We have liked all of the recipes we've tried from Budget Bytes. Eggs are expensive right now but still a cheap protein. I can do scrambled eggs with pepper, spinach, and onion, and a glass of milk or oj for about $1/person. For about $1.50/person, I can add fruit.

Dumb luck today. It was one of my three go to letter finder words. Wordle 222 2/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

My sister and I are very close. We live 6 hours apart but see each other 10-12 visits per year. I love my brother and wish I saw more of him, but due to a variety of reasons (moved 20+ hours away, works a job that makes visits difficult, has a more private wife) we don't even talk that often. The three of us were very close growing up and that bond won't go away regardless of frequency of visits.

Your husband's opinion doesn't matter more than your opinion, but it matters more than all of our opinions. We are a one sport family. The kids would like to play other sports, but I cannot handle a split schedule. We do TKD. We started going to tournaments because Dd18 really enjoyed them at 11. We did mostly local tournaments for the first five years - local meaning from Fargo, ND to Little Rock, Arkansas with some Chicago thrown in occasionally. We didn't ramp up until a couple of years ago. I really wished we had sooner. Dd18 missed some opportunities that the others are getting now. We do TKD. My husband is a World Champion for his age and rank. Dd18 has won (multi-state) District Championships in one or more events 6 or 7 years. She has been in the Top Ten list for her age and rank half a dozen times. Dd11 is in the Top Ten and a District Champion currently. And Dd15. He gets his own paragraph because this is the point I want to make. He has also had a lot of success in TKD. We are currently 12 hours from home because they are going to determine starting positions for the National Team tomorrow morning. It was pretty awesome he made the team as a 15 year old. We thought he had a slim chance at a starting position given his performance at try-outs. Yeah. His hip has been giving him trouble this past week. He is unlikely to get a starter position while injured. Highly unlikely. And that is okay. We can be grateful for the excellent training he is getting here. He doesn't owe us anything just because we decided to spend money on 3 tanks of gas, three hotel nights, tournament fees for this tournament, and 5 days worth of food. That is a lot of money for us, but we were paying for the experience and not the outcome. If your child would enjoy it, you can afford it, and you can take disappointments in stride should they happen, high level sports can be fun and inspiring.

We don't do an allowance, and we don't generally pay for chores. I paid for half of Ds15's phone when he painted the outside of the house last summer. My husband earns minimum wage at his hobby job, anywhere from $14.50-29.00 most weeks. That is deposited into Dd18's account to pay for gas and books while at college. Ds17 carries a credit card that we pay. He pays for one tank of gas per month and uses our card for the rest. Occasionally I give him personal to pick up a treat for himself. We are pretty generous with the kids. We pay the car insurance and college. If they need something we get it. If they want something, we evaluate the situation. I wouldn't just buy them an expensive lego set or go clothes shopping for fun. They might have to justify needing TKD equipment upgrades. But the occasional cash to go to movies with friends or the next book in a series, or supplies for a hobby are all things I say yes to as often as I can. The kids don't ask frequently which makes that easier.

We have reason to believe we had Omicron this week, but no one tested so it isn't certain. Several friends of my daughter tested positive after she spent the weekend with them. She developed symptoms the following day. I developed symptoms a day later. We weren't around other people - Dh and Ds17 were both using vacation days - so I don't know what else we would have picked up. Very minor symptoms. Dd18 and I had sore throats and headache. She was very tired. My feet swelled a little. But, overall, we didn't feel very sick. Everything was minor. Ds 17 coughed once but didn't complain of any particular symptoms? Dd11 had a mild sore throat. Dd7 threw up a few times one day. Dh and Ds15 didn't show any symptoms. So we think the girls had it, but maybe not the guys. Or they may have been asymptomatic. Again, it may not be covid, but timing is right and our symptoms matched those who tested positive.

Money is complicated. I respect the fact that Dh earns a paycheck. I appreciate that he supports our family. I consider his status as the breadwinner when we discuss big financial decisions. But the money he earns is ours. Just like the kids that I am mostly raising and educating are ours. Both of our contributions are valuable to our family. I do feel funny buying gifts for him with money he earns, but since it is our money it isn't actually any odder than him getting something for me. Gifts we give the kids feel more natural, since that is giving our shared capital to someone else.

And my feelings on going are mixed. It would obviously be a great opportunity, so if it happens we'll take him. But we didn't expect him to make the team and weren't planning on international travel. It is going to squeeze our budget.

American Taekwondo Association

Almost all of our traveling ever is to see family or go to tournaments. There is a slim possibility that we'll be going to Brazil this year.😳 It is a long story but we somewhat accidentally got Ds15 on the ATA Team USA. Short version: we signed him up for try outs just for experience against some of his toughest competition and he had a smashing good day. They MAY compete in Brazil this year. He MAY earn a starting position or the whole team MAY be asked to go. Covid MAY not interfere. No other major travel plans, although we will do the regular TKD tournament circuit.

I love Everdell, partly because it is so beautiful. I like worker placement games in general, and I like building my city.

Also Dd11 and Ds17 have been playing Star Wars LCG together most days.

I don't know if I can remember, but our past week (well, starting with Christmas) has included: Everdell Spades Ticket to Ride Europe HP Clue Patchwork Christmas Edition Unearth Dnd (all 7 of us, including the 7yo) Wingspan Favor of the Pharaoh Sheriff of Nottingham Qwirkle King of Tokyo Dark Edition

I would honor my dad's wishes about the headstone if my mom doesn't leave instructions about it.

This isn't really accurate. My friend who works in our local hospital says most of the children who have been in ICU the past 6 months or so have had RSV, not covid. So excess deaths would not necessarily indicate covid deaths. Our hospital has separate stats for those hospitalized due to covid and those who tested positive but are hospitalized for another reason.

While I wouldn't generally impose my family (7 people) on others, I wouldn't even hesitate to make a last minute decision to go to my family's holiday meal. My sister and her family couldn't come like usual this year for Thanksgiving. If they had called as they were getting on the road from 6 hours away, telling me they could make it after all, I would have been so happy. And they have 8 kids, so I would be setting up sleeping arrangements and figuring out food for 3-4 days for 10 extra people. Any extra work is so worth it if we can spend time together.

Favorites here: Dd18 - some books in a beautiful edition Ds17 - the game table my nephew is making him Ds15 - the computer, bought used from a local college Dd11 - the jewelry Ds17 bought her Dd7 - the new Bible and cover we got her 🥰 This is the tabletop so far. It will have hinges on each side that will allow it to be square or round. I don't know if it will be finished by the time we visit or not, but I will stain and varnish it when we get it home anyhow. He'll have to wait for it a bit, but it will be an heirloom piece when done. My nephew (also 17) cut the lumber, milled it, and dried it in the kiln he built.

Splendor, Love Letter

I'd make the effort if it was me and upset at Dh not being willing to make the effort if it was him.

I wonder how people reacting to the use of the word woke (which did not come from conservatives) feel about the word fundie. Bias is an interesting thing. We have family members who have radically different ideologies from Dh and me. I am glad to have the opportunity to show the kids how someone can be wrong 😉 but well-meaning. There is a lot of hate out there. That hate, the utter contempt for others scares me more than any one issue.

There are 4 books in this series: https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Chinese-Civilization-Emperor-Understanding/dp/1611720273/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2IX3O25YU2PGP&keywords=china+graphic+novel&qid=1638096517&qsid=138-8949653-2155362&sprefix=china+graphic%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1&sres=1611720273%2C1611720303%2C1101871490%2C1684153336%2C1684152046%2CB00ERUY4GA%2C1646090705%2C1684124298%2C1506717764%2C1596433590%2C1338660438%2C0316538892%2C0358566142%2C0358206359&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

Yes, lower cabinets with a butcher block countertop and homemade shelving with crown molding. It takes a taller chair, though, so shorter cabinets than these would be easier. We used oak boards and painted them. That drove Mom nuts. But, I didn't want the shelves to sag ever and I hate staining and varnishing. I cut, sanded, and painted during the day. Dh would put a unit together every evening when he got home - the shelves wrap around to the other side of the room.

Something like this but with multiple spaces.

I did something like this, but ended up filling in the computer area with books. I would do shorter cupboards than these, though, and leave a taller space by the desk and computer areas.

I would do built-ins along the wall opposite the windows with a deep countertop at desk height. I'd have my desk and a computer station at about a third of the way in and at about 2/3's. To the sides and in between, I'd have cupboards for storage. Above the countertop, I'd have bookshelves.