I called for information, but they want you to come in for a consultation before they give you details. That's fine. I'm going in at 6:00 in the morning, but I want to know if the cost is ballpark of something I'm willing to pay. And I want to be able to discuss it with dh, which always sounds corny when you say it to people. Cost? Commitment? Payment methods? I know the rates might vary a little, but I'm assuming they will be similar from one place to the other.

After a spell of bad weather, my kids need LOTS of time to re-acclimate to being outdoors. Last spring, I tried nature study on our first good day at the park. It flopped. Big. After a few days of getting some time outside just playing and running, they started to notice things themselves. They were much more willing to be pulled from playing to look at a little critter. My kids are a little small for the drawing, but I point out what I knew. How many legs on the insect? What about the spider? Look at the buds coming out. I wonder what those will turn into (and actually come back to look again.) Have those trees changed (flowers, leaf buds, full leaves, flowers gone, seeds appearing, etc....) It helps to find one good place to go and to keep going back. I use a park that has a decent playground, a small creek, turtles, a pond (probably man-made, but oh-well), a few landscaped trees and flowers, and bathrooms. I have found that plant nurseries (the real ones, not Wal-mart) have been delighted to help me identify a leaf we have bring in. Mostly, I just want them to EXPERIENCE nature. If I don't know the name of the tree, we can still observe it. How does the bark feel? Do a bark rubbing or a leaf rubbing. How are these leaves different from that other tree?

My dr. prescribed a topical cream from a compounding pharmacy. I can't really find info, except for products that you can buy OTC. Did you have side effects? She's suspicious of a few different things (insulin resistance and that my thyroid medication needs to be upped), so I can't remember what specific symptoms prompted the progesterone cream.

nt

It's a honey baked lentil recipe. I've never used ginger. Just skip it or do I need to add in something else for flavor? It also has mustard, soy sauce, honey & onion.

I made it by the book and it was a hit. I also added in layers of cherry pie filling and it was a hit. It's also super easy and cheap w/ no exotic ingredients. It uses instant pudding mixes (not mixed by the box directions, though), whipped cream, and crumbled candy bar.

I bought A and B (long story;)) for my 4 year old. We like it for a while and then hit a wall. I don't blame that on the program, but more on my personality. I'm finding that I do best with workbooks. I do believe in the RightStart method, so I decided to keep it and keep doing workbook vacations with it. We bring it out and use it for a couple of weeks. When she(and I) hit the wall, I put it up and use a more traditional program(we finished Singapore EB series and now use Horizon) for a while. Then, we get RS out again. Even in between, I'll catch her singing the songs. And she definitely likes to play with the manipulatives. I thought about getting the game book, but decided that I already had enough invested in it. Many say that you can buy B and do it more slowly. For *me* I found that I need things scripted out. A has less writing and includes the slowness. For example, it might have them trace out a specific number on the table while B goes right into writing several of them on paper. It is activity based, so I think it's great for the younger set.

I'll email the director to get a little more info on how the classes are actually handled. I know they do have an older choir and an older "performance" choir, but I'm not real clear on what the class times are actually like for the younger one.

nt

They've lost a gerbil, a fish, & grandma's dog. We tell them a simplified version of the truth and answer their questions. Usually, it's a few questions and they are ready to move on. Then, she (the older) may bring it back up a days, weeks, or months later. But, she doesn't really act emotional about it. Very matter-of-fact. She might say "I miss Mickey." I just affirm that that's understandable and say I miss him too. I usually emphasize very, very sick and say it's different then when they get the sneezes/coughs and we say they(the kids) are sick. They may want to see where he was buried and they may not. Mine usually ask where it went. Did you do RTL and post on the Winter Promise site?

I don't plan on dropping gymnastics or dance. Both girls go at the same time to those activities and they are our built in "energy spenders" when the weather is bad. PE, I guess. I haven't asked her about the choir. I don't want to bring it up, until I've decided if we want to do it. She likes to sing and to watch choirs (we have a few on DVD), likes Lawrence Welk (gag), etc... I'm trying to decide if the choir would be beneficial on its own merits.

My dd will be a K'er next year. She LOVES to sing. I am not tone deaf, since I can hear that I am off key. I am, definitely, off key. I am thinking about doing homeschool choir. They have one for K-3 and they teach with the Kodaly(sp??) method. It's very reasonably priced and I thought it might be a nice way to meet other homeschoolers, since we're not involved with a homeschool organization. I will probably still do "Discoveries in Music", since my younger would have fun with that. They both do dance, which involves rhythm exercises. Would the choir be beneficial or is she really too young? We also do gymnastics, so I'm not looking for an activity just to have an activity. I'm wondering if it would be beneficial and fun for her. It sounds crazy to be planning so early, but some of the activity schedules come out and start signing up in MARCH!

when I asked about it recently. I'm planning on using it for my dd next year (K age). Looking over the review, I'm not sure if it will have the singing instruction that you want. http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1202643428-304865&subject=&id=014454

they would be helpful to round out ETC and Happy Phonics as a full program. I bought the TM for books 1-2. It gives suggestions about kinesthetic activities or when to use flashcards. Basically, turning each workbook assignment into a well-rounded lesson plan. Since I'm using OPGTR and I also have Happy Phonics, I didn't buy the TM for book 3. But, the TM does make it more than just a workbook. Oh, for readers...I have Bob books, Nora Gaydos, and the CLP Kindergarten set. For next year, I also bought the MFW Bible reader. Probably most phonics based readers would fit in.

tee-hee It makes it sound so rebellious.:D

If you did page 14 in ETC 1, it might tell you that you could do page 15 in ETC 1 1/2 for extra practice. I do think the 1/2 books are very slightly harder, but not by much. With your other programs, I would just do the whole books.

I always dress myself lighter than the girls. They have full snow-suits and I wear jeans and a coat. If it's too cold for you, don't feel like a wimp. I don't see a point to making everyone miserable.

My thinking is that visitors would probably not want to see 20 pictures of a trip to the mountains. However, one of the best pictures sprinkled in with the best pictures from other events would catch their attention

I would call and offer to pay for the second night. Then, you can at least explain what happened. If they STILL acted snobby, I don't know if I would feel comfortable going back. I can kind of understand the need to make a point about the missed reservation or they would get walked all over. They probably could have done a nicer note with the package they sent you and still got their point across.

I do need to network. It just takes time to develop enough knowledge to know if I trust them to watch my kids.

1. Making beaded jewelry. I know Wal-mart does have those little containers of different colored beads. I like having pipe cleaners and jewelry twine around. 2. Board games: Lucky Ducks. Hi-o cherrio, Candyland, Boggle Jr., Busy Busy Bumblebee (I think. It's a spinning thing they try to jump over.) 3. Jump rope and a jumping bouncy ball (the kind with a handle that they sit on and bounce around.) 4. Dress up clothes. Everything from princess to police woman. Maybe you could hit a thrift/consignment store and buy some really outrageous stuff? I want to put a mirror up by their dress up box, but haven't got to it. 5. Videos of dancing. Riverdance, Nutcracker, musicals, Lawrence Welk, etc...

This is challenging. This is the first year where most of my friends have their kiddos in school and have gone back to work. I need to do 3 crowns (4 separate dentist visits) and a yearly appointment that's about 3 years late. None of these are appointments that I can bring the kids for. dh can help some, but not for all of them. No wonder homeschooling moms quit after not taking care of themselves and getting burned out. When are we supposed to do all this "taking care of ourselves?" My parents did offer to drive up so I can take the day off and "get my hair done." (Does it look THAT bad?) I think I can also sneak in a crown seating appointment while they are here.

I remember climbing in the seat. I do remember them putting in the IV and the nurses were chatting about something. Then, I woke up. IV was already out and they were done. I have major anxiety dealing with dentists, so I could not have had it done any other way.

I see only 1 post right after another and all of the text is in the body. In other words, I only know if you are replying directly to someone if you quote them. I guess I need to play around with settings to see which way I like the best.

I know this is hard to do without seeing, but I'm desperate. -----We have a large room that is a toyroom. -----We have a tiny bedroom(with a closet) that we were going to call our homeschool room, but is actually becoming the place that holds stuff we don't know where else to put it. There are a lot of homeschooling books, supplies, manipulatives that I don't want freely available. Also, outgrown clothes, our electronic piano, our grown-up books, my scrapbooking supplies, etc.... -----We have 2 shelves in the kitchen cupboard that hold play-dough, crayons, everyday homeschooling stuff and things they can freely pull out without me supervising. dh really wants everything to have a place and I honestly have a hard time finding things. Plus, it's dangerous to walk into the small bedroom. Someone is likely to trip and break a bone. I could: 1. call the small room the homeschool room and that is where everything goes back each night. Playdough and crayons and all. It is hard to differentiate between toys and school supplies sometimes. 2. Make the toyroom multi-purpose and move homeschool stuff in there. Maybe put paints and related "adult supervision required" up high? Leave the small bedroom for our books, piano, scrapbooking, etc. Does the toyroom/schoolroom blur the line between play/school or keep the schooltime part of life? Any advice here? 3. Call in a professional organizer. :o I'm tempted. But, we'll have to wait for the next bonus and I need to get something started now. This is not a new problem, so the solutions I've come up with are not working.