I agree. A comment like that is beyond the scope of this conversation.

SE Nebraska here! (Hey from the other side of the state!!!) because of our proximity to a well-paying employer, a house like that would be listed around $350,000, but no one in their right mind would pay that much! We paid around $200,000 for our 4(+) bedroom, 2 bath, somewhat finished creepy basement, 3,500sqft circa 1910s authentic farmhouse on 8.25 acres. This was at the start of the housing collapse. For anyone to sell a home for over $300,000 here, the house would basically have to clean itself.

Thanks everyone! You've made me feel much better. I know everyone has a bad year, but this was our first. Funny enough, my oldest was in 7th grade this year. Maybe that was the problem :tongue_smilie: . I did manage to teach my little one how to read, and my son has spent countless hours learning how to program. They've spent time with their grandpas. We know all about germs and allergies. Sigh. There's always next year. :ph34r:

This school year has been an epic failure. We've dealt with two sick parents (still dealing with the impending death of my father), dh working 12-hour night shifts for two months, three rounds of the evil stomach bug, allergies from Hades, and frequent 16-hour trips to visit my dad. To say school has been a disaster this year would be an understatement. I need tips on how to get my homeschool mojo back. I think I'm good with curriculum choices. I need scheduling tips or great book recommendations. I need someone to tell me my kids aren't ruined because of one horribly bad year. I'll even take a kick in the bum if that's what I really need ;).

I agree with the bolded, but to imply the government needs to intervene is quite much to this semi-liberal's mind. No, I am not Sonlight's biggest fan, but advocating, or even implying, that the government should maybe correct people who use Sonlight is going too far. Ya know, freedom of speech/religion and all that? While I may not agree with Sonlight's, uh, questionable stances on history, I absolutely agree with a parent's freedom to educate their child in the way they see fit. I admit I cringe at the way some parents choose to educate their children, but really?!?! Advocating for more government involvement in home education? Even this registered Democrat cannot get on board with that one.

Let me just out myself and admit I am the friend Tibbie mentioned. To your bolded statement: That is rather defeatist. This system is messed up, so let it just kill itself? Or should we rage, rage against the dying of the light? I personally would prefer to rage. ;) I like to pretend that most homeschooling parents are rather intelligent. Perhaps this board has ruined me ;). I look at the "village" and I just do not want them deciding how I should educate my children. Or perhaps you were specifically targeting Christian home educators? Because I am unabashedly Christian, yet I can no longer use Sonlight in good faith. Is that ok for you? In the case Tibbie mentioned, no one in the public school called out the offensive behavior. My friend had tons of "likes" on her picture of her white kid in red face paint portraying a Native American chief. No one stepped up. No one called her out. She even posted a pic of a kid in what looked like blackface! It turned out the kid was portraying a semi-famous clown, but still. I think we may be a bit spoiled here on WTM. I am a history nut, though I'm not a trained historian.I left Sonlight because of its revisionist history practices. Parents, we need to be aware. If we are going to be responsible for educating our children, we need to read read read. We cannot just trust any one source.

Oh my goodness! I cannot tell you how often I forget to take my sanity vitamins! It's ridiculous. If it wasn't for Siri on my phone, I'd never show up anywhere. Off to take my flaxseed oil and vitamin D, because I totally forgot this morning.

This is exactly what we did. In 2011 we bought a certified per-owned 2009 Honda Pilot. We also purchased the extended warranty. We got a whole lot more car than we would have buying brand new. We've put almost 50,000 miles on this car in 2 years. I am about to take it in to the dealer to fix a few small problems, all covered under the extended warranty. Because we got such a good deal, we just paid off the car. CPO cars are definitely an excellent option. We have purchased a brand new car before. Due to our experience with that car (a 2005 Ford Freestyle), I will never buy new again. We had more problems with that car than with our 13yo Jeep. I will say, right now you can purchase a new Honda or Toyota with 0% financing. I would consider buying one of those brands new. Other than that, we will buy CPO cars in the future.

Terrorism and "dark-skinned Muslim guy" are not synonymous. Previous posters have mentioned a few light-skinned Christian-ish terrorists. I would even stick out my neck and say people like the original "source" are practicing a form or terrorism by instilling fear in a large number of people. Yes, there are people of all shades, nationalities, and religious/anti-religious backgrounds that hate Christians. But let's get real/logical for a moment. Americans have a constitutional right to practice their religion-any religion. I really, honestly, truly do not believe any government agency/private agency/ whackadoodle is for real trying to take away my right to practice my Christian faith. Not forcing Christian beliefs on everyone does not in fact equal generalized Christian persecution. Signed- an unabashedly Christian gal.

I hate mushrooms, but that is still so not even kinda fair! (Said the girl who woke up to snow and has more evil white stuff in the forecast tomorrow)

Uh, my "baby" will be 6 on the 20th and I still ain't got no brain skillz. I'm trying to exercise regularly, eat real food, and take good vitamins. It helps a bit, but I still mourn the loss of my previous level of cognitive skills. This is just a season of life, right? Right?!?'

That is an excellent idea, Lisa! I never thought to use the tests as review. D'oh!

My oldest is currently using VideoText Algebra. She is doing quite well. She understands the lessons and rarely misses any of the exeercises. Today she expressed a bit of frustration because there doesn't seem to be much review. Since she previously used CLE math, she is used to topics being constantly reviewed. Can anyone suggest anything that would go along with VideoText and offer the review she wants? Thanks!

My oldest is currently using VideoText Algebra. She is doing quite well. She understands the lessons and rarely misses any of the exeercises. Today she expressed a bit of frustration because there doesn't seem to be much review. Since she previously used CLE math, she is used to topics being constantly reviewed. Can anyone suggest anything that would go along with VideoText and offer the review she wants? Thanks!

Ugh! I tried to read Wolf Hall. I got about 1/5 of the way through it before I had to quit. I absolutely hated her writing style. I am a total Anglophlie, but I just could not stomach that awful book.

I too have cystic acne at age 33. I've tried every single thing available on the market. I've tried altering my diet to no avail. The only thing that clears up huge zits with their own gravitational pull is Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel. I notice a difference within 8 hours.

I actually agree with you on this one. My kids like Tebow because he was homeschooled. We like Colin Klein from Kansas State because he was homeschooled. They are neat examples of what homeschooled kids can achieve. As a long-time football fan (and Christian), I'm just not sure either one will ascend to the top of the NFL. That's perfectly acceptable. Maybe these two guys broke the homeschool "not athletic" stereotype. Awesome! But can they succeed in NFL pass-heavy offenses? Probably not. I love hard-hitting, steamrolling college offenses, but that's not the NFL reality. Period. Faith does not play a factor in NFL offenses. That's all there is to this story. Nothing to see here wrt faith.

You are now redeemed. If my dh talked to me like that, we'd have 20 kids. Sigh. I love football.

You have slightly redeemed yourself. Slightly.

I used to like you guys, but those are fighting words!!! The last 7 National Champions have been SEC teams. The SEC almost always has the most ranked teams. It IS a tough conference. And now I shall put you both on ignore and hate you forever and ever and ever! :tongue_smilie: :p :001_tt2: I kid! I hated Tebow in college because he played for Florida and I'm an LSU fan. He's not a good pro quarterback. He just isn't. It has nothing to do with his faith. He just kinda sucks.

My 10yo is the biggest hugger. He's very touchy-feely. I love it. He'll push his little sister out of my lap to cuddle. I keep telling myself he'll continue to cuddle until he's 50.

Awesome!!!!!!

LA- specifically étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, boudin, cracklins (gratons-said in a French way), fresh Gulf seafood cooked in every way imaginable.

I so love you right now! I was stationed in/near Charleston from August 98 to July 99. Somehow I passed Navy Nuclear Power school with flying colors. Other than that? That time period is clouded in a booze-induced fog for me. God bless being 18 and in the Navy.

Here is how it works in my own family. I come from a long line of alcoholics and drug abusers. The addict is not allowed in my home. Ever. The casual drinker or perhaps even the rare user of marijuana? You can come, as long as you're not addicted. Even I drink (in front of my kids!!!) on occasion to model healthy alcohol use. Addicts just do not come into the home. There are too many variables that I cannot control around my kids. Family gatherings? Those are difficult, especially considering my family history of alcoholism and drug abuse. I watch my kids like a psychotic hawk. I enlist sober family members to watch my kids just to add a second layer of protection for them. Still, it is not my job to "fix" addicts. My #1 job is to protect my kids. Period.