Oh, that looks so much better!

I love the color in the large room of the above picture! Hate the rock wall, and tile ( especially together ) (sorry). The hall could use some color.

First off, WOW! I am so sorry for what you have/are facing. That looks horrible. I totally understand your desire to get out. Well, we just bought a major fixer upper. I will tell you my plans so far. (hope links work) Your age (decade is fine if it's tmi): 37 Main paint color (bonus points for brand and color name or number): exterior- a very light yellow/cream color with light teal door http://thespacebetweenblog.net/wp-content/uploads/aqua-door-gray-house.jpg. With accents of white washed brick. Interior- white to neutrals Cabinet color in kitchens: Here are a few picture of the kitchens I like- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175218241733432531/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175218241733523267/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175218241733533036/ Countertop material and color: The counters will probably be white concrete stained to look like the limestone counters in the first picture above. I can't stand shiny. I want the farmhouse look Appliance color: stainless steel Wood look plank tile (wood in AZ doesn't do as well) color family: https://www.sognaretile.com/products/roca-tile-wood-look-ceramic-amazon-series?utm_campaign=Pinterest%20Buy%20Button&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_content=pinterest-buy-button-1b8592f5a-f01a-424c-a8d1-0b2213f9c5be (this one would go with grays and browns) And a couple of non-color related questions: Carpet or tile upstairs? Carpet in bedrooms only Garden tub/separate shower or larger shower in master bath? I am good with a big shower if there is a kids bathtub in the other bathroom. Ideal window treatments: I haven't thought about this yet.

If you truly want to follow CM methods short lessons are a big part of her teaching because they teach the power of attention and fire different parts of the brain. CM suggests 15-20 min. for 1st -3rd grade, and 20-30 min. for 4th-6th grade. I personally think 1 hr. 10 min. for math, at that age, is too long on a daily basis. I know you love it, but if your children are showing any signs of burnout, I would caution you to not kill their love for it with your love for it ;) . However, if they exhibit your same enthusiasm by all means continue. I also think R&S English could mostly be done orally with only some of the assignments written out. We used R&S for many years in the past, and 45 min. seems like a long time for it.Here we do Science two times a week and Social Studies two times a week, until middle school. For one of these and Bible it takes us about an hour. To have Writing With Ease, Cursive, and Journal Writing is also over doing it in a CM education. I would drop Journal Writing all together. I know a lot of people on this forum think that 6 hr. for those ages is fine, but somehow we manage to get all of our subjects done in 4-4.5 hours up until high school.

It looks like it has become a bigger issue in her mind than it needs to be. Do not letting her say she is bad at math. Stop her as soon as she says something. Encourage her by letting her know that everyone learns differently and you just haven't found the way she learns certain math things best yet. I can only say what I would do. I would not let my child count on their fingers and I would stop everything else and concentrate on math facts alone. You might want to look into something like Addition the Fun Way http://www.citycreek.com/Addition-Basic-Kit-100-p/100.htm, or you can make up your own flash cards. Make each number a character and each problem a story. Make each fact a little cartoon. Getting her involved in this can be a lot of fun and if she comes up with the story she will remember it much better. She obviously doesn't mind math stories so make it as stress free as possible, yet be very strict when it comes to no finger adding and continued practice. Also make sure you take deep breaths and destress yourself when you work on this. Kids feed off of our moods.Tell yourself that she is only 8, math is not ruined for her, and she has plenty of time. This too shall pass :grouphug: .

Oh, I am so sorry I misunderstood! I still think that the best course of action in any marriage is to love fully without expecting anything in return. I know that you probably hope and wish for him to love you unconditionally, even when you mess up or act unloving toward him. However, I know we are all all human and it really hurts when we are slighted. :grouphug:

It sounds like you are very wounded, and I am sorry you are so hurt. A question for you, that is meant in the gentlest way possible- do you really think you were putting the thought and effort into what you did because you were truly considering him or because you wanted to prove that you did your part? I know that sounds harsh, but it sounds like you did not put a whole lot of thought into your gift to him as well. You ran around after work last minute. Does your dh really like flowers and balloons? (most men I know don't). I think that the only way a marriage can heal is if the couple stops thinking of themselves and truly starts showing love and care for the other person, without expecting anything in return. How do you think your dh would have responded if you would have said with a genuine smile, "Don't worry about it. I didn't expect anything. I just wanted to let you know how much I love you." I have learned that the more we show true love to another the more they reciprocate. I am sure he is wounded too. And honestly he might not feel like doing much for you. Are you someone he wants to love? I have to ask myself this all the time. I am sure you were very attentive when you were dating, which made him want to be attentive. We can only change ourselves and examine our hearts. Again I know this sounds harsh, it is meant in the best possible way. I have to remind myself of these things too. Feel free to ignore me if I am way off base.

Dh and I will go to dinner tonight or Wed. night. We do not like the crowds the day of. We have other plans for V-day evening, when the kids are down ;). We will take the day off of school. In the morning I will wake up and make raspberry heart shaped pancakes for the kids. I will take 10 yr. old boy to get a video game he wants. I have a small Dinotrux toy for 2 yr. old boy. 12 yr. old girl will get to download 5 new music albums of her choice. She has listened to everything we have over and over and has been dying for new music. She will probably spend all day listening to them. Most of the day will be spent on 14 yr. old girl's hair. I will take her to get her hair trimmed, then we will go to Sally's and get true red hair dye and bleach so I can dye the ends of her hair. I might pick up some dye for myself.

History- Notgrass Exploring World History English- Windows to the World IEW Essay Intensive Literature & Analysis of: The Art of War Julius Ceasar Here I Stand A Tale of Two Cities North and South The Boys Who Challenged Hitler Bridge to the Sun Cry, the Beloved Country Animal Farm Mere Christianity Science- Discovering Design with Chemistry or Guest Hollow’s Chemistry Math- MUS Pre-Calculus then Calculus Foreign Language- Easy Peasy Spanish 2 Bible/Christian Worldview- Tru U dvds Reading Electives- Cooking classes Photography Film Studies Volunteer- At our local donation and food center

Math- MUS Algebra 1 Grammar- Jensen's Punctuation, Editor in Chief level 2 (She is almost done with grammar. 8th will be just staying on top of some weak points. ) Spelling- LOE Essentials Vol. 2-level C (when it comes out) Writing- IEW SICC-B Bible- Tru U dvd program World Geography- of my making Science- Apologia Physical Science Literature- (still making the list) ETA: Extras outside the home are- Cooking classes Guitar lessons Art Classes PE

Well I have lived in all three states. We are currently in Dallas (Grapevine) TX. Before we were in Houston (don't like it there). I would pick San Antonio TX. I have lived most of my life in AZ. Phoenix heat is unbearable during the summer and beyond. The heat seems to last forever, to me. Yes, it is more humid here in TX. At least you get a break from the heat, somewhat, in the evenings though. In Phoenix you can't take a walk at night (in the 100s or 90s still). The heat doesn't last as long here either. We adjusted to the humidity pretty easily. When we first moved people kept asking how we were handling the humidity/heat, and we truthfully had to say it was nothing compared to living in Phoenix. Colorado is more expensive and harder to homeschool in. Both AZ and TX are very easy to homeschool in. AZ is slightly "harder". You just need to send in an affidavit. ETA: It is easier to get around in AZ. The greater Phoenix area is master planned. Houston is horrible. Dallas is better than Houston, but still hard at times. San Antonio doesn't seem too bad.

I have never understood exactly why we should study Latin, so we don't. Lapbooks were a big fail until my 12 yr. old daughter wanted to do one on her own. It was all her thing though, I had very little to do with any of it. TOG- I purchased it once thinking there must be something I was missing that made it worth the price. I never could figure it out. Workboxes??????? I don't understand how or if notebooking is different than just written narrations.

IEW Student Writing Intensive/ and Continuation courses are perfect for a child that struggles with all the thing you said. They start with modeling writing of others, yet allow for the student to make it their own. The student can change things a lot or a little depending on their comfort level. IEW then slowly pushes them to come up with original content, but in a very easy way for them to transition to. The "structure an style" IEW uses really does give the student the tools to make their writing sound good and very well organized. These dvd courses make it easy for you too.

Good for you MamaBearTeacher! It is so important to look for the joy in life. I love having comfy things. My robe and slippers must be supper comfy. I recently bought a pretty and very comfy throw blanket for myself too. I love to joke around with my kids, take an evening walk with dh, and get myself special chocolate or other treat ever so often.

I would count any high school level math as high school credit. He might as well be done early with it and have extra time to pursue interests in high school. It would never occur to me to hold a child back. That is one of the perks of homeschooling, each child can go at their own pace.

Dear MIL, Please stop hinting that I lost a group of friends 5 yrs. back because I was not being loving/forgiving enough, and that it had nothing to do with their gossiping false things about me. Why did I even try to share my pain with you? Please stop giving me lotions and body wash for Bath & Body Works every single holiday. I have told you more than once that I can't use them anymore because of the parabens in them. Please don't give the kids a bunch of nick nacks and toys that are going to have to be thrown/given away. You know we are currently living in an rv! The gifts I gave you from the kids wish list are thing we have room for. We don't need bags with empty pez dispensers, plastic dinosaurs, things your friend has crocheted, and the like. Where do you think we are going to put all this stuff? Please stop hinting that I should contact or send gifts to BIL in prison. He and dh have no relationship. It is up to dh how much contact we have with him, not me. Just plain stop hinting. It is exhausting having a conversation with you, trying to figure out what you really mean.

All I have to say is that if this is the is the way students are passing in college, I fear for the future of "professional" jobs.

Tears here for you, praying.

They outgrow Legos? My dh is obviously not aware of this yet. ;)

We will be spending our first Thanksgiving without extended family. We will actually be spending it in our rv. The day before we will go and fill Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. I will be making a pretty traditional meal with a crockpot ham instead of turkey ( we haven't had ham in years anyway, no one really likes it). I am used to cooking in our rv kitchen, so it is not really a big deal. The kids and I will be listening to an audio drama this week about Squanto. The week of I will read a special book I bought on the story of Thanksgiving and the kids and I will relax and make some mini pies. The day of we will eat, talk, relax, and have a camp fire.

This too shall pass.

See we don't go to the doctor with all our health questions/needs. We really only go to the doctor when sick. I never ask or want the doctors opinion on our nutrition, exercise, etc... For one thing I have found that they know very little about these things. So I do not feel that they have a right to know any of those questions, unless pertaining to the current illness. I don't view a doctor as being in charge of my overall health.

I would simply tell them that you are sorry they aren't feeling well, but they still need to start on school, and you will keep an eye on how they are doing. If you later feel they are having a legitimately hard time let them stop, otherwise do school. ETA: If they are truly getting sick that often I would think it was time to be concerned. I would look into possible health issues.

Well, according to my family, I makes the best tacos in the world. I fry the shells myself, make the shredded beef, my own guacamole, & pico de gallo. They are the #1 asked for thing on special days, around here. We have even considered having them for Thanksgiving.

No, by age three none of my oldest woulds have done that. My almost 2 yr old might, but he would be immediately scooped up and places back in his car seat till he could leave the van with no whining or crying.