I just baked cookies and assembled in small tins for gifts. I'm sticking them in the freezer as is inside the tins. These will be given next Thursday so we're only storing for a week. I felt pretty good about my plan but now I'm worried they won't come out right. I suppose I should have wrapped them individually in plastic inside the tins or separated with wax paper or something. Are they going to be okay? I didn't really want to have to take it all apart and reassemble. I've never frozen inside the tins before but they seemed pretty airtight. Help??

Interesting. I knew there would be some variety but it is interesting how prevelant it is. It seems pretty widespread. I'm not anti-cell phone. I think it is one of those things that you grow into as necessity/ maturity/ expense indicates. I see the value in texting even though I'm not that into it. I'm glad it isn't the standard around here. Not that we conform to those sorts of standards but it is just nice that it's not that prevelant in my neck of the woods...YET :) We're just not ready (although dh would be lost without his). Marie

i don't know but I'm looking for one. Where is this sale? I'm leaning toward the professional model.

My just turned 13 yo niece just got a Blackberry with full internet, etc. I don't think of any other 7th graders I know that have gotten into this yet. I'm really not judging. I wouldn't do it for a multitude of reasons but I don't think it is horrible or anything. Not my style for my family but to each their own. I really am just wondering if this is a norm elsewhere. We live in a very middle class area. They are definitely in a more upscale area of Atlanta. My brother's family isn't extravagant at all, though. My 6th grader said he doesn't know anyone with a Blackberry. He does know many kids in the 6th-8th grades and some younger high schoolers. 90% of kids have phones but to many it is an extra family emergency phone just to call home, etc. That's what my 6th grader has. I'm really just very curious now. Do the kids in your middle school crowd have smart phones? Thanks, Marie

Thank you so much for your responses. I am a bit surprised. I was expecting everyone to say we need to take her in. We gave her money for the first time this weekend. It was only $300 but it hurts us at the holidays and doesn't get her very far. (Her car broke down while she was here and we had to get her a rental to get her back to work so she wouldn't lose her job). It is unrealistic to think we can provide financial support without going under ourselves. We only have about 2 months expenses in an emergency fund ourselves so while we are making it we are only an illness or job loss away from crisis ourselves. She was here over the weekend and doesn't think she needs any help and is happy with how things are. We are going to research counseling and help for her but we can't force her to do anything. I feel like our hands are tied if she won't get help but I feel like we are responsible to make sure she is not on the streets. Tough stuff. Thanks for listening. Marie

After 20 years of acne and trying everything under the sun I have gotten it under control with a tea tree oil cleanser. I would have never believed something so simple would work but it has for me and some friends and even their teenaged sons. The one I use is Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Facial Cleanser with Tea Tree Oil and Awapuhi. I use it to wash twice a day and don't need any other lotions, etc. If something flares up I might but a little spot treatment on but that is rare. I buy mine in a big bottle from drugstore.com. I can't remember what I pay off hand but I know as far as skin care goes I think it is inexpensive. I don't know if it would work for yours but it is cheap enough to give a try. Good luck. Marie

Thanks for the support. It's just one of those things I've come to expect from my MIL. She has such bigger problems and a sad life so I just let this stuff go. I just told her I was cooking anything new but offered all the many ways the leftovers could be served up and that I would be happy to do it. FWIW the leftovers included an antipasto salad, pork roast, stuffed shells, and an Italian soup so it wasn't all turkey and stuffing! It's just one of those things I made a mental note to myself about teaching my children. I wasn't always taught manners and I have embarassed myself plenty of times. I accidentally posted more related issues on the curriculum board at 4 am. Oh, how I wish the comment about leftovers was the biggest issue we're dealing with. Thanks ladies for letting me vent. Marie

I don't know what to do, how to deal with this, or where to go for help. My MIL is in crisis. We do not feel close to her but we are all she has even though we live 12 hours apart. She is annoying. She is difficult to have around. She has issues with compulsive spending/ debt/ hoarding, etc. Makes questionable financial decisions. She raised dh on her own and it was fine. Not great, but she tried. So basically she has issues that make a relationship difficult but she has done nothing to warrant severing a relationship or anything like that. She lost her job and had no savings and tons of debt. She did find work after several months but it is a one year appointment. She is not making enough money to pay her bills. I am up worrying at 4:00 am that the bottom is very close to falling out and I have no idea what to do. Her home (which she refinances every time there is any equity) is in horrible condition and she couldn't just sell it. It probably should be condemned and might be if anyone who had been inside reported her. We have tried to get help for the hoarding in the past and there is just NO WAY she is going to seek help for that. She probably has 15-20 credit cards with large balances that she pays minimum on. What happens when the bottom falls out here? We cannot afford to support her. We could swing a few hundred dollars a month by cutting back kids' activities but it would never be enough to get her through. She can't move in with us. We don't have the room, can't afford it, and absolutely could not have her hoarding in our home. I don't think she is just going to need short term help. I don't think there is anyway she is going to continue to stay afloat the rest of her life. So what happens? If MIL loses her home she will have no where to go. Then what will we do? Drive the kids 12 hours to go visit Grandma at a homeless shelter? Even if I got a full time job and totally changed our lives I don't think we could ever support her fully. What do we do? Has anyone been through this? To support her as a member of our household would require me going to work, kids going to school/ daycare, quitting all their sports, etc. We would have to go from making it with a few extras to absolute poverty level for our family (4 dc). Dh has worked so hard to make a life for his family outside the example his mother set for him. We have worked so hard to have a stable life and provide for our children. I don't know what would happen in our marriage if she was the third adult in the home. I don't feel like we can compromise our entire life because of her issues and problems she has brought on herself. But she can't be out on the street. Has anyone been here? We can't be alone in this. Thanks, Marie Edit: I realize I posted on the curriculum board and don't know how to fix that. It's 4 am and I'm upset and I'm just going to go to bed now.

be prepared to eat leftovers! I cooked for my family of 17 yesterday. MIL arrived last evening. I have already had to discuss what we will eat today. She doesn't want leftovers. I have a fridge full of leftovers and have been cooking for days and now I need to get creative! FWIW our leftovers include all kinds of Italian food in addition to the Thanksgiving staples. I'm tired. I didn't really feel like cooking a pot roast! So, if you are staying with someone who just banged out dinner for 17 people, you must happily eat leftovers!

I need to replace lots of small kitchen appliances so I just shopped Kohl's for a new blender/ waffle maker/ coffee maker, etc. I have an additional 15% pass and they have lots of rebates and $10 Kohl's cash for each $50. I paid about $7 for the waffle maker/ coffee pot/ electric skillet/ and griddle. Dh needed new luggage. I just ordered him a 3 piece set regularly priced at $240 for $40 from Kohl's. I got a block of Kitchenaid knives for about $20 after rebates etc. I'm done though and I'm going back to bed.

Maytag. Like it just fine. No love/hate. I never gave it much thought until I stayed in a couple of vacation condos recently and hated the dishwashers. Mine just loads well. I have also learned that if I ever need to buy another dishwasher I will take my travel coffee mugs in and make sure they fit on the top shelf. They didn't in the condos we stayed in and it was very annoying.

i have a long list for Kohl's. I am planning to try online at midnight and then hit the store if I really want something I didn't get online. I am just shopping for the deals on some things we should replace but it is nothing I will be too upset over if I can't get. I don't mind fighting the crowds to get one or two items but I don't want to fight all over Kohl's for 12 different things. And their shopping carts aren't that big! I have shopped online Amazon and Kohl's in the past and didn't have any problems. I am a little more into it this year though. Marie

if the teacher said we could get out our books I would have done that just to be sure. I'm just like that. I wasn't there so I obviously don't know the details but I bet there were at least a couple more of those students that could have gotten it without the book but went ahead and got it out to check- just to be absolutely certain. Yeah, I'm a little OCD. Marie

Well, I'm going to my room because I find it unbearable to be in a houseful of people writing notes on pads and waving my arms around trying to convey my meaning. I've been through this before and I just can't imagine hosting and serving dinner without a way to communicate. As pitiful as it is it will be easier for me to just retreat. I'm not just a little hoarse. I've got no voice whatsover. I know my doc won't dole out the steroid shot after a short illness. The last time this happened I had to almost beg for it. I had been without voice for 3 weeks and she wanted me to wait out another 6 weeks before the steroid shot. She gave it to me reluctantly. There is a walk in clinic I have gone to for some other things. Maybe I'll give that a try. Thanks.

I am so discouraged. I am hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner here on Thursday (3 courses + dessert) for 17 people. I woke up this morning with no voice at all. I have this happen to me every couple of years and I have never recovered more quickly than 2-3 weeks. I am so upset. I guess I am going to shop/ cook/ clean house/ set table/ prep everything and then retreat to my room until everyone comes and goes. Is there any chance of getting over this more quickly? So far I'm trying tea with honey/ lemon, raw garlic, steam inhalation, gargling with salt water, total voice rest and major hydration while avoiding caffeine. It's been a fun day so far:glare: Anything else I'm missing that might work? A couple of years ago when it hung on for a month I got a steroid shot but I don't think that is an option until I've had this much longer. I'll try anything about now! Marie

I use NFP for religious reasons so that isn't going to change. That said, I would really like to avoid pregnancy right now. I can handle a baby but I sure wouldn't plan it right now. I would like to start taking St. John's Wort for mild mood/ anxiety issues. I am concerned about if this would have any impact on my CM observations. I do chart temps loosely but rely heavily on CM observations. I would not be able to take anything that would dry that up and lead me to miss that sign. Someone suggested that I take the St. John's Wort after ovulation to head off PMS issues. Others have said that it takes too long to work for it to be effective taking it short term. Does anyone know anything about this? I've consulted all my books and tried to research it but I'm coming up with nothing. I have an NFP only doc that is very knowledgeable about these things but I'm having trouble getting in to see her. I went "inactive" for 3 years while I had miscarriage and then a baby and was under the care of an OB/GYN. If she won't take me back as a patient I'll have to go elsewhere and I don't anticipate finding anyone knowledgeable/ supportive of NFP. Thanks, Marie

When this has happened to me it has always been in the tone of "isn't that interesting". I have never been offended. I guess I could be if the tone was a little nasty but I have never felt that way. Marie

I haven't used the method but a very close friend of mine became pregnant without even having intercourse. So, it can happen even if the little swimmers are just nearby. I'm sure that particular scenario is rare. I guess it is a question of how upset would you be if you became pregnant? I have a friend who used that method successfully for about 5 years before planning a pregnancy and got pregnant the first try. I'm sure it decreases your chances significantly but if you REALLY do not want to be pregnant I would recommend something else. Marie

Do they still let you bring food in? We were there Oct 2007 and they searched our bags going in and didn't say anything about water bottles/ snacks/ etc. that we were bringing in. We saved a bundle that vacation bring our food and drinks into Disney and SW. We are heading back down in a couple of weeks and didn't know what to expect. We are also wondering about Busch Gardens and Aquatica. I know that the policy officially states that outside food is prohibited but they certainly didn't enforce it at all. Trying hard to stretch that vacation budget...feeding six on the road sure adds up! Thanks, Marie

We have a wii and are not addicted at all. However, the boys would be if I allowed it. They would not self limit at all. I don't have that much trouble monitoring it. They play only on weekends or breaks from school. I do allow some exceptions like having a friend over or extended bad weather. Whenever it seems like they've had it "enough" I tell them to turn it off. When they started obsessing about it a little bit last summer we put it away for a few months. Overall, the kids like it. I don't have much interest in it. I know alot of moms that play on it but it is a "once in a blue moon" kind of thing for me. It just doesn't hold my interest.

Funny- now that I am out of school I dream about all the problems with failing/ not being able to find my class, etc. This thread just reminded me that when I actually was in high school/ college I would dream about getting on the bus or walking around campus only to realize that I was naked. At least I haven't had that one in a while. That is a very uncomfortable dream.

It's worth it for us. Meat is priced well and better quality than an average grocery store. I just bought a case of ground beef and the savings from that alone will pay for the membership. I buy rice, ap and bread flour, baked chips, some seasonings I use alot of, snack sized packages of peanuts. The big bags of shredded cheese are a big money saver for me. I have to be very disciplined. Most things there are not a great deal and if you shop Aldi you can get comparable prices on many things without having to buy the huge quantities. Storage is an issue, so keep that in mind.

I have that dream all the time. Sometimes it is college, sometimes high school. I have skipped the class so much that I don't know when/ where it is, where the book is, etc. Dh says he is going to make me sleep with my diploma under my pillow.

It is weird-and annoying I have to admit. While it is not the norm, it is reasonably common to stay back that year even with winter birthdays. I guess that means the fall birthdays are actually the youngest! Where will it end? I honestly will give him a say at this point. While dc do not make important decisions around here I will listen to what he has to say. If I thought he was going to feel like he "failed" and was humiliated I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it if I thought it was going to have a negative effect on him at all. If he chose to go ahead and continue in his current grade and put himself at that disadvantage for sports, etc. then I would support that. We have talked about it some and he definitely understands and knows that the kids his age are a year behind. He also knows he is very bright and he gets that isn't the problem. I think alot of it for me is his own social comfort and he is capable of telling me where he is more comfortable. As much as I've agonized about this it probably isn't that big of a deal. There will be pros and cons of each. None of them will be that life altering I suppose. If I keep him where he is and it is a problem I can take him out and homeschool him. If I hold him back and that becomes a problem I can take him out and homeschool him :) Thanks for the discussion. I appreciate the sounding board. I'm sure I'll be back and forth on it some more before I finally decide.

Ellie, I appreciate that you have taken the time to respond and do consider everything that has been written (why else would I have asked?). I don't know how else to explain it. Ds was 9 in May. In school grades he is probably 3 months - 15 months younger than the other kids. It is not the handful of kids that are 3-5 months older than him that bother me. It is the very large (not just a couple kids) that are 12- 15 months older. I understand that some kids will always be younger. I don't consider May to be late either (I was a Sept that moved 1500 miles away for college at 17). I get that. I am not looking for him to be the oldest in his class. I would like him in the most similar age grouping available and he is not there right now. I have just found myself in a situation where is in with kids mostly a whole year older all the time. For this particular kid who is a follower and sometimes lacking in confidence I am just not sure why it is necessary that I push him ahead with all older kids all the time. I realize that legally he is in the correct grade but the reality of the situation is one in which every test he takes, every competition he participates in, every team he trys out for he is being forced to compete against all older kids. Not some older kids or kids a little bit older but the majority of kids one year plus older. Socially I don't think he benefits from having to deal with all the nonsense out there a year ahead of his age. Thanks again. I am considering all options. Obviously I was resistant to do this for us to have gotten to 4th grade in this boat. As I see more of the middle school experience with my oldest son I am able to see what was a small issue in the elementary grades becoming a big issue in the next couple of years. Just trying to meet the needs of this kid. We do not baby our dc and I certainly do understand that all kids will not be exactly the same age all the time. That is not lost on me. I am just failing to see the advantage, at this point, of pushing him ahead. I would never have chosen to grade skip this particular child but that essentially is the situation I am in. Thanks. I promise I will stop trying to explain it now.