I have never bought a foreclosure, but I would seek the expertise of a realtor. Do not use the realtor to rent your home as then he/she can take a chunk of change every month.

I would ask around in your area for a closer and cheaper dance class. There is a 16 year-old homeschool girl that teaches ballet and dance in her "home studio". She charges $5.00 a class. Just an out of the box idea for you.

My son just turned 12 and it sounds like he has many of the same interests as your son. He has boy scouts, seasonal sports, play practice, attends a co-op twice a week, cooking class (I can't believe how much he loves this class). He gets one hour of electronic time a day, usually on the computer or on the wii and doesn't watch t.v. during the school week. He plays outside but not as much as he used to. I know the teenage years are coming and I wonder, too, how he will spend his time. I know how my daughter will spend her time (talking on the phone, listening to music), but he is a mystery to me.

Staying on property saves times and ultimately saves money. We always eat breakfast in our room or while waiting to get in the park. I bring a lunch in my backpack for everybody and we splurge on a treat around 4:00. We eat back at the hotel or eat at the park if we are staying for fireworks.

I would have him wait two weeks and see if he still wants it. Then you will have to decide if he can buy one. I agree with others who said to just buy an ipod nano and then he will have $ to buy songs and accessories.

We were supposed to move Charlottesville, Va. It is beautiful and appears to be a great place to live, not too small not too big. The houses are expensive, but of course you are coming from Hawaii. The company is allowing my husband to work from home in Atlanta. We have a mountain house about an hour from Atlanta and I love the North Georgia mountains. Good Luck

I didn't know that - wow what a great way to reinforce!

I might buy nephew's old ds for myself. Thanks for sharing and now I would like a sample of your pie!

Apply for the jobs and see what happens. If you don't ask, you can not receive.

Colleen, I would think the only way to tutor one on one would be in the evening. I have done that in the past as well. I tutored after school when I taught full time and my kids just played and did homework in the classroom next door to mine. I have also tutored in my home at night. I charged $40 per session. I would gladly do that again; it is very rewarding. Good luck!

New Orleans - crime, hurricanes, mosquitoes, corrupt government.... However, I grew up outside of Cleveland and loved it as a kid, we could walk to school, the library, the pool, the ice skating rink. I was a kid and everything was great then.

Colleen, I am very lucky to be able to tutor in my home. I work with two homeschool families that both own thier own businesses (so they have flexibilty). One family has two children and they attend a hybrid type school, where they get all of thier assignments. My job is to help them complete the assignments and I really just provide them a sanctuary and guidance. I have helped the older student with her essays alot (really alot!) and the third grader with multiplication. The other family has relied on me to set the curriclum with their input. They are a great family and the kid is on an Olympic training team! This family is bilingual and they have traveled extensively in the past. The kid is great and has been like a fourth child. I was a curriculum director for a nice private school in the area and when I left (because I didn't agree with my principal's principles) and these families agreed with me (others did too - long story) and I am paid very well. My school day begins at 8:30 with math for my first grader. We finish this and move to FLL then to spelling, and writing. My older two get their assignments from a hybrid school (I love that!) and they are very responsible and self motivated. My students arrive at 10:00 and they get started on math first; two use Teaching Textbooks and I supplement with "keys to..." series. The third grader needs a little guidance and I support him. Meanwhile my first grader has moved onto quiet reading/listening to a book on a tape or finishing a workbook page. (she is an amazing little student) Basically the rest of the day is a balance and juggling act to get everything done. Four of the six are studying the Ancients, so they can hear each others texts or projects and it overlaps. The kids enjoy eating lunch at my house and I have lunch trays for them. We have thirty minutes of outdoors time and they can ride bikes or play with our puppy. Most days we finish at 3:00. Sometimes I keep the 6th grader until she finishes her daily assignments; her mother has some health issues and is not always patient with her, so she would rather stay at my house. I see no problem with starting a load of laundry when my students are over, if they are engaged and working. If I have to empty the dishwasher, I ask for help and always get it. When I was recovering from my surgery and in a wheelchair, I had a lot of help, they even copied their own pages for me on the copier in the office. In some ways this keeps me more focused and organized, we can't take off the morning to go to the dentist or to the nature trail because I have to work (we do that in the summer and on the weekend). However, the parents were very understanding when my kids are sick or when I had to have a morning appointment for my ankle. I am very blessed to have this situation and the money that I make pays for all of my kids extra activities and tuition at thier hybrid school. I have a cleaning lady every other week as well. I also think, because I have worked full time in the past, this is not a strecth for me. (I know another lady who tried this and didn't like it) You won't get rich doing this, but every bit helps, right? Best of luck!

Take pictures of the creations and put them in lego photo book for them. I agree with the post about make it easy for them to swirl the legos around to search for that special one. We also used a large under the bed box for that.

I used this with 7 3rd - 5th graders last year. We loved the student pages and the student activity guide. I actually typed up the questions from the guide and had the kids put them in their notebook. Instead of spelling the names of the cities for the maps; have your student look in his/her student book. We used the tests and I thought the essay questions were excellent and felt that my student were well prepared for future essay tests. I also loved the cds. Because I had a large group we were able to act out battle scenes and have debates. Clearly, I enjoyed this history.

I would do math for all five days, even if just on the two "off" days it is a practice/review. I would also listen to a book on tape in the car. I would also use those two days for projects and require silent reading. I would never tell my kids they only had to "work" three days. Let us know if it works.

About every two weeks we review her (she is 7) narrations (that we have added picture to) and talk about some of our favorite stories. I have seen that she has retained the map skills and can apply them. We have the King Tut exhibit in town and I know that will reinforce our Egyptian unit. Happy New Year!

I think failing is not trying to do what is best for each child- if you stop homeschooling because your child is better served by another schooling - that is not failing; that is success. I think failing is a take off on the expression - if you do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.... Homeschooling is successful when families are honest with what they are accomplishing. Everything changes, every kid is different, every year is different and as a homeschooler you must accept that. Failure is not giving up; failure is not meeting your goals (I also think it is not having goals, but I am a little goal fixated)

Check with your state as well. I went to the fire station to have them correctly install my carseats/boosters and to get the latest updates.

We just watched Prince Caspian the other night -so good. I am jealous - we are watching my dh's team getting creamed in a bowl game! Have you ever watched Now Voyager with Bette Davis? Another movie I love is The Talented Mr. Ripley - kind of creepy. I also watch Shakespeare in Love movie recently and found it to be quite endearing. Happy New Year!!!!!

Ikea!

I had ankle surgery this year so the kids and hubby had to do everything for two months, guess what? They are capable. Even the six year old can sort clothes! My advice, train the kiddos and the hubby, and then hold them accountable. Also, make a menu schedule to follow: Sunday - big meal like a roasted chicken/pork roast Monday - pasta (we change the topping ham, meatball, ground beef, cheese) Tuesday - crockpot in the winter/ salad or grill in the summer Wednesday - Mexican (fajitas, tacos, quesidellas, enchillidas) Thursday - leftovers or soup and sandwiches Friday - fish or breakfast food Saturday - American "fast" food - homemade pizza, hamburgers, hot ham and cheese etc. I also plan the kiddos lunches for the week. And never run out of coffee! Best of luck!

Costco has Great furniture right now.

We used vitamin E along with everything else mentioned here. We opened up a capsule and smeared a little bit on. No idea if it helped, but we always giggled trying to pop the little pill.

My son had hernia surgery at 7. He was put "under" and did great. Kids pick up on your nervousness, so I played it cool and was upbeat as I could be, rolling into the operating room (where we couldn't go with him) he very politely said, "I change my mind now and I don't want to do this" the doctors actually let me go in with him as he counted backward from 10 - he made to 7 when he went under. He remember nothing! Good luck.

Our good friends overcame this very situation 12 years ago. They still have therapy sessions, so I guess I am saying that it take A LOT of time! As the friend, hang in there!