I found Biblioplan for the first time last year, and we're doing it again this year. We purchased a couple of spines and SOTW, but pretty much everything else comes from the library. This makes it very economical for our large family. It's also very simple to switch out books that aren't readily available. I will confess that last year was the first time in our homeschooling journey that we've been able to do history consistently.:blush: It was very simple to just keep going, even with some major roadblocks in our year. One thing we tried new this year was adding the SOTW Activity Guide. My dh actually purchased it by mistake, but it's been a great addition to our year. (BTW, I had the AG binding cut off and 3-hole punched at Office Max. Sooooo much easier to use!)

I "ditto" the above info. If you go to the CHEO website (Christian Homeschoolers of Ohio), they have very helpful forms you can print off. Also, we've found it pretty simple around here to find a teacher to review portfolios, and they just sign a paper saying the student is working at their ability.

Our dd5 had several shorts outfits passed her way with "hiney writing." They make wonderful pj's!

"Taking Chance" with Kevin Bacon! It's an HBO movie we came across at Redbox. It depicts the honor bestowed upon our war dead, and is a must-see no matter where your political opinions are. It's a true story based on the journal of a Marine colonel who escorts a fallen Marine home. Little talking, 1 swear word (contextually appropriate), no gore, appropriate for ages 10+, and very moving. Keep the tissues close by.

I like to call it "Kindergarden-in-15-Minutes-A-Day!" We do it 5 days a week, and she's the first one I work with because, honestly, I would otherwise forget.:blushing: This is year 9 of our homeschooling adventure, and as #6 starts K, I've learned that math, reading, and handwriting are all it takes for seatwork. With lots of older sibs, she gets read to daily, and she just hangs out in the schoolroom quite a bit during other lessons. (Small rant: Our local PS just went to all day/every day kindergarden. My little 5yo would poop-out by lunch! I feel so bad for the littlest kiddos in those buildings from 8:55am to 3:30pm. Is kindergarten so difficult now that it takes 6 1/2 hours a day to teach it? YIKES!!!)

We have friends with 10 children, and they all start with "J." I have enough trouble getting around to the name I want already. If they all started with the same letter, I'd just sound like I have a profound stutter! Our theme is simple: 1. They are classic, timeless names. 2. They are long names. 3. They are gender-specific when you hear them. All of the names have a family connection as well. I think it's important for people to feel connected to their past in some way. My dad chose my name, and can I tell you how much I despise the song, "Carrie Ann, what's your game now? Can anybody play?" (Herman and the Hermits, 1969ish. Uugh!!!:thumbdown: At least he changed the spelling to "Kari.")

Another vote for A Reason for Handwriting. This is our 9th year of HSing, and I'm embarassed to say handwriting was a major area of neglect for far too long. We started using this a few years ago and have stuck with it since. I find the lessons to be short (VERY important for little folks!) and the children LOVE having a border sheet at the end of the week to showcase their best work. They usually give them away to someone they feel would be blessed by the Bible verse.

We used Biblioplan this past year. It's simply a reading plan that moves chronologically through history, includes living book suggestions for each age group as well as good family read-alouds. SOTW is one of the resources and we purchased the AG as well. I've found it to be clean, simple, and inexpensive.

I just discovered this in September and am hooked! Because it has such a low tannin content, it never gets bitter. A little honey to sweeten it and I'm ready to go. (Love it that it's naturally caffeine-free, too.)

My aunt and I had an argument when I was 35 about the spelling of my name. "Are you sure it's not spelled K-E-R-I?" "I know how to spell my own name. It's with an 'A.'" "Oh... I like it better with an 'E.'" Thanks, Dad.

18. But 9 of that is just us, so I don't feel like it's a lot. We're hosting our immediate family here, but usually go to my aunt's where we have about 60! She's very disappointed there will only be 40 there this year. :001_huh:

Ketchup on the dog's back. I never solved that one.