have you tried amazon? 7 bucks a bag (free shipping if you have prime) how can you beat that? they have JO-JO's too! Good stuff!

I only drink Jim's coffee. Everything else taste like acid after having it. It is organic and fair trade (don;t want the exploitation of 5 year olds on my soul!), for a better price than starbucks. It's a high-quality coffee, so you get a better cup for less bean. You can find it in amazon (subscribe and save no less!) I LOVE JIM! and his coffee too! http://www.jimsorganiccoffee.com/

I immediately thought of the Dr Sears book The Successful Child. He and wife Martha do a wonderful job pointing out that success is not money, college, career, possessions, etc. It is a great read and really can put things into perspective!

Oh, Rosie. I think you are my long lost twin! Everything you write makes me laugh at myself a bit. I need to print out your quote & tape it my my (ahem) 'fridge! Maybe I can buy tons of items at the local crafts store to engrave a plaque that will never be completed. BTW- I can forward many links for grey water systems, DH installs them.

Thank you.

no way. I even looked it up on mapquest to be sure. You will buzz across Staten Island, but you are dealing with the Belt Parkway during rush-hour! I would give 2 hours minimum to be sure. There are 2 bridges involved here too & leaving NJ in NY might be tough, can you get an easy-pass to get through faster? What date are you flying?

A quick backstory- I had a very upsetting birth experience with my first, had many issues to deal with with the second. I used hypnobirthing to deal with my fears and prepare for DD#2. The woman who taught our class worked as an ICU nurse at the local university hospital. She had a fellow nurse who went through the same thing while we were taking our classes. Our teacher said that within 24 hours of a session with her, the baby flipped itself over- at 39 weeks! My 2 both flopped around straight to the end, that is how I knew #2 was on her way, the 'baby cha-cha' stopped. Here is the link to the classes we took. Very helpful. http://www.hypnobirthing.com/ Blessings. Robyn:grouphug:

Ah, yes, the LOFT. Very nice room. we had one last January when we stayed- super upgrade! The Family Room is $99.00 I guess. The girl I spoke to said the rate may increase with room upgrade. SOrry I should have mentioned that, didn't even think of it 'till now. Guess I need to call back a.s.a.p and book before they run out! Thought I had a few days to decide what dates we would go! DD#2 turns 2 the first week of Oct. So second week it is! Oh, and I should add- they are all VERY nice there (at Pocono)!

800-768-9653

My DD is the same age- we are using OPGTTR and they start with short vowels then consonants in order. Seems to be working for us. I had started with "playful Learning' published by La Leche in the 80's, it is a pre-school program guide. They do the letters in this order (to teach letters not reading): 1. m u d f i g 2. w e s t b x 3.p a n c k j z 4.h o v r l y q we incorporated phonic into this order & it worked o.k., so personally I don't know if order really means much? I could be VERY wrong about that & would like to know so if I am....

We went to the Poconos location & that is where I called (I hope I called them direct).

Other than home schooling how-to books, I am reading- Don Quioxte- translation by Walter Starkie third read of American Jezebel- Eve LaPlante (absolutely my favorite non-fiction!) Always working on a Miss Julia by Ann Ross (I LOVE her so much, very fun easy read) I find tons of great reads featured in American Spirit magazine (DAR publication) What great lists,I need to check into so many listed before me! Thanks for this thread!

I think it was here that I was told Great Wolf Lodge puts out a home schoolers discount for $99.00 a night during October. I've been watching their website since last January & hadn't seen the offer so I called yesterday. I was told they do not advertise the offer- but, if you call and say you are a home schooler- they will give you the offer which starts at $99.00 a night! The current offer runs from oct 2008 to oct. 30 2009 for select days. I was really looking forward to a home schoolers weekend where we could meet other like-minded families..... can't get enough of them! But, it is such a great offer I just had to share!

and you forgot the ending! for God did not send the Son into the world in order that he might judge the world; rather, in order that the world might be saved through him. that to me is a loving God. I agree wholeheartedly with you & hope (as I scanned down) that this does not get heated. How ironic and argument over whether God is loving or vengeful (yes a bit of an exaggeration on my part- please don't bite!)

Interested myself having lived with an ill (and handicapped) parent for almost 20 years....

They are beautiful!

DITTO. Anything she wants for the most part. I do see that she uses a mechanical pencil now and then to keep her from pressing too hard (she uses either crayola or my drafting pencils depending on which building we are in!) She has wonderful handwriting & enjoys writing with different tools/ colors. HTH! I have bought dry erase boards several times for my girls and let them (scribble for DD@) practice their writing in the car with those- check the dollar section!

Can I chime in here. HAs anyone seen the artisan bread in 5 minutes a day book? It is very similar to the no-knead recipe that was in the NYTimes a few years back. There is a website also: http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/ hope my 2cents helps!

every state has a land grant school- if you google state extension (which most are) or land grant and state, you'll find out what yours is. I think most states require volunteer time as well as payment for master gardener classes. here is the link for virginia's extension program, I did a search on their site for junior master gardener & this is what came up- http://www.ext.vt.edu/search.php?searchtype=vcesearch&q=junior+master+gardener&cx=013920026716507297540%3Aed1zydnh49c&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&x=0&y=0 HTH!

How wonderful for you! Your girl can read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) Boo to sour grapes SIL!

I couldn;t get it to work in safari or firefox.... weird.

I personally am offended by this product. Hooter hider? How dare they. I do not have HOOTERS, they are breasts and they nourish and sustain my children.

:grouphug: You seem to be an absolutely lovely person. I'll go get a tissue now.

Hi all. I have been brushing up on my rusty spanish using the free mango software from my library. DD#1 is very interested when I am working on it. I thought I could start her off with a bit, wondering what program we should use- she is in K this year, will be 5 come November & is very interested. We had a man who is a native speaker work for us until this year (thanks economy & wet weather!) who has taught her a bit over the years- hola was one of her 1st words! She just used is naturally... so funny from a 7 month old! Input is always greatly appreciated! Robyn

We have the text, activity and story books. Bought them from singapore directly. We have not officially started K yet, but have done a few days of Singapore math, DD enjoys the program & is excited to be doing Kindergarten work! This is the link to the set we purchased, not sure if it is the set everyone has been talking about here, I have the feeling I've missed something somewhere.... http://www.singaporemath.com/Earlybird_Math_Standards_Ed_s/135.htm This is from their site: "Kindergarten If your child is entering Kindergarten, you can use the Earlybird Kindergarten A and B. You only need to get the textbooks. Please see this FAQ for more information. You may also want to get the optional readers and activity books. For the readers, you need the set of 10 small books, not the "big books" which are the same but are for the classroom. Please read this FAQ for more information. Some parents use the Essential Mathematics as their main curriculum. Both Earlybird Mathematics and Essential Mathematics can also be used in conjunction with each other. Kindergarten math is a relaxed program, emphasizing hands-on activities to learn math concepts. These activities are given at the bottom of the pages in both the Earlybird Kindergarten Math and the Essential Math books. The textbooks are mainly used to wrap-up the concepts. There is not a lot of "seat work". If you want primarily workbook pages, you can get the Power Math." HTH! Robyn