Just got a card with a chip. Ironically not two weeks later we get a fraud alert and have to get new cards which is such a pain in the bum.

No incidents reported :)

We've been in situations where for the sake of unity we've left a church. I'm not interested in going into a church with the intention of changing them. I would consider if its worth everyones time and energy to go through unneeded conflict.

My librarians almost make me feel bad for requesting books :/ And no online accounts. They still stamp our books so if i renew on the phone its not updated so then its late and i have to pay fines.

I agree. I'm not sure who made this comment. It was either the writer of the article, or someone on (or running for) the school board. But what did happen is that our superintenant said he would speak with homeschoolers to see "how the district can better serve the students". I'm not sure his intentions. And i'm not sure what the other homeschoolers are thinking. I'm mostly concerned about my rights as a homeschooler. I have already heard of some over reaching from the supers office.

That website looks great housemouse! Thank you!

Thank you everyone! What is the difference between a digital piano and a keyboard besides the keyboards being much more affordable? Not much craigslist going on around here....

I try to get as many hand me downs as possible. We ask for clothes for christmas for our sons. The grand parents usually buy them an outfit/jammies. I shop ahead of time and buy jackets/boots/etc big so they can grow into. Anything else i will search at goodwill. We usually only need a few things for my oldest every year. And againy parents usually enjoy taking them to get new shoes. Hubby and i shop at goodwill a few times a year. We do buy shoes once a year (or less), when needed. Its not really "budgeted" but comes out of a sinking fund we save monthly for whatever comes up.

When my husband told his mom we were homeschooling she said, "are you $&!))!@" me?" (Direct quote). Two years later, "i wanted to homeschool but [insert fil name here] didn't want to." Insert eye roll here.

If we leave our town its 40-50 miles in either direction to a gas station. We fill up at half or when leaving our town/ or after exiting the interstate to go to our house. Once i offered to drive friends to the airport. They arrived at my house with barely any gas in the tank and not enough time to go get more. I barely made it to the gas station after dropping them off (of course there was nothing near the airport). I was like 8 mo. Pregnant too. Still annoyed. My mom seems to always be almost empty- drives. Me. Nuts. Glad your mil is ok

This has come up in our district just this past month. The 50-65 homeschoolers in our town represent almost exactly our district's budget shortfall (at $7,something per kid). I believe in a free market economy (too bad america doesn't have it). If the kids aren't going to the local school (and fyi there is not a private school within at least an hours drive) then either: change what you are doing, reduce your budget, or fold. I think if schools were run and funded by the community/town, ( maybe state) then the schools could adapt to what the community wants.

I'm tempted to take lessons or try to teach myself. I hesitate because i had a guitar for 10 years and i never got past twinkle twinkle little star. Not sure because i just overall stink at music? Or just didn't care enough? I could probably only afford a basic digital piano but i don't want to waste my money. Jury is still out on whether my sons would play (i have one kid that will definitely at least play around on it. I think he would be excellent at it with time and teaching). Anyone else learn as an adult? Or have advice?

We do not have to declare a grade for homeschool. We do have to register once they are 6 (if they are by august 1st). For our rec department they go by grades so i put them in what grade they should be in. My recently turned 6 year old i consider to be in kindergarten. He is doing some first grade work but i feel he needed more time to mature. I'd rather him skip a grade later if need be then have 5 years on his high school transcript. I did not red-shirt for sports. In fact by doing kindergarten another year (partially because he was not reading much at all), he didn't get to play sports this fall.

Cico worked when losing pregnancy weight the first two times. I was able to lose about 55 pounds in a year after my baby. It took me almost 3 years to achieve that with my third. I still have 15 pounds to go (i gained more with my third). He is 3 1/2. I hike 11-16 miles a week. I track my calories. I've eaten at 1400, then bumped up to 1700. This has shown no weight loss. I still bounce between my usual numbers. I've had my thyroid tested (g'ma had thryoid cancer i just learned). I've done an elimination diet for other reasons- no dairy, no wheat/gluten, no fatty meat. No weight loss.

Thank you. I should have added, i need something that we can use without the internet. I will edit my original post.

Not sure if my title makes sense but I have a really old computer and no money for a replacement. It works okay if we use a CD or DVD-rom, but not so much for downloads. Any ideas? Eta: need something off-line!

I'm reading the homeschool laws. CO department of edu online says nothing about what ages need to have a notice of intent. A PDF from HSLDA says: "Every child who has attained the age of six years on or before August 1 of each year and is under the age of seventeen years." Colorado Revised Statutes § 22-33-104(1)(a). For children in a home-based educational program (Option 1), the compulsory ages of instruction are from 7 to 16. However, under Option 1, a parent must submit a notice of intent beginning in the year a child is six by August 1. (Actual instruction does not have to begin until age seven.) Colo. Rev. Stat. § 22-33-104.5(3)(e)." My brain is mush from having to move and deal with all that stuff. My son will be 6 August 18. Do I have to complete a NOI for him this year? Or just send in one next year (beginning to middle of august, probably) right before his 7th bday? And then, not as important at this moment, but when and how do I test my 8 year old who is in 3rd grade?

We had only 1 car for 6 months. The kids and I didn't really go anywhere. Selling the car that had the loan enabled us to get our of debt and save what equity we had. That combined with a pay raise for my husband allowed us to have an emergency fund.

I'm a very private person so we celebrate our milestones together-- alone. If my parents or inlaws expect something from us they're going to be very disappointed. I wasn't there at your wedding. I don't plan on paying for anything.

I had a tubal because I previously had an ectopic pregnancy and had already been through the surgery. I knew exactly what it was like and what to expect. Had I not previously had that surgery we probably would have had my husband have the vasectomy. If my husband had developed prostate cancer it may not have been due to the surgery and there is no way to prove it anyways. I had no issues with my surgery. In fact no one knew I had the surgery. My husband took surgery day off of work to drop me off and pick me up at the hospital. But the next day I was on my own with 3 kids five and under. My tubes were cut and burned. No regrets.

We're doing much better than 5 years ago, when we had debt. We're doing much better than 3 years ago when we were not making enough money to pay our bills, and we had to sell our house for a price that made us lose our down payment. We're comfortable and able to pay for emergencies but we are also very frugal. We don't go on vacation. "Vacation" would be driving and staying at my in-laws. Our computers are old. Our clothing is used. But we choose to live this way so we can have some savings if something happens.

Nope. The store said to come back after the wedding and they would but i didn't want them done. This was in denver, colorado.

I thought I was the only one! Almost everybody in our church uses them. I absolutely hate it when they use them IN church because it drives my allergies nuts. Even thought we know so many people (and family) that are involved in pyramid schemes we've never had anyone try to rope us in. Guess we don't look gullible ;)

I wear sports bras because they are the most comfortable. I loved just wearing nursing tanks when nursing. For those who just do tanks, does it hold them up enough? I hate how low mine hang. It makes me look shorter and fatter as well.

Hello, My laptop barely works so I am looking into getting a new one. I don't have a budget set yet but it won't be big. I want to be able to do some online classes, streaming media, internet use. Microsoft word and learning to type. Any input?