I'm wondering the same thing. Like you, I have the first and second editions, and if the only real changes in the new edition concern the recommended books, I can probably live without it for a while. If there are substantive differences in the overall content of the book, particularly for those of us with dc in the 9-12 age range, I will definitely order the new edition right away. Thanks! Cat

Truthfully, I would be annoyed that they said they would charge you for the visit if you canceled your appointment, as it would seem prudent for healthy kids to stay out of doctor's offices right now, and a child with asthma would seem to be at higher risk for flu complications than many other kids would be. I wouldn't go to the appointment, and would demand to speak with the doctor about being charged for the appointment. You are regular patients, and should not be treated this way. Cat Edited to add: Does this doctor have separate waiting rooms and examining rooms for the well-child visits? If they do, I might be better able to understand their position -- although the doctor and nurses may have already been exposed to the flu, I would hope that they are taking every possible precaution.

You're not alone. It was the first thing that came into my mind, too. What a horrible tragedy, on so many levels. Cat

Why would you want to intentionally expose your children to chicken pox? I don't mean to sound judgemental, but I can't imagine why anyone would want to make their children ill -- and especially right now, when there's also a potential for contracting the flu at the same time. Again, sorry to sound harsh; it just doesn't make sense to me. Cat

I did the same thing with my ds, who is now 9, and I am trying to correct my mistakes, too -- with very limited success -- so I'm watching this thread with great interest! Cat

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Cat

Old fashioned here, too! ;) We use BJU Handwriting. Cat

I had tonsillitus all the time as a kid, and never once had a sore throat. My throat wasn't sore with strep, either. Even now, the only way I know if my throat is infected is if I look at my tonsils and they look disgusting! I hope your little one feels better soon! Cat

Just thought I'd give this a little bump, in case anyone else is interested. We already had the free version of the game, but I'd forgotten all about it. I decided to go ahead and order the full version, and we downloaded it yesterday (the CD will arrive in the mail in a few days.) According to my ds, the full version is much better than the free version, and is well worth buying. My ds already knows his multiplication facts pretty well, but I wanted to work on speed. (We have Quarter Mile Math, but ds says Timez Attack is a lot more fun.) Cat

I can't tell you how much I needed to read this thread today! Cat

So... now that you've had a bit of time to wade through all of the wonderful information you've gotten... are you leaning toward CT or NC? Or is it even more confusing now? ;) Cat

:lurk5: Cat

:grouphug: I'm so sorry, Tammy. Cat

A different perspective... Realistically, you weren't obligated to attend the wedding, and you could have declined the invitation for your kids to be in the wedding (or told your brother it would be too expensive for the kids to be a part of it.) I sympathize with the fact that the trip will be expensive, but it's not really your brother's fault that it will cost you a lot of money to attend his wedding. I'm sure it will cost him a bundle to have all of you at the reception, but I'm sure he figures that you and your family are worth the expense. Personally, I wouldn't skimp on the gift. I don't know how much money you would normally give to a close member of your family, but I would think you should give your brother the same gift that you would if he were being married locally and you didn't have to buy new clothes for everyone. Sorry if I sound harsh -- I know how you feel; I've been through similar things myself, but this is your brother and he obviously loves you a lot or he wouldn't have included your dc in his wedding. Also, if you're making the trip and going to a lot of extra expense and trouble, your brother must mean a lot to you, too. I would hate to see his feelings hurt by your not giving him a wedding gift. Cat

I'd give him the $100.00. Cat

Glad to hear he's feeling better -- just be careful he doesn't eat too much for his next meal, and that he eats slowly; otherwise, you could have a repeat performance. Cat

Thanks for the heads-up on this, Jean! I haven't checked my email yet today, but if there's anything from Borders, I'll delete it immediately. I hope your computer is ok! Cat

What have you used for History so far? Is there a specific time period your dd would like to study, or that you would like to focus upon? Cat

Are there any specific titles you would recommend? Thanks! Cat

Well, based on what you said in your post, I can assure you that my dh would not be going on that cruise. And it would have nothing to do with the flu. :glare: But... in light of the current health concerns, it would seem prudent for your dh to skip the cruise and stay at home. Otherwise, who knows whether he will be ill when he gets back -- or even worse, be fine at first, and then end up infecting the entire family if he does get sick. Cat

I hope it works out for you -- it sounds like a lovely place! Cat

I'm not familiar with the book, but I'm sure it's fine. I would, however, recommend buying better quality paints to use with it, some good paper, and perhaps a few nice brushes. Watercolor painting can be a lot of fun, but without decent quality supplies, it can be incredibly frustrating. If you need any recommendations, just let me know! Cat

We felt exactly the same way about Sonlight. Cat

It sounds like you have an excellent plan, and -- more importantly -- you have a great attitude! I would suggest that you may wish to take a few weeks to relax before getting too academic. Your kids might need a little time to adjust to being at home, not seeing their school friends every day, having a new routine, etc. I noticed, though, that you're being very reasonable about your expectations, and that you're flexible about making changes as you go, so I think you'll be a "natural" at homeschooling, and it will be wonderful for your kids. One last suggestion -- if you get going on the schoolwork and the kids complain about everything, that's perfectly normal. You are not a dismal failure! Homeschooling is rarely like you see in the Sonlight catalogs, with all those happy, smiling, attentive faces! It can be great, but don't expect too much of yourself right away. We all worry so much about what the kids are learning, that we forget about ourselves and our own feelings and expectations. We think we should be perfect -- even when we say we don't, and I just want to give you permission to make mistakes and not blame yourself for every little thing that goes wrong. Oh -- and become a regular here -- it will be a huge help to you! WELCOME! :party: Cat

I hate it when there are no prices on items, too. I know it sounds weird, but if I ask about a price and it's way too high, I feel a little awkward putting the item back down on the table and walking away, especially if the seller is very friendly. Don't get me wrong -- I'll put the item back (or offer less, if I really want it,) but I'm a lot more likely to buy things when the price tag is visible. It's uncomfortable to ask the prices of more than a few things. When I go to a sale and there are no prices on the items, I usually assume the prices will be on the high side. Also, we were at one sale and my ds overheard the sellers talking, and one of them commented to the other that we drove a nice car, so we could afford to pay extra for things. (We didn't buy anything -- I thought the seller seemed like a weasel after ds told me what she'd said.) Cat