I should have mentioned that. I told my dh before hand, don't let me get an epidural even if I beg for it. And he did really well talking me through the pain.

My rant for today is having to listen to my SIL spout off how the majority of HS'ed kids do poorly in college because they don't know how to take tests. :glare:

That's what did it for me too. I was determined to not have an epidural and once I set my mind to it, I managed. Planning the same for this one.

very cool!

We're doing two unit studies that I put together with different free resources online. One is on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and the other is on the Candy Cane. We're making a lapbook for each.

We buy sets because the boys like the Star Wars pieces and characters. The set may be built once, but then they get mixed in the big box and the kids make their own creations. Mainly, they design their own ships to use with the little people so they can play Star Wars.

I love my steamer! I also have the H2O steam mop and love that. And I'm practical too. I asked for a pogrammable crockpot for Christmas. LOL

:lurk5:

This is our first year of spelling, other than what Abeka does as spelling. DS7 (3rd grade) is working in D.

I am SO glad to hear that I'm not the only one addicted to naps. I love sleeping and even my kids know it. Since I got pregnant and have been so sick, I've been known to take a morning AND afternoon nap. :blush: Lately, I've been doing better, I try and nap for about 30 mins every afternoon. I need it to get through dinner and the evening. I don't feel guilty at all.

practice, practice, practice, and tactile cues is what my ds did in speech therapy. Like for the S/snake sound, he would take his pointer finger and move it in a line below his bottom lip while saying ssssssss. During therapy, he and his therapist would have a worksheet with a bunch of different pictures that used the S sound. She would stamp, or let him stamp I guess, the picture when he said the word right. I think I have some other exercises also, but I'll have to dig out my paperwork. My last two dc both had speech.

I do, in the crockpot, then serve over rice.

DD and I on Thanksgiving http://homeschool-stories.blogspot.com/2009/12/wordless-wednesday.html

My 4yo begs to help fold clothes. Maybe I shouldn't let her? :lol: Granted, it's not perfect, but she can fold a towel. And put her own clothes away.

We don't do playdates really. The kids are in Sunday School, AWANA, Leanna takes ballet, and Jacob does PE, all weekly. They do a monthly class at our science museum. Our HS group meets for park day once a month. They get plenty of interaction and they enjoy playing with each other at home. My sister's kids are 2 minutes away from us and while they are in school so their time is limited, it is the best thing ever when they see their cousins. We do occasionally get together with friends, but it's not a set thing. I can't overschedule myself or I won't get school done with the kids. Right now as I type, all 3 are in the boy's bedroom quietly building with Legos. Apparently each other is good enough for them and it is for me too. You're not alone!

I HATE it when people say the dad is babysitting the children. It's called fathering. I've been pretty sick at the beginning of this pg and my 7yo comes to me and asks me if there is anything he can get me. a drink, a popsicle, whatever. We are also teaching our kids that showing Christ means helping and serving others.

going to have to check that out. thanks!

I posted yesterday on my Facebook that I made and am starting the chore packs with my kids and someone actually posted a link to the AAP website saying that some parents expect to much of their children and are too demanding. :glare: I felt the same way you do, giving my kids simple chores is too demanding of them? Asking them to pick up their toys and vacuum the kitchen floor? Things they are all 3 perfectly capable of doing? Chores are not anything near abuse or forced child labor. It's called helping out because you live here too. :grouphug:

thanks! I think both of my ds could use it, the older for multiplication and the younger for addition right now. But I'll have to convince dh. LOL

We use http://www.allendaleacademy.com/ as our umbrella school. They are very easy, not too many requirements, and the price is reasonable.

try fpea.com

that looks fun. how long have you had it? definitely worth the money?

I have a couple recipes on my blog. http://fantastic-food-fanatic.blogspot.com/ I can add more. I just finished putting 10 meals in my freezer. :D

I save all my files to my computer to print as needed. I love free stuff!!

I have an irritable uterus, contract for months, and dilate early with all my pregnancies. I never knew if the contractions were dilating me or not until I had an internal exam. Most of the time my intuition paid off and if I thought I had been, I was. Thankfully, I just dilated early and haven't had any preterm babies. How are you this morning? Did you end up calling? If not, I'd call this morning, your dr might want to see you. I know mine always did.