The Biltmore in Asheville is great. It should be about 4 hrs. from mid-TN.

That is about a perfect 10 on the cute scale.

I read further down on the site and an organization had a great idea to use this fun day as an outreach. cool idea! Iron Gate Ministries, a feeding program in Tulsa, OK, that offers a hot meal to around 400 people every day, is collecting towels for the homeless: "This month, Iron Gate is asking for clean, new or gently used towels for those who are homeless. They want to make sure everyone has a towel. Can you imagine not only being homeless, but not having the very basics things we take for granted? How do you ever feel clean when you are living on the street? I think of all the extra necessities we have in our closets at our house. We have many towels, blankets, toothpaste, bath gels, soaps. And we do take it for granted that if we run out, we will simply buy more. I don't think we can end homelessness by just donated towels and clothes and food. But, we can add dignity to the lives of those who are homeless. Think about donating some towels to Iron Gate or other agencies this week. A small thing to you, might mean the world to someone else."

We always give a gift at both the Christmas and spring recitals and it's usually a card to a restaurant.

I either use my Kitchen Aid mixer or I sometimes put all ingredients in a gallon zip-lock, squish, form and slide it out of the bad into a pan. no mess.

great! now my girls are playing PacMan instead of doing school.:lol:

Your list makes me happy. You may be my new best friend. :D

Never did. Never will. I keep in current contact with those I want to in life and have no desire to find (or friend) those I knew 100 yrs. ago. I also don't need to network in such a forum. But there are few folks who seem to like FB;)

:iagree: We have one. My dd broke her finger twice with a basketball. I do not refuse to let them play with a ball. Kids can be very badly hurt just as easily falling out of a tree. But as was previously stated- we all assess risks differently. C'est la vie.

All of them, all of them-everyone version. ...but I must say, Goren is mighty full up with odd&sexy.;)

We always to geography on Monday. That way (hopefully;)) they have logistical context for the reading.

:iagree:

:iagree: with what she said!

science. My eyes even glazed over while typing the word.

:iagree: I was beginning to think I was crazy. I truly loved it. I found it to be quite a compelling and fascintating story. I don't need all my books to be full of happy, happy, joy, joy.

My dh is very willing to read over/study any material that I ask when I am needing a second opinion or another point of view. He knows that I value his opinion and he is a very engaged sounding board for curriculum discussions. This has been particularly wonderful as we are in the high school years. I can't imagine him not willing to fully engage in discussions involving our children's education. The final decision is mine, but his input is invaluable.

When mine were babies, the normal bodily process of teeth coming in *seemed * to be painful to them. ;)

:iagree: with everything Mindy said. That is the same route we have taken.

Kudos for trying. :hurray: Maybe you've at least given her something to think about. Possibly the parents of some of the 4th graders could let them know how their child enjoyed the lesson. I'm with you on the twaddle stuff.

Latin. dd #2 has chosen to add German in addition to Latin for high school.

TOG-best purchase I EVER made Classical Writing First Form Latin

I have 3 girls, 13, 14, 15, and in all honesty, they have been very easy.

:iagree: with posters who say the format is well done. It is the most clearly (at least for us with little Latin experience) explained Latin that I have looked at/used.

Writing skills-specifically narration/dictation and modeling. I wish I had never wasted time on planned creative writing when they were young.