:bigear: My baby (17 months) also has lactose issues. We made cottage pie yesterday substituting Nucoa margarine for butter but I'm not sure how it would freeze. http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_shepherds_pie/ Christine W

We love the Chicco Keyfit. I have two Radians (3.5 and almost 5 year old) and the keyfit in the back of my tiny Dodge Neon. At the time my 15 month old was born, it was the only combination that would work. Christine W

As long as you can afford to pay your bills and feed your kids, then I would find a way to get the meds. Your family deserves to have you healthy and you deserve to be healthy. I'd talk with the office about why you need a paper prescription and how it inconveniences you. They may have legitimate reasons for wanting the consult visit now and then be willing to forgo the doctor's appointment after a couple of months.

My niece's school adopted Singapore Math this year and while my mom was skeptical, my sister and her daughter both love it. Christine

What wonderful news!

No kidding. We don't have a/c; our house is well insulated so we aren't completely miserable but after a cold summer, it just shouldn't be 101 the first week of Fall.

Right now we're in a rental, but we will--knock on wood--be closing at the end of next month. This house could be a forever house--great neighborhood, top-rated schools so I could consider sending them, big flat yard, near lots of green space. DH swears he'll never move, but coming from a guy who needs to move every two years we'll see. Its a western style ranch with a good floor plan; it needs several updates but the big ones are already covered--kitchen, windows, new HVAC and we might get the sellers to pay for an electrical upgrade since the fuse box is not up to code. I've been living in rentals for the past 8 years and I am so ready for a home that's mine. Christine W

:grouphug: Praying for you and your little bub. Christine W

I'm sorry for your loss; You need to see a lawyer. As you can see from the variety of response, different states and provinces have different rules for what makes a will. If you can't afford an attorney, then at the very least you should show the note to the probate administrator. Where did the deceased reside? Where did he write the note? Did he sign and date it? Does it state that it is a will or is it more of a planning note? It is a shame that he never made a formal will. I don't want to encourage you too much, BC doesn't allow for holographic (unwitnessed) wills and is pretty strict about it. There are a few exceptions (which is why you should take the note to someone)

We love PBS Kids shows: Super Why, Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train are current favorites around here right now.

Love the readers. DS (4.5) is not remotely interested in BOB books or the Nora Gaydos sets but he can't get enough of the silly animals in McRuffy K.

When did your child begin reading instruction? What did you use to teach it? DD is 3.5 and begging me to teach her how to read. She pulls out her brother's magnetic letters and asks me to spell familiar names and favorite words. This afternoon she asked me to spell cousin and knew before I picked up the magnet that I needed a "u" after "o"--I'd never spelled that word for her. I was startled and confused but then remembered that I read her Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin at bedtime last night. I have the A Beka phonics primer and she loves looking at it. I'm a bit freaked out. My mom says I learned to read when I was 4 so this isn't a huge surprise especially since DD knew letter sounds, numbers, shapes and colors before she was 2 1/2. But I am at a loss on what to do now. She seems so small to be reading; I also worry about her brother who is almost 5 and who shows very little interest in reading--he can read a few BOB books and McRuffy Early Readers. Thanks, Christine W

I really liked War & Peace (Pevear translation). MIL purchased it for me as a Christmas present two years ago and I spent all of January and part of February on bedrest while pregnant with DD2. That book kept me occupied so that I didn't worry so much or get bored. After it ended, I wanted to name DD Natasha but DH said absolutely not. I also liked Ak but found the heroine and the supposed hero really selfish and annoying at times. Brother K was a bit over my head when I read it in college but I bet I'd love it now. Christine W

:bigear:

A less expensive alternative to Keva blocks are Citiblocs. Same design but softer wood. I purchased mine this summer when Toys R Us had them on clearance but I've heard Costco has a set of 300 for $24.49 right now

I taught in a Montessori classroom, and there are many materials that can be handmade. Some of the ones that would be more difficult to make at home but are good to have: pink tower, brown stair, hundred board and number rods. Most of the practical life materials can be put together rather inexpensively at home. I look for smaller pitchers and bowls and trays, etc. in thrift stores. Strawberry hullers are very cheap and are great for transferring pom-poms from one bowl to another. I love this catalog: Montessori Services and the same company puts out this catalog for parents as opposed to schools: For Small Hands This book is rather old, but it has some ideas for how to duplicate some of the materials at home. I love montessori services and for small hands. I also like the mommy Teach Me books by Barbara Curtis; she also has a website with suggestions for manipulatives. For us, the sandpaper letters have been invaluable. I bought a huge set of magnetic letters to use like the moveable alphabet. Christine W

What is the difference between the Ferby and the Super Ferby pencil sets? Thank you, Christine

I'm sorry.

:grouphug: It must be so hard to see your sister go through this. Just a few things to note. It sounds like your sister is clinically depressed. Depression is a medical condition and can't be fixed just by wanting it to be. Has she been formally diagnosed? Who has prescribed the meds? How often does she see that person? If she's not regularly taking the meds, they may not be working. She might need a higher dose or a different medicine. She should be seeing a psychiatrist at least monthly. Try to find her a support group. Stop judging her and don't abandon her. She didn't choose to be sick. I've had serious Post-Partum Depression twice and although I knew that I had to take care of myself and my kids, even with medicine there were times when I just couldn't do much more than stare at the walls. Temporarily hire her a maid, find a babysitter for her and take her out to a nice dinner or to the movies. Call every day and see how she's doing; ask her if she's taking her meds; drive her to therapy or a support group led by a professional. I know you want her to s*ck it up but she can't; at least not yet and not on her own. If you get involved now, it will save your sister and your nieces years of pain. Its not fair or fun, but what happened to your sister wasn't fair or fun either. God bless, Christine W

DS (4) was watching a dvd of the 1960s Robin Hood tv show with his grandfather and is now absolutely obsessed with Robin Hood. I own a copy of Pyle's Adventures of Robin Hood (which he slept with last night) but its slow going trying to translate it to something a preschooler can understand. DS has a pretty advanced vocabulary for age and would probably do ok with something geared to elementary students. Any recommendations? Thank you, Christine

Thanks!

I'm praying too. How devestating for them. I pray for peace for the loss of Ike and for them to be able to carry his sibling to term. Christine

Biscuit is the little golden retriever; they are such sweet books. I just read Go Dog Go (for about the 100th time) to my three year old and most of the words in that book seemed ok for a new reader. Big Dog, Little Dog and Best Nest are good too; they have some sight words but not too many. Take this with a grain of salt though, my oldest is just starting to sound out CVC words. Christine W

How does he do when you don't have dairy? My DD2 wasn't able to tolerate the protein in cow's milk or soy. At three weeks old she turned from a sweet happy baby to a baby who cried nonstop and vomited a ton after every feeding. After two ultrasounds ruling out obstructions and being put on increasing doses of zantac, the doctor suggested I go dairy free. It took a couple of days for the protein to get out of my system but DD stopped vomiting and became a happy baby again. Anytime I slipped she would be extremely sick for a couple days. She is 15 months old now and is finally able to tolerate cows milk. She is still allergic to soy protein though. It is tough, tough, tough to go completely dairy free. Cows milk (especially cassien and whey) is in everything from bread to spaghetti sauce to mashed potato flakes. I read labels on everything in the grocery store and we eat few processed foodsChristmas and Thanksgiving were especially hard, but it is doable. :grouphug: Christine W

Mumbai Meatballs and roasted cauliflower (from the Six O'Clock Scramble)