A couple ideas... For history (SOTW 2) do you have the audio books? Consider allowing her to do something like drawing, doing a puzzle, or dressing up dolls while listening. If you don't have the audio books, you could just read the chapter to her and allow her to still do something during it. It tends to not be more relaxed (I did it years ago for a different book and it worked great for my kids). The only rule we have is no talking while playing, it's listening time and keeping your hands busy. Your 5 year old could even listen to while doing something. Maybe you only get reading the stories but it's something, you could afterwards add in the activity guide or worksheets if you have purchased them, if not then maybe have her tell you 2-3 things light oral or written narration. For Spanish you could have her listen to the Songschool CD if you have it, the songs should be fun to listen to even if you don't get to the workbook part while she is playing. You could even work in the workbook/review once a week like on a Friday. Have you consider maybe making a day a week where you play catch up? I use to try and school 5 days a week, but I school 4 days and Friday is cleaning/catchup day, if we get our work done early then we can even do more fun things like Science Exp. or Art projects a bit more messy/involved. For "memorizing poems in FLL" why not pick 1 - copy it from the book and read it at lunch of dinner a few times aloud, something short at first, you could even add it in to your morning/night routines, this is how my kids learned their times tables, I made them read a list several times during the week, with 2-3 times during each day. We even did a sticker chart when they were young and they earned books. Writing narrations that don't take forever is tricky my son has had a problem with it, so I went back to writing down his narration - straight from what he told me, then he had to copy it. His sister does her own cause she didn't want the extra step of saying it, then waiting, then copying. In some ways it seems like a step-backwards but in less then 6 months my son wanted to do his own writing/narrations cause he wanted to have his work done faster. For completing indep. work I found 2 things work for my kids : 1) Set a timer, give extra time, if the worksheet or task to be done should take 15 mins I would give them 20-22 mins. I wouldn't put it by them. If they didn't get it done, I would put it away for later and before they have freetime int he afternoon they had to do the "work" they didn't complete, sometimes we got busy or were out and they did it after dinner but had to be before bed. 2) they have to complete their indp. work before any play, of course outside the house actitivtes are not play nor co-op/groups but before they had freetime to play int heir room, watch a movie, computer time, or even go outside they had to do their work. This is what we do Know and it works wonders. You have to be willing to have them SIT for hours at first. It took my daughter about a week to learn I wasn't going to push the work or give in but after that she has done well. My only other suggestion is if you are not getting to it, DROP IT. Yes, I did that for a TIME with spelling, history, and science over the years. Also, perhaps it's the curriculum ..If we don't get to something I tend to look at what it is and think to myself can I make this work, can I be more focused or should I get something different, new. Sometimes a fresh program/book can be a good thing. Just my two cents... I know it's hard but hang in!

My kids love wrapping paper, anything in a box/package is normally pretty easy to wrap. I tend to go with a gift bag for adults and showers.

It's really nice not to have to open another window and go to the website, it's sooo easy!

I agree with others on a smallish lego set - you can't go wrong, something from the lego thing "city" is nice and can easily go with other legos down the road.

I am considering using it along side a few supplements for highschool credit, it looks very complete, graphics are so/so, has video links too. What I like most is the workbook (print and go) you just have to write and get the answer key (it's not included in the Teacher's Edition, lots of other stuff is).

Awesome! You must be a bargain shopper :p

I went on a big shopping trip at my local hs store and ended up with a ton of stuff for the next several years, most of it I really like but I am having second thoughts on Beautiful Feet Guides especially with my I love to read what I want to read but the min. it's for school/assigned I hate reading *silly*gifted daughter...after checking on the guides and even buying the G.Foster books I am thinking of just giving the books to my son, who is always begging to read something new and forgetting the guides all together. Notgrass GA History is working so well I am thinking of going with them --- but I just gave away their world history for highschool last year, Ugh, I am very emotional when it comes to buying and giving away curriculum, wish I could exercise a bit more logic!

Like others, I have considered it and did a test run which was to last a week or so but ended lasting only 2 days when all my kids did was play video games, had little fights...I like routine and my sons need it, my daughter likes it but will not admit, unschooling for *us* was radical and just didn't work, we do relax schooling and just go on to the next page/assignment, no timeline, we sometimes make small goals like finishing a book or unit in so many weeks but I don't get bent out of shape if we don't get it done. Another factor of unschooling that didn't work for me was preparing my kids to get an diploma. I was homeschooled my senior year (no accreditation and it took years to get into college when I wanted to go back and work on my degree, I don't want that for my kids so we are going do accreditation so no matter where or when down the road they can have the option and will not have to jump through years of having to re-take highschool courses like I did to get into a local college.

I am not a tax adviser but my brother-in-law declared my mother-in-law as a dependent on his taxes, he uses an online wizard-software similar to taxslayer and they allowed it, my MIL only gets SS and a little bit from a retirement fund when she worked years ago it's only a couple hundred dollars a month. She doesn't work and she lives in his basement (in a suite he set up for her). So not sure if your son can count them or not but people do count parents.

I use to wear makeup about 10 years ago when I was out and about, working in real estate, since I don't deal with clients I haven't put on makeup in years and don't plan on it unless business requires. I threw out all my old makeup about 2 years ago (found out you are to change it if you don't use it often cause of bacteria etc.) My daughter is young (10) so lip gloss is about as much as we do with her, however when she is a little older we'll take her to a place to learn to put it all on so she has the skills if she decides to wear makeup. I can say that without makeup I don't have any face issues beside the occasional pimple (like anyone) I credit it all to not painting my face however I must confess sometimes I think it can enhance a women's face I just don't have the motivation or courage and am really cheap when it comes to buying myself things, I would rather get a good book.

This year we decided to do Easter baskets (partly because our homeschool group is doing an egg hunt tomorrow & I had to get baskets for each of my kids to participate ...so depending on how much candy we get tomorrow, I will add a few mini-pieces of candy to each of their baskets. I am giving my older kids (10+12) the new LEGO Star Wars DVD: Empire Strikes Back w/mini-figure (we collect all things LEGO and Star Wars and I have been able to keep the DVD a secret which is pretty amazing and fun! Another "shared gift" is a series of Audio Radio-Stories on CD (they enjoy listening to them while they play/craft). Today, I picked up a small pack of Wiki-sticks plus one for my 2 year old, he loves sticky stuff and 2 silly putty eggs. The husband picked up a Cars 2 toy key/rattle set for our tot & I got a sensory ball that bounces but not too high, is soft plastic, and can be washed in the sink! Besides that I may have a few odd little things I add in, it just depends what I have in our gift tub and what I find if I am out and about this week/next.

I agree with Shmead...you stated no dating/boys until much later but what is much later? As a family, you need to figure what is OK and what is acceptable and decide if it's something per child, per situation or will you have set "family" rules...Like others, I don't really have any books, at your daughter's age my daughter read the American Girl Body book just as a guide to what's coming up with her body and to prepare her for changes (even though she is a late bloomer) she was prepared for what other girls may be going through.

Growing up we did it all the time especially for roasts...but I have never done it. Something about it makes me nervous plus I don't wear a watch so if I do leave I am not sure I would remember to come back at a certain time and get the food out. Instead, I've opted for crockpots and even then I only do it when my husband is out with me since he always has his cellphone/watch.

If you are ok with a Christian Content Horizon by Alpha and Omega Publishers has a 7/8 that I am using for 6-8 grades, it's really for a small school but I am adapting it for my kids.

Thanks for posting...I am lost with Science right now, this is very inspiring!

Thanks for sharing, I am considering Oak Meadow strongly, especially the history/English I like the integration of those 2 subjects together!

Neat idea. I would think you would want to break it down into reading and of course lots of hands-on projects/labs. I would say at least a good 6 months, maybe a year if you want some of it to be more habit forming.

I have almost got it figured out... Science: LIFE PAC 7 General Science w/Experiment DVD Social Studies: Abeka 7 "History of the World" with supplemental fiction/non-fiction readings, field trips, and projects Lang. Arts: LIFE PAC 7 with supplemental novel studies & writing assignments Music: Musicals Unit Study - more self-led with projects, watching musicals, and learning about Broadway Art: Drawing 1a from Donna Young as well as Watercolor, Sketching, and Acrylic plus various hand-crafts throughout the year more self-led Math: Not sure...my daughter wants something with a workbook (sort-of burned out of writing problems on separate sheets of paper) but hates doing 30 problems when she gets a concept after 5-10 so still hunting... Latin: We did it last year I would like to get back too it, just have to figure out if I am going to stick with Memorial Press or not... For. Lang: German (not sure what to use, lib offers PowerSpeak but seems rather basic....but she really wants to learn to speak the language - self-led) Health/PE: Horizon 7/8 That's it so far, we school year around so she is already working on some of the subjects and will cont to add others as she completes 6th grade.

I have one too and like many others after I started having children it got in the way so I just left it off. I use to wear my wedding ring but years ago both DH and I decided to not anymore, it got in the way for him too just the band. Now years later, we keep them together on our dresser more of a decoration in a neat wood fish box we got from a fair trade store. I just don't see any reason for us to wear them. In hind sight, I don't think I would have gotten any of them, personally I have not a big jewelry person just earrings and only when am out. Of course, I understand why people wear them and my motto is wear them or not it's a personal thing and is something btw you/your spouse.

We'd love to participate.

Love the Kindle Fire. I got it last year and it's easy to read books off of it and PDF's too. My kids love the apps (we mainly get free ones that are silly/fun sometimes educational). The read-only Kindles are nice too but I decided I want to be able to surf the web and watch movies.

I totally agree with ktgrok. I did a co-op for 4 years old years ago and it worked really well.

What about a garage sale?

We are a no-electronics in kids bedrooms. Why? 1) DH and I brought grew up with allowing to have TV in our rooms especially in the teen years and we both agree that we watched programs/shows that we wouldn't have watched if in a common area. As well as we both felt it isolated us from other family members at times. 2) We don't have the space for desks even though we have extra laptops each of our older kids could have. 3) We don't want our kids to get addicted. I have been and can become very addicted to things. Currently, I went off of facebook for a month and I was amazed at how much time I spent on it, reading, LIking, but not really interacting with people, and I was less stressed cause of less family/friend drama. Now I don't have the facebook ITCH that I have to check it constantly. I can go days with out it and I am getting alot more done. 4) Electronics are primary tools for our work/school. Entertainment/Fun is secondary. I think if our older ones had electronic stuff in their rooms they would phase quickly out of playing with legos and dolls and go to apps, games, and surfing for hours which I believe isn't positive long term. Yes, I know people allow electronics in bedrooms but I don't want anything (if possible) to be hands-on in my kids rooms. I don't want to have policies and rules. They want to get something out in their room they can no questions asked. They want to share toys, no problem. They understand that whatever they get out they clean up and it works well for us. Our current setup: We have a family TV in the living Room. 2 computers out currently. One in our master bedroom (set up like a little office for me with the screen being able to be scene from the doorway) and another in my DH work-from-home office. We also have a Kindle Fire, smart phone, & PS2. Overall, we do allow the Kindle Fire and weird hand-held game thingy to be used throughout the house. The kids use the Fire for watching Netflix sometimes or playing apps. Sometimes our tot will get the smart phone and play on it a few apps while trolling around the house. The PS2 is in our living room with the TV but put away and limited used.

We ended up getting her one when she was 6. I had a few from childhood by Pleasant Company that also plays with. She is now 10 and loves them to death. She love to design hair styles with them. She just got McKenna for Christmas (which had a different type of hair/head) and she has already styled it several times. She use to change their clothes and play with the accessories but now mainly does the hair. She had read a few of the books before choosing her first doll which was Elizabeth, Felicity's friend before they retired her. She mainly choose the doll cause the way she looked, 2nd that Felicity's stories had horses in them (which at the time she adored horses), and lastly she choose it cause of the time period Colonial. AG can be pricey but the doll's are better then say Walmart/Target knockoffs. The only other place we have gotten her a doll that the hair is nice is Vision Forum, years ago she got Liberty when it was on sale because she couldn't decide which AG doll to get next.