Have you seen the series by Joel Rosenberg? I read the first one, it's a page turner! http://www.joelrosenberg.com/

Twister! I have fun memories of this at slumber parties when I was a kid - it gets the giggles going though!!

We have Draw Squad w/ black, hardbound sketchbooks to complete the assignments. It's great! http://www.amazon.com/Mark-KistlerS-Draw-Squad-Kistler/dp/0671656945 It's also available at Rainbow: https://host.rainbowresource.com/product/Draw+Squad/009577/1224181347-1895310 I also have ArtPacs for crafty projects, and Artistic Pursuits w/ all of the supplies gathered in a basket. I never get to those though - I just can't seems to work them in. Maybe in the summers...

Ria and others with lots of well loved and used cookbooks! Do you have a generous grocery budget? I'm in a cooking rut, and I think it's bc of the increased food prices. When I try to use my beloved cookbooks, I have an anxiety attack when I look at the ingredients list. We have been in a variety of bean dishes and soups, brown rice w/ salads rut bc I get the most nutritional bang for my buck with that... What to do??

My husband said we "got out" too, and I misunderstood. Some stock funds were ready for an update (don't know the wording for that) and he switched to a money market. It's still in the 401K though.

My husband said "got out" to, and I misunderstood. Some stock funds were ready for an update (don't know the wording for that) and he switched to a money market. It's still in the 401K though.

Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, Richard Maybury

Doctor - asap please!!

I look frumpy and feel terrible about it. So, I don't think I fall into either category - bc I know I look bad, but I do care!!

I had to had skinless chicken breasts and fish to my Eat to Live diet after a few months. I was just too hungry and weak. I'm using the Clean Eating diet for Tosca Reno now also.

I have a 4th dd and a 2nd ds. My daughter is an excellent reader, and she will read silently any historical fiction I don't read aloud. I just want the most engaging to read aloud so my son has exposure to some great books too. The books I've chosen to read aloud so far were not the best - they would have been better as quick silent reads. Does that makes sense? I have Calico Captive! Thanks for that suggestion. Does anyone else have other successful read alouds for this time period?

Another series similar to Betsy Tacy is the Grandma's Attic series by Arleta Richardson. Easy reading level in the early books, and moves up through the series to her marriage - like the Betsy Tacy books.

From what I understand - her husband tried to protect his family from an abusive ex bro in law making death threats against father in law. He asked to have the bro in law fired from being a state trooper. Woo -hoo! Go Todd Palin - what a great husband and father.

We have extensive medical issues in our family w/ dozens of prescriptions. This is absolutely unnacceptable and unheard of. I can't imagine a dr. not calling back about a prescriptions refill (or anything else for that matter) for a month. You should get a paper prescription w/ a year refills today by scheduling a same day sick appt with primary care if you have to. Then, fax it to the insurance company rep you talked to - get confirmation they received it. Then, switch doctors - preferably another pediatric endo for this. Last, file a complaint with the state board. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I'm praying it is resolved today.

I enrolled my 10yo son in a special ed classroom last Jan. I still homeschool my other children though. It has been a fabulous experience for us. Since our situations and classrooms will be so difference I only have one piece of advice. Stay on the same side as your children's teacher! We know how hard their jobs are! I thank her specifically for every special event and project she plans and prepares for. I constantly thank her for her care for my son - including his medical and developmental needs. I give her specific encouragement for things he likes about school and his classroom. Etc. I'll be praying for you - that you will be surprised by what God does through this.

You have time w/ your 7th grader to fit in two 3-year cycles of chronological world history. You could plan out a schedule of SOTW 1-4 in 3 years, w/ read a louds and readers incorporated. Then, for the 2nd 3-year cycle you could use more primary sources for history - and your student would have a context from previous history studies! My experience is that heavy history studies in the early elementary years would be mostly forgotten anyway. My children just remember key names and places. As far as Latin goes, my plan is to begin when my oldest is in 8th and my youngest in 6th :).

Growing w/ Grammar and Easy Grammar look like nice programs, just not for me :). GwG 6th grade samples were too easy after what we've done. Easy Grammar has an emphasis on prepositions that just confuses me. Thanks for the suggestions though!

We are doing Early American History this year. We've covered explorers, early colonies: St. Augustine, Roanoke, Jamestown and the Pilgrims. We had so many books to choose from - picture books and readers. More than enough! Some of the books I chose for a read a loud ended up being better read silently. What would be your very favorite read a louds for the Colonies (pre-Revolution) and French and Indian War? I love the TQ recommendations, and my library has so many OOP treasures. I just need to narrow down a bit! Thanks for your help!

My 4th grade daughter has used: FLL 1-2 R&S 3 and now Christian Light 4th My 2nd grade son is using: Christian Light 2 I didn't like R&S bc there was too much writing, and the mastery approach was overkill on one topic at a time. I'm not the best at shortening curriculum - but even if I assigned even and odd #'s it just took too long. I like Christian Light bc it is spiral and a workbook. However, there just isn't enough actual grammar and we already have a separate spelling and vocabulary workbooks that we really like. SO!! 1. I'm considering Abeka for next year bc of some board member's recommendations. I see Language A,B,C. What levels would my children move into next year? What grade would C be? Does it include as much diagramming as R&S? I want diagramming. 2. I really like Christian Liberty Press for spelling and phonics. I love their rigorous, uncluttered matter of fact approach to workbooks. This grammar curriculum starts in 7th -12th. I'm wondering why I don't see it on the boards more? It looks great! Any users?

Samantha Brown's series for Europe and Latin America are usually ok - except for the occasional bar/alcohol scenes. Globetrekker is usually not. I saw one episode where the natives try to get the perky travel host to smoke an unknown substance, and she is immediately "affected". It's a great show. I love to watch it, just not for the kids.

I guess no one knows. My husband is thinking about getting out at 10,000 today, bc he is worried it will go down to 5,000 or something. Are we panicking? Are you all staying in? Everything I read, it says to stay in and don't sell low. But, I'm worried next year 10,000 will seem pie in the sky high!!

Oops! I meant to post on the curriculum board. While I'm here, does Abeka have diagramming? I want that and I like the spiral approach of CLE more than the mastery approach w/ review of R&S. Which one is Abeka?

I've tried R&S (too much) and CLE LA (too little grammar, with spelling and handwriting thrown in that we don't need). Thanks!

I just popped this in the oven for the debate tonight! My kids asked me to leave out the walnuts... Indulge in Decadent Chocolate Pie with Pretzel Crust Crust (recipe follows) 1 tablespoon butter 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups) ½ cup chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon vanilla Unsweetened whipped cream, if desired Prepare crust; refrigerate. Preheat oven to 350 F. In 2-quart saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Stir in condensed milk and chocolate chips. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Spread in crust. Bake about 25 minutes or until edge is set but chocolate appears moist in center. Cool in pan on wire rack 1 hour or until completely cooled. To serve, top each slice with whipped cream if desired. Makes 12 servings. Crust: Measure out 3 cups small pretzel twists (or more as needed to make 1 ¼ cup crumbs). Place a few pretzels at a time in resealable plastic food-storage bag; seal bag. Crush pretzels into fine crumbs with rolling pin. In medium bowl, mix the crumbs, 1/2 cup melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Press firmly and evenly against bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Cover and refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm. PER SERVING: Cal 410 (50% fat) Fat 23 g (12 g sat) Chol 35 mg Sodium 210 mg Fiber 2 g Carb 46 g Protein 5g

I only have 4 children, but we have minimal clothes. My oldest passes his down to my other 2 boys. My only daughter's outgrown clothes go to families in our church. So, I don't have any stored clothing anymore. Their closets are (including the boy's shared closet) are about 1/4 filled with clothes. The rest is shelves with storage of other things. I love having minimal clothes for all of us. Makes shopping and laundry painless!