For the first time in almost twenty years, we live near family. It was so amazing to have our Christmas morning to ourselves and then drive a short distance to family and spend the rest of the day.

We have family just outside of Vegas and have spent Christmas there. It wasn't bad and we had fun. Lots of shopping in fun stores, roller coaster on top of casino while looking at lights, Hoover Dam, and family. It doesn't have to be a horrible place and we will spend more time there while visiting family.

Yet my dds are far from rude and thoughtless. They also wouldn't be so quick to judge others and call them spoiled.

I just don't think it was rude. We have home video from when I was little and two of us did the same thing in front of parents and grandparents on Christmas morning. They all laughed! These were people, especially the grandparents, who were very big on discipline and respect but they laughed at children putting the clothes aside and expressing a tiny bit of disappointment. It just wasn't a big deal.

Biggest hit here was a watercolor pocket box and water brushes for 13 year old dd. Oldest wants her own and she usually doesn't do much painting.

I'd let it go. I don't want my dds to live in a home which they cannot be themselves in. I honestly don't care when they say a particular gift is not something they like or want. They never do this with those outside of immediate family. I also have zero problem with them stating they don't want us to buy a certain gift. I would rather them be honest and tell me. They never do that either with those outside of immediate family. Even parenting this way dds are often praised by others and teachers for their attitudes and behavior. I had one teacher call me before the holiday break to rave about oldest dd, her behavior, attitude, and work ethic. So, what we're doing is obviously working. There is more than one way to parent children and still end up with great kids/teens/adults.

Mine are teens who haven't believed in Santa for years but they still wake early and are excited for Christmas morning. They do get stockings they can get into right away but all presents have to wait until everyone is awake and we all take turns.

What we charge our renters looks crazy high but it includes lawn service and pest control. I can't force the renters to get those services but they are necessary for where we our house is so we include them. We also pay a property manager since we moved out of state. It all adds up. I just received notice from the bank that our payment is going up so if our renters stay, so will their rent.

BBC Robin Hood series.

I now live 1.5 miles from my mom but for the 20 years prior I lived 1000+ miles from her or any family . We're still 1000 miles away from dh's family and lot of mine.

He honestly looks almost exactly like who I married almost 18 years ago. He gets told he needs to gain at least five pounds at his annual checkups, which make me want to smack him, but he's always been tall and skinny. He had a bit more muscle in the beginning while in the military but he's really pretty much the same. I think he's extremely handsome.

I've gained 80 pounds since we married. Dh still looks the same. He also is still very happy with me. I did get down on myself recently and it upset him and he said some pretty awesome things. He honestly doesn't seem to care. If I was actually unhealthy, maybe it would be different but just being overweight isn't an issue. Of course, this is the man who has always said one of the things he loves about me is that I've always been extremely low maintenance and non caring about appearance. I rarely wear makeup, wear mostly jeans and tees, and am wash and go with my hair. Those things may change if I start showing my age more but I'm hitting 40 and still look rather young.

We loved it! We also had a great theater group to watch with as there was lots of clapping (at beginning, end, and when old characters appeared on screen) and laughing. I knew Solo was going to die but I still was unprepared to see it and cried. We absolutely loved Finn and Rey!! We've decided we will see in in theaters at least once more while on break. We've also already used these lines a few times. "We'll use the force." "That's not how the force works."

Sometimes we would rotate toys when they were little. We also kept cardboard boxes in the garage and let them do whatever with them. Mine would have never gone for one set of toys at a time. They would often build with Legos for Barbies, Polly Pockets, and plastic animals to live in.

I would have her checked out to rule anything serious out. Sometimes stomach bugs do last a while Oldest has one for just over two weeks. They did admit her to the hospital to rule things out though. They did blood work, stool samples, and a scan. It was just a bug.

Interestingly enough it's also been important and helped greatly with understanding for my dds to not only have biblical literacy but to study other religions. Oldest has studied Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in depth this year in school and it's been a good thing. I don't understand how or why you see one as good and the other as bad.

Dh's family have traced themselves back to John Rolfe. Dds think it's neat.

Not religious but related to Christmas. The school I was referring to has many students who do not celebrate Christmas, though. TM was saying schools don't discuss Christmas at all anymore to be PC but that's not what I see at all. I honestly think schools should just stick to winter activities before break. If they can't do that then all celebrations should be included but that's not what I see.

Schools are going crazy right now it seems due to threats. Three school districts here had to shut down early for winter break due to shooting threats. Several schools in our previous state had multiple days of bomb threats. I've read of several students being arrested because of all of them. I'm not saying any of what happened to this student is right but I would like to know more before deciding is only about who he is versus what he may have said/done.

It's just another room for us. I don't care who goes in it.

Yup, scorpions were the thing I hated most about growing up in Texas. One night one crawled into bed with my mom and stung her ear! We all woke up to screaming.

That's just it, though. Even though I'm Christian I don't like the super focus on Christmas here and the exclusion of other beliefs. The schools I substitute in have a large population of Burmese refugees. Most of those students do not celebrate Christmas but they have tons of Christmas themed books and worksheets right now. They even had Elf on a Shelf in their classroom who reports to Santa on their behavior.

That hasn't been my experience at all in the two states my dds have attended and where I substitute teach. Both dds have had multiple Christmas parties in their classes. The elementary schools I substitute in have had tons of Christmas themed work. In one school they also had a Hanukkah party. My Facebook feed is also full of pictures from Christmas parties at schools.

I don't agree with this. My dds have been in public school since middle school and in two different states. They have both studied world religions in history classes and no one has ever complained. Focusing on only one would be problematic but I don't see the issue with learning about and discussing many in the context of history. Oldest is in AP World History and her textbook and study guide both discuss religion.

I think having to write passages such as those is crossing a line. Oldest did several papers and lots of research on Islam the first semester of school this year but she wasn't forced to write passages or wear anything. She also did just as much research on Judaism and Christianity. There was also a bit of research on Hinduism and Buddhism. Not a single person complained and I feel she learned a lot.