We'll have our 4th baby before Christmas. Every year it has gotten increasingly difficult to make purchases for our kids for Christmas. Mainly the youngest as he doesn't need anything, he has an older brother! Even my daughter is hard to buy for though. The grandparents always asks for a list as well. What do you do in your family? We don't like filling our home with things that will go unused, etc. I'm trying to think of other ideas.

Yes, Wednesday would be 4 business days, but I was hoping for it to be shipped USPS (it's one of the shipping methods they use). If so, tomorrow is counted as a shipping day, so in theory it would arrive Monday or Tuesday. I then realized that RR's expedited shipping is $7.00 and quoted timeframe isn't much different. Oh well, AAR better be as good as I hope!!!

After a lot of debating, I finally took the plunge and ordered AAR for my daughter! Yay! However, I paid for priority shipping, extra $3.27 I believe, compared to their regular shipping price (directly from AAL). I received tracking info and it was shipped via FedEx, which I had read they ship it FedEx or USPS Priority. I hate FedEx. I just got my tracking and it won't arrive until Wednesday. I should've just purchased it from RAinbow Resources and gotten free shipping, I just wanted to get it ASAP, but the week wait for RR would've been worth the $13.00 savings. Ugh. I tend to kick myself too often for feeling like I've wasted money. :(

I didn't grasp the idea that the OP thought it would be too much work for her 2nd grader, I understood that she was asking if her set up was going to be too much Science, and maybe not enough in other areas... Personally, I think it's great!!

AAS or Rod& Staff

We like Rod & Staff English and Spelling. Both are great. We use the worksheets and do the rest orally or on the dry erase board, we also use the tests. That way I can gauge my sons retention and he loves taking tests.

I've found a ton on Pinterest!

Quality over quantity is definitely our motto here. I have purged a good amount of toys. We only keep what is played with, what is good quality or what may be used in the future. I know that you don't want to upset your children, and with that said, it can be hard. At a young age they need to be taught that you have to let things go, you mentioned you've allowed her to dictate what is kept. While there is nothing wrong with that, she is going to have an even harder time as she gets older. My daughter also has a terrible time letting things go. However, she has gotten over it quickly and life is easier with less, for myself and my kids! The extra may be overwhelming her as well, but she just doesn't know it! Try talking to her about helping you box up things that don't get played with often. Help her understand the benefit of parting with some things, etc.

I wouldn't do Preparing with a 7 year old, especially if you're adding to it. HOD is rigorous, especially in higher guides. My son is "advanced" at 8 years old but he's doing Bigger. I own all of Preparing, and while he places on the chart, it would've stretched myself and him too thin. Instead he's doing the Bigger extensions on his own for extra reading, as well as increasing demands in Math and English. We're not doing DITHOR at this time, though he reads the books. I don't know of many who have had an issue placing "advanced" children in HOD, but the opposite. Personally, I didn't like LHTH, and LHFHG is just ok. Beyond is a good year, but really enjoying Bigger so far! I wish I could comment on Veritas Press, I've only briefly looked at their curriculum in the past. What about it makes it so advanced?

We are. LHFHG and Bigger. I'm not sure I'm sticking with LHFHG. I don't think it's worth the money for this age group. I really enjoy the majority of Bigger. My biggest hang up with HOD is the lack of combining. There are other things I'd really like to add but my days are already full. I'm very torn. I want to create my own thing, but at the same time I love HOD!

Tuesday tea time seems like such a fun idea! My kids generally like poetry very much, so I do believe they would enjoy it, thanks for sharing! These are such good ideas! I'm not a huge art fan. I like artistic things, but art study has never been very interesting to me, so I was worried about implementation! Composers aren't my favorite either, but I do enjoy listening to classical music, so a study of 3 composers throughout a year seems easy enough! I do have Shel Silverstein books, and I believe 3 of the Poetry for Young People books, so we're well covered, with plenty to choose from.

What does the composer/artist/poet study look like in your home? I found some good composer books by Opal Wheeler, but how are they implemented? What do you use for artist study? Poetry, is it one poet for the year? I ordered 'Favorite Poems Old and New' which is supposed to arrive today!

I love RR prices, that way I can purchase most things new! I don't believe I've ever had a back order. However, I'm not fond of the shipping speed, and it would be upset as well, especially if I needed the items soon. Other companies ship things as they become available without extra cost, which is fair. With that said, I like RR and will continue to order with them.

This is awesome, thank you for sharing!!

I think you should use the Sonlight you have. Personally, I don't care for Sonlight, for many different reasons. I wouldn't say it's because I'm very conservative (though I lean that way). I don't care for some of The Usborne book titles they use. Some of the missionary stories may be heavy topics at a young age. However, similar things have been said about MFW. I do like the looks of MFW, much better than Sonlight, and if I wasn't using HOD, I'd go with MFW. I'm now considering just piecing my own thing together again. Sonlight IMHO comes off as lofty/bold in the way they have written their 26 reasons to/not to use their program. It left me feeling like I should feel bad for not introducing certain topics to my children at an early age. Yet my heart was saying, no. I had searched their website, filled my shopping cart full of curriculum, but The Lord has led me elsewhere. That's not to say many titles aren't good! Many don't use their program, but use their reading list. MFW and HOD use many of the same titles, and I haven't found any of them to be questionable.

Oh! I didn't know that! My oldest is 8 and life has gotten easier, but I still have chaos, I'm not very organized with chores and whatnot! Having 4 under 5, that's more difficult!

I'm hoping I can get a copy! I wish I bought it back when it came out! I can't believe it was out for such a short time! I had intentions on purchasing it...someday. Guess I'm too late!

I'm thinking about combining my kids in American History using the beautiful feet titles. I have most of them already. Do I NEED the guide? How does one implement teaching through living books? Just by reading them? I didn't know if I should formulate some questions? I do want them to do coloring pages! What about a general guideline? I'm no history buff, so I'm not sure the best way to go about learning history!

What do you think of this book? I've checked it out from the library and I think it's pretty good! Other than the fact it is now out of print!

Sounds good, what you have, but I tell ya, she likely gets more out of your read alouds, playing outside, field trips, cooking, etc then out of any extra curriculum items you have! Stick to a math. Not that a supplement isn't worth it, but just some basic math with her is good. Get 1 handwriting book. We use cheap Pentime workbooks,more really any cheap workbook is fine. This age does not need spelling, in fact, spelling isn't recommended until after phonics. They learn to spell words along the way. Explode the Code is a wonderful gentle way to teach phonics and helps with reading (and writing). Science doesn't have to be much, it can be as simple as reading about animals (unschooling is good here!) Nothing wrong with excitement over curriculum, I'm with ya! You'll figure out along the way what is worth it, and what might not be. I will say, if I had only one child, I'd probably do a lot more, but with #4 on the way, I've discovered what extras I would be better without! It's hard yo let some go though!

BTDT My son did Horizons 1 book 1 before beginning Singapore 1A. He had plenty of experience in addition, but I tell ya, something about the first part of Singapore 1A that really got me! It was a frustration for a time. I do recommend the HIG even in such a low level, the teaching tips are good! It did get easier! I'm reminding myself the exact same thing again as I work with my daughter in Singapore 1A. She did the Essentials A & B books, so I thought she would be better prepared than my son was, since she has begun with Singapore. However, I'm finding the same result of the beginning of 1A. It's as if they expect too much the first few exercises, without pictures to count, etc. we got through those, now she's working through exercises with pictures. I know she needs to work on memorization, but the beginning of 1A has always thrown me off. With all that said. My son is now flying through 3A and is very good at math! I'm glad I didn't throw in the towel, we love Singapore!

My son loves learning about the weather, I'd love to find some good books and/or curriculum about weather.

I'm so sorry! It sounds like you caught it early, I hope he heals quickly!!

I live in a low risk area.

It was my first and only tick bite I've had in my life! It was small, but not the super tiny ones. I believe it may have been a lone-star tick. It was a red color, I'm pretty sure. It also wasn't puffed up when DH pulled it off, however, it was embedded, just don't know for how long.