Okay, let me think. Likes: * They really are enjoying the "Betsy - Tacy" series. * The "Ramona" series. * The "Chronicles of Narnia" * The "Bunnicula" series * The "Spiderwick Chronicles" * The first "Wonder" book - I can't read them "The Julien Chapter" since it made me sob like a baby and I know how much it will upset the 9 y.o. Started out liking, then stopped: * They enjoyed the first two Penderwick books but then my 9 year old got upset because the mother is deceased. * Harry Potter (the parents, again) * The "Mysterious Benedict Society" - they got freaked out due to the subliminal messages and started worrying. We stopped reading that one just last night. I really appreciate the responses, I want you all to know that. :001_smile:

My 9 year old has become very sensitive about death in books and tends to frighten a bit easily. We read together during the day and I read to them at bedtime each night and would love some new suggestions. TIA!

I would love to do this for practice but our printer died, and we're looking at a likely move within the next few months so we haven't replaced it.

It's not inexpensive in the beginning, but the Berkey is the best I've found. The water is wonderful. We've been immensely pleased with ours.

Best of luck to you and your husband in all your future endeavors! I would imagine the board would be rather upset if you didn't stay around. I know I would. :)

I don't like adding any sweeteners to tea, but my children and husband all love honey. Local is preferable. If you don't like honey, you could try stevia.

I really like the look of GD cursive and I'm wondering if you would use "Write Now" or the lettered series. Suggestions greatly appreciated. TIA!

My 9 year old is over 5 feet tall now. She's very thin, very leggy and no longer fits (height wise) into her size 14 pants. I figured height would be a thing, I'm 5'9, so pretty average, but Daddy is 6'5 and he's little for his family. Her favorite attire choices are more modest options like Bermuda shorts, capris, and t-shirts. For bathing suits, we prefer one piece suits with an attached skirt, or separate board shorts. I've found Old Navy clothing to be very poorly made as of late (does anyone else remember how terrific their stuff was in the early 2000's?), Crazy 8 no longer fits, Land's End has been striking her as boring lately, and we're not ready to shop in the junior's department (DD is very modest by choice, and is not a fan of much of the offered apparel at most retailers for young girls). Suggestions, please and thank you! It's already been in the 80's here and I need to get some new spring and summer clothes pronto and don't want to go the Old Navy route again.

Right.... ugh. My personal favorite is when people say to ingest essential oils (don't even get me started on that one).

I've been married almost twelve years and I, personally, find it rude to engage in acts of intimacy at the home of a family member, so we never have. Maybe it's just me.

We've actually used SOTW since the beginning and they loved it at first, they've just grown really bored with it recently.

Get them done with a needle, by a professional piercer. Clean and safe, unlike the countless germs on the guns.

Ha ha!! No. Definitely no. My mom divorced my bio dad shortly after I was born (I don't know him very well), and married my step-dad when I was six. They have never struck me as happy. I love my step-dad; we have an awesome relationship. I married young and divorced less than six months later. Then I waited until I was 31 before getting married again. My DH's parents are divorced also. Neither of us grew up with healthy relationships on display; we had to play it by ear. It's important to us to be in a healthy relationship, for our own sake as well as well as what we're showing our children. The only thing I ever recall my mother telling me about sex was "Don't get pregnant or I'll make you have an abortion so fast your head will spin". That was it. I learned a lot - about what kind of parent and wife I didn't want to be. In a strange way, I'm thankful for my upbringing because it taught me what is important in my life, and my relationships with my husband and children are at the top of that short list. Edited to correct spelling.

Is it possible? At this point, I'm considering using a spine (barely), a timeline, and a lot of living books. I always have a difficult time finding enough living books (we're voracious readers). Have you gone through this with your family? What solutions did you happen upon that worked best for your children? Thank you!

My youngest has life threatening allergies, so I can't suck at lunch, as much I'd like to sometimes. Mostly everything we eat, I cook from scratch. I try to plan, with my children, what types of meals/snacks they'd like for the next week or two, do a grocery shop, then I try to do heavy cooking on a day when DH is home, and then easier stuff for the rest of the time. Snacks: We do a lot of oven roasted, spicy chickpeas, muffins that we bake, popcorn with Bragg's liquid aminos, garlic, and pepper, dark chocolate squares and peanut butter. Meals: Brown rice, black beans with homemade salsa and cheese, eggs with pan fried potatoes, and greens, Homemade ravioli with cheese, Homemade pizza, tacos with greens, beans, cheese, & tofu baked ziti with homemade sauce & pasta I'd be lost without my kitchen appliances. Edited: I pressed tab and post was submitted before I had finished.

My girls are a little young for this but I've told them they should only have sex with someone they care deeply for, that doesn't ever pressure them, and that they can talk to - openly and honestly. I've also encouraged them to never have sex with someone they can't see in their lives forever (in case of an unplanned pregnancy and in case they move ahead to complete the pregnancy).

We currently reside in Las Vegas, it's February and we've already had days that have edged well into the 80's. I love to cook and bake and as the weather continues to get warmer, I'm planning on getting a convection oven to cook in during the upcoming hotter months. Last summer, June was the hottest month in the history of the area and I can't deal with the idea of turning on the oven. Can anyone suggest a convection oven that is of a nice, roomy size? Thank you!

I realize I'm resurrecting a much older thread, but I wanted to express my gratitude at finding it and reading all the wisdom Lewelma shared. I've been so panicked at the idea of teaching science to my girls and this has not only boosted my confidence but also has me looking forward to teaching (and learning with) them.

My girls love science. Love it, love it, love it. I have always felt less than teaching it, so I've avoided it and left it to my husband. Give me history and I'll make it shine, but science is not my forte. My husband's work schedule has changed to where I would prefer to do science with my children, but I don't know what I really need to do in this age range (lo is nearly 10, eldest just turned 11). Should it be interest led? Should I get a boxed curriculum? Should I just waffle on about it and not actually do anything (okay, just kidding on that last one :laugh: ). My main reason for not just choosing an open and go curriculum is that my eldest has some issues, including anxiety. She doesn't like to do the same things over and over. Any suggestions? I don't know if what I've asked is even answerable, but I would be so very grateful for suggestions if you've got any for this frazzled mumma who desperately wants to provide her girls with an immensely enjoyable year of science fun.

Arduino building and DIY.org. I absolutely agree with building models - so fun! My husband still loves to build models.

I'm an introvert with two. My 10 year old is more like me, she requires alone time, is insanely creative, and wakes up hours earlier than her sister so she can just not talk. My 9 year old is very outgoing, very chatty, and I'm her favorite person. When she was young, I would stay awake until about 2 or so, so I could have a few hours of non-talking, anti-social time. Now that they're older they're both a lot more independent and I get a couple of hours during the day to have a cup of tea and read my kindle. I'm relatively creative. However, about many things, such as day-to-day life, I want it by the book. I find comfort in routine and don't always do well with spontaneous plans.

I have a history of difficult pregnancies and deliveries, and after my third was born I had a tubal. If that were not the case, I would go for the Mirena.

Alton is very family friendly. We love him, and watching "Good Eats" really inspired my girls to cook and create recipes.

I have cycles also, but my one constant is garlic. I love garlic and use fresh and dried with at least one meal a day. Now that we're cycling into colder weather, I have cravings for mashed potatoes with kale and Bragg's liquid amino acids and sauteed garlic. Yum.

This is heartbreaking. Reprehensible on the part of those responsible.