12-year-old kid in scouts who is *always* crying about *everything*. Seriously! It is so completely over the top annoying. His parents totally coddle him, and while probably don't encourage it, certainly don't discourage it. I wish someone would tell him to man up! :lol: I think how I would react (or want to react!) would depend on this boy's previous behavior. If he was having a horrible, no good, very bad day (did his dog die earlier in the day?), I would hug him. If it were constant (like the boy above), I'd roll my eyes and cheer inside for the parent who finally said something. :-)