I'm left handed and actually had two different patrons at work today comment about it. My dad is left handed. My mom is right handed BUT believes she was forced to use her right hand as a young child (that stigma). She plays all sports, however, left handed. She was taught by her left handed brother, who was very ill as a child and probably given more grace with his left handedness. I eat and write left handed. I play all sports right handed, and I cut right handed. My sister is left handed. I'm disappointed that neither of my kids is left handed.

:001_huh::001_smile::lol: Wonderful news!!!!

Dani, so glad to hear an update. I know you're new to the area and that presents other challenges during all of this, but praising God for a wonderful Children's Hospital. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

I love your tree and particularly noticed the ribbon that you used. I've used something similar for several years (actually looks identical), but my ribbon is gold. It was the compromise dh and I reached. I remember that fluffy silver garland from the 70s, and the ribbon was a more modern take on it. Okay, I'm ready for a Christmas tree smilie.;)

Because you felt this way, I'd give it a 10++++++. Listen to your mom radar! Our library has its regulars, and occasionally one specific man will bring his nephew to the children's section. He is an odd guy, has odd boundaries, and will engage other kids in conversation (long term, sitting in a nearby chair while they are on the computer). I think he's a safe guy, but I wouldn't want him talking to my kids. Parents love to fool themselves that the library is safe and are all to eager to leave small kids alone in the children's section.

We do the same thing. I love picking out their ornaments each year (unless I'm stumped). Happy sighs. Too bad it won't last forever!

:iagree: My dad says this, and I believe that's what he means. Although he also thinks my kids need to eventually go to high school to see what the real world is like. (My oldest is 17.):glare: He's also convinced that most hs parents are just too lazy to get their kids up to go to "real" school in the morning. As if lazy people WANT their kids home all day.:001_huh:

:bigear: My 13yods is getting: the new Star Wars Lego character book Forbidden Island game ear buds wireless mouse computer carrying bag Lego base plate pj bottoms MAKE magazine (just one, not subscription) I'm hoping to find one more $20-30 item in this thread that would be just right for him.

Tweeze. I am sure that many men wax successfully; I'm only aware of the ones who overdo it and look awful. And then continue to overwax.:eek: It's a vicious, neverending cycle.

1. "You are old enough to marry, you are old enough to figure it out on your own financially." ---------------------------- I'd (expect to) be wonderfully happy for the two of them, and I would consider them adults capable of taking on their own financial responsibility. My kids have grown up with the idea that you marry AFTER you can pay your own way. For my dd, that means someone who can support her (and it's reasonable that she expect to work also). For my ds, it means he is capable of supporting a wife. Most entry level, post-high school jobs don't qualify. Some teens may be better prepared to earn a living and therefore pay for college while working than others.

I would absolutely invite the girl over to your house. I'd expect the mom to stay. If my dc were going over to this person's house (virtually unknown family), I'd expect to stay the whole time, chatting with mom and getting to know more about them. Although you have your littles to keep you busy, at the very, very least, the mom should stay for a good amount of time before leaving while the girls continue to play.

Praying here.

This one from Southern Plate. For years, I tried to make creamier sauce, then lower-calorie sauce, then fancier mac and cheese. Six months ago, I tried this. I will never make anything else. It's easy, the cheese doesn't get greasy, it's cheap, it's delicious. I make it at home, and I take it to potlucks.

My kids (girl and boy) watched the show, collected cards for several years, and played the game. It was a fun, harmless hobby, and my kids claimed it was good for math skills (haha). We are very conservative, and many of ds's friends were not allowed to play Pokemon. We explained that early on, and he would not take the cards or any (Gameboy) games to church. If friends came over, he'd ask them. His Pokemon years have passed. I rather miss it.

Since it's a breakfast-specific invitation, I'd choose both. I voted for casserole and muffins. My casserole would be more quiche-like, because I would want something to balance the bread/starch of the muffins. (Instead of muffins, I personally would make more of a coffee cake. It seems easier for *me* to make, and I could make it more over-the-top gooey and sweet than muffins.) I love the breakfast invitation idea!!

I'll take a stab here and say that they are wrong because it's just one more ineffective federal government program. (Not that all are ineffective, and not that the USDA as a whole is useless.)

:grouphug: I'm so sorry; it does sound awful.:grouphug:

If something bad is going to happen to my child, it's not likely that *I* will be able to prevent it. Take them out: risk car accident, victim of violence or robbery, possible random shooting. Leave them home: house explosion, fire, victim of break in. It's an endless list of possibilities, but it's a risk you take because you have life. We're not all doomed. The satisfaction I take in knowing that my child is safe and sound comes from knowing that they can function in a world that sometimes doesn't go as planned. It's satisfying to know that they are taking steps toward independence while they still are under my roof, not literally but figuratively. The world can be a scary place, but it's our responsibility as parents to equip our children to navigate that world, not hide from it. As much as I'd love to hang on, it doesn't go far in helping my kids grow up. (I'm the usually over-protective mom who avoids sleepovers, has a select group of friends, censors much tv, etc.)

:lol::lol::lol: Laughing so hard that my stomach hurts!

I admit it, when asked by a cashier if my kids are off school, I've always wanted to reply: "I KNEW WE FORGOT SOMETHING!!!!!" But I've never been that brave, and my kids would be mortified.

It was lovely. We ate our appetizers before decorating (no greasy hands on the ornaments!). While we decorated, my kids chose to turn on Andrew Zimmern, and we watched/listened to him eat his way through Cambodia and then Syria. We had a fire in the fireplace and got the place burning hot. The kids drank their tea anyway. No spiced wine. I was boring and had low sugar koolaid, haha. Dh has to hang a few of his ornaments (he hung out nearby) and then dump tinsel all over the tree. Kids came back in later to watch Monk and eat peppermint ice cream. We didn't have time to make the paper ornaments, but I'll force more good cheer on them later this week.:D I'm very conscious of the fact that dd is a junior. She won't have too many more of these tree decorating nights at home! Thank you for asking! ETA: Since they didn't want pics taken, I had them take pics of me. (ugh!) Just before 13yods went to bed, he specifically came out to thank me for an awesome evening. Yippee!

:grouphug:

Nutella. Gummy bears. Any canned goods that he likes? Boxed goods, cereals, baking mixes? Juices or unusual soda? Pumpkin, sunflower seeds, or corn nuts?

I first met Lee online years ago when her boys were ~middle school. She's been a wonderful encourager to me over the years, both on our shared hs email list and after she began her business. I've bought a total of two of her products. One was a DVD about finding the right college; it was nothing new. More recently, I bought her Setting the Record Straight book and have found it very helpful. Of course she wants you to buy her products. That's her job, her source of income. If you are in a circumstance where you need specific help, her advice can be invaluable. However, my funds are limited. I know how much she's influenced my homeschool from way before she began her business. Personally, I continue to receive her free monthly newsletter via email, and I get updates on her blog via Facebook. I believe she continues to provide these as a way to help people who otherwise would not benefit from her knowledge--just as she provides free office/phone hours each month. (I'm assuming she still does; she did for several years.) My two favorite books for preparing to hs high school: Cafi Cohen's book, but I can't remember if it was Homeschooling: The Teen Years or Homeschoolers' College Admission Handbook. Senior High: A Home Designed Form+U=La. It's a crazy, unorganized mess of a book to read, but it's worth it to wade through. The other two biggest resources are these boards, falling back to read WTM periodically, and Lee's website. I've never felt that high school was much different than hsing the early years. The only thing I do differently is make sure dd completes whatever I feel is a year's worth of work to count as a credit, and to make sure her classes will satisfy college admission requirements. ----------------------- I'm not receiving any benefit from Lee for posting--I'm just a long time friend and fan.:001_smile:

Hah, THAT would make it quite a party!!