Can someone please explain to me about the vinyl (and paper?) cut out machines? I'm looking for labels for things around the house. I think Cricuit and Silhouette are two of the brand's? Any suggestions on least expensive one to get but that won't be a total lemon? I won't use it a ton, but maybe some, and my oldest daughter may go wild with it. ;)

This right here is why moms stress so much over potty training. I mean, who wants to be "that mom" who raised a phantom pooper?😂😮😲

No sugar. Vitamin D. Broth. Probiitics. When we were on thr GAPS diet, my kids went from sick 1x a month to not being sick for 2 years...which was when we got off GAPS and allowed more sugar and grains.

They've got a book and maybe a movie in this. I did find it odd they took a year's worth of food with them. Kept them alive, but that was a lot of time to prep for for a.much shorter intended trip.

Upon first reading, I thought this was satire. 😂 Really, though, all this over a Halloween costume. 😵

😮😮😮ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘💪💪💪

<snicker> You're 32 and thinking of when to finish. I'd just gotten started at 31. :-) We have 4, the last one born when I was 42 (space works well for us). We're done. I've parented the last decade with adrenal fatigue and need to take care of my body now. I also want to be freer to do things with my older kids, activities, etc., and having another one would be hard on our school. If you are full of energy and your babies sleep well, rock on! You'll know what's right for your family.

Let's see...at 11 I still wanted to be a veterinarian; then at 17 I wanted to write mystery novels; then by 19 I wanted to be a journalist; at 23 I ended up in law school, practiced for 4 years, and now 15 years later I'm in the health and wellness industry (which I almost quit law for in my early 30s). I want to raise highly skilled, capable, flexible, relational humans, with I hope, varied interests. Even though my oldest is 13, I think we're on our way.

😂😂😂 That entire article is a disaster. 😂😂😂

Not my circus...nod and smile.

We only have a few newish roundabouts. Trust me, people run through those yield roundabouts just like they would a red light...and they just wave at you, too.

And don't forget room and board provided on the state's fine while incarcerated. Or do they pay that back when released?

And my MIL cranked about $160 for dress and shoes because I was kind enough to include her 2 daughters in the wedding party. Rofl.

So how often do you guys run yours? Daily? Every night? Just a couple times a week?

I tried a Roomba a few years ago wasn't impressed. Anyone have the new ones? With High-efficiency cleaning, room mapping, phone app control? Which one do you have? What do you love about it? (Do I need this in my life, or do I just need to train my kids better? :rolleyes:)

My oldest is 12, my baby is 2, and this is exactly why I'm seeking certifications in areas that interest me that I can start working in soon. Of course, chances are good that by the time baby graduates high school I'll have grandkids already and I'll be needed for babysitting and sending food, but I want to have my own life over the next 15 years, too, not just be all wrapped up in them and then, poof, all of a sudden when I'm 62 and baby graduates high school, I have nothing.

This. There are unpleasant, messed up people in the world (or however you would describe them). They're going to be in somebody's family...turns out one or some of them are in yours. Invest your time and energy where you'll get the best return. You will have much more of an impact on your kids than grandparents ever will. And trust me, if it's forced, the kids will know it. I speak from experience. And, imo, relationships are the responsibility of the adults in the situation...in this case, the grandparents. It's not the grandkids' jobs to keep up with the old folks..assuming reasonable age and capabilities. If your kids care, consider doing something about it. If they don't, don't worry about it.

A mouse about the house. They are so cute, it's too bad that they are such disease and tick carriers. Black!

My dad is late 70s, currently being treated for colon cancer. He'll probably survive this round, but likely what will get him in the end. My mom will do what care he needs and they'll hire out care otherwise. He has plenty of money. We have considered my mom in our plans for our next house. I'm an only child, we are close and my husband is amenable to having her live with us or being involves in her care. She's almost 80, Type 1 diabetic, but in great shape. My in laws are 10 years younger, live 9 hours away and have 9 kids, most of whom live in their city, to spread the wealth of care for them among. They only have 2 daughters, though. I suspect the oldest daughter will do a lot of care if it's needed and my husband will feel guilty for not living there and being there more as they age.

Ugh. I'm so sorry. We've watched my in laws go through it with residential renters and my husband just won't even consider doing that with our house of we ever move. The law is very in favor of the renters, it's tough.

This is so interesting to me. So, MIL homeschooled from about 1982 until 2012, 9 kids. She had no real educational philosophy she worked from, used a lot of Abeka, Bob Jones, Rod and Staff, eventually graduated to Sonlight, sent the kids for certain classes to a small private school that would let homeschoolers take piecemeal classes, and drools over the co-op I send my K and 1st kids to which I just consider glorified babysitting for a day. She was against Common Core, but had no clue why when I questioned her. My homeschool is significantly more "old school" than hers and tailored much more to each child. (I have 3 "in school" now.) Except there is the added pressure of rigor, and I don't wear denim skirts. And the only thing that has gotten her to stop talking like "homeschooling is the only way" is that neither of her daughters are homeschooling their kids (because they don't feel their education was good enough...which imo is partly an issue of theirs). Yes, she kept her kids out of public school and mostly private school, but it was p.s. at home. And that's okay. They've all turned out pretty well (especially my dh :-) and all have done some amount or more of college. I'm just less impressed by "old homeschoolers," knowing one up close, than I should be otherwise.

No. It's just not that interesting. I've done my share of helping others find the right curriculum, discussing scheduling, etc., 'cause I don't. But, I'll go back to something that I find to be more mentally stimulating and/or makes more money. And, if I homeschool all my kids, the last one will graduate high school when I'm 60, so I'm hoping to already have more of a "side life" by then that has absolutely nothing to do with homeschooling. :laugh: (This has actually been a really constructive through process. Thanks for posting the question. Starting on "side life" asap.)

I'm wondering, is BS just having member number issues? Have they lost a lot of members over the last few yearsand this is a grab for members?

As non-Scouters, but with Eagle projects in our neighborhood and a lot of the hiking areas we use, the projects are really disappointing. What is with all the benches?! Sheesh!

We haven't gotten to Boy Scout age with our boys yet, and my DH was not a Scout. However, he is really unimpressed with what he sees around town that passes for an Eagle Scout project. Maybe the park benches and small erosion run off protection on hiking trails are really part of a larger project the kids are doing, but that's all he sees and is disappointed. We've also interviewed some Eagle Scouts at our business and it was not impressive. You can get this with anything, I know, but we were hoping that having ES on the resume meant something. I just don't know that Eagle Scout means that much any more. I cant imagine there's any great loss to girls not being in BS.