I did not love getting started with Spanish for my younger kids (2nd grade and younger). I am using Song School Spanish with them. GSWS is fine for my older (4th/5thish) grade child.

We have used all the guides up through Preparing as well. I switched to VP online history for my oldest (we are doing the last 2 courses), then we are going to use Charlotte Mason Help grade 5 once we finish up the VP history so we can look at the Eastern Hemisphere. I think after we finish that, we'll go back to HOD. Either that or VP Omnibus. This is for my dd who is currently in grade 4. So she did Preparing grade 3, VP online for 4 and will use for part of 5 (she does more than one lesson a day many days), and then Charlotte Mason Help grade 5 for part of 5th, maybe part of 6th, and then back to HOD most likely. My current 2nd grader will stay in HOD though because it's really good for him. So we're not switching because I'm tired of it, but because it no longer seemed just the right approach for my oldest. Or my 3rd. And she is... My current Kindergartner. She was done with what she was doing, so we started her on Memoria Press 1st grade. When she finishes it, she'll go into Beyond in HOD most likely. Or we may continue MP. I really like it for her. It's a TON of writing, so keep that in mind if you consider it. But it's good for this child. We school year 'round by the way, which is why we're all over the place. ETA: And that's something else I've learned from switching from (well, and using) HOD. There is no one size fits all curriculum, I've found. I hear people say that there is, but I just don't think it's true. The beauty of homeschool for me is that we can fit the curriculum to the child, not make the child fit the curriculum. So I was planning to use HOD for all children all the way through, and that just wasn't the right fit. It was a great start for my oldest, and is a great fit for my 2nd child. I also see us using it for my youngest (she will be starting LHTH this fall).

We've been using Reading Pathways along with Phonics Pathways for my 7yo who has really been struggling to read. We do them at different times of the day. He's doing really well with this approach and is enjoying it. I only wish that RP went along with PP better. It seems they teach things at different times.

We were told that we can't go ahead in books, even with my little guy starting in 1st grade. We just did the extra credit book and weren't allowed anything else.

Your kids are probably too old for this, but my youngers enjoyed trying Kinderbach. It's all online or on dvd. Your kids could probably start in one of the higher levels just since it does start out incredibly easy. I do teach piano, though, so my kids had been around piano music for a long time before we tried it. Even my 2nd grader at the time wanted to do it with them, so it might not be too young.

We did the Emerging Readers from HOD after The Reading Lesson, too.

The coupons come with the books. I ordered on Thursday. (I think. It's been a long week.) Can't wait to get the books!

We're really liking Home Art Studio. Although my 4th grader was a girl, my 2nd grader likes it, and he's a boy.

We are doing Flat Stanley this year too, and I think my kiddos would love to exchange Stanleys.

I have my middle 2 decided, finally, but I have changed theirs up several times. I am still not completely certain on history for my oldest. This is our first full year away from HOD and it scares me. ;) We are likely doing Uncle Sam and You.

I have 2 sets, 1 complete, and only 6 volumes of the other one. My kids look at/read them all the time. They are probably the most loved books in our house. We don't really use them to look things up, but my kids like to just look through them when they don't have anything else going on. We have also read many of the stories from the literature volumes.

It's tough, but doable. I work from home, 2 jobs, for 30 hours/week for one and 5 hours/week for the other, and I have 4 kids ages 2-10. I've been doing this for 5 years, the entire time I've been homeschooling. The key for me is organization and clear expectations for what my husband is responsible for and what I'm responsible for. I do have to say, it's exhausting. Absolutely exhausting. If I could give it up, I would, but that just isn't an option right now.

If you have a Nook HD or HD+, you can just get the Kindle app from the Google play store. And then you can get all the Kindle books you want. ;)

I hope to use BA as the main spine with my now 7 and 5 year olds when they each get to 3rd grade. We have loved it as a fun supplement for my oldest.

I have used the US edition up through 4B so far, and I really like it. I'm sure I'll stick with it.