We didn't. We were staying onsite so we just used Disney transportation. We've taken 3 subsequent trips to there or Universal and have driven every time, though.

Family of six here. First trip to Disney--about a 12 hour drive--we flew because flights were cheap. That spoiled me. I can't physically tolerate being in the car for that long. If we go that distance we MUST spread it out over days. If we don't have that much time to spend driving on a long trip, we fly (& if flights are reasonable for our budget). That is the criteria we have developed over time.

I'm a long way away from a Great Lake, but this thread has almost convinced me to make it a destination!

We kind of have a name formula. We started out with our first kid with OT name, NT name and then felt obligated to continue it until we got to our last baby and decided we could break our own rule. This one is OT name, OT name.

Girls: Ava, Maren (or Merryn), Elspeth, Betsy Boys: Josiah

Got it. I was confused. Lol. One thing that has happened locally to paras here is that they are no longer employed by the school system. They are now hired through employment agencies and thus have lost their good benefits (like state retirement). My sister worked as a special ed para for years and thankfully was grandfathered in, so she was vested before she quit. Because of the low pay, the benefits were the draw. I'm not sure now how they're getting or keeping paras.

1. I always wanted one, though I have always had enough relatives and friends with one that we could usually swim most any day of the week. It's nice to be able to just walk out into our backyard and not have to pack up to go anywhere. 2. It's HOT where we live--my younger kids swim almost daily (with the exception being bad weather or we're not at home) from mid-May until around the end of September. 3. We don't have a YMCA in our county, and the city pool has a pretty exorbitant membership fee (it's basically a country club). the most important reason is I've always wanted one. LOL

So a teaching degree is not required in your district?

This, at least in my experience. I recently moved out of the field of education proper, and one of the good things I can say about it is you KNOW what you're going to make. In my state, there's a salary matrix for teachers, and I assume there's one for paras, as well.

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

We have an in-ground, "salt-water" pool--with a liner. It's our first and only pool, so I have nothing to compare it to, but we're happy with it. It's just a regular rectangular shape 1/3 shallow-2/3 deep (ish) ratio. my only warning is that beagle puppies and exposed pool plumbing don't mix 😩🤣

Just finished Homecoming by Kate Morton. SO GOOD! So many plot twists and turns. I didn't see the resolution coming! A must-read for fans or anyone who enjoys a gothic-esque mystery (though this one is set in Australia!). 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I will say that I have noticed in working with "the younger generation" (this particular young adult is around 20) that there is a lack of either knowledge/skill (despite being taught the thing over and over) OR confidence, as well as initiative. This youth has to be told every single thing to do in detail, and s/he is not new at the job. S/he needs many reminders and reassurances about whatever the task is, which makes the direct supervisor frustrated to the point of just doing the thing him/herself. I'm not sure if it's a generational thing or a personality thing, but it's definitely A Thing.

I don't know why, but I can't for the life of me finish this series. Actually, it's almost any series at this point in my life. I will guess that if it were only 3 books or so (a trilogy?), I would have enough stamina. As it is, I feel the need to have a "palate cleanser" after every book, so I lose any momentum I had built every single book.

Am I the only person who sees Bob-eye when she reads Bobye? 😂

"For those who can--liquid pectin shortage" For those who can't--who cares? 🤣

Thank you for sharing this lovely story.

When we quit homeschooling, we also moved. I had a HUGE giveaway event at my house: think mountains of books piled on our pool table and in bins and on shelves. (These were the leftovers of what I kept for sentimental reasons.) I generally sold what I couldn't use with younger siblings as we went along, so by this point I really did just want to give it away to people who would use and appreciate it. I was the recipient of this sort generosity from retiring homeschool moms when we started our journey, so it was nice to be able to pay it forward.

We played this last night. Our entire family of six plus two friends (total of eight) could play together, a rare feat. It was a lot of fun and easy to learn. It's kind of like the board game Sorry! or Aggravation. https://www.amazon.com/Jokers-Marbles-Game-Brown-Player/dp/B00MS1GK44

I haven't read the whole thread, so excuse if it's answered above, but what's the relationship between TeenPact and all this? (I mean, I get the political stuff, but is there more?). I ask because while I only know this other stuff peripherally, I do know people who've sent their teens to TeenPact. it didn't feel like it at the time, but now I see it was a good thing my older kiddos went to school. I could never follow all the extreme conservative stuff (it was never why we homeschooled), and providing enough social and academic opportunities for my older kids got to be more than I could do. I see now that maybe we dodged that bullet. I still miss homeschooling , though.

Well said @Dmmetler

I feel this. After being such an involved parent during our homeschool years, we all went to school (I as a teacher), and suddenly, I was making sure other people's kids had this experience or that party, and my own kids often went without my presence at their events. I hate it. Also, I'm with you--how on earth do all this parents get off work to go to alllll the events at sxhool?

It all looks lovely. And what a blessing to gain this young man into your chosen family!

Everything about this is gorgeous. Well done! (I LOVE blue!)

@Kassia @Amoret What makes Cutting for Stone so good (a must-read?) for you? I've abandoned it twice. I think mine generally has to do with a squeamishness about the sexuality/sensuality in the book, but I can usually power through. Not so (so far) on this one.