Hey, Kathy how funny this is the first message that popped up on my google reader :) hope you get some good answers.

this is exactly what we are doing. ds is in 6th grade and so far Henle has been a breeze. We're using the MP guide, as well, and really like it. I emailed MP about being a beta-tester and never heard back. I think I'll let it go at this point.

I just voted and it's still a tie. go figure. It does say, though, that it's not a scientific pole. or maybe so many people have voted that it will take a lot more to change it.

I taught my first 2 without a cursive curriculum. We use SWR, so as I was teaching them sounds I would teach them how to write the sounds. With my 3rd, I had CF but basically did the same thing except now she had worksheets to practice on. don't know if that answers your question. I haven't ever seen Z-B cursive, but I would imagine that if he's interested you could just keep going with what's working

Kathy, I'm so glad you are getting some answers for Levi. What a relief to know what it is finally and to start finding something to help him through the pain.

I watched most of the first load. It was 54 mins. long and I don't have that long of an attention span :) the guy that we bought ours from told us that we could even use 1/2 T soap. so that's what we've been doing. I hadn't heard about not using soap with the first load of jeans, though. wish I had known that.

this looks great. I can't wait to spend some time searching the library.

Yes, but I don't always get up when it goes off. I set it for radio, then doze till a little one comes over.

dd 8 says Chewy, Purdy, Maggie, Banner, or Trix.

That was awesome!!! they smashed everything! the world record and the French! and they beat the world record holder to do it. Wow, I'm glad I stayed up late to watch.

I've made two of these. The only difference in mine is that every other square is quartered. So I have a nine inch square and the next square is made up of four 4 1/2 inch squares (4 different patterns). Does that make sense? It's time consuming to cut out all the pieces, but I enjoy it :)

I'm not sure the ages of your kids. but I thought this book looks fun. I got it for my kids but haven't had time to really look through it yet. http://www.rainbowresource.com/pictures/023655/1217991518-1396610 Jean

Yes! We love summer. DH works at a ps, so it is Sat. everyday for about 8 weeks. This summer it will be closer to 10 weeks when dh goes back because they are moving into a new building.

We are going on a field trip our first 2 days. DH is a guidance counselor and goes back on a Thursday. So Thurs we are going to a pottery painting place, then to our favorite pretzel shop. The next day we will go to the beach or a waterpark. I might have them do a diagnostic spelling test for SWR one of those days or maybe a math assessment or something just to see how much they lost with the summer off.

Yes! I just called today. I have one item on back order but she said the rest should be on the way. :) The only thing I don't like about getting my order from rr is that I spend a huge amount of money (for me) and then they pack it into this tiny box! which, I guess, is good for the books, but with that amount of money, I feel like it should be a HUGE box! LOL