We call it Handwriting around here :) We are happy with A Beka and use their cursive writing through 3rd grade. I have a couple of kids that would prefer writing in all caps though like their dad!

We have painted several old paneled walls with good results. We usually lightly sand the wall to rough it up so the primer will "grip on." After sanding and dusting the wall we use TSP to wash the wall...no need to rinse. http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/inftsp.html

That definition sounds more like "diplomacy" than political correctness. It is easy to see how people can take offense if they don't share a common definition. I'm not sure that I have ever had anyone lie to me to appear politically correct. In a polite real world political or religious conversation I might smile and nod that I understand what someone is saying, but not necessarily agree with them. We don't have to change each other's opinions to have a conversation or be completely open about our beliefs before we get to know someone.

For some of us I think that PC = "1984" or "Brave New World." Right or wrong, in my mind the term seems to imply unthinking acceptance of ideas and policies. IF I used the term about someone I would be suggesting that they hadn't thought it through for themselves or that they were just trying to please the populace. My dh and I sometimes toss it at each other in jest, but I never label anyone else with it. (We don't consider ourselves to be PC) oh, I write down "homemaker" on all forms and if they could only see the mess we call home they would see it is a fulltime job!

I love the courage these young ones show, but they do need solid instruction to set them on the right path. I have had to gently explain that there is a secret code (wink) and I will show them so that they, too, can become excellent readers! I have really enjoyed teaching all 9 of our dc to read. We've had to adjust methods with a couple of them, but all have learned to read between the ages of 4 1/2 and 6 with extensive phonics. It is probably that intensive time with the early learner that has allowed them to go on to a looser style of self-education in some subject areas.

Yes, there is always hope :grouphug: My dd, approaching 9, really enjoys having her stack of work beside her and working a little of each subject on her own. She loves History Pockets, Veritas Press cards, and filling up notebooks with handwriting, writing, doodles, and homemade calendars. She is happiest when she is coloring, cutting, folding and pasting, lol. She has sped along in her math and caught up with her older sister (to her sister's dismay). Dd circles the books that she has read in her own catalog copy from Veritas Press as she reads along with her cards, printouts, and pocket work. We had to find our way to this loose form of self-schooling to keep her learning happily. She is very smart, but headstrong, too, and needs a bit of freedom. We begin school at 8 a.m. and if everyone works hard, and there isn't too much goofing-off, I let them go at 12:30. If we have to do more in the afternoon it is usually just 1 to 2 p.m. I also limit the electronic distractions. We read a lot after school and at bedtime. They love crafts and legos and that keeps them pretty busy. I hope that you find what works for your daughter!

:grouphug: Prayed for Tazzie, poor guy. Pedialyte in bottles or frozen pops might stay down better than the ginger ale.

I was born in Santa Ana, but it wasn't me either. :D On a similar note, my dil's instant messenger has a "Trojan" on it that sometimes sends me messages plugging weight loss programs. The messenger window pops open and the text says it is from her, but it isn't! Ds says that when you play online games these programs can sneak in. It is a bit creepy. We also get junk mail from people we don't know attempting to have a personal touch. Somehow, our ds, 23, is on a mailing list for cosmetic procedures that apply to women :lol: I think those people at SAT sold his name and address because he started getting junk mail at that time.

Everyone that we know knows that they have to ask before offering the dc food. We have a variety of allergies and one dd with type 1 diabetes...gotta' count those carbs and stick to a schedule! No cheating allowed on the carbs or the allergies and the dc know it too.:) I checked "other" since I am not offended if people offer them food, we are just really good at politely declining it.

Our most successful "play dates" have been "park days" where the kids just run, climb, swing, dig in the sand, play with a frisbee or stomp rockets. They are in "nuetral territory" and we all get some fresh air.

I agree with the 10 and up crowd. Ours that picked it up earlier than that put it down and were reluctant to give it a second chance.

:iagree: I could have written those words about us :)

We enjoy our BJU, A Beka, Progeny Press, and other Christian texts. There is nothing wrong with counting sheep instead of lollipops, etc. The scattered verses are encouraging. In grammar and writing our worldview would have us be encouraging with our words. In math and finances we try to be exact. Our Christian health books are very different from secular health units in the ps. I feel that we are being consistent with our children by bringing our values into all subject areas. The ps system has a different world view than we do and we introduce the dc to that also, but we are unashamed Christians.

My Uncle Al lost his life to Agent Orange that he was exposed to in Viet Nam. ah, Dh threw a piece of jagged metal that the lawn mower had struck....and it tore his palm open....your anger can bite you back!

I think that I would talk to the vet and see what he/she thinks. I honestly can't remember how old our Giant Schnoodle male was when we took him in for nuetering. He never marked in the house and he still squats like a puppy. He is 3 yrs. We used a mixture of soap/water/vinegar to clean up any puppy accidents. Followed by a generous sprinkling of baking soda to eliminate any odor that might bring them back to a spot.

Several of our kids have the eczema that turns their fingers and toes red, blue, cracked, "buzzy", and painful. Since eczema is usually an allergic reaction we put them on an elimination diet and eventually determined that they were allergic to corn, wheat, soy, and yeast :glare:

The girls get a little wistful over their favorite dresses. We get so little really hot weather to wear some of their favorite summer shorts and tops, but they are rather matter-of-fact about handing them down to someone else. We've been the lucky receipients of too many hand-me-downs to not pass along the favor. We have clothing that has been through our nieces and our children and it is a relief sometimes to say farewell...HealthTex and the old 1980's Sears brand wear like iron:D Even with that said, I get attached to my favorite jeans and t-shirts, so I can empathize with your boys.

Oh yeah. Sometimes I feel like I'm spread awfully thin. The younger dc take so much time that the older are neglected or my mom calls and needs to talk. I don't like disruptions, but they seem to happen all the time. I try to focus on the little steps and count it good if we are moving forward.

We've had good luck with the towels from Costco. We also buy beach towels for the kids' island theme bathroom :) I even put up wooden oars for their towel bars.

There is a bug going around here in Oregon that has similar symptoms and hangs on for about a week. Seven of us and the dog came down with it, but not dh. Sore throat, headache, stomach ache, cough, nasal congestion, a day with fever, and lethargy seemed the dominant symptoms. Only our youngest (and the dog) threw up. One would think they were well and it would come back a day later. We didn't go to the dr. since it seemed viral and very catchy. I hope your ds is feeling better soon.

Thanks for the link to the Society for Quality Education. Ds, 5, just read the test passages to me. It is funny hearing him read, "tolerable proportion" and have no idea what it means, lol. I love teaching phonics and vocabulary to the littles:)

My guys like to get my heart racing by climbing up the cedar trees until the tops sway :glare:

We call it CRS around here (Can't Remember "Stuff")...anyway, Glucosamine is very helpful. Remember to drink lots of water to lubricate your joints, skin, etc. :001_smile: I am wondering what exactly is "older than dirt?" I'm afraid that I may have missed an important milestone.

Now that spring is here, the days are whizzing by http://brierywood.blogspot.com/

You could be describing my Dd, 14 :) She loves music and singing and is quite talented. She loves to cook and knits beautifully. She is a voracious reader of many genres. She sort of "hit the wall" in Algebra a few weeks ago and was in tears over it. We have backed off and she is doing some practical math and easier algebra and geometry to keep from getting rusty while she takes a breather. She doesn't see the point in taking any higher math, but I am hoping that we can get through Algebra 2 as a bare minimum. She feels like the sciences go right through her head and don't stick. Lyrical Science cds have been her favorite and it certainly ties in with her love of musical tunes. She isn't sure if college is for her, but she will take all the courses necessary to keep that path open.