My ( our) favourites are ' Where the Red Fern Grows' ' Bridge to Terabithia' ' Anne of Green Gables' So difficult to choose though, as we have read so many great books together over the years.

We will be at about 182 by Christmas. We school from Feb-Dec (Southern Hemisphere schools from Jan-Dec) This is probably an average year for us.

I have used a few ideas that I have pinned, though I will admit sometimes I pin things knowing I will never use/make the item- I jus like the picture.:D Here are my boards http://pinterest.com/sgilli3/

I feel your pain. This is what is currently working for us - I have one in: 9th grade, 8th grade Prep (kindergarten for those in the US I think) and Ds is 18 months This is how a day sometimes looks Morn- the eldest watches the youngest for 1 hr so I can do school work ( math and reading) with preppy. 2nd child starts school work When hr is up, oldest joins me at table, and starts independent work. The two younger ones play together - I usually have some interruptions, but they aren't usually too bad. After lunch,youngest naps ( from roughly 1-3pm) During this time we more together work (history, science,economics etc and preppy does art or brings out small toys she cant bring out when baby is up) When little one up, we are usually finished or close too. Then 2nd child watches youngest for an hr ( this time I do meal prep or go for a quick walk) Their roster looks like this ( we rotate week 1 and 2,so the hours even out) Mon: #1 has baby in morn -1 hr #2 baby in afternoon -1 hr Tues: #2 has baby in morn-1 hr #1 has baby in afternoon -30 min #3 has baby in afternoon -30 mins Wed: #1 has baby in morn- 1 hr #2 has baby in afternoon- 30 mins #3 has baby in afternoon - 30 mins Thurs: #2 has baby in morning- 1 hr #1 has baby in afternoon- 1 hr Fri: #1 has baby in morning- 1 hr #2 has baby in afternoon -30 mins #3 has baby in afternoon- 30 mins There are days where things just.don't.come.together- but overall it is quite manageable. The whiny days drive me insane though...go on,ask me about today :lol:

Gee- I feel like a real party pooper after reading previous replies. My DS (14) and DD (13) are in bed and lights out by 8.30pm ( time doesn't change even for holidays,unless we are out visiting etc) Kids wake around 7.30-8 am Having a bedtime of 8.30,for all the kids means that DH and I have each night together, and when DH is away for work (like he is now...again), I *need* that time alone, to soak up the quiet at the end of another long day. Ahhh, the serenity.

Ramadan Kareem Nadia! After living in the ME for many years, and now being back in country Vic (Aus), I cant tell you how much I miss sharing Iftar with my wonderful Muslim friends. As soon as call to prayer (adhan?) would be heard ( and our local Muezzin had the most beautiful voice), our wonderful neighbours would be at our door with plates full of wonderful food. Then,of course,followed by celebrating Eid-Ul-Fitr- oh, the memories!

Im in country Vic- went to Drs yesterday- it is $30 a visit-I think it is about $15 back from Medicare. Rang, got an appointment straight away (not with my Dr though as he was working in neighbouring towns nursing home) Saw a Dr. Got referral for xray ( 2 hyperextended thumbs during a netball game on Mon night...ouch) Went into next town ( 20 mins) to the hospital. Waited 2 mins in waiting room,had xrays,-free ( local hospital bulk bills all xrays)

I will be 60 when youngest is 20 I will be 46,47 and 54 with others. My eldest did say to me recently.."Just think mum,when Griffin finishes school, I will be 32, and I will probably have my own children then!" Noooooooooooo :willy_nilly:

Never happened to me. The petrol gauge in my first car didn't work, so each day on way to work, I would put $5 in. Upgraded to newer cars over the years and I never let fuel drop below 1/4 of a tank (really hate the thought of running out!) Current car has 2 fuel tanks. Drove into town today and petrol light came on during trip home. So,I flicked the switch and started using fuel from 2nd tank- even though realistically I probably could have made it home, and back into town again (20 mins). Once this tank hits 1/4, I will fill main tank again.

Mine is short for Soneva Gili resort in the Maldives- my favourite holiday of all time. The 3 is because 3 of us went- my sister, our best friend and I. Was the best husband and child free holiday ever!

Currently DS (almost 15) and DS (17 m ) share a room. The girls, DD (13) and DD (5) share a room. The elder DS and DD shared for a while, and there were years when the older 3 shared together ( before last LO was born). Soon, they will all have their own rooms, and I have decided that I'll keep sharing with DH. I like sharing a room with him :D

My DS (14) and DD (13) go to bed between 8-8.30pm ( lights out at 8.30) They are up anywhere from7.30-8.00am ( pretty much all rise then) DS shares a room with DS (1) and DD shares with DD(5).

Keeva ( or Keevah, Keva)

Hello Kate! You have often been in my thoughts! Yes, almost 2 years we have been back ( 22 months). The time has passed so quickly. Hope you and the family are well, and the weather isn't heating up too much for you! x

Assuming? But of course you are invited! I guess that goes both ways....;-)

Hello Rosie! They were going to a school in Maryborough. Thanks for the welcome back- I think part of me never left, which is why we are back homeschooling. I know of others around here, and the (only) friend I have made is a former homeschooler who is looking to take her kids from school and start again. We hit it off from the start- a real connection- we just 'get' each others philosophies regarding education..:lol:

:D For many years, whilst abroad, we homeschooled our older 2 children. Upon returning to Australia almost 2 years ago, they have been attending a small Christian College. It is a fab school, and they have thrived there...but they miss the freedoms that came with homeschooling, and I miss them being at home. So it was decided on the weekend that they will be coming home to be educated. DS is in year 9, DD is in year 8 and DD just started Prep( Kindergarten) and our bundle of joy/energy is 1, so he will just cruise along doing his own thing. Feeling happy, nervous and overwhelmed.

This is a town of about 700 ( a few hundred of those are not permanent residents- just here for weekends) The town has 3 Christian churches- 1 x Uniting Church ( which we attend) 1 x Anglican Church 1 x Catholic Church ( which I think due to numbers, only has a service in town once a month) Generally, the population in town, is on the older side.

I am very new to our church, and now I totally understand their excitement when I rang to enquire about timings etc. The first 3 Sundays there were 8 people in attendance: the minister ( lady in her late 60's) organist ( in her 70's) 2 x ladies ( mid- late 70's) 1 x man ( early 80's) .......myself and my 2 daughters! ( ALMOST 40, 13,5) One week it was a combined service with next town over, and there must have been about 15 of us- again it appears all were aged 70+ They loved the day I also bought along 1 yr old son- they keep saying how wonderful it is to have young ones in the church again.

I feel a little guilty saying this - I really love my older son and daughters name, but I adore the younger ones names. Griffin Lennox Maya Lakia

WE are soon to be on 12- which in the Australian country side, isnt really a lot ( I grew up on large dairy farms, so 12 acres is nothing...lol) Australias largest farm is Anna Creek- it is 6,000,000 acres ( or about 24,000 km2) The family who own Anna Creek ( the Kidmans) own many properties- running about 200,000 cattle over 110,000 km2 Now THAT is a lot of land! http://www.kidman.com.au/

Thanks for sharing. I've been giggling ever since I read it.

Yes- generally our school year runs from Jan-Dec ( give and take a few days/weeks for different states) My older 2 started back yesterday, after an 8 week summer break. Our ( Victoria) 1st term break is April - 2 weeks off (Autumn) 2nd term finishes at the end of June- then 2 weeks off (Winter) 3rd term finishes mid September - 2 weeks off (Spring) Then school finishes anywhere from early Dec up to a few days before Christmas- leaving the children with anywhere from 6-8 weeks for summer holidays.

Well my children initials are : ML ( boy) GL ( girl) ML ( girl) GL ( boy).....so the letter S is new to me...:lol: Here are some suggestions- Sadie Sahara Sanchia Saskia Scarlett Serenity Sian Stella Sydney Saxon Seaton Seely Selby ( a place in Vic, Australia) Seth Seymour ( a place in Victoria, Australia) Shannon Smeaton ( a place in Victoria, Australia) Soren Spencer Strahan ( a place in Tasmania, Australia)

My DD is 5 1/2 and her bedtime ( and ds 1) is 8pm. They both wake around 7.30 am The older 2 have a bedtime of 830 and they are 12 and 14. We have always been on the stricter side when it comes to bed times, as when the kids are in bed by 830, the adult tv shows start,( which Dh and I like to watch on occasion), and it gives us each night to spend together- chatting about our days, snuggling on the couch. Its like a stay-at-home date night....every night.