Forgot to say..... I had a hard enough time to get them to wear bibs as babies, I doubt my would ever wear aprons, not to mention it's sooooooo hot here-right now neither of my littles have on shirts-that saves on laundry huh:)

I keep a few of nice outfits each (dd2, ds4) out of their reach and all of the Sunday stuff in different drawers. They can get to their "play" clothes and usually go through 1-3 outfits a day (wet, dirty, paint, etc). These dirty things go directly to their dirty clothes basket and I don't fret about them(bought most at cosignment sales, garage sales, hand me downs etc) With almost every load I wash ( my clothes, sheets, towels etc.) I put in a few of their things. I usually just have one load a week of of their nice stuff. This way I stay on top of it.

I just got the new Beeyoutiful catalog in the mail and read a long article about treating BR spider bites. It includes act. charcoal etc. I looked on their site and didn't see the article-but I am sure if you contacted them they would send it to you. These are the maker of the wonderful Supermom vitamins. HTH

We are just not interested in making the school she has now harder with AP and Honors classes. My DD will be starting 10th she will be doing: Jacobs Geometry Notgrass US History with Literature Analytical Grammar Apologia Biology Greek II Ballet Ballroom Bible during family time(not credit) At-home course of home-ec course-she is an excellent seamstress, cook, baby helper (we have two toddlers and another on the way), crafter etc. She is not sure if she will go to college. She is very bright and I am not saying academics are not important to us, but we would rather have her be a big part of our family now and prepare for a future family too. I am trying to decide if we should do some of the SAT subject tests to have a backup if she wants to go on in school. We are just not interested in making the school she has now harder with AP and Honors classes and we don't want to send her to the local Jr. college.

I am 23 weeks with #4 and have never had BH until this one. The guy doing my ultrasound said that it was hard to see because I was having a contraction and it freaked me out. My midwife said to drink 2 cups of Red Raspberry Tea Leaf tea per day and I think it helps. I have not thought about dehydration, but I do get very hot.

Do you put in your entire deductible per year (which in our case would be $5000.-which is almost to the family limit)? If you do not spend it all, do you just put back in over the next year what you used. We have not signed up for this, but it seems like although it would cost us more initially, we would save money in the long road. Premiums of $460 with 90% paid after ded. We might even go to the doctor for well check ups, tests, etc:) Any HSA success stories? Thanks in advance.

This may not be what you want to hear, but we are doing extreme cleaning. The heat is unbearable for us here too in east texas and esp. running errands etc. I am emptying out one room at a time into the garage (except for big furn) and wiping walls, shelves etc and putting back only what I love/need over the next week to two weeks. Everyone is helping. I have a teenager, two toddlers and am expecting so I don't get alot done at one time, but we are making progress. They are not getting bored and I am winning the war on the what can we do today feeling. I did buy new play-doh, sewing projects for dd15 and snacks that we don't normally have. HTH:001_smile:

Well he came and I was very quiet until he asked what I was uncomfortable with and I said the MLM aspect and he got very defensive. We do need to have better ins., wills, long term financial plan etc(we don't have much debt)-but I did not feel comfortable giving him any of our info. tonight and we said we would get back with him. We have been married almost 20 years and have been approached-to say the least- by SEVERAL pyramid type companies and it makes me feel like just like I feel when I am in a parking lot and someone comes up asking for money---very uncomfortable. Thank you guys for the input!

Someone Dh knows has made an appointment with us tonight to talk about financial "stuff". I looked it up online and am scared it's just a Multi-level marketing deal. Just curious if anyone has had a good result with their insurance etc. Thanks in advance!

Thank you guys so much! I didn't know there was stuff esp. for kiddie pools either-I will look for it. We will use a tarp too and maybe move it around to try to save the grass.

If so, do you add chlorine and leave the water in for awhile? Also, I am expecting and taking them out even to a park alone is more than I can do right now and I don't like to get out much anyway. My teenager has alot going on, which leaves me figuring out stuff to do with the little guys. My little guys are 4 and 2 and I know they would enjoy a pool so much, I just have to get over the fear factor of having a pool in the back yard. I couldn't just let them out to play anymore without me. Plus, Dh is concerned that with a tarp under it and all, it will kill a good amount of grass. Is it worth it?

Expecting #4 on Oct. 29 (looking for Nov. because mine have all been late) I am 40 and already hot and it's only in the 80s here in Texas!

:iagree:

I am so thankful for this thread. I thought I was the only one in the world pregnant and feeling like I have been run over by a truck! I am 40 years old and 17 weeks with #4. I had an only child for 10 1/2 years and then life changed soooo much! Now I have a 4yo, 2 yo, and due in Oct. I was the mom that did lots of projects, had house and self in order and now I feel like I just survive day to day. I am overweight and I know this doesn't help. I have a wonderful 14yo dd who helps alot, but I feel guilty for needing help. Thank you all for being honest-somehow misery loves company huh? Favorite Verse right now: Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

You might think this suggestion is corny, but I have found ALOT of craft supplies lately at garage sales(paint, clay, drawing paper, kits never opened, beads etc) for VERY cheap!!!! It seems people are just cleaning out their closets and most people buy these for 1x school projects etc. I have gotten some things we would never have bought retail and we have fun doing various projects. You have to be willing to figure out things to do with what you find. Good luck

Desktop is XP and Dh laptop is Vista-you should be fine with either

We have had ours (HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One) for about two months and we really like it so far. I like the fact that you can put a stack of papers to be copied on top and it does the rest. It is wireless and the set up was much easier than I thought it would be. We haven't set it up to fax yet-so I don't know how that part is. I haven't printed alot of pictures, but they are very nice. Our papers print out just fine-but I am not an expert on this or very picky-just printing various personal or school things. Hope this helps

lime

We used Jacobs and Ask Dr. Callahan DVDs. They have a page of recommended links. The ones from High School Ace look good. We have not used any yet, but plan to during the summer for review. Hope these help. http://www.askdrcallahan.com/links.html

Leaf Blowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!They kept going and going and going. Lorie

We are making these adorable "I Spy" bags for the little people. I think they will be good car toys. http://www.according-to-kelly.com/2008/05/i-spy-with-my-own-eye.html

The Duggars have one that I like http://www.duggarfamily.com/houseguidelines.html

In April, we rode Ride the Ducks and had a GREAT time. They go to the top of a mtn/hill? and look down on table rock lake and then get in it. Our driver was very funny.

These are very well made and the alligator clips stay in very good on top of the tiny rubber bands I use in my dd2's fine hair. http://mylittleladybug.net/catalog.php?category=2

Very Red Here! Red Hair Green Eyes White Skin 3 Blond Babies Go Figure!!!!!!! Dh really wanted a redheaded kid! You know some men are crazy for redhair--strangers come up to me often just to comment about my hair.