We're landlords and we head over when something needs to be fixed at the tenant's request. We live 4 blocks from the property so we drive by all the time. We make annual inspections as well, just to check the unit nd also because we are required to provide working CO detectors and smoke alarms.

Yeah, and they're using Facebook to generate business ideas!

I just placed my very first order and was able to use H899 for 30% (not 20% as above) off $200! :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

Yea! So glad it all worked out. I agree, movies for all.

Yes but they're 2 feet long....

We went and saw all 3 LOTR movies last weekend but we don't have a plan for The Hobbit. DH can't take Friday off so sometime this weekend. We might have to go in shifts if we can't get babysitting.

I'm thinking I would use them to hang a wreath on the door and change it for the holidays. Seems like they belong to something interchangeable. Could also possibly be holiday napkin rings.

What subject would you have gone to grad school for? What was your interest? :grouphug:

You guys might enjoy this macro photography of snowflakes: http://myedol.com/post/36969630593

I have nothing exciting to report but that fact reminded me to get outside. So thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K2JYdY2Hok

It's like an orange on a toothpick!

Here's a link to a highly regarded and highly ranked public school in our area. Read it and weep. http://en.wikipedia....ol_(California) Alumni include Robert McNamara and Christopher Stevens, the ambassador killed in the Benghazi incident. The school offers everything you could ever want in a public school; 98% go on to college within 2 years of graduating. Now read this, with apologies for possibly offending: http://blog.sfgate.c...sy-slut-league/ :ohmy: :svengo: Read it and weep for different reasons. There's more to schools than just academics.

They have very little stuff in the bedroom. The nightstands are empty (including the drawers!) except for lamps, some of the shelves are empty, and the closets only have stuff I'm storing for them, like clothes I found on sale but were too large. They have open shelving for clothing and half of those shelves are bare too.

My kids birthdays are close together so we combine them and go to Disneyland for the day. They have restricted diets but can be easily accommodated there so it's a treat to eat out too.

All my ideas are posted above. The last thing I have is to set aside a small amount of "fun" money for each person that they get to spend on whatever silly or meaningful things they want. Or they can save it. Like an allowance, but for adults. Otherwise it can feel tedious and that can lead to slippage. We do $40/month each for DH and me. But it's been less when things were tighter.

--Tell her once, make sure she hears you, walk away. Don't beg or cajole, it only increases her lack of respect for you. Don't say "if you do this you'll get this" or "if you don't do this consequence blah blah." --When it's time for something fun later, she doesn't get to participate if she hasn't done the task. Make sure she knows why. --She will cry and apologize. If you're used to giving her what she wants after she apologizes, prepare yourself. --Accept her apology, thank her kindly, hug her, etc. --Stick to your guns about her not getting the fun thing. She will realize that she can't act like she wants, apologize, and everything is okay. --She will learn to think of the consequences before deciding to not listen. You are doing her the favor of causing her to think ahead about the resuts of her actions. Thsi is hard at first but if you stick to your guns and don't back down she'll get it.

Y'all have convinced me. I think I'll grab some from ebay after the holidays. We don't celebrate Christmas and I'd hate to bid on and win an auction someone was counting on for their kids.

Mine is about 3 years old and never had problems. I keep it in a speck case.

Gandalf: Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee. Have you been eavesdropping? Sam: I ain't been droppin' no eaves sir, honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you'll follow me. Gandalf: A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think? Sam: I heard raised voices. Gandalf: What did you hear? Speak. Sam: N? nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, and a Dark Lord, and something about the end of the world, but... Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything... unnatural.

I agree. I love DR's plan. But I think of it as something that will work every time it's applied, but cannot be applied every time.

I also am wondering if you can live with one of your kids during retirement. (Not that you don't still need to save some.) In most of the world, including where my family comes from, having kids is the retirement plan! :) It's the natural outcome for all the effort and money you invested throughout your life. Sometimes I think about what effect the creation of social security and retirement savings plans has had on the inter-generational family structure.

I agree. If you leave the oldest at home w/o the littles to take care of, and one of the other kids is in testing, you only have to manage two kiddos. If it's a big city there must be parks, museums, libraries etc where you can spend some time hanging out and doing some school stuff.

Yeah, that's a tough one. One time I read this thing about how kids can get jealous about the amount of attention you give to the computer, as if it's another child. And if that "other child" gets more attention than actual children that's a problem. Understanding that helped me cut back. When I'm on the computer I think of it as a child I'm giving attention to and I'm aware of how that would affect my other children if it were a real child they were competing with.

Thank you! :hurray: