We enjoy a Pilgrim dinner before Thanksgiving, eating with similar manners as the Pilgrims. The dc have to stand. We eat with our hands and use long napkins to grab hot food. The dc recite Psalm 100. I like the tradition of using a fabric pen to write what you are thankful for on small section of a tablecloth then adding to and using the tablecloth every year. We take communion together as a family on Thanksgiving. One of my favorite traditions is going drugstore sale shopping with a friend at 7am then taking her out to breakfast for her birthday, just the two of us. ;)

If she understands the theory of multiplication and just needs to memorize the facts, I'd recommend Times Tales. It has stories and pictures. I didn't believe it worked until I tried it with my ds. I was thrilled with the results! Every friend irl I've told has been pleased with it as well. Then, I recommend Timez Attack too! :)

If I had little ones now, I would look at The Learning Parent resources for preschoolers. HTH!

Yes, my ds loves these!

We memorize full Psalms by practicing each day (so far 100, 113, 121, and working on 103) and we use Sword Fighting, which we love. I use a popular notecard file system.

My mom and dd get them from tomatoes (just another food to check).

I'll have to look at those companies. We've really enjoyed movies with a ClearPlay DVD player to edit them. ;) It would be nice to be able to watch them "as written".

We have an older Flip and still love it. The newer HD version takes some nice video. I'd just be careful if you're looking to zoom in for recitals, etc. as my version doesn't have an optical zoom.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey A Tree for Peter If You're Missing Baby Jesus

If you have $5 to spend on each gift, how about buying everyone a Nerf gun?

Oh my goodness, that's terrible! We had co-op outside here today and we were fighting for the shade. It's hot here but you have it much worse.

This site or book would be great to share! Some already prepared things my celiac dh can eat include: Hormel Beef Roast au jus Del Real Seasoned Shredded Beef Safeway chicken hot from deli Safeway turkey hot from deli HTH!

It sounds like you're doing everything you can choosing a company. I have a suggestion about tipping. We've had excellent service several times moving long distances by tipping at both ends. Give the movers a tip up front because you so appreciate them taking such good care of your belongings. ;) Then, tip again at the end as they are moving them out of the truck. We never had a lost or broken item, and our movers were happy to put things in the shed, put beds together without us asking, etc. ;)

No, we don't allow it in our home. (We don't have video games here either. My dc play for fun with the grandparents.)

I have nothing, but I'll look into it. I wish I had a better understanding of history. Thanks for the idea!

What has helped us the most with food allergies is to start with a list of foods we can eat and work backwards from there. I agree with not trying to modify current favorite recipes as that didn't go over well here. :glare:

through wars. He absolutely loved the pioneer simulation we completed recently and was thrilled to know there's both American Revolution and Civil War simulations. So, I'm planning to build our study around an activity or game for each war and also study American music of the time. I'd love your help. I highlighted the wars I have nothing for so far in red. Here's my list: American musichttp://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192867&highlight=WWII&page=2 Paper soldiers http://www.juniorgeneral.org/load.php?Period=7 http://www.juniorgeneral.org/load.php?Period=8 The American RevolutionEasy Simulations: American War: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Simulations-Revolution-Information-Understanding/dp/0439522218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288835325&sr=8-1 The War of 1812http://www.pride2.org/NewPrideSite/MD/Lesson10/Lesson10_Guide.html Mexican-American Warcreate cartoon posters: http://www.angelfire.com/nb/history0/Mexicopicturepg.html The Civil WarEasy Simulations: Civil War: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Simulations-Information-Skills-Understanding/dp/0439522196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288835356&sr=1-1, Clothespin Soldiers (popular toy at time)http://blog.aussiepumpkinpatch.com/2010/07/wooden-soldiers.html, http://www.examiner.com/children-s-crafts-in-st-louis/make-clothespin-dolls http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/history/americanhistory2/activities.html The Spanish-American War World War IKids Discover Magazine, Learning Through History Magazine, Eyes on History WWI, http://www.design-your-homeschool.com/Homeschool-History-Projects-WW1.html World War IIAxis and Allies 1942 game, Eyes on History WWII tank: http://papertoys.com/tank.htm The Korean War Vietnam Warhttp://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/civiced/resources/docs/VietnamWar8.pdf Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Iraqi Freedom I have booklists but if you have a favorite to share I'd love to hear it. Thanks for your help!

I love the idea of focusing on what you can do together this year. It's tight here financially too. I'll add to the list. We like to: * celebrate Advent with Jotham's Journey series book and/or Jesse trees * sing Christmas carols at night around a fire * celebrate St. Nicholas Day by making gingerbread cookies for neighbors (St. Nicholas loved gingerbread) * go to see lights at a local railroad park * walk neighborhoods to look at lights * leave wrapped nativy scene pieces each night at a friends house with baby Jesus arriving on Christmas Eve (I can usually find a nice nativity at the drug store for around $4 on sale) * make/decorate ornaments with Nana * make something with the kids handprints (snowman pictures, snowmen ornaments (grab ornament from bottom with white painted hand), reindeer aprons (use foot for face and hands for antlers) * read Christmas books and listen to Christmas music all month long This year, we're thinking of making a music video on Christmas Day. Each person will lip sync to the song and we'll edit it. I like the idea of everyone getting a nerf gun to have a huge war which could make for some great memories, even for the adults. :D I've heard of families taking a small amount and shopping at the dollar store for each other in a group so they had to be sneaky.

We like to have a Pilgrim dinner. This year I'm hoping to make this wreath with my dc. :)

Yes, I agree. They add depth to the books.

Here are some of my FIAR friends: Blog, She Wrote Pumpkin Patch The Architect and the Artist Adventures in Unsell Land His Mercy is New Holly-Hock Hill Joyful Mother of 6 Children Song of My Heart and mine. We also spent this summer reviewing a book a day in Volume 1. HTH! :)

The Garmin Nuvi is wonderful. We tried the Tom Tom and didn't care for it.

I love FIAR! :) We just recently moved to Beyond after using FIAR for 5 years so I've used it with younger and older children. I think the best way to understand it is to "see" it in action through blogs. I'm not home right now, but I can link some nice blogs for you to check out. I have a FIAR category on my blog too.

Oh yes, butterflies were a huge hit here too! :)

This year, my ds is using Lyrical Life Science, memorizing one song every 2 weeks or so. Both kids are learning Psalm 103 and we're working through the verses in Sword Fighting.