:iagree:I actually turn this off when it comes on the radio. I don't like being equated with the children in the family.

Personally, I would use one of the many free skirt patterns. I don't make my own patterns, but I do adjust pre-made patterns. The time you need will really be based on how simple the skirt will be. If you are just doing an elastic waistband, it would extremely easy, but if you are making a fitted waistband, it will take a bit more work. If you need darts a little more planning would be involved. If you really want to make your own, I would suggest that you spend the first session making the pattern. You will need to take measurements and draw the pattern. You could spend the remaining time planning the skirts that you will make--length, fabric, etc.

I did Couch to 5K and didn't lose a pound! I was definitely in better shape, though. Last February, I started a Boot Camp program that uses P90X and Insanity -type exercises. I've done videos from both. I really like the P90X videos for weight exercises and Insanity for aerobics. I lost 10 pounds (out of the 20 I would like to lose) in the first month with the boot camps. (I did not change my diet, because I'm eating pretty well, already. And I have some other medical issues which prevent weight loss.) Lately, I've been doing the weight program (which contains cardio) 3 times a week and running twice. I was so proud of getting to the 5K that I don't want to lose it! That's just my experience. In truth, you need to do the program that you will keep up with. Make sure that you have some muscle-building, because that will help you lose weight faster and it makes you look good too!

My dd loved SOTW, so I can't help you with that, but I think that you will get plenty out of just doing the reading and the activities. I don't even think that you need to repeat it next year. Have you tried to get a history encyclopedia out of the library just to see if she likes that format better?

I'm not really who you are looking for, but LOF took over as our math program too. We are only in Beginning Algebra, but I really like the looks of the future books. I'm assuming that if my dd ever needs a little more work on a subject, I can add something to supplement LOF. I know that there are others on the HS board that have gone farther in it, so you might want to ask your question there.

We worked through LCI. I was sometimes confused in it. We have just started First Form latin, and I love it. It is so much easier to follow and understand.

We added LOF pre-algebra when dd was in Singapore 5A/B. DD liked it so much that LOF became her main program and I supplemented with Singapore 6A/6B. I thought that I would have dd do all of the LOF pre-algebra books, but she was getting bored, so now she doing LOF Beginning Algebra. I just added Patty Paper Geometry as a supplement (which she loves). DD likes LOF so much that we will continue with it through high school, although I will probably supplement with other books sometimes.

I started history early with my daughter (also an early reader) and it is still her favorite subject. Our history consisted of lots of read-alouds. I highly recommend SOTW over MOH at the younger ages though. IMO, MOH is better for older children. We used the SOTW Activity Guide; dd did the coloring pages and the maps. We did narrations orally; I typed them up and put them into a timeline. (I don't really recommend a timeline at that age though unless you want to do all of the work.) You may find that you will need to edit some parts of the reading as you go depending on your dd's sensitivity.

I was another frustrated math-loving child who was held back from algebra. Don't do it! Algebra is fun! There are so many rabbit trails that you can take once you get there. Once your son has his facts down, there is no reason to hold him back.

We're in Colorado too and participated in WATS last year. My dd did the EXPLORE test through them last year and qualified for the recognition program in May. It was really good for her to gain confidence in her abilites and I think that it will help her work harder. (She didn't really know that she was that smart!) This year, she is old enough do to either SAT or ACT, but I have'nt decided which yet. My choice may be based on the test dates, because she wants to take EXPLORE once more. WATS has classes held at CO School of Mines in the summer, but they are very expensive. I might consider them in the future because they can qualify for high school credit.

A big hit for us at that age was nature study. I chose a topic (birds, frogs, etc.) and then we got books out of the library for her to read, or that we read together. Then she made a page using stickers or drawings about that subject. I typed up her narration of the subject, but if you don't want to spend that much time on it, you could have her cut out or write info. When you put it all together, she'll have a nature journal.

We practiced for a week before the test and only used a cheap calculator. We chose a large one so dd didn't need to worry about hitting the wrong buttons.

I've written and read a lot of resumes. If you have a lot of experience, a two-page resume is fine and probably necessary. (The only time I saw one-page resumes were for "kids" just out of school.) Just don't put a bunch of irrelevant information on it. For my older jobs, I put where I worked, a brief (one sentence) description of what I did and the dates. These were on the second page under other relevant experience. I've had a lot of negative reaction toward functional resumes. I've tried them for both my dh and myself. People usually think that you have something to hide.

Nope. I take the weekends off. During the week, I workout 4-5 days. (It was always five, but I'm taking a bit of a break.) On weekends, we usually do something active as a family on one of the days. For us, it is usually tennis or skiing. I think that it is good for your body to get a break and rest.

How did I miss this the first time! :lol: If you are leaving your dd at a pool party and need to put sunscreen on her before you leave, do not take off your diamond wedding ring and put it on top of the car... and then drive off. You will spend hours walking the seven miles to your home and only find the cheap ring two miles away at a corner. You will continue to look for glints along that road for years.

Yes. If she is asking to read, you should teach her. FWIW, my dd would not tolerate phonics instruction. (I did not choose to destroy her love for reading by requiring it.) We used Bob books and moved from that to readers from the library. We've never done formal phonics instruction, although I would point rules out informally as we were reading together. She reads at a college level now, so I think it worked okay for us. :D

I think Lit guides are a great way to destroy a child's love for reading. For the younger, how about making a lap book instead with drawings or copywork? We didn't do any lit guides until fifth grade when my dd did 3 for the year. There was some value to doing those, but it was a lot less tedious when we just talked about the questions orally. I've scheduled 3-5 for this year--6th grade, but I'm going to drop them if they take up too much time.

We have gone through a very similar situation with dd. Initially, I moved her up in SS, because being with non-reading peers, when she was reading, made a huge difference. By 7-8 years old, though, we moved her back with her age peers and, at age 11, she is still with them. I want her to have a childhood as long as possible and so many kids now are growing up too quickly. I've also found that I can "accelerate" dd's grade a bit if I need to get into certain classes or programs. Last year, to get into certain classes, I called her a 6th grader, but she's repeating 6th grade this year!

We used the Science in a Nutshell rock kit. This was a great introduction to learning how to identify and analyze rocks. Our best rock guide was a local one. It is so frustrating to get a big book and then try to figure out which one might be in our area. The local guide was excellent because it was smaller and had our specific rocks.

I've used Beach Body for the last 6 months. I've done Brazilian Butt Lift once and it is a workout, but I couldn't stop laughing at the instructor. I bought some workout videos from Amazon once and the reviews there were really helpful.

We only used it one year (4th), but loved it! I wish that I had found it earlier. We had the workbook, but never used that.

:grouphug: I'm so sorry. However, I am impressed by your commitment to do the right thing.

Yes. My dd is 11 and she still loves read-aloud times. My dh reads at bed-time and I read during school-time.

Are you in Aesop or Homer?

I think that it's a very nice book, you just have to have the initiative to use it. :D The lists are good, but I really like the extra pages in the back with spelling rules, etc.