Inspired by this thread, I've just ordered pillow pets for my 10yo dd and 8yo ds for Christmas! We've seen them at the shops before and asked for them, and like the OP I was all "really?!" But I've loved hearing everyone's testimonials and now I'm excited about it!

Our local youth orchestra is always looking for oboe, bassoon, French horn and viola, as there are less people leaning these. Good luck!

Fantastic thread! I see much happy listening in my future! I love The King's Singers singing Thomas Tallis' "Spem in Alium" Always makes time stand still for me. And P. M. Dawn's "I'd Die Without You"

I will pray too.

I had to giggle at both of your posts, Julie, because I can identify! It reminds me of when the kids were little and I'd sing them lullabies at bedtime - on those nights when I was keen for the day to just end, the kids would comment on how fast I was singing... which kind of defeats the purpose of lullabies... Anyway, to the OP, I love lots of reading but we always do it in smallish chunks and mix it up: seat work, reading on the couch, hands-on, more reading, fitness breaks etc.

Have you listened to her sleep at night? I was shocked when my then-7-year-old dd slept with me one night when she had a tummy bug; her apnoea was shocking. (She's since had her tonsils and adenoids out.) She was tired a lot and couldn't breathe through her nose at all. IOW, I'm glad I went to an ENT. Apparently apnoea can have adverse affects on the cognitive skills of a developing child.

Another vote for Steve Green's "Hide 'em in your heart", Volumes 1 & 2. The music is lovely, and Steve does a little devotion over the intro to each song, giving a bit of background or a few thoughts about the upcoming verse.

I nursed both of mine till they were 5. By then it was only once or twice a day, and we didn't nurse in public after about the age of 18 months. It's lovely hearing about other extended bfers because I don't know ANYONE who does irl!

It looks lovely! I too had long, wavy hair that I cut short and I'm much happier now. It really suits you!

This should definitely be reported. I'm on methotrexate and I have to wash my hands after I take it, no one else can touch it, etc. If the tech touched a drug like that and then touched a med a pregnant woman will be taking, like a PP suggested, it is teratogenic. I can't imagine a drive-thru chemist! The only drive-thru we have here is take-away food. Actually, I think I remember reading once about drive-thru banking as well.

Yeah, sometimes I think my body is out to get me! My immune system and I are not really on speaking terms at this point... I just visited a colorectal surgeon and they're now thinking it may be crohn's rather than UC. So a colonoscopy it is. I hope it's not celiac - I love me some gluten!

This thread is an extraordinary blessing. It's wonderful to find other mums in similar situations. I have myasthenia gravis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. I have made it a priority to choose curriculum that's easy for me to implement - next school year we're going Galore Park. I do struggle with guilt and lonliness at times. I'm lucky to have a supportive network around me, but it's been a rocky road. I'll keep my eye out for the social group! That sounds like a lovely idea. Each of you are in my thoughts today.

Both of my kids did this, and neither of them are dyslexic. (Interestingly, my older one would also doing this when she learnt to talk - oosh instead of shoe, etc.) We used a cursor with our phonics program. It's a credit card-sized card with a little square cut out of the top left-hand corner, and we used it to track along the word, so they had no choice but to read left to right. HTH!

Just looked at your review - that was so helpful! I'm looking at younger years, but it was fantastic to see how it's working for you. Thanks!

We use (and love) Dancing Bears and we do 1 page a day, which takes around 10 minutes. I haven't tried anything else so I can't compare it, but I really like how it's scripted, and the flashcards and the cursor have been helpful to my kids.

I'm so glad there are others like me! I've got my retirement from homeschooling all figured out, and it features dogs. And reading. And sleeping in.

I feel for you! Shoulder pain is frustrating. I went to a physio who did acupuncture on my shouler, and it really helped. It's the only alternative-type medicine I've used, but I was really happy with the results.

What a sweetie! You'll have to let us know what happens. I'd love to volunteer at an animal shelter, but I have a terrible feeling I wouldn't be able to resist bringing them home!

I have Raynaud's, and it sounds like what you're describing with your daughter. I get it in my fingers also. I do have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, so it's a good idea as you said to get to the doctor A.S.A.P., but from what I understand it's not always necessarily auto-immune related. All the best.

I love Jean M. Auel's historical fiction series "Earth's Children". The 6 books are set around 30,000 years ago between the last two ice ages, IIRC, and follow the life of Ayla, a Cro-Magnon girl brought up by Neanderthals. Hard to put down.

Here in Australia the general system is to have two schools: Primary School, from 5yo to 12yo (roughly) and High School, from 13yo to 17yo (roughly). Although I think in other states high school may start a year earlier, ie for 12 yo. The 11/12 yo in our primary schools (in my experience) are given leadership and buddy-type roles within the school community. I remember at high school, though, that a few teachers made it pretty clear that years 8 and 9 were simply to be endured!

I really like these suggestions from Kolbe (they are in the catalogue pdfs): http://www.kolbe.org/Catalog/ Click on the "Elementary Literature" (Grades 4-6) or the "Junior High Literature" (Grades 7-8). They break up the suggestions into categories such as: Political/War/Revolution Adventure/Intrigue (with sub-categories of Epic/Quest, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Survival Tales [Children on their own], Wilderness/Deserted Island, Sea Adventures) Coming of Age Strong Female/Males Roles HTH!

We use Apples & Pears here. We also use their phonics program, Dancing Bears.

Oh no! That is frustrating, annoying, disappointing and unfair. (My flare - not RSD - last week and this is what I was feeling.)

Lovely! What a precious age. She's probably eager to chase after her older siblings! Milestones for the youngest are bittersweet. I was so eager and excited for my oldest to reach the next stage, and the next... I just want my youngest to stay right where he is!