I would call again and offer to buy the kitten back. I would feel like I owed it to the kitten and my daughter. Then charge a small fee for the remaining kittens and come out even. I am sorry for all the stress and sadness. It's hard to know how to do the right thing sometimes.

Pogo sticks Hula hoops Bubbles to blow and chase Hopping balls Chin up bar Jump ropes Balance board Exercise bike Climbing rope or swing hung from a ceiling beam Magnetic dart board Mini air hockey table

Is this your cat? : )

You might look into a thermal cooker. It's like a crockpot, except you only heat it to boiling initially, then the heat is retained without electricity to finish the cooking. I don't have one (yet), but the reviews are good. Then you could add chills, stews, soups, etc. to the rotation. Here's one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZV95C/ref=pd_luc_sbs_02_02_t_lh?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Also, here's one of our favorite quick and easy recipes. It's very good, and doesn't take much time (a bit on the stovetop, then 10-15 minutes in the oven). Add a veggie and some bread or mashed potatoes (Trader Joe's has some good ones that you just microwave from the freezer), and you are set. Don't be put off by the name, it's just pork tenderloin. We don't even make the gravy most of the time, so it's very easy. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Varkenshaas-13259

Fascinating!

All of my kids have been sock-sensitive. The older two have outgrown it, thankfully! Have you tried seamless socks? My sensitive 7 year old is wearing these without complaint: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A17KYPS?ref%5F=wms%5Fohs%5Fproduct&redirect=true&psc=1&pldnSite=1

Misty Wren Abby Jill (Jilly Bean?) Kabuki (I had a siamese mix with this name) Mocha Java

It's called "other race effect" and it is not unique to caucasians. Edited to add: it might be a bit more difficult for caucasians because we often rely on differences in hair and eye color as clues when distinguishing other causasians, which are often absent or more subtle in other races.

So very sorry to hear this.

For the mouth sores, I would recommend switching to an SLS-Free toothpaste. There is a list on this site: http://slsfree.net/sls-free-toothpaste/ I use Xyliwhite with good results. I would also second the saline nasal rinses, the Mucinex and extra fluids. Good luck!

Call them? http://www.capezio.com/support/contact-us/

We always pack a laundry bag for each person to put their dirty clothes in. A large garbage bag works just fine. Also... swim goggles pool cover up extra pair of eyeglasses, contact solution, etc as indicated mini first aid kit (bandaids, tweezers, ibuprofen, etc) travel pillow/blanket travel alarm clock

You could look for a Groupon for laser hair removal. It does hurt, a variable amount depending on the area treated and the machine, but you can use a numbing gel first ... and the results last a long time.

If you don't need it for repairs or updates elsewhere, I vote for spending that $5000 to improve your backyard -- it can be small AND charming. If you find a landscape design company and give them your budget, they ought to be able to come up with some good ideas.

Or you can click on the My Home tab, then click the sub tab titled Check-In. After you've recorded several weights you can view them in chart form under the Progress tab -- just select which type of progress you would like to view (weight, measurements, calories consumed, etc)

Lie To Me

Yeah, birds are great, until you can't sleep! I used to have an amazon parrot (for over 20 years), so I am very familiar with that situation. I hope you figure out a solution (ear plugs? Move the feeder?) or they knock it off soon.

Or, you could have a very talented blackbird in your neighborhood…. here's another quote from an article in 'Conservation': "A male European blackbird was terrorizing the neighborhood. For several months, he started singing at around 5 a.m. each day, but this was no ordinary song. The bird imitated the sounds of ambulance sirens and car alarms at a jarringly life-like volume. It even produced cell-phone ring tones that went unanswered for hours. The tale of the annoying blackbird in Somerset, U.K., was not unique. Hans Slabbekoorn, an assistant professor of behavioral biology at Leiden University in The Netherlands, had heard similar stories—but he was skeptical that such bizarre reports could be true. So he started asking people to send him recordings of the off-kilter blackbirds. Sure enough, what he got back was pitch-perfect imitations of urban noises, including not just sirens and car alarms but even the distinctive sound of a golf cart backing up—mimicked by blackbirds living near a golf course." when I was in school, a friend and I raised a couple of orphaned crows (very cool birds -- they would play catch with us with a balled up piece of paper). We took them to the rehabber prior to release, and she had a crow there she herself had raised, and that crow perfectly imitated the barking of her dog. So, a crow or related bird certainly has the ability to mimic mechanical noises as you described.

Here's another possibility -- a tufted titmouse. Check out the second song recording….http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/tufted_titmouse/sounds And, I found this quote about Mockingbirds: 'In addition to offering up amazingly accurate reproductions of all types of birds, mockingbirds will even imitate truck backup beeps, sirens, and people's whistles. They frequently sing at night.'

Could it be a saw whet owl? It does sound like a truck backing up. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_saw-whet_owl/sounds

I would vote pantry, too. If you have a bit of space to spare elsewhere, you could consider one of these ideas as a replacement for the coat closet….. http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2011/02/entryway-mudroom-inspiration-ideas-coat-closets-diy-built-ins-benches-shelves-and-storage-solutions.html

I have bought two used french horns off of ebay --- both approximately that vintage. I was careful to choose someone with good feedback, a return period, etc. They both played fine, certainly they aren't the limiting factor -- french horn is difficult! I would research that brand and model if you can (lots of info online, though not as much for french horn as some other instruments), and if you can arrange for an instructor to evaluate it for suitability that would be great. The bottom line, I wouldn't let the age of the instrument hold me back if it was in good working condition and sounded good. My kids are playing instruments as old as the 1920's, up to the 1970's and all play fine.

You might also take a look at linoleum/Marmoleum. It has a lot going for it. http://www.forbo-flooring.com/Commercial-flooring/Products/Linoleum/The-next-generation-of-Marmoleum/

I would look at what matters to your kids and try to do something meaningful to them, either on Christmas day or through coupons. For example…. My younger kids would love to have an epic indoor fort day (with the whole family helping to build it), complete with snacks served in the fort. My boys would love to take their friends and their nerf guns to a deserted park for a battle. My husband would love a long neck rub and pampering. My little girl would love a long dress up and makeup session. She loves to put makeup on me, too -- I look hideous afterwards, but she loves it : ) The same girl would love a tea party/dress up day with friends. I would go all out to make it special. Take lots of photos and frame your favorite for her to remember. My oldest would like a movie marathon and a day of his favorite food and board games. They all would like their favorite food prepared -- or maybe make something "fancy" that you don't usually make, like a chocolate fondue. A Christmas day hike in the snow (if you have a white Christmas) or in the mountains if you live someplace warm. With the right frame of mind I truly believe that a no-spend Christmas could be the best ever. I hope yours turns out to be wonderful.

I have this one and have been very happy. No plastic window to view water level, which is why I chose it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ES7I8A/ref=wms_ohs_product_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I see it is getting some bad reviews for durability, but mine has been perfect for 2 years of daily use.