DS10 read it this year. He is an active reader(feeler). He loved it.

I think it is awesome that she FEELS when she reads. My kids laugh at me. I cry near the end of every. stinkin'. read aloud. They think I am a nut. But 2 of my kids are the same way. I read 100 Dresses aloud. It is a great book I have read it so many times and I cry every time.:)

I think a deception(as small as Santa even) affects kids differently. Some kids are perfectly fine(probably most) and some kids never believe something so outlandish. Some kids are super trusting and loyalty and honesty are very deeply important to them. Those are the kids that react to the "unmasking" of Santa in a more profound way. A friend's kid was horrified that someone(even with magic) could come into their house and the dog didn't even bark! Maybe evil magic could cause the same thing? She was terrified to sleep. Her mom chose to reveal the truth to her and I'm glad she did even if it ruined the magic. I was mostly mad that my parents let me endure the teasing and taunting at school without just telling me. They could have eased me into it. In their defense, I'm sure they had no idea I would react the way I did. They probably didn't think I really believed like I did. My kids know about the Christmas around the world stories and Santa is a part of that. We talk about the Santa Game that some families play and how we must not ruin it for them.

I was the kid who believed with ALL my heart that my parents would never lie to me. I defended Santa(really, my parent's good word) to the kids at school who said it wasn't so. I did so until I was 10. Yes, 10. I was devastated when I found proof of their lie by accident. I happened upon my "Santa gift" as we were packing for a trip to see my grandma. I held it in for 2 days as we took the 1000 mile car trip. On Christmas morning, there it was...the gift being passed off as the Santa Gift( a blond haired Cabbage Patch kid). I blurted it all out on Christmas morning. I cried and was mad(and ruined Christmas for my family...) I felt foolish. Did I forgive them? Yes, eventually. I was upset and distrusting for a while, but I did get over it and I still think they were great parents.:) But, I have never done Santa with my kids.:)

We top oatmeal with mini chocolate chips and coconut.

Did your El TB have a pressure sensor? That is one of the biggest advantages to an electric TB. I have some patients who say the EL TB causes sensitivity. It is almost always the ones without the pressure sensor. The vibration of the brush can aggravate teeth that are prone to sensitivity. Honestly, I think if you set your phone timer to 2(or 3) minutes and concentrate on brushing each quadrant for 30-45 seconds while monitoring the pressure you are using, a manual TB is better than an electric. It takes a lot of practice and mindfulness though. And most people(me included) tend to zone out when the TB hits their mouth.

We use Vista Print

We did Geography and history. She schedules in so much optional stuff. We did follow her bible reading although I let Bible Gateway read it to us. :) Geography had mapping(which you had to find the maps yourself), a textbook, and heavy read alouds scheduled. I chose their readers from the list provided. And we did their history schedule and read alouds. So probably it was 1-1/2 hours/day plus their own readers. I had to replace some read alouds(already read them or owned a similar book) and slowed down the geography read alouds. Wayfarers helped me to loosen up about our schedule. I was a rigid SL box checker. I am using BP this year. Still haven't found the perfect fit.lol

New LA for DS10(dropped TG&TB-now using TC). Starting R&S Spelling also. He's fine with it, mostly.:)

All Subjects? Just History?

The bolded: This is a reason I continue to dislike this company. They have done psychological experimentation on users to rate their level of sadness and count their use of negative and emotional words over the next weeks. I'm sure most people know about this, so it's not news or anything. I also realize it is not illegal(as long as they get permission-who reads all the user agreements? not me?) AND I also realize that they are not alone in such research.(Google, Yahoo, etc-)It's just intrusive to me. And the fact that I have anxiety already and am prone to depression, it is cruel, imo. This is just 1 reason I choose to be a "hold out."

I do know some offices pay commission to sell the brushes. I'm happy that mine doesn't! And even if they did....I wouldn't do it. I am NOT a salesperson! LOL I will suggest buying an electric TB to someone I know would benefit (someone with limited dexterity, a hard brusher, etc) I personally use a manual TB and so does my family. I give a TB to every patient regardless if they use an Electric TB or not. Sometimes someone says no thanks. It makes up for the people who ask for 2.:) Most people who use Electric TBs say they donate them or use them for travel.

Love them. With or without the note,

Ha! And we thought just the opposite! That's funny to hear. :) We had 2 5 pt harness carseats, an infant carrier, and a booster seat.a preteen, and a teenage boy. LOL And lots of room for groceries AND a double stroller!

Same situation in 2013. We chose the Odyssey. It has been a great vehicle. The thing that made the decision was that 8th center seat. It was full sized in the Odyssey and smaller in the Sienna. We needed every seat.

DD15 and DH are seeing it on her birthday in May. She has begged for tickets since it was first in Chicago. We can not afford for us all to go. Sure she won't miss us! LOL I bought the tickets the day the block was released in December. $350 total for both tickets for pretty good seats. We let her open the gift on Christmas. It was part of Christmas and all of her birthday gift. Happy Sweet 16:)

I found this: https://www.facebook.com/help/community/question/?id=1477997755851541 It appears you may use a nickname in addition to(will show up next to your name) not in place of your real name.

I do get your point Some people are too busy to have a text conversation. I am a very busy mom with lots of outside stresses. I would be happy to do what I can to keep everyone in the loop. I feel like I have a legitimate reason for not having a FB acct. I don't feel like it is a "preference". If you knew me, you would laugh at me thinking I'm a special snowflake.:)

I do appreciate the leaders of groups and have been in the past and I tell them so. Often. :) My friends who post invites on FB take a screenshot and send it to me via text. I don't ask them to, but they know I appreciate it because I tell them.

So, am I understanding that even if the OP takes the burden of seeking out the information via text/email, etc she is STILL the problem? If I text a leader and say ,"Hey, I'm just confirming the meeting is at 4:00. And no changes, right?" That is a hardship to the leader? To text , "yep. no changes."?

People keep suggesting this. Is this against FB rules or I am I mistaken?

I have chosen not to have a FB acct for personal reasons. My kids and I have missed opportunities with groups for park days and such. We have a business. And I have been told that we have missed out on great free advertising. So, I am aware that there are drawbacks. But there are rewards for me that I am not tempted to read and deal with all the drama that I do not have time for(or the mental health to process). I am weak. Especially when I am in a depressive spiral. My therapist told me to stay far away. :) She did say FB will keep her in business until she retires. HAHA I think it's funny that people who are not on FB are considered "hold outs" or refusing to learn technology. That is not the case at all for us. And I have no problem with people who love FB. :) I wonder how we communicated without it. :laugh: I still call people(gasp). I send personal texts. Even to people I don't know to share information. This interaction is essential to me. And everyone who says to set up a dummy acct--Isn't that against FB policy? I am a rule follower. That would never work for me. If a group says FB only communication, I would not join. If I was already a part of the group and the only form of communication was SM, I would text the leader 2-3 times a week to confirm times/locations. I would put the burden on myself.

This must be regional. NONE of the teens/early 20's I know would even consider FB. It's for old people. LOL My ds21 had a FB acct when he was 15-16. He chose to deactivate it around age 19? He actually doesn't use social media at all. He is an Anth major and has studied and written several research assignments on the downfall of human interaction resulting from social media. HAHA. None of his friends have active FB accts. Some use other forms of SM though. DD15 has chosen to stay FB free although she does have Instagram. That and SnapChat seems to be what teens/Early 20s use in our area.

I went on a cruise for the first time a few months ago. It was without kids. It was not what I expected. I hated the beach time and hated the ship time. It could get boring with kids VERY fast. No way I will take the kids. They can experience that as adults. :) As for Disney, we LOVE it!! Especially with a large family. It takes some planning(which our whole family loves to be a part of!) but all I have to do is get us ON the plane. Then Disney transportation does the rest. No carseats to deal with for olders.(babies always had theirs on the plane). It is awesome! Wrangling strollers is not a big deal. You fold them up on the busses. It is tiring but in a great way. Everyone sleeps heavy at night.:) I highly recommend! I must say, we only go during slow times. We have no school schedules to plan around. I have no experience with mass chaos. :)