It never even occurred to me to serve it for dinner (when Big Sister and Daddy would be eating it too)! I may end up serving this for dinner after all. If everyone is eating it, maybe picky eater DS7 will too. :)

I thought about green eggs and ham, but decided against it. I have trouble getting DS7 to eat as it is...serving him green eggs would do me no favors. LOL Here is how we spent our "Dr. Seuss Day": I started the day by reading, The Cat in the Hat. My boys wore their "Thing 1" and "Thing 2" hats. I had printed out two copies of "My Very Own Dr. Seuss Activity Book" from the Dr. Seuss website, and had the boys do the workbook at their own pace. While they were doing their lessons, I started baking our 'hat cake'. It's not the best tasting cake (white cake, white frosting, red fondant), but the boys thought it was the coolest cake ever. LOL My littlest one (DS5) played a Dr. Seuss matching game while we waited on DS7 to finish his spelling lesson. I had found that game online a long time ago and it was just sitting in one of my 'workbox extras' folders. Here are some pics: Activity book: 15-minute Free Reading Time: Thing 2 plays a Matching Game: The cake: Making the cake:

Drinking cranberry juice isn't going to help cure a UTI. It's a myth. Also, it's the Vitamin C that helps to prevent UTIs...not specifically cranberries. Lots of fluid, sans caffeine, is good though. :) Go to the drug store (or Walmart/Target) and pick up Azo or Cystix. Either one of those will help you get through the day(s) until you can get to the doctor.

Is anyone celebrating, or doing anything special to observe this "holiday"? So far, I'm just planning on reading some of our Dr. Suess books, and playing a Dr. Suess game. I'm currently searching for a craft and a snack to go along with our theme tomorrow. What are you doing? :lurk5:

It was a good game for hockey. :) But why, oh why, did it have to be Crosby with the GWG? Why? LOL

:iagree: There needs to be a paper trail on that owner's dog. Especially if he's already attacked another dog. I'm sorry your DS had to witness that. :(

DD and I "forced" Dh into watching Twilight with us. He made jokes throughout the whole movie and sucked any "romance" from the storyline. It was actually more fun watching it with him and have him make fun of it, than the first time we saw it in the theater. :) If you watch the movie objectively...it's just awful. I read the books, and I *get* the reason why so many were smitten with the storyline, but the movie is just so...silly. Don't take it so seriously, and don't get too upset if your Dh looks at you like you have three heads when Edward steps into the sun for the first time.

Wow, that is a lot to deal with. I don't have any advice (as I quit my demanding job over 10 years ago) that is a viable option for you. All I can offer you is a spot on my prayer list. :grouphug:

:iagree: Same rule applies in our house. :D :lol: I could picture that conversation with my DS7. No thanks. LOL

My DD is in a private school. She is graduating (top of her class! :D) in May. Her course load throughout high school is very similar to what you've outlined. She took two years of chemistry (honors, then AP) because it was 'easy' for her. She is finishing Physics this semester. The only thing on your list that she didn't take was human anatomy. Her private school doesn't offer it, and the public school would only allow you to take the course if you were in their "medical training academy". She wants to be a vet. With that in mind, here is what we've done: 1. Volunteer at a local vet's office. This proved to be the most invaluable for her. The vet is not only teaching her basic procedures, but he's written letters on her behalf as well. 2. Community service. We started out doing Habitat for Humanity, and moved to the Humane Society. 3. Study for the SATs. DD was in an SAT Prep class for 2 semesters (one in her sophomore year, and one in her junior year). 4. Extra curricular activities. DD did the following: started a Christian club at her public school (that is still going strong even after she left), Drama/Music Production, and Softball. 5. Letters of recommendation. Everyone who has had contact with your child and can vouch for their character and work ethic. That means teachers, pastors, employers, etc. 6. Networking. It really is 'who you know' for some of these colleges. One of our friends owns a chartered fishing company. One of his 'regulars' happens to be the president of one of the universities DD was interested in. Some of our clients sit on the Alumni board for another university. They've offered to put in a good word on her behalf should she choose to apply (she chose not to). DD has been accepted to all three schools she applied to. All three have offered merit scholarships as well. She hasn't decided which one to attend yet. One thing I've learned through all of this is that while GPA is important, it's only a part of what colleges are looking for. They want the 'whole package'. They are looking for kids with a passion. One administrator told me that they would rather take a kid who participates well in one activity, than a kid with a college resume that is all over the place. IOW, don't force the activities just because you think it will look good on a college resume. Do the things that you are passionate about. HTH.

:iagree::iagree::iagree: Should have just read the thread. :D

Didn't read all of the responses, so this may have been pointed out already. How devastated will you be if you find out she's doing drugs, drinking, and/or sex? How devastated would you be if she got into a car accident (with friends in the car)? There are just so many scenarios that don't end well with this type of situation. :( I don't mean to sound harsh, but...BTDT. I pulled my DD from PS two months into her Junior year. She was hugely upset about it. Our issues stemmed from a boyfriend (her first boyfriend). He had a rather...shady background. It was unhealthy for my DD. So Dh and I pulled her out, and put her into a private Christian school. After we pulled DD from PS, we gave DD very clear boundaries and expectations. We pulled her from PS without notice to her, so she didn't have time for her friends and teachers to work her into a frenzy. It all happened very quickly for her. My thinking was, 'a clean break is easier to manage than a messy one'. And it was. DD does volunteer work at a veterinarian's office, has a part-time job (conditions of getting to drive), and goes to school and church. She doesn't have time to get in trouble. Her friends are all good kids who are in the same situation she is; getting ready for college, and not having much spare time to get into trouble. I think you should pull your DD from the school if the people around her in school are unhealthy for her. Your DD will most definitely NOT like you for about a month. But put the boundaries in place (and in writing) and she will get over it. ETA: My DD was a very good student as well...AP classes, honors, etc. Sometimes the smart ones are the hardest to manage. But as long as you do what is in her best interest...whether she likes it or not, you will be doing the right thing. I also wanted to add, that the boyfriend was into drugs and abusive toward his (single) mother. It had nothing to do with sex (thank God).

Right now, it's Robert Liparulo.

My DD went through a 'goth' stage when she was about 13. Wore the black clothes, dyed her hair black, etc. It lasted about 18 months - right around the time I told her she would have to start paying for her 'goth' clothes she decided that being 'goth' was overrated. Honestly though, I think she just looked the part because the clothes at Hot Topic were so cute. LOL

This is me too. I get teary-eyed when any of my kids do something really well. I'm going to be a mess when DD graduates in May. LOL

I used it a couple of years ago, but it gave me such raging headaches that I couldn't complete the prescription. I was very anxious, and highly stressed out on Chantix. It was not a good experience for me. However, my FIL is using it, and has had great success with it. He was a 40-year smoker. On August 17, 2009, I bought the patch. I used it for two weeks (at the highest dosage), then quit the patch. I have been smoke-free ever since.

This was my Dh's idea. I was the one who didn't want to do it. But he convinced me that it was the right choice, and I'm glad he did. :)

And MY objection (specifically with VS, since you brought it up), is that their advertising is in plain view of young people. While most adults will look at that poster hanging in the mall and know that it isn't real, most kids will look at the same poster and think the women being displayed are the "norm". Young girls starve themselves to achieve that look. Young men learn to reject "normal" girls because they aren't model-perfect. You mention that some of the models looked underage. I've seen those models. To me, that is a form of child pornography. Doesn't matter if the model is over 18...they are marketing her as a teenager. There is an excellent book called, Battlecry for a Generation, by Ron Luce that you should read. Our children are walking targets for unhealthy images of others and themselves. And they are conditioned by the media by age 4.

I'm more interested in how you are raising your children to view people realistically. Are your sons taught that women are worth their body weight? Are your daughters taught that their worth lies in the size of their jeans? How do you combat the messages that the media, movies, magazines, tv, internet, etc. send to your children? Around 35 years old, I finally learned to be comfortable in my own skin. Thin, fat, in-between....when I die, no one is going to remember how thin I was at 37, or how fat I was when I was 39. They'll remember how I treated them; how I taught them to treat everyone with kindness; how I loved them. ETA: Michael Jackson was very thin. Do we remember him for how thin he was, or do we remember him for his talent?

Depends on what you will be using the computer for. If you need it for accounting, documents, internet...Windows 7 works great. I have had Windows 7 for some time on my PC and have had zero problems with it. I have been very happy with it. If you need a computer for graphics (digital scrapbooking), photoshop, etc....go with a Mac. Nothing beats a Mac when it comes to speed and ease of use when using the graphics programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. I love my Mac, and the only way I'd get rid of it is if someone pries it from my cold, dead fingers. ;)

:iagree:

In reading the thread regarding "plus sized" models and your Dh's opinion, I thought I'd throw this into the debate as well. As mothers, how are you raising your daughters to view their bodies? How are you combating what society tells us is 'perfect'? How are you raising your sons to view women realistically? How are you combating the imagery society puts in front of your young men?

I guess I don't get the purpose of this experiment? My Dh would absolutely refuse to play along with this if I asked him. He would label this as 'extreme vanity', and he believes that extreme vanity is sinful. In 10+ years that we've been together, I have never once seen him look twice at another woman. In the beginning of our relationship, when we were still learning about each other, I asked him what type of woman attracted him. He would only say "you". Mushy? Yes. But he has never once (in action or word) said otherwise. I've even tried to "catch" him off guard, and he never waivers. Even his friends have teased him because he just doesn't get into "babe watching". When I tell him that I 'feel fat' or when I go on a diet, he gets annoyed. He thinks that women spend too much time comparing themselves to unrealistic images. He feels it's a disease in our society. He feels that God makes each one of us unique, and that beauty is what God says it is - not Cosmopolitan. Those are his words. He's used this phrase many times whenever a discussion like this comes up. I actually feel a little sad that some of your Dh's would tell you that being overweight is not attractive. :( What if something tragic happened that left you overweight - such as a car accident, and you could no longer exercise? Would he feel justified in his feelings? I just don't get it. :confused:

I think Marty's best days are behind him. Bobby Lou should have played that game. ;)

I disagree. I think this win will boost the confidence of Team USA further. :D I admit that when Team USA's roster came out, I was disappointed with some of the choices. When you compare it to who Team Canada had, on paper, Team Canada wins all day long. But you know....the roster in 1980 had a bunch of "nobodies" on it, and they made history (as did Team USA last night - first time beating Team Canada in 50 years!). My Dh was the only person I knew who thought Team USA would win this game. I ate some crow last night. Happily. ;)