[Random foods poll... do you eat....?]

Love, love, love, tomato and mayo sandwiches. I will be trying the pineapple and mayo. I'd never heard of it, sounds good.

[What is your secret weirdness?]

When I drink a carbonated beverage I swish it around in my mouth to get rid of the bubbles before I swallow.

[Pac NW funny]

 

INSTALLING Pacific NW SUMMER V.2012.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

██████░░░░░░░░ 44% completed.

 

 

 

 

Install delayed, please wait. :toetap05:

 

Installation failed. Please try again.:smash:

 

404 error: Season not found.

 

Season "Summer" cannot be located. The season you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

 

 

Please try again later :leaving:

 

Oh my goodness I love this. This sums up exactly how I have felt this weekend. Last weekend DH tore down our back patio cover. Big mistake, no gutters and a fairly decent waterfall blocking my usually lovely view of the backyard. Not to mention our poor puppy in, out, in, out between rain showers. So thank you, that made my day. :001_smile:

[A Sunday Chat]

What we're doing this weekend- Trying to stay dry, we actually spent the weekend mostly at home not doing much because of sporatic downpours. We did make it to church today though.

 

Temperature- 61 (It can't be summer, it can't be summer.)

 

Super power of choice today would be- The ability to fly, I might make it to the beach a little more often. :D

[Happy math scores with TT!]

Your report just made me smile. I'm so happy for both of you!:party:

[Re-introduce yourself, no matter how long or short you've been here]

I'm Jen and am a horrible lurker. I love reading here but seldom post. :blush:

I've been homeschooling for 14 years and started with my first as a single mom. That one has graduated and is at college and I have added three more(and am no longer single.:001_smile:) We live in the rainy, green, lush state of Oregon. Our reasons for homeschooling have changed over the years. At first I did it because it seemed wonderful to not miss out on so much time with my dear ones and that is still true, but I have added that home educating is such an incredible gift (even when I'm tired, frustrated and someone's climbing the walls) that I want to persevere and do it well. That is not exactly the track record from my youth, a worthy turn-around.

[Discouraging Math SAT score]

The Chalkdust SAT/ACT prep course is wonderful and easy to go through, I would definitely get it. He gives great suggestions, strategies, and a comprehensive review.

[A few prayers for my new little one please?]

Praying for you. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

[Did your infant sleep with you?]

I voted move to bed on first waking but we are all over the place. All of my dc have been breastfed on demand and nursed from 1 year to almost 3 years for my little one now. First DD slept with me from birth and often times on my chest when she wasn't nursing. Those nursing hormones kept me from falling into to deep of sleep. My Ped at the time told me her heart rate and breathing would respond to mine, I don't know if that was her opinion or ??? Second Ds was a terrible sleeper waking up all of the time, my husband didn't want him to co sleep so he was right by my bed and we were both exhausted. He would wake up every hour. Third Dd slept by me in a bassinet and was a great sleeper, she was also my shortest nurser weening right after turning 1. Fourth Dd co sleeps when she wakes up and we all sleep well. She'll be three this month and still nurses, mainly at nap and night.

[Can I hear some Teaching Textbooks high school sucess stories?]

My Dd used Teaching Textbooks Algebra II and Geometry and then took her SAT. Based on her math SAT score she does not need any further math for her college major and they are giving her the 3 General Education math credits. She tested out. I can't tell you how happy she was and how much confidence that gave me in using TT with my younger children. This was with the non-automated program.

[What will you be doing this summer?]

Ds 11- Life of Fred Pre Algebra with Biology, Teaching Character Through Literature for personal reading books, The Bridge to the Latin Road

 

Dd 9- Life of Fred Honey, Teaching Character Through Literature for personal reading books, The Bridge to the Latin Road

[What were your Hits & Misses for the 2011-2012 school year?]

Hits:

 

Spelling Power

Teaching Textbooks

Portraits of American Girlhood

American Girl Teachers Guides

SWI-A

 

Misses(only because we never got to them):

 

Winterpromise Knights of the Square Table

Music and Moments with the Masters

 

Over all it was a good curriculum pick year.

Now, on to next year (do you hear trumpet fanfare, I do.)

[funniest read alouds ever]

I second Winnie the Pooh. My kids and I had tears in our eyes we would be laughing so hard and we were always quoting it to my husband when he would come home. :lol:

[So what is your absolute favorite curriculum that you wish you had found earlier?]

MFW Kindergarten (I have used this with only one child and wished I'd known about it for the other two, such an enjoyable year.)

 

Phonetic Zoo

 

Times Tales

[So what is your absolute favorite curriculum that you wish you had found earlier?]

IEW Student Writing Intensives

 

Teaching Textbooks

 

First language Lessons (for my oldest)

[What do the children of the hive want to be when they grow up?]

DD 19~wants to be an animator at Pixar.

DS 10~wants to be an engineer until he has enough money to become a pilot and then he will be a missionary pilot. This has been his plan since he was 6.

DD 9~wants to be a teacher or a doctor but dad wants me to be a doctor.(hehe cute)

DD 2~Says she wants to be a "Duhhy"(ducky). I definitely expected an animal when I asked. :001_smile:

[How old will YOU be when ...]

I'll be 60 after DD has her 4 year degree. Dh will be 76 and I hope we'll retire into the lovely years of grand-parenting together. I can see the sunset way,way,way in the distance. :001_smile:

[American Girl Magazine? Any subscribers?]

My just turned 9 yr old loves reading through them, especially all the craft and party ideas.

[What's your ringtone?]

Air on G by Bach. When it rings people say "I hear wedding music." :001_smile:

It's one of my favorite pieces!

 

My oldest has my youngest meowing set as her ringtone.

[What is your favorite cookbook?]

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book is our "go to" cookbook. My DH was just commenting on how accurate the recipes are and that there is minimal tweaking needed.

[which of these 3]

Have you looked into First Language Lessons? It is verbal and visual and you are directly involved reading scripted lessons to her which allows you to learn as well. I was very poor in grammar and have learned so much through teaching my children. I will admit I do not know anything about the other programs you mentioned so I thought I would way in with one I do know something about. :001_smile:

[S/O poll question: do you plan to homeschool through high school?]

We are most definitely going through high school. My oldest just graduated and was homeschooled from kindergarten through highschool. There are always things that can be changed up to meet the needs of each child as they are on their homeschool journey. High school at home was an amazing experience for us. Definitely challenging but incredibly worth it.

[What are you using next year?]

It's always nice to see it in black and white so here it goes.

 

 

18dd

Heading off to college on the 25th

Art-Cinema/Media double Major

 

 

10ds

Math-U-See Zeta

Spelling Power

Portraits of American Girlhood(willingly going along with his sister)

Chess using Knights of the Square Table

Music and Moments with the Masters

Cornerstone Adventures in Art

God and the History of Art

Beginning Piano Lessons

 

8dd

Saxon 5/4

Spelling Power

Portraits of American Girlhood

Chess using Knights of the Square Table

Music and Moments with the Masters

Cornerstone Adventures in Art

God and the History of Art

 

 

2dd

Playing with Playdoh

Building with blocks

Coloring (hopefully on a desirable surface:tongue_smilie:)

 

I hope all of you have a wonderful school year!

[What are you reading?]

Currently reading Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze to the kiddos, usually in the backyard on the swinging bench, sipping cold, black coffee. Great book! We're still waiting for summer here.

[They've built the "Up" house (in Utah)]

That is so cool. I had to bookmark the video for my daughter. She is a big Pixar fan and will get a huge kick out of that. I'll probably hear a lot of "Oh,I wish I could buy it." Thanks for sharing! :001_smile: