I am using Christian Kids Explore Biology. I don't know. There just isn't a lot to it. It seems like just an outline, and then I have to supplement with SOOOO many texts and library books to provide enough material. The explanations of the vocabulary are so simplified, I'm guessing that is all they need? We want to be able to send him to a private, rigorous school for high school w/ the hopes of going to an excellent university. He has type 1 diabetes and has said for years that he wants to be an endocrinologist! What would your best science curricula recommendations be? We would prefer Intelligent Design, but it doesn't have to be the total emphasis.

We turned on the red carpet E show earlier(flipping channels), and caught a disorderly Gary Busey attacking a terrified Jennifer Garner and he kissed her neck. It was scary! Outfits: I loved Jennifer Garner, Keri Russell, Ellen Page, Amy Adams and Cate Blanchett. They look great, but not too overdone. I don't have pics for winners really - to many violent movies chosen this year. Yuk. There are a few good ones in there I suppose.

especially the Wonder Twins bc I am a twin! "Wonder twins power ~ ACTIVATE!!" :)

and my husband and I signed his certificate to frame on his bedroom wall. "36 steps to learn how to read. 36 steps are just what I need ... 36 steps to read, write and spell, eveyone's rejoicing because I'm readin' so well!" When we started when he was 5 he had a little lisp and called it, "Sing Spell Stephen, Write" - for his name. He's so cute :) We still call it that.

I already had a older profoundly handicapped older son, a mildly handicapped older son, and I have ms. NOTHING has thrown me emotionally like my son's diabetes. It was so unexpected, heartbreaking, and hard to get used to. Though, now it is like brushing my teeth.... Food is SUCH a part of our lives and to medicate it is traumatic. I'm so sorry. I know it is going to be hard for a while. Please email me if you want to vent or ask questions. You'll have to change ratios from time to time. Your doc and nurses expect you to call them! It is a day to day disease. Numbers go up and down all day. But the long term ratios are all that matter, and you have to remember that to stay sane. Hang in there! I hope you find her a beautiful bracelet. Pamper her! And give her a hug from a WTM family who is praying for her!!

I'm thinking about MacGyver. Is that pretty wholesome? Not too scary? What are some of your favorites?

are people so flippin crazy about their pets these days. They ARE NOT children. OK.

the famous tear jerker The Notebook, & The Railway Children (can't remember why but I sobbed at the end.) Lorenzo's Oil almost gave me a stroke - my son has a degenerative condition too. The scene where the father reads the medical journal about what was going to happen to his son. That same thing happend to me in a hospital library. Oh the tears are flowing even now... good movie though. Amazing family.

We went to Disney World on a Make a Wish trip with our profoundly handicapped then 12yos and our other 3 children a couple years ago. We saw Erik Estrada and his family being MOBBED everywhere they went. It was horrible and ridiculous. We went into the back entrance for the Mickey 3d show together with the Estradas, bc of our wheelchair and their privacy issues and we were seated together early in the front. They chatted nicely with us about our son, our adopted african-american son, and make-a-wish buttons/ trip. They were super nice to our kids. We didn't let on that we knew who they were, and we hoped it was a nice reprieve for them!

A healthy close friend is your cheerleader. She will cheer you on when things aren't going well AND when things are going great! This goes both ways by the way in a good friendship.

One more question. This is my cookware below. They are anondized aluminum calphalon knockoffs. Are they teflon? Should they be replaced? http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=203558 Thanks again! I printed off all of your replied and if anyone else has any I would so appreciate it!

I need your best magazines, websites, books etc. I really want to make some major changes in this area. We have lots of autoimmune diseases in our family and I'm motivated by our health! I just read The Autoimmune Epidemic: Bodies Gone Haywire in a World out of Balance. I would love to talk about this! Some areas I'm concerned about are: 1. Plastics - vs. wood for toys, for food storage and heating up. Should I switch to only glass cups for the children and I? Throw out the saran wrap and tupperware and buy glass food storage? What about straws? 2. Pesticides for the lawn - do you just not spray for spiders and bugs? Pesticides for food - I need that list someone had on here for the priorizing of fruits/veggies to buy certified organic. 3. Preservatives - we don't eat heavily processed foods, like Velveeta, but I want to eliminate all benzoates, nitrates, parabens, sulfites, bha, bht, fd&C dyes & MSG. There goes lots of sauces, lunch meats, and ready made treats! 4. Cleaning products? What do you recommend? For deep cleaning and the shower scum? 5. Cosmetics? I want to avoid paraben and phalates and some other things. I read Burt's Bees and Aubrey Organics are good. No more nail polish or hair dye (we already talked about dye on the boards). 6. Teflon? I have Calphalon knock-offs from Sam's that I love. I just Googled Teflon is unhealthy. This is too much info to take in all at once :( . How do you handle all of these decisions?

My kids are so addicted but it is expensive! I keep telling them this is FINE art. Take your time and take it seriously :). They have made so many really great things and I can see this really taking off as a hobby. Does any one else have kids who enjoy this hobby? Do you have any books or tools you especially like? We are using the Klutz books right now w/ some artsy library books.

My husband works out of of our home. We have adapted to eachother and become more alike over the years. We talk about spiritual fellowship, politics, current events, the kids medical and developmental issues, our family and friends. We basically chat constantly :) When they go to bed around 7pm, we read, surf the internet, watch a movie together etc.

What do you mean by "they will not be called upon by society to serve as social welfare agencies"?

that I've become chunky from sleeping approx. 4 hours a night for 10 years! You are a rail and a runner with so little sleep! Is it a natural thing? Do you get tired or need caffeine?

I'm not very stylish. I don't wear a lot of make up. I've never even worn eye makeup. I wouldn't know how! I'm pretty casual. I'm a bit overweight. I wear sweaters and jeans every day with crocs, and long rayon April Cornell dresses (I have a closet full!) to church every Sunday. Let's put it this way I'm no head turner! That's okay - from a modesty perspective ya know. But, I'm about to turn 40 and I just want to get it together. I've been looking at some fashion websites my twin sister sister sent me and came across this blog: http://sahmstyle.blogspot.com/ Inspiring but I could never dress like that! Have any of you struggled with this???

Thanks Beth and Karen! Wow - homework idea! Paradigm shift :) She does have room time in the afternoon to split everyone up - she could finish some things then. Hmm...

Christian Liberty Spelling isn't a vocab program - not sure what you mean? Also, Veritas comprehension guides are indespensible for writing. She is learning how to develop her thoughts into complete sentences at a young age. They are fab. Can't let that go either :)

Since my son started special ed, I'm trying to get our schedule made over. I really want them to have free time to play while he isn't here. We have to be very structured again once he gets home. My trouble area is cramming in language arts. We finished SSRW with my 6yo and I'm not sure how I'll teach R&S to 2 kids - dreading it! I'm considering Christian Light bc of the time factor. I'm saving thinking skills and bible programs for summer bc of time. I'm allowing more time for language arts in my new schedule. Any other ideas? 7:15 brother on bus 7:15-8:00 eat Breakfast, mom exercise, sister practice piano, everyone get dressed 8:00-9:00 Christian Light Math 9:00-10:30 Language Arts 4th CLE reading Veritas novel comprehension guides A Reason for Handwriting Christian Liberty Press Spelling Worldly Wise 1 Rod & Staff English 4 2nd Veritas First Favorites A Reason for Handwriting Christian Liberty Press Spelling Rod & Staff English 2 10:30-11:30 History/Science 2x week Art & Music other week 11:30-12:30 Lunch w/ mom reading a loud 12:30-2:15 free time, free reading etc. 2:15 special needs brother comes home from school and structured afternoon time begins Thanks!

We (grades 1,3) currently use A Reason for Handwriting, Rod and Staff English, Christian Liberty Press Spelling and Worldy Wise for language arts. As I move my 1rst grader into R&S next year, I'm dreading how long lang arts will take! I love how effective and streamlined our Christian Light math has been. I'm so tempted to drop ALL of our language arts and switch to CLE. Should I? And supplement with Susan's new writing curriculum. Do you think CLE Language Arts would be as challenging as R&S English for the long haul?

any irritation that the sisters and mother provide are far outweighed by Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth :)

she said I could try Waterworks powder - and mix it myself. It cuts down on the harsher chemicals and is ammonia free. I bought the stuff. I'll have to check the label with that book when it comes from the library to make sure it's safe. I'll also check into the ones some of you mentioned thanks! She also showed me a black hair crayon to cut down on how often I touch up my roots. It's pretty neat - just covers up the grays on my hairline and part. I also found out that to go gray I would get about 1-2 inches of roots grown out. The hair salon would match it after cutting off as much as possible of my dyed length. I think she would do a frosty type of match to the roots. The end result would be salt and pepper. I'll go that route if I can't find a safe product.

Has anyone looked into this? I have issues with autoimmune diseases - myasthenia gravis in my 20's, and now multiple sclerosis. I also have the lupus anticoagulant that caused a lot of miscarriages. My son has type 1 diabetes. SO, needless to say, I'm looking into all reasons why I'm having these problems. There is a new book out about the autoimmune "epidemic" that has a forward written by a physician at Johns Hopkins that I respect. Most researchers agree that there is a combo of genetic and environmental causes. The book implicates chemicals including hair dye- particularly dk. hair dye. A causal relationship with lupus in particular. I have been coloring my hair dk brown for 15 years! I'm 39 and my roots are 80% gray. My hair is 2 inches below my shoulders. It will be hard to go gray. I'm using a cane, and I'm overweight :( But, for the sake of my health I think I have to! I have to leave the dye on for 1hr bc my grays are so resistant to color - and I touch up every 3 weeks. Not good!! Help! Should I do this? Has anyone else done this? Maybe you can show me some pics of pretty gray haired 40 year old moms? :)

I shared before that I'm really not a celebrity watcher. After I saw this couple on Oprah for Brokeback Mountain, I was charmed by them. I really rooted for them and I was surprised and sad when I read they broke up. When I heard of his death I felt so sorry for Michelle Williams - as many do I know. The media circus is worse because she and his family aren't courting it as is so often the case. I feel guilty being a part of it by reading stories about them :( Anyway, I read about his funeral this morning. He had another memorial service this morning in Perth. Then a funeral with Williams and 10 members of his immediate family. For this service she read this: SONNET 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee. So sad...