I should have more time! Right? Is there a super secret mom way to slow down the best moments? (Or speed up others?!) The baby is 5.5 months old and looks about 8 months. He is the last baby we will have. He is enormous. He weighs 22 pounds and is looongg. Yesterday I bought him 12 month pjs and onesies. That is bad enough but he is determined to move. He pulls himself along the floor. Today he managed to roll multiple times across the blanket to his toys whilst I went to throw a diaper away. AND he said his first word very clearly. Guess what it wasn't? Mommy. Guess what it was? Dad:) We even had daddy leave the room and come back in to test again. Yep, DAD. Big smiles and slobber to celebrate:) Dd decided to do math this morning and politely asked me to go away so she could read her lesson in peace:( Don't get me wrong, I love these things too...it is just so bitter sweet! What moments do you recall that made you realize it was all moving way too quickly?

How very exciting! http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/01/africa/nefertiti-tomb-egypt/?iid=ob_homepage_showcase_pool&iref=obinsite

I did take photos with my phone, and we brought the racers home with us so I can take pictures of the parts as well:) Let me go through my pics and I will update!

My nephew had a big problem with stairs. We got lots of advise telling us to teach him to use them properly and avoid gates. I totally agree with the proper usage ideas...but people didn't seem to understand that he had no problem during the intentional use of stairs. It was the other 95% of the time that was the problem. Throwing a fit and seeming to not even realize they were there. Driving his car and getting so wrapped up he didn't notice. Being a 'superhero.' And yes, running around with eyes closed:) We ended up fortifying with sheets of plexiglass. He couldn't get a toe-hold. At the top and bottom of the stairs we used small L-brackets to attach pieces of plexiglass at floor level. Theses were about 18 inches tall. Short enough that adults could step over them. You could also put them on hinges I guess. Then, we used sturdy wooden baby gates that had permanent installation, but installed them above the plexiglass riser. The His made the gate much taller but also provided no purchase for climbing. They had vertical bars, which would have not worked, but we had another sheet of plexiglass cut to fit the gates, then screwed them onto the gates (facing outward), Our doors and windows have alarms that are part of our ADT system. They have a mode that just beeps anytime a door or window is opened. I love them, and the installation tech told me they can put them just about anywhere you like. It might be worth having it done that way. They also do cameras and have an app where you can use your phone. For example, the system has a camera in the entryway. The application is You could be on vacation in Bermuda and get a text that your alarm was triggered, and use the app to remotely view your entryway. But you can also use it for the purposes you would need to keep little boys safe until (hopefully) their sense of self-preservation kicks in a bit more. Doors: we didn't use the eye-latch thing with him because they were silent, lol. He would have quickly figured that out. We went to the heavy duty chain/metal slider safety things that allow you to open the door just a bit. They are noisy-especially because we could hear the door being jerked until it caught if he managed the safety knob on the door:)

Lol, chemistry prof hubby always uses the example of Southern-style sweet tea when he discusses super-saturated solutions. You have to add the sugar when the water is boiling to force that much sugar into solution. Adding even half that much sugar to ice cold tea would just get you a thick layer of sweet sludge on the bottom of the glass. Gross:)

Maybe a crazy idea that requires too much planning, but here goes... Our science museum just had this kid's day. For $5 you were given a set of 4 wheels with axles and 4 heavy metal washers, and pieces of drinking straw to put the axles through so you could glue the straw and not the axle to the car body. They had a table with different size wooden blocks cut very roughly into car shapes, like pine racers but cheap versions. They had the table set up with markers for decorating, hot glue guns for assembly, etc. Next to it the had two side-by-side tracks, about 20 feet long, that started up high on a slope (a play slide would work really well with pool noodles for bumpers and to divide it into two tracks!) and the kids spent literally hours racing them. Didn't win? Back to the table to redistribute washer weight. Still no luck, hhm, move the axles. I cannot stress how much fun every child (and their parents!) was having. Truly! And so cheap.

Definitely! In fact, if you are like me you would be sincerely annoyed to purchase a full set, only to realize that the student text and teacher book are identical except for the small teacher boxes with comments and reminders. Maybe one or two every couple of pages? Just get the teacher editions and practice town, as Minivanmom said. There are a handful of sentences in the books to practice together, where the student is asked to write in the student book but we did them in a dry erase board anyway...

And just in case it hasn't been shared, there are lots of folks here with chronic and debilitating illnesses and disabilities who have experience navigating that world and may be able to help on that end too...whether through advice, information-sharing, or just virtual hugs and commiseration. I am sure you have considered the possibilities, but do your medical issues qualify for any disability? Either through your job or the govt?

Oh wow, I guess I wasn't clear!I am in no way meaning that you should let her 'stagnate!' As the mom of an extremely accelerated (nearly) six-year-old I can't imagine that. Not am I saying stick her in daycare for the year. What I mean is that it doesn't have to be sit-down, official curricula schooling. You could still do those things with her when you are available. For the rest of it, a more unschooling approach. Even if it is just for those 12 hours (which is what I was thinking of a last resort daycare scenario- but even if she goes to MIL). There are so many things she could do/learn as a project or even focused exploration if you wanted more structure: For example: this week my dd5 had been sick, so no regular homeschool. She read a book about Hellen Keller, then asked me if she could learn Braile. I printed out some information and the letters/numbers. She wrote a letter to her friend in Braile and then asked for index cards. She made her doll a little story book in Braile and then decided her doll needed a whole library. She hunted around the house until she found a box, duct-taped shelves in and then painted/decorated it. She has been busy all week writing stories, both in Braile and regular, all for her doll. Some of them are really elaborate and have duct-tape bindings:) Two days ago she wanted to do math in Braile so we put together problems. See the trend? Can you find something she enjoys and let her run with it during those 12 hours, even if it had to be in a less than ideal situation? Even if you spent a YEAR of doing that full time, reading every day, playing math games and visiting science museums and the like on the weekends you will come out far ahead:)

This was my immediate thought. You have a lot more leeway with a 6-year-old than a high school senior. What is the mandatory school age in your state? If it is age 7, you could do more of an unschooly type thing, find more of a daycare/friend/playtime situation for her and focus on your health and permanent job options that are more conducive to homeschooling. Maybe having your elder daughter graduating in December would be an option as well.

Oh, fond memories of Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon! Dd loved that book:) More picture-type books but two Julia Donaldson books: Room on the Broom and Zog Zog is a personal favorite as the dragon wants to rescue a princess buy the princess is insistent that she is perfectly capable of rescuingherself. She wants to be a doctor alongside her knight in shining armor--but does consent to let Zog be a dragon ambulance. Not your Ordinary Dragon is good as well, and definitely The Reluctant Dragon. I have to say, be prepared to look lively reading this one! Challenging to read aloud:)

I have no problem opening a package of snacks or a drink that can be scanned on check out. I have specifically asked if this is a problem and always been told that they are fine with it--in fact, one manager told me they consider those people the most honest, lol. Something by the pound is completely different. Our local store actually has a fruit stand set up with smaller fruits: small apples, oranges, and bananas with an honor box to pay $0.25. I think this is great for the kids, and also it serves as a reminder to some:). I am sure they know many won't pay. I have put in extra, and often buy for any stray kids nearby. Free cookies are sometimes offered from the bakery, but always by bakery personnel. I cannot imagine thinking of this meant that if someone didnt offer one it would be free. There is a large cart with cookies, and a help-yourself donut stand but I absolutely wouldn't think they were free:)

My SIL introduced me to the mouthwatering joy that is mash potatoes with avocado. I was skeptical. I am, after all, from Idaho. I adore potatoes (although it has to be said that I am a bit of a potato snob!), with a distinct preference for those grown in volcanic soil:) Anyway, it is really good! Especially with garlic as well:) I have tried a few good recipes, but simplest is just to mash them in. I made a vegan version of this the other night that was gorgeous! It has mash, avocado, and caramelized onions😠http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/01/avocado-mashed-potatoes-with.html?m=1 And Ohsheglows has a smashed potato with avocado aoli that is on my list to try! http://ohsheglows.com/2014/10/15/crispy-smashed-potatoes-with-avocado-garlic-aioli/

Ooh, I am going to try that today. That Lucky Ducks game is one of the most hated items in my house- unfortunately, dd got it when she was 2 and LOVED anything ducky. She still loves it, and finds new ways to use it. We even put numbers on the bottom and practiced math facts. And we glued magnets on the duck heads so dd could fish for them with a little magnetic fishing pole. The second I think she might not miss it I am donating it. The baby is nearly 6 months and I do not want him to decide he loves it too!

So that you can always tell who your real friends are.

Oh, and we all ate a ton of chocolate. Because if the world is going down in flames anyway....

So much fun! It stayed clear and we could actually walk right out the door to see it. We got out the telescope as well. Dd5 was thrilled and apparently American Girl Dolls aspire to be astronomers. I have cute pictures of dd and Grace peering through the telescope, and a video of her explaining to her doll exactly what was happening, and what apogee and perigee meant:)

Absolutely clear here! I am letting dd read in her bed until time. Hoping that the baby won't wake up in the middle as dd is quite excited:)

Me too!

Kareni- Never realized there was a fraction set to go with Krypto! Thanks:) We like many listed above, dd really likes Prime Climb at the moment in particular. I didn't see Albert's Insomnia listed but it is another good one, plus Mythematical Battles...

Yes, hubby drinks milk in his tea and with his cereal. We buy this milk for this reason (and others!).

Yeah, I have to admit this is much more in line with what we spend. And I don't even consider the last minute stuff...a good book I came across to pad out a topic, materials for projects, sets for sudden rabbit trails. And I also tend to buy stuff ahead as dd seems to suddenly jump ahead in huge leaps, so I am always making purchases that we might use a bit of now, then really dig into later. Her private school would have been over $7000 per year. If we can stay below that and she is happily learning I am happy too.

Well, so far my favorite was this 'cash instead of cupcakes' fundraiser with a sense of humor! http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/27/living/pta-fundraiser-bake-sale-alternative-feat/ Dd's Montessori school sold Poinsettia plants at Christmas, which was a success. They also did an auction, a golf tournament, Tupperware sales, a Scholastic book fair, and A raffle:)

Be thrilled:) I dated several international exchange students when I was young. It taught me so much about people and cultures. I ended up marrying a British citizen and now my children are dual citizens. They get to travel to Europe at least every year. I don't know how old your child is, but if they are young it is even better. I was absolutely 'in love' with an exchange student from Brazil for an entire 6 months. It was so bitter sweet. Eventually he went home and we wrote letters for a few months before drifting naturally apart. My heart was broken at the time! But looking back, I learned so much and have lovely memories. It was a very...safe way to have a teen relationship:)

I have been reading and researching, and have found quite a few references to the possibility of decreased infections/symptoms after removal of tonsils. Anybody have experience with that?