We're in Wiesbaden and I have loved German summers! The hottest it's ever been was two weeks ago when it hit 90 deg, adn two nights ago it was pretty warm. Other than that, it's really temperate for us! We've only been to the pool a handful of times this summer. I remember lots of rain in June/early July. I am dreading our move to DC in October. I HATE heat/humidity/air conditioning and I guess I'll have to get used to all three. Jeri

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STarting next week and it looks so class-discussion-like. Anyone do anything special or different? Thanks. jeri

And I thought it was impossible! That's the one wwhere at the end his whole class is on the floor dying, right? Anyway, I did that one one time and returned the set to the library since my own personal P90X set had arrived! Congrats on your 1/2 marathon! Sounds great and it sounds like you have a great balance of muscles and cardio. Keep us posted. I am just about done with week 7 of my first go round with P90X. Not thrilled with the weight loss (only about 7 pounds--wait a minute--now that I think about it, a pound a week is pretty good!), but I'm now wearing my size 12 pants that I HAVEN'T WORN SINCE BEFORE MY NOW-14 YO WAS BORN (yes, I loved these pants and hung onto them that many years). So, I'm still motivated. Plus I love muscles and I'm pretty psyched at what I'm building. And the muffin top is slowly but steadily decreasing. My goal is to finish the course by time we move. We are getting on a plane in Germany on Oct 8 to fly back to the States. We are in a hotel on this side for a week or so, so I think I will just squeeze it in. Please post more encouraging stories so we can all stay pumped! Jeri

First, love your blog! Also, your "block scheduling" idea is a great one. I have six at all levels and I feel like I'm always moving and sometimes accomplishing nothing! I *do* use checklists which I fill out every Sunday afternoon for the next week. But teaching a block per group or per kid early might make this whole thing work better. Looking forward to trying it! My question . . . you say that you get with the LL at 2 pm--do you alos get with olders as well? If so, when do you do that? Also, as youngers finish with work, i.e. a math lesson, do you have them put those in a "correcting" pile or just wait until 2 pm? Thanks. Jeri

veggie burgers (google Eating Well and veggie burgers--just had a very yummy pumpkin burger tonight which got raves; the cashew burger, while pricey, is good too) falafels (allrecipes, sort by rating, the first guy up--either one or two--is excellent!) eggs with whole grain bread Bree's lentil soup (another google) is awesome--kids love it! I serve it with cornbread. Very quick and easy grilled sandwiches--good bread, cheese, tomatoes, whatever sliced meat you have around the house jeri

Forgot to subscribe to this thread, but it was within the last month. Some brilliant mom had created notebooks withh work for the week within, complete with photos. Thanks! Jeri

Just change your password and write a mass apology to all affected. jeri

What a great experience for your boys! Miss seeing your posts, especially all your science wisdom! Jeri

She is really more math/sciency, and that is all sewn up. But I want to do something where lit and history is combined. We are moving back to the States in September, need to find and buy a house, she is also doing AP Bio which will take a lot of time . . . I really need an open and go program, or something that has worked for you in the past. We used Omni 1 last year for Ancients and both felt it was a bit dogmatic. Also, I'm not crazy about all their book choices for Omni 2. We used part of SWB's Ancient History book but it was too all over the place to follow easily. I looked at TOG, but hate to buy the whole package for just lit/history. Am I missing something? Can anyone provide a booklist and some ideas? I[m thinking that we could tackle SWB's middle ages book (have it on order), but then do we write? Discuss? Thanks in advance! jeri

In my previous life I got to travel to a lot of south and central American countries and Guatemala was by far my favorite. They have so many ethnic groups, beautiful people, ancient ruins, awesome food, etc. I actually spent a month there, in Antigua, and they had very reasonable but intensive Spanish classes you could take. Maybe you and your dd could double up taking Spanish four days a week, and then sightsee over 3 day weekends. Dayle (who is on here) lives in Antigua--maybe contact her for ideas! jeri

My 48.125 body is very impressed and envious! Really, way to go! jeri

to the woman who ran this business! We live in Europe and follow lots of Rick's suggestions for travel and I think his research is so spot on that he would be horrified to hear how you have been treated! Jeri

It just takes longer. We live in Germany with APO and every time I order a book it goes book rate (by ship) unless I pay for priority, in which case it goes by air. You just have to plan 6 weeks out instead of 2 weeks out. jeri

It was many years ago and I think it was a huge flat rock. But I do know about it! jeri

surely one of the P90X groupies saw your post! (I actually saw it last night on my way out the door.) Anyway, I just started week four of P90X and I am loving it! (Well, did NOT love today's workout called CoreSynergistics.) Dropped 6 lbs in the past 3 weeks and dropped 10 lbs in the spring doing Power 90 (the baby version). But she is inspiring in the video! I mean, my belly probably looked like that! I think she said that she did P90X for about 8 mths. So, I have about 7 mths to go . . . BTW, saw your address is RI. I grew up in Barrington, but haven't lived there for 30 years. Jump in--the water is fine! (just a tough workout!) jeri

I use the bands and I like them! I did not like the one they sent you--I think it was pink--because it was too light. But I bought the next set up--magenta, red, and green--and those are fine. I'm actually pretty strong and I use the red one the most. It and the green one give me a great workout, but I need to buy the next one up soon. I do want to buy a dumbell set, but it will be a full set and since we are moving back to the States this fall, I think i will save the weights until we get back. The other thing I like about the bands are that I can travel with them very easily. As the for the chin up bar, I have no place to put one here but plan on insatlling my own when we are in our own house. I like the idea of the post-er above! But for now I put the green band over a rafter and do pull downs. Yes, the green one is too light for that. So, bottom line, is I really like the bands! But you have to get ones that are hard to work! jeri

wear a "normal" size! BTW, you can do it! I started in Feb and have lost almost 20 lbs. I feel so good and I'm still excited to keep going! I'm one of the P90X people but I started with the baby program of Power 90 in the winter. ACtually, just graduated to P90X three weeks ago and 6 of those 20 wwer in that time period. I say this to ENCOURAGE you, not to toot my own horn! jeri

I think we in the States are the only ones in the world with dozens! jeri

I definitely have one with that characteristic, so this is good to know. I did call the Dept of Ed to ask about Dual Enrollment and found out that this has been discontinued due to budgetary problems :( DH is interviewing for another job today, and we are still waiting to hear on Philly. jeri

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had dh read through everything too and his comment was that everyone seems really happy with where they are! In other words, pros and cons everywhere with no clear cut winner! But you all gave us lots to think about and brought up things we forgot to consider (gas prices vs. car insurance in NJ; cyber charters in PA; actually living in DE; etc.). Bottom line is whether SWB and MCT will be back there next year as well! (And, of course, whether we are moving to Philly or northern VA.) jeri

All we can do is keep working it. I just ILLed a book by a woman named Wiatt who writes about portion control that Tony mentions. It just showed up today and I have to pick it up. Maybe it will help? And Red Squirrel, you're so right! We live in Germany where the chocolate is inexpensive and delicious! That's a huge downfall for me! That's why it's nice to allow one night off--so I can eat chocolate! jeri PS. I hope you guys get in on Shaun T. in San Diego! How cool!

I don't think we thought of DE . . . Well, as as some of your mentioned, we do want an excellent school system both for property values and since we are sending two of our six to school in the fall. Still curious to hear what people have to say, but in the meantime, can someone explain what a borough is? And a township? And how do the school systems fit in here? In CT, we had a town or a city to which you paid property taxes. Within that town or city was a library, school system, fire dept, etc. We also lived in a county, but that had nothing to do with anything, really! I think both PA and NJ have this system, right? jeri