Geaux Saints!!!!!

Wow, that's terrible! Here (outside DC) they have said that the Dec snow we got blew everyone's budget for plowing/salt, but the plows will still be running and they will still salt the roads when it snows. I wonder if you and others in your town start complaining they will do something? You know that squeaky wheel gets the grease!

We are in Fairfax, VA. We are going to go out later today and try sledding on some cardboard, as we have yet to get a sled. We may go look for one tomorrow before the BIG snow this weekend. We have a nice hill beside our home that has just been begging us to slide down it!

I think they would be fine without suits. I would say your dh would only have to wear a suit if he were a pallbearer.

I wonder if they are not speaking up because they fear the repercussions their dc would face. I certainly would not want to be the kid whose mom caused a stink about Mr. So-and-so. Especially if that person is generally liked (whether for a good reason or bad).

I hear you. I really would like to be able to leave the house on a Saturday. I don't drive til the roads are cleared very well.

:iagree::iagree::iagree: We just started using MM about 2 weeks ago. It is very easy to use. It is also written so that your child can go slower if they are having troubles with a concept, or move quickly when it's easier.

Sounds interesting. I set my DVR to record. It said it's coming on again Feb 10th.

I usually get a favorite candy/dessert for dh and a small candy for the kids. Dd has given the cheap-o valentines to friends, but we are skipping that this year as we will not be seeing them near V-day.

Depends on what you buy. I ordered the series that is a complete curriculum. They also have stuff you can buy that would supplement whatever you were teaching in another curriculum.

Have you tried Homeschool Library Builder? They don't have quite as big a selection, but they do have good prices if they have stuff you want. http://www.hslibrarybuilder.com/

If it helps, I have a math ed degree and am not using CLE. I have used MCP, R&S and currently we are using Math Mammoth. If your son really likes being independent, Math Mammoth would be a good choice. All the explanations, examples, etc are built into the lesson. He could work mostly independently and come to you if he needs help. I have been going over the explanations with my dd, but she could probably do it herself. I just like to make sure she knows what to do before I let her loose to do the day's work. HTH!

I have a friend who homeschools year round. She has a master plan to graduate them at 15 or 16. They just start the next level/year whenever they finish a level/year. Her dd started 3rd grade right after her 7th birthday. For comparison, my dd turned 7 halfway through 1st grade. I'm thinking we will do more than 180 days this year, but we will take at least a month off this summer.

I don't like poetry either. The thought of a poetry unit makes my stomach hurt. However, I have avoided letting my dd know this. We have done a little poetry in FLL and the Elson Readers. Just some basic exposure, we'll do more as she gets older. Hopefully she will like it better than I do. I'm hoping she will like Shakespeare better than me also.:D

Can you offer something like a trip to the park? Or they could earn a playdate with a friend (like invite the friend over to play). Even earning some special time with you could be incentive - my dd would love to have me play board games with her.

Mine sleep 9-10 hours a night, give or take. They are 7 and 2.5. The 2.5yo also takes a nap for 1.5-3 hours.

What about science?

Check out Math Mammoth. I just started using it with my 1st grader. It is a newer program, but is taken from the best parts of some good, older ones (I forget which). It is not divided into traditional lessons. You work at the pace of your child. One day you may do only 1 page, another day when things are clicking you may do 2 or 3. It does not require a lot of manipulatives. It is also very inexpensive for a math program. If you choose the downloaded program you will need a computer, but only to print the pages for your dc.

I would make a big pot of potato soup. You can always freeze the leftovers for another day.

Sweet Home ALABAMA!!!

I agree with asking them to clean up one type of toy at a time. My kids love to get out lots of different things too. To get my 2 yo to help clean up, I ask him to clean up one thing. I will tell him "bring me all the books to put on the shelf" or " Put all the Little People in their basket." It has helped him a lot to learn to clean up.

Gmail, Gmail, Gmail!

If you have room and $$, I would build or buy some type of treehouse or fort. What I mean is basically a raised platform (with a rail around it). Underneath you could put a sandbox for the little one or a rope or tire swing. I'm sure the 2 boys could think of all kinds of fun things to add to it to make it more exciting.

I just discovered that there are only 28 weeks of work in Reason for Handwriting and Reason for Spelling. That means we will be done with them both at the end of Feb!!:glare: We haven't been working ahead, just one week at a time. Now I don't know what to do to finish out the year. It just dosn't seem right to skip these subjects for 2-3 months just because we finished the book. I really don't want to start dd in the grade 2 books yet. What am I supposed to do now?!?!:confused:

....where would you go? My dad is coming up to visit for a few days next month. He was talking about wanting go somewhere with lots of boats. I know the American History Museum has some, but not that many smallish boats. He said he read about some place with lots of boats, but can't remember the name of it. I am stumped. Any suggestions?