Thank you so much for all of this info. It's super helpful!

Has it been on par with previous years? I know a lot of people dislike Abeka, but it really has worked for us for grammar. Thanks for your input!

Obsessing over these choices is starting to become a full time job. DD has been hsed since 3rd grade. From the beginning, we've used SL and MUS. We've bounced around a bit with language arts, but this last year we used Writing tales and Abeka pretty successfully. Our plan is to HS for 2 more years and then public school for high school. I just read through the logic recommendations in WTM and I am so confused about next year. Some of what is rolling through my head (in no particular order)- MATH- pre algebra, do I stick with MUS? Do I go for another curriculum? Is MUS enough for pre alg and Alg 1? History- In light of what I've learned from WTM, I feel like SL is imbalanced. I love the book selection, but we have NEVER finished a core on time. It's just too much, especially the RAs. I am not terribly committed to the uber history focus ala WTM. I'm not enthusiastic about pouring over original sources. I'd like to see dd do the outlining and more of the written summaries (I'd like this in history and science). I'm not sure if I should try to modify SL or just add some SL books to another program. I've looked at TOG (It seems very time intensive to me, but our library has a huge portion of the books that they recommend) and History Odyssey(Can I keep this interesting enough?). I'd like to do ancients next year. Science- We've done all sorts of programs in the past. I'd like to do a general science next year. I'm considering going the text book + interesting experiments route. I'm considering BJU. This subject doesn't stress me out, because it's a natural interest and somehow we always find something to work on. Writing- I have IEW TWSS and plan on implementing it. I plan on looking at IEW's ancients program at the convention. Grammar- I'm really not sure. I like having a separate grammar program and dd likes programs that are heavy on diagramming. I'm pretty sure we're done with Abeka, due to no one recommending it after 6th grade. I'm still going to look at it at the convention. We only use the grammar portions. I've also looked over CLE (it's a strong possibility), R & S (not my cuppa), and GWG (also a possibility). It's crazy to me that after this many years of hsing, I could be in a place where I have no idea what to do next year. Add to this a whopping dose of BURN OUT and bad attitudes (myself included) and I'm really not in the mood to sort this all out. I'm burdened to put some more fun into our days, and also to ready dd for public school. She's not behind, but I'd say my writing expectations need to be ramped up. I'm looking for ANY and ALL input. I will be at a convention in 3 weeks, and I'm really hoping to make some decisions. Thanks!!

We did a 13 hour drive with kids that were 2, 4, 6, and 9. It wasn't bad at all. We got an early start, and they watched dvds and slept. Your trip sounds like a lot of fun, enjoy!

:iagree: Exactly. I often view the board on my iPhone and clicking the right spot on that tiny screen can be hard. I accidentally click on profiles on a regular basis.

We have several times. The outer banks of NC (I think we stayed in Waves), Siesta Key and Casey Key in Florida (Sarasota area). All 3 were amazing vacations.

I'll probably go back to school and become an RN. My original plan was to do that when my youngest entered K. So, I'm delaying my plan by about 13 years!

Go! If MIL is that difficult to begin with, why worry about what she thinks? Just go.

You beat me to it! I was just logging on to re-sign up for part 2, because I missed it last night. I'm so glad that they recorded it! It's even better than live because I can pause it. For part one, my family was driving me crazy with interruptions.

When my dh had his, we had hit our out of pocket max for the year (read- free) and he kept rescheduling. He FINALLY went through with it on New Year's Eve. It was memorable!

I have nothing meaningful to add here. Just want to say that if I thought a tummy tuck could be part of the package, I don't think I would have insisted on dh having the V.

ITA on the paper. It wrinkles very easily too. Content wise, I'm very happy with the logic section.

My dh had some epic battles with them when we lived in the south. He would recount them to me as if he was facing down a bull in Spain. I am happy to report that California is Palmetto Bug free!

The causeway is no problem for me. The Huey P. Long Bridge is terrifying.

I just turned 29.

I'm not even close. My 12yo is going to be on almost all new curriculum next year. I'm rethinking so much of what we've been using. On the upside, I have my littles pretty much nailed down. I am in desperate need of a convention and thank God, I think I'll be making it to one in July.

You just summed up so much of what I've been thinking about the past couple of days. We've done 3 years of SL, but after reading through the logic section in the new addition of WTM, I am clearly seeing where sl is lacking. The only area that I'd say I'm not aligned with WTM is the hyper focus on history. We're just not that classical. What I'd like to do is add much more writing, outlining and research. I am completely in love with the way sl schedules things for us and yet, we have never finished a core because of how over-scheduled it is. I'm considering a few different options right now- 1) modifying SL, probably to the point of not using their schedule. 2) Some other curriculum- TOG, History Odyssey, omnibus???? 3) Planning my own stuff, which is probably a really bad idea. I need structure. I hope we get some btdt answers!

I miss it too. Last year I didn't go to any convention and that was hard. This year I'm going, but I can only hope that it will live up to FPEA.

I really truly think that living in Florida creates a real need for sun. We moved to NorCal at the beginning if the winter and I was severely effected by the endless weeks of no sun. This week, Florida has had constant rain and I've noticed a lot if status updates (facebook) from friends there who are feeling really lethargic. The only thing that keeps me going in the winter is the promise of an amazing summer. I do miss Florida.

Twice now I've been super annoyed by ladies who I felt like were staring at my disabled son too long, only to find out that they were moms of disabled kids. One was specificaly scoping out his wheelchair, because they were about to order a new one for her child. It's a good attitude check.

This happened to 2 of my friends (mother/daughter), at exactly that same point. They have gone back down on the dosage and are continuing to get the shots. They haven't had a problem since. hth, Shannon

I'm not sure this is entirely healthy, so I won't be listing them all out. The worst was when my MIL blamed me for my son's disability. Still, after that and many other offenses, dh and I take the approach of extra grace and firm boundaries. She's important to us, and we try to remember that when she gets hard to deal with.

Those are our rules exactly. Except the deleting messages, but I do randomly flip through them and her email at will. And often.

My kids get an hour of screen time a day. My 4yo rarely uses any, unless there is a movie on that she wants to watch. My 6yo mostly uses his on the wii. My 12yo uses hers on the computer. The kids watch American idol with us and that's really it for actual tv viewing.

I would have no problem with that situation, as long as it was under a week. I can do a week of just about anything. If it's more than a week, maybe you could ask her if she can split the time between your place and somewhere else. If it's just one night, then I have no idea what the big deal is. I think you need to let your yes mean yes.