Faith, Thanks so much for this detailed information!! It's so much better to get travel tips from other homeschoolers who actually live around the areas one is planning to visit. We are going to visit friends who moved there last year. We'll be staying for 5 nights down in the Flat Rock area -- staying three nights at Sterling State Park. We are then hoping to head up to Port Crescent for 3-4 more nights. I got a bit bummed last night after many of our plans seemed to start falling apart, and then today finding out just how incredibly expensive Dearborn attractions are. The automotive attraction is closed at the Ford museum, so I cannot fathom paying that price and not even being able to see that. It would cost our family of 6 $151 + tax to go to Greenfield Village and on the Factory Tour. I'm very frugal and I just can't see that being worth the price. Your ideas sound wonderful and much less costly. We will be pulling our pop-up and have all 6 bikes with us (quite a haul). My friend has said that there are many roads that are not as developed as we are used to. Do you know of any areas we need to stay clear of? It would be too difficult for us to travel on roads that are not completely paved. Thanks so much for your help!! Angie

We'll be up there in 2 weeks and would like to visit, but wonder if there are any discounts to be had. It's EXPENSIVE!!! We'll be all around the Detroit area and then on Lake Huron by Port Crescent State Park. Any other suggestions for great things to do?

We'll be up there in 2 weeks and would like to visit, but wonder if there are any discounts to be had. It's EXPENSIVE!!! We'll be all around the Detroit area and then on Lake Huron by Port Crescent State Park. Any other suggestions for great things to do?

I believe it not only has to do with the curriculum choice, but the student as well. If one has a highly motivated student, that student might be able to fly through courses if he/she has the inclination to do so. My oldest is this way and this year I've decided to have a go of it and not scheduled anything for a complete semester or a year. She is scheduling herself and doing things at her pace. We started school a week ago and she is currently on track with MUS Geometry to finish long before Christmas. She is also including work from Kahn Academy, Brightstorm and several other math, algebra & geometry books. I will make absolutely certain that she has a very solid knowledge of geometry from several sources because that's how we do things here (and she'll also have to pass a stringent final exam). Unless she hits a brick wall in the next month or two, she'll definitely be finished by semester's end and then will move on to the next course. Now I have 3 other kids and they aren't nearly as self motivated. At this point, I can't see any of them being motivated enough to earn that many credits in a year. It's the personality of the kid and what he/she can handle.

Agreed. Appreciate the time you put into your reviews.

Just saw this thread tonight. I am a new Mac user (and now a die-hard fan) so I would LOVE a Mac homeschool planner app. I am interested in beta testing if you are still taking people. Thanks

I have a 6 yr old that was terrible last year and is so far the same this year (one week in). I am going to LOSE MY MIND! I have 3 older kids and I have never had to deal with what I go through with this kid. As a matter of fact, tonight she is going to bed an hour early (that's if we can remember). But then she'll throw a HUGE tantrum about that too.

I agree. I get so incredibly frustrated when people want to blame homeschooling for a personality or character trait. The home schooled kid is shy -- "he/she must not be socialized because he/she is home schooled" Um, NO!! JUST SHY!!! The home schooled kid prefers to keep his/her nose in a book -- "he/she must not be allowed to participate in 'normal' kid activities because he/she is home schooled" Again, NO!! The kid just happens to prefer reading. PERIOD. The home schooled kid is verbose and expresses his/her opinion --"he/she must talk a lot and express opinions because he/she isn't in school and gets to talk whenever he/she wants at home during school." NO!! The kid is just verbose. The home schooled kid exhibits a poor attitude/smarts off/sasses back -- "he/she wouldn't act that way if he/she were in REAL school, because that wouldn't be tolerated." REALLY??? I could go on and on and on. . . .but I digress

OMGoodness thank you for posting this!!! I wasn't aware of this and I am giddy with excitement. I may break the bank purchasing this stuff. I'm even thinking about buying in bulk from Crazy Aaron's site and putting it in my own containers to give as gifts.

I'd like some information on this as well! Thanks, Angie

That's a great site! Thanks for sharing.

We went a couple years ago during homeschool week and it was the best vacation ever. We hope to go back again in a few years. If it's during homeschool week and you actually have several days to spend, get the package deal for the Historic Triangle. We had no idea that each of those places (Jamestown, Yorktown & Williamsburg) were having homeschool week. We did it ALL and it was ALL worth it. Both of the Yorktown sites, both of the Jamestown sites and Colonial Williamsburg for a couple days. Spent one full day doing both Jamestown sites and then one full day & evening doing both Yorktown sites. We had a blast. The kids got their Jr. Ranger certificates at Yorktown. At Williamsburg, watch all of the live street performances and reenactments you can. The entire trip was steeped in history and it was fun learning!!! I recommend it for all homeschoolers to do at some point if they can (that is if the Historic Triangle continues to host homeschool week like they did when we were there).

My dd is going to be using it this year. Not certain how much she'll need it, but I do plan to have her watching some videos and doing some problems alongside the Apologia Chemistry she is doing. Can't hurt when it's free, right?

Well, I can probably help here. My dd just finished up her 1st week using the Rusty Hughes DVD. She LOVES it. She has completed 4 labs so far. He does it all on the DVD and she does it right along with him in our kitchen. Rusty actually goes to our church and it's funny to know where the DVDs were filmed. We don't know him well, but my dd was giggling a lot this week while watching him. She said that he makes reference to his kids, and since she knows who they are, she finds it funny. DD had completed Apologia General Science and Physical Science, but we specifically chose to skip Biology and go straight to Chemistry because of this DVD. I needed her to do the labs and I knew that the only way I could make certain that she was able to do so is to buy the kit and then have this DVD. She said that the DVD is really helping and Rusty is engaging and easy to understand. I am praying that this DVD will sell very well so that he is able to make DVDs for Biology and the rest of the courses. My dd's recommendation is to buy the Rusty Hughes DVD.

When I went away to college my parents got me a basic tool kit. I've seen some really neat ones out there lately -- for females & males. I had that tool kit up until a few years ago, and I still have some of the tools from it.

yes I am. Is that the problem?

My dd downloaded Alice and has been having a great time with it. However, she says there are only 3 very simple tutorials and she wants to do so much more with Alice. Is there somewhere to get information that could help her do more programming within Alice, or is it just meant to be a fun little introduction? DD has big ideas of making characters do more, etc, but has no idea where to look for information on Alice. The programmer's blog is of no help and there seems to be nothing to give any additional information. Help?

I personally would definitely consider it.

I got my MacBook and downloaded that coupon printing file just like I had on my PC. However, I cannot print. I have gone into my printer files and everything appears correct. I have tried to reload the coupon printer file, I have done everything I can think of to do and nothing has worked in the last several months since I got this computer. Can anyone help me? I'm missing out on so many of my coupons because I can't print from my Mac. I have an HP6500 series printer if that matters. Thanks!

So how do you lovely ladies feel about purchasing used digital pianos? We have been interested for awhile now, but have no knowledge in this area, so this thread has been immensely helpful. Is it recommended to try to get a used one off of Craigslist, or even in a music/piano store? I have a friend who owns one and whose family owned a music store all her life. She told me that the problem with purchasing used is that there could possibly have been some electrical damage from a power surge or lightning just like any other electronic devise, but the piano could possibly still play but have an underlying problem that you would not know about until it was too late.

Lori, On my bond it is my daughter's SSN that is listed. No other SSN is listed, just my name. I am assuming this makes a big difference. Thanks, Angie

Lori, I have a couple of questions for you since you are in the midst of this. First, how do I know whether a bond has a beneficiary or a co-owner? I have a few relatives who would give bonds to my kids as birthday gifts and the like since they were born. For my oldest, that means many of her bonds are almost 14 yrs old. On the bond it will say To: my dd's name and then our address, then below the scan lines (can't remember the term for those) it says, or "my name." This is an EE series bond. So who "owns" this bond? Who is a "beneficiary" and who is a "co-owner"? Also, have you actually paid for a dual enrollment course using the money from a bond and subsequently filed taxes yet or are you just now in that beginning process? The website you posted for finding out how much the bonds are currently worth appears to be down now, so I'll check again later. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for this info ladies. It was a big help. Unfortunately from what I am reading, it seems that tuition for dual enrollment would not qualify for the tax exemption. If anyone knows differently, please fill me in! Thanks.

Yep, from your link and others I am thinking that we couldn't use them for the dual enrollment tuition (OF COURSE -- that would be too good to be true)!! Here is the statement I think is the kicker from the link you posted: "Qualified education expenses do not include expenses for room and board or for courses involving sports, games, or hobbies that are not part of a degree or certificate granting program." Since a student in a dual enrollment program won't be part of the degree granting program for the university, it would appear that tuition would be excluded. TOTAL BUMMER. I want to cry.

I am looking for someone who may have experience/knowledge regarding the government EE series savings bonds. When these bonds come "due" what can be done with them? We are specifically trying to figure out if there is a way to use them for educational expenses (like dual enrollment class tuition) without having to pay tax. Does anyone know anything about this, or happen to know who would be the best type of person to speak with about this? Thanks MUCH!!! (posting on HS Board also)