I hear ya! I recently signed on as well. :) It is rather fun, but another thing to waste my time.

I didn't send out *any* Christmas cards? Gasp! I seriously forgot all about it until last Sunday when I had a bunch of cards in my church mailbox. Now I'm thinking I'll just not do them this year.

Add a bit of baking powder. My ds messed up and put baking powder instead of baking soda in our cookies last week. They were definately puffy. :) They tasted fine, I'd try half the amount of baking soda.

We have a Visa debit card and use it everywhere. I've never had a downside to not having a credit card. :)

No credit cards here either.

I bought the Melissa and Doug kitchen for my dd for Christmas this year. It is so cute put together!! The $99.00 price from Amazon is lower than I've ever seen it!

Diana, I just heard about the explosion this morning. We lived in the Canby/Woodburn area for several years and I'm still in touch with friends from there. One sent a prayer request for the families of the victims this morning. I'll be praying!

I also have started taking Lexapro and am feeling much, much better. I don't struggle with OCD, but with anxiety and depression. I can't believe how much more relaxed and happy I am. I, too, am thanking God for this medicine and how it is working in me.

We are very blessed to have each other. :) We'd welcome more to our monthly girls night out!

Here's a picture. Jean is on the left, I'm in the center, and Lori is on the right. It hurt. Bad. But, I like it today!

and got our nose's pierced. Wow, it hurt!! But, we had a lot of fun together and we all look great! :) Maybe jail warden can attach a picture here for all of you! Thanks for the advice on my previous post. :)

My SIL really used hers. She would put the baby in it with a tray on it and some toys to occupy her sometimes. It was the baby's first highchair, b/c it held her up so well. I was tempted to buy one for myself but.... didn't. :)

A little more than 10%. That all goes into retirement. We also have already saved 3-6 months of our daily expenses and enough money for our next car. We were gifted some money from my folks years ago which helped us tremendously. I would love to be saving for our kids' college. If everything goes as planned our mortgage will be paid off by then and we will be able to help with college.

We recently enjoyed Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Swiss Family Robinson, Peter Pan, The Rookie, Akeelah and the Bee, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Well, that's six! :) We have Netflix and are enjoying Friday night movie nights with our family.

My best gift was our 2nd son born on Dec. 23, 2001. We brought him home on Christmas Day! My pregnancy with our 2nd had some unusual test results and had extra monitoring, he was higher risk for Down's, and spinal deformities. The delivery was 2 weeks early, his heart rate kept dropping and I kept saying "Something doesn't feel right!". He was a forceps delivery and was a healthy baby! What a miracle it all was. He will be 7 this year and lost his 1st tooth today!

We live in a 2000 sq. ft. home in a rural area.

How soon can you use a retainer?

One more question: how much will it cost at a "reptutible piercer"?

Debra - O.K., I must ask - who is the right person??? Does an overweight, t-shirt and jeans 35 year old mom of 4 fit the right person??? Seriously, am I going to look like a dork? Inquiring minds need to know.... Oh, and is there a special reason for getting the piercing on the right or left?

Too funny! I love them, but I'm afraid I'm not "cool" enough for it either. :) I'm a 35 year old mother of 4, in a very small conservative town where I'm already different b/c I homeschool my kids. I guess I can stand out in another way too. :)

#1 - How long do you need to leave the nose stud in after piercing? #2 - Is there any way to mask it (seriously, my folks would die and my Amish aunts, uncles & cousins would think I've lost it) during the time you must leave it in???? #3 - Does it matter which side you get pierced? #4 - Anything else I need to know? I've been contemplating this for a while, and a few friends and I may do it at the same time. My *one* thing holding me back is my parents and my relatives. If I knew I could dab a little make up or something on it to cover it for an evening, I'd go for it!

Thanks for your help, everyone! Physics 1 it is!

My almost 7yo is a farmer at heart. He really enjoyed our herb garden this year, likes to water our indoor plants and had fun with our tomato plants. Is there something I could get him for his birthday (2 days before Christmas) or Christmas that would grow? An indoor herb garden? Other ideas? Where do I get such things? Thanks!

You found Physics II too difficult for a 4th grader? Could you tell me why? What is your experience with RS4K Physics? I'm using RS4K chem this year, but I'm drawn to Noeo. Which would you do if you had it to do over and why? :) Thanks!

Would you recommend Physics I or Physics II for a 4th grader, 2nd grader and K'r (mostly along for fun)? My oldest is a very good reader, so I'm a bit nervous Physics I would be too light, but that II would be too hard for the little brothers. WWYD??? Could my oldest do the reading in II and then do the experiments with the youngers? Or, would that not jive at all? Any advice would be great. I'm pretty sure I can't do two levels of science, I really need to combine. I love the look of Noeo, but... We're using RS4K this year and I've thought about that for next year as well. It is just so short. But, it is good! Anyway, since you are there I'd love your opinions.