Thanks! Free is always appreciated lol

I'm not against the idea of purity rings for boys or girls but 'gifting your virginity to your father' is disturbing. The whole thing is odd but I find it offensive this whole shebang just focuses on girls. There are so many other, empowering ways to encourage and lead children (not just girls) to respect their body. God is our Holy Father not my daughter's boyfriend.....just no.

I'm thankful (in theory) my DH won't be deployable for the next 4 years and we get to see how normal people live day to day as a complete family and that we are still so in love that this prospect excites not deflates us lol.

I know a couple of people who push their kids into bagpipes because apparently there is a market for it in the college circuit. Listening to the spiel I almost signed my kids up too! Their interest would have to coincide with marketability. Any scholarship would be nice but not at the expense of extra grey hairs. Dragging them to it kicking and screaming wouldn't be worth it

I do once a month cooking as well but lately I haven't had the time to do it correctly but instead I shop for a couple of the recipes and cook each one on the day we plan to eat it. Many of the meals are form the crockpot or not that hard to assemble. Even with not setting aside a whole day to cook like the plan was intended I still save time by finding all the week's meals on one page with an immediate shopping list.

Maybe because I am still in my early 30's but I associate Mrs./Mr. with respect/old people. I don't mind "Ms.Whitney" with my children's friends but I don't like Mrs. last name with anyone other than professional acquaintances. If you are apart of my inner circle even if it only by 6 degrees of separation I prefer just my first name. My MIL usually don't call her anything (and we do like each other very much) and we've been married for 9 years. I refer to her "go to grandma.." but the rare occasions I don't simply start with what I want to say and have to use a proper noun lol I use her nickname.

A vapor system released throughout the house that helped us all immediately wake up refreshed, energetic and happy to start the day.

This is me! I don't even bother if a video clip doesn't have a text option but I am very visual. I can listen to audio books for pleasure but if it is anything I need to learn it needs to be written down even if only in note form. Lectures work if I can see the information in my mind or it really becomes "in one ear, out the other"

That all makes sense, tweeking it rather than forgoing it! :001_smile: I now feel confident making the purchase!

I've never tried narration with him so that will be an actual starting point with us. I can see how both narration and dictation will help with concentration. That NY regents exam looks like it will be very promising Thank you for the recommendations.

Thank you both. I think I am going to just go with it. I haven't found anything that I seem to like better. I've shown her the program online and she showed excitement.

My 7th grade DS just had an evaluation done and showed he read at a 8.5 grade level but comprehension is at stuck at 5th grade. He's ADD inattentive so focus can be a big issue many instances. What out there is helpful with getting his comprehension level on par with his reading level?

Has anyone used sequential spelling with their 6/7 year old with success? I see many who use it for older kids and wonder if the program is best designed for them?

Oldest started with kindergarten and continued on slow and steady like most kids. Middle child showed interest at 3 by memorizing how to spell cvc words. Funnix program was really helpful it's online and once a year the reading and math programs are free! It kept her attention and got her to reading BOB books then we used Abeka phonics.

Tennis. Neither of us have ever had formal lessons and we spent more time running after the ball than actually playing but, hey,we're together and having fun.

I read to my DS2 every night and listen (ok sometimes DH listens) to DD7 read her book. We have nice side conversations from whatever she is reading especially when she is reading non fiction books like What Was the Underground Railroad. But I cheat with Audibles on anything more wordy than Llama Llama Red Pajama. Its still a bonding time for us because we usually listen to it when I am washing and doing her hair or are in the car just the 2 of us. DS13 has anxious introverted tendencies and is ADD so he prefers to be alone without me over his shoulder when he reads. We just talk about book in the mornings. We are about to start using LLTL so I think I am going to be pushed into read a louds.

Monday thru Thursday it is virtually non but I don't outright ban it I try to redirect and keep them busy other ways. I'd rather them be outside or something else they are happy to do. The weekends they like to play the Kinect so that bumps up screen time to about 6 hours total for Friday night-Sunday.

I agree. I loved his book too and had my 13 year old son read it. He in turn lent it to his friend who lent it to his sister. It gives me great hope as a mom as well. She had so many obstacles but in the end helped produce a brain surgeon and rocket scientist!

Those look cool.

What are the first 3 books on your 'to-read' list? Mine are: The Observations by Jane Harris Company of Liars by Karen Maitland Time of Singing by Elizabeth Chadwick

What phonics program do you use?

No, I am just not interested in the whole smoking concept.....now if it was in a brownie!? I have trouble turning down brownies no matter what was in them :lol:

I had her do the placement test for AAR to see where we might start , she read all the words with no problem. I had her read this whole thread and the words she had trouble with were: opportunities, and variations but she read "tion". Involved and consistently- she didn't breeze through but sounded it out in sections and figured it out herself. I was planning on using sequential spelling.

In general no, being military we have had to drive from WA state to the east coast plenty of times and there were days when we just wanted to get to a certain point. DH an I would just tag team until we go there, even if it meant going from 8am to 2am. Those times are few and far between usually we max out between 6-8 hours of driving. This past cross country trip (oct/nov) it was more like 5-7 hours due to our toddler. ETA: Maybe if we had a destination that was several hours and not days away it would be different. Our longest single day road trip was like 7 hours.

Matt Walsh will be there. I love his blogs. I would like to sit in with Steve Demme as my son did MUS for a couple of years and we would watch him teach on the video. Of course, I would LOVE to hear Dr. Carson. We seem to have an answer to our toddler dilemma, a really close couple who lives on the way is more than happy to take the kids. My oldest 2 love them like family and they spent a week with us for Christmas so my 2 year old will not see them as complete strangers but I am so nervous about him having a crying fit all night and day with me not being there. He is a mamma's boy through and through. Congratulations!! you have to tell us all about it!