I don't know if this will help because I can't tell from your posts how curly your hair is but here goes. First, if you are anywhere near Austin, TX you should go to my girl:D She is a dream with curls on any level. I do have curly hair - kind of big curls and waves. Too curly for short cuts like Jenifer Goodwin's. I'd look like I had bedhead all the time. Six months ago my stylist recommended that I stop using shampoo all together. It works very well for curls. I use Giovanni Conditioner with Tea Tree Oil (slightly astringent) worked into my scalp in the shower and their leave in conditioner afterwards. Two weeks in, you'll think your hair is a ball of grease, then the magic happens. My curl bounced back, my hair is healthy, nothing about it is dry and it's not greasy. The feeling took some getting used to (my husband got so tired of me asking if my hair looked greasy) but, now, it's great. I hate getting my hair shampooed b/c I have to start all over. I got my hair colored today so shampoo was a must. I am now soaking it in coconut oil to speed up getting my oils back so I'm not a frizz head tomorrow. I am a total convert. Girls with curls should give it a go. If you do, know that just at the point your are getting ready to grab that shampoo means you are very close to setting your hair right again:) I don't like high maintenance hair. 5 min. w/a diffuser makes me impatient. Having a great stylist that can cut curls and no shampoo have changed my hair completely. I should also say that before this I was doing all the wrong things and convinced that my pregnancies and age were destroying my hair. Turns out it was shampoo, using no conditioner, mousse and hair spray that were wrecking my hair.

Wow! A Cardiologist that won't send statements? I'm totally amazed. We deal with lots of drs. (dd#1 has special needs) and, man, I've got paperwork coming out of my ears. If a dr. didn't send me regular updates, he'd never get paid. Seriously. I would feel the constant need to make sure my payment was being received. Does the cardiologist work with a group of drs. or operate under the umbrella of a hospital? I don't know who would be the next person up to address the issue with but I'd find out.

Just got back from the movie. It will be impossible to warn her that the snake is coming up. He is in the movie a lot and is really vicious. If she's really phobic, I can't imagine she'll be able to sit through the movie b/c I don't think she'll be quick enough to shield her eyes EVERY time the snake is on screen.

I voted no and I have a story to go with it:D I saw our neighbor girl smoking one day and asked my friend (who has teens) later that week, "Should I say something to her dad?" My friend said, "No. It's none of your business." I heartily disagreed but did not say anything. A couple of days later I saw her outside smoking again... along with her dad. Since then I've realized I disagree greatly with many of his parenting choices; however, it is none of my business. My 7 yr. old dd no longer goes over there;) but his choices are not my business. It's a typical household and I had no reason to believe he would let his 15 yr. old smoke but I was wrong. I'd tread carefully if I was going to "out" somebody's kid. It's my experience that many parent's don't like for others to point out their children's falterings. Again, I disagree and have no problem with someone sharing an honest concern about my children but I've discovered I'm unique in that area.

This thread came up on my Omnibus search. It's very helpful. I have a 7th grader who has done Ancients, Middle Ages, and American History. I was looking at doing Omnibus III. He knows the VP timeline and has been introduced to all of the major topics but, even before I read this thread, I was wondering how Omnibus would cover the history part of the time period. The website says that Omnibus is worth a history, literature and religion credit. Cathy Duffy says, depending on the amount of writing, it might be worth a composition credit, too. How can VP give it a history credit if it doesn't cover history? I'm genuinely curious because I know that Modern history is my son's weakness but he'll just die if I make him go back to Ancients and Middle Ages. We've done them to death! I've researched my other options - SL in particular but I'm not particularly impressed with the book choices. And I'm concerned about the history component there as well. Plus, SL and I didn't get along when I tried it a few years ago. I really want to commit to Omnibus because I'd like to follow the Scholars program - one of the degrees that requires all Omnibus' to be completed.

Interesting. I tutor Foundations and Essentials and I also attended a practicum recently. I haven't heard anything about it. If it's true (and it very well be - CC creating their own cards is right up their alley), that's a real shame since we have a number of new families that will invest $100 in VP cards only to have to put them aside in a year or two. Hmmmmmm. That kind of rubs me the wrong way, yk? I'm going to have to investigate. We do have new EEL Guides that are not mandatory for now but I imagine they will be in a year or two.

I found some samples of the TM on the VP website. They don't look absolutely necessary but more convenient. They have worksheets, tests, and activities to go with each card. I could probably manage without the TM but I know me. I have lofty goals of putting all of those things together myself and then it never gets done. I think dd would enjoy the projects. She also loves worksheet/test type things. Go figure:tongue_smilie:

:) Bump

Nothing works for me but Topo Chico. It's a bubbly mineral water but tastes way better than the others out there. It's from Mexico. I live in TX so we can get it here easily. I'm not sure if it's available everywhere. It's bubbliness makes me feel like I'm drinking soda. Tons more bubbles than other waters. I'm pretty critical and hooked on sodas. I even prefer straight Topo Chico to other bubbly water w/added sweeteners. They can't fool me:tongue_smilie: But Topo Chico does it for me.

What do you mean CC and new cards?

I have a 2nd grader. We are LCCers and also attend Classical Conversations. VP history and Bible fit very nicely into our current plan. I'm also considering following their literature schedule. If the history and Bible come with TM, why do I need the lesson plans? I looked at their samples online and, frankly, it looks very basic. For ex., do the first timeline card, discuss the title, read the back, etc. Is there more to it that I can't see from the sample? It also looks like it's geared for classroom use. Also, what is their literature lesson plan like? I'm just wondering if I'm missing something. Scheduling my math, latin, spelling is nothing. Do a lesson or two a day. What's the benefit of VPs lesson plans for the other subjects? I have Homeschool Tracker and, if I ever figure out how to use it, I can make a basic schedule:tongue_smilie:

I spoke with VP yesterday about my son starting Omnibus III. He did 2 yrs. of Ancients and we just finished the Middle Ages. He'll scream if we don't move forward. We are preparing for a possible entrance into their higher level diploma programs. The consultant I spoke with said it was fine to start with III. I - III are written for the logic stage (or they are classified as such now). I forgot where I read that but the consultant and I did discuss that particular aspect. The person I spoke with also had a 7th grade son who will start in the transitions class instead of Omnibus. She felt he needed a better overview of history and to work up to the load level of Omnibus.

So, we've had bunk beds for a couple of years but I just never paid much attention to the bedding part. I left it to my son to make things happen. This weekend I did an all out room switch, found beautiful sheets and comforters and sent the bunk beds to my 2 youngers' room. Now I'm concerned about the bedding issue. I have been googling and discovered bed caps, attached sheets and the like. They don't have near the aesthetic appeal of the quilt/sheets that I picked out. What do those of you dealing with bunk beds to keep the beds looking neat and made? I think that's my big concern. I paid a little more than I normally would for these quilts b/c they are adorable! But I don't think I'll even get to enjoy them if it takes an hour to tuck everything in to make the bed every morning. Ideas? Thoughts? Experience?

I've never understood why someone would contact me after I post a WTB but they do! I've had two for two posts work out great for me. I always search the FS threads but what I want always gets snatched up so, when I feel desperate, I post a WTB.

DS is more than bright and, really, this whole fraction/decimal/percent issue is the first time he's been frustrated with ANYTHING. He understands how to do the problems but the process doesn't make sense to him. For instance, the problem was 1.4 divided by .02. The answer is 70, a whole number. To him, when you divide something, you make it smaller so how can the answer be a larger number? I've explained it several different ways to him but it's just not taking.

Where are the AoPS samples? I can't find them.

The literature and history credits don't bother me so much but four classes in Theology on a transcript. I am a little concerned that they'll wonder what I was thinking;) Gooblink - I'm considering starting w/Omnibus III, too. Ds will kill me if I make him go back to the Ancients after get stuck there for 2 yrs. I'm interested in qualifying ds for the highest level diploma (and I gotta get him squared away now, of course) so I called VP yesterday to inquire if it made a difference if I did Omnibus out of order (I read that the first three are all written on the same level). I'm still waiting for someone to call me back. Can anyone answer my question? I would do III, I, II, then the rest in order. I just want to know if he'll still be able to qualify for the diploma program. I don't see why not?

We have the history but there are bible events - esp. in the beginning. Creation, Fall in the Garden, Cain and Abel, the Flood, Tower of Babel, +Joseph, + Moses, + Jesus. I'm guessing there are more bible ones in that specific set but history does incorporate bible events. *I'm referring to the VP card set - not sure if I made that clear the first time around.

Oh I like your system:lol: I am going to utilize it. I usually just make the loooooong lists. I'm a list maker:D

Interesting... so what texts do you like for explaining the "Why?", 8? Maybe Key to? Hmmmm, we've only used Singapore and Saxon. Maybe Singapore?

I get totally sucked into my catalogs! I end up making huge reading lists from them to make me feel better since I can't order EVERYTHING in them! Thankfully, I've finally found curricula that works for us and I love so that helps the "I need it all" feeling:D BUT I am dying over Omnibus - ds is in 7th next year so we could start and do them ALL:lol: I've read the threads on Omnibus and my homeschooling style would probably keep the text on the shelf BUT I want it! I have literally been carrying around my catalog for days - reading it over and over in bed, at swim practice, waiting in line, everywhere. The last thing I need to be doing is subscribing to this thread;)

Ds and I are not meeting eye to eye on his Saxon math. I am a rule follower in math, regardless of it I understand it or not. That's just me and I made through upper level math class just fine:) But my silly son insists on understanding the "Why?" behind everything:tongue_smilie: So far, no problem; however, recently, he got into multiplying/dividing fractions and decimals. The rules won't stick b/c he has to know the "Why?"! I planned on doing LoF Pre-Alg. this summer anyway so I thought I would just go ahead and order the fractions/decimals books, too. Will they tell him "Why?" and how long does it take to complete each book - just out of curiosity. He may not need to do the whole book. Thanks!

Thank you. I think I'm just nervous. Elementary was fine - it's pretty hard to screw that up if you just stick to basics but, now, I feel like I have to stay on course.

Ds will be in 7th next year, so I am mapping out his classes through high school. I am terrified I am going to handicap him by not teaching him the right classes or by not having an "official" diploma from some accredited school. Do homeschoolers who graduate from an online accredited program have an advantage or does it help put them on more equal footing with the peers who have attended a more typical school? I'm interested in the VP program but it looks like some pretty heavy lifting and I'm more of an LCC type - going deep rather than spreading wide. Thanks!

I knew it was Christian but was is VP's particular slant/religion?