Coming to this debate late, but... just an FYI The Japanese Americans weren't the only ones interned during WWII. Individuals of Italian and German descent (our other two major enemies) were also interned--altho on a much smaller scale. Joe DiMaggio's father was one of them (if I recall correctly) even while Joe served honorably in the war. Japan was the first country to attack us in more than 100 years, so it's hard to judge the paranoia that was rampant at that time. Hindsight is always 20-20. To me it's like comparing the beheadings by the Taliban to the waterboarding by Americans. We will never be 100% wonderfully humane, but as for the way we treat our enemies, there can be no comparison. In fact both the laws of war (ours are pretty amazing) and the simple decency of American soldiers often result in our soldiers being killed because of their decency. Coming from a veteran, the wife of a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, and the sister of a veteran. Laura

Count me in. I wanted to go to this year's convention so badly, but had just had knee surgery. I have never been to one, and I can't wait to go to this one next year. Laura

Sometime after Labor Day. I love starting way after the ps kids have gone back. My kids don't seem to mind either. We might ramp up a bit b4 then. Laura

I will be going on a vacation that I really don't want to go on and have not planned for adequately enough.

I had the exact same experience. I tried to plan a schedule (unlike in the past 2 years) and after going thru TWTM and tweaking it, my kids were looking at 7 hours of school. And I knew that that was so much more than they would have in a classroom. Still I don't know what to cut out. Laura

Mine is going on six and it makes me so sad. In fact, I'm going to sneak in her room and give her an extra kiss. I felt the same way about my oldest. It seemed like it took forever for him to grow up, but the years do fly by w/your youngest.

They're why we're doing that particular program. Not hugely entertaining, but my dc have never complained.

If you decide not to do a trolley tour, the duck tours are a hoot. A bit pricey, but it's a WWII amphibious assault vehicle that takes you around the city and then into the Potomac. You get a duck quacker as a souvenir. You pick it up at Union Station. The Postal Museum was surprisingly fun and hands on. We'll be there this weekend and are just spending the day at Mt. Vernon.

I used to practice refugee law and dealt a lot w/Afghan women who were fleeing their homelands b/c of the strict interpretations of Islamic law. This was when the Taliban were mostly in control of the country (pre-2001). It was heartbreaking the things they suffered (including the women who were killed for sending their daughters to school, women who were savagely beaten in front of their children when their ankles were showing--due to carrying a baby in their arms). I've always been amazed at the lack of outrage of feminists in this country against the treatment of women in Islamic countries. And don't get me started on FMG (female genital mutilation). As a previous poster mentioned, this was mostly due to the tribalistic nature of the leaders and the perversion of Islamic teachings.

Wow, that is really scary.

DS loved Time Warp Trio series, but I think he was 7 when he started.

We started SSL this summer--just listening to it in the car. I've been doing Minimus w/my older two for fun and dd5 listens in. She's a great reader, but I don't think she would be ready for Minimus til at least 1/2 way thru the year. Laura

I agree that rewards are part of adult life. If I open someone's door for them I get a thank you smile. Sometimes if I'm having a bad day I reward myself w/a call to a friend or a piece of chocolate. While in college I used to reward myself for reading so many pages. I reward myself w/a new pair of running shoes to keep myself motivated. Having said all of that...our first year I promised ds an MP3 player if we made it through the first year w/o too much squabbling. DD got her choice of a reward as well--she chose a Webkinz. Last year I forgot about it and we went all year w/o any discussion of a reward. They just reminded me. We're planning on getting a puppy (which has been their reward for keeping the basement clean), so I'm trying to tie something in with that. Rewards can come in all sizes and shapes. Laura

This has been a fun read. We picked ours the first day of class and it's not exactly original: Ora et Labora (but we didn't put anything behind it). Maybe it should be Ora et Labora Prep. DD did design a logo w/beads. I love the idea of getting T-shirts/polos. I wonder how much the embroidering would be. Laura

Impressive. I can't get over how big your schulutes are. And your kids are adorable. Laura

The AF museum is wonderful and free and about 70 mins. from Cols. COSI was ranked as the #1 kids science museum by Parents mag. The Cols. Metro Library was ranked #1 in the nation. Our zoo has also been ranked #1. Our art museum is free this month (I think that promo is still on). The Franklin Park Conservatory is a nice change of pace. They have a butterfly exhibit now. Easton shopping center is a blast. Several fountains for kids to play in (make sure to bring their suits). A huge B&N is right there--bring your teacher's discount card. Brio's is a yummy restaurant--right next to one set of the fountains. A fun place to eat is the North Market, just north of downtown near the convention center. Homestead Park (on the nw part of town) has water guns and great play structures. A lot depends on which part of town you're staying in. Hope you have fun (we're actually heading south, and I'm trying to find fun stuff to do in southern NC and Charleston SC). I wanted to stop in Cumberland Gap, but their hotels are full on the weekends we'd be passing through.

We had a little one here today (altho not even in the same universe as the OP). I was quizzing the kids at dinner about various things and asked ds11 what happened in 1215. DD5 answered "the croissant was invented?" And who knows, maybe it was. Laura

Brindee, I couldn't agree more! Laura

We do skip, but I go over some questions orally just to make sure that they know certain concepts. It has taken a lot of pressure off of me to start at say lesson 25 rather than one as I know we will finish the book even if we take days off. I also end the school year w/another program--usually MUS. Laura

We have used both Saxon and MUS--in the same year. Both have enabled my dc to work independently. In Saxon, they read the lesson and then do the problems. They come to me when they're stuck. But, I always ask them if they've reread the instructions--esp. on material from previous lessons. This is why I like Saxon--it tells us which lesson to go back to if we need help. MUS has been totally independent. I have been very happy w/both programs and the kids' test scores are great. However, I've been toying w/the idea of switching to Singapore to get more word problems (I'd probably keep Saxon as our spine though). And I am concerned with the teacher intensity. Good luck, Laura

Wow, you guys are creative! StaceyTea, I'm planning on using the workboxes b/c I am organizationally challenged. Laura

Wow, I feel so lame compared to all of you. We're still trying to find a schedule that works for us, but mostly we're on par w/the public school schedule. My dreams of summer school get quashed quickly by both the kids and demands on my own time. We do a little math and Latin over the summer, but not near as much as I'd like. Of course, reading is a given, but still.... Laura

The various reading lists last year just paralyzed me. This year I'm following the suggestions in LCC. For your year, he lists Fav. Med. Tales, Tales from Mabinigion, for the first term. For the second and third: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and for the fourth: The Adventures of Robin Hood. He provides suggestions for various versions of these tales. This doesn't include the hourly independent reading. But, it helps me not to feel so overwhelmed. Laura

I give my dd9 $5/week for most of the chores you listed. As long as there isn't any whining. Plus, now I make her pay for a lot more of the things she wants. She's a saver and has a decent account growing. Laura

I agree w/the PP. I just started using narration w/ds last year w/SOTW to make sure he was listening and to get him to organize his thoughts. We didn't do dictation. But, I also wondered about whether or not I should have him do it. I'm curious to see any other responses. Laura