I like a really broken in pair of cords in the cooler weather, and spend lots of days in jeans. A lightweight turtleneck sweater seems easy to me and feels nicer than tees. I try not to wear yoga pants except around the house or for a walk, but boy did they change my life. A good pair of yoga pants is unbeatable. I really like a fold-over waist, and thicker denser fabric to not show every detail. And yep, DH appreciates them too. ;) In the summer, I mostly wear skirts. I have a fold-over waist lightweight knit skirt that is much like yoga pants in skirt form. I can even pull it on while holding baby. A good knit fabric will drape well and flatter, yet be super comfy.

I don't dress up in a costume, but I wear Halloween clothes. Spiderweb or orange/black striped tights, orange and black skirts and sweaters, pumpkin earrings, etc. This year I found a remnant of satiny pumpkin fabric, so I may use it as an over-layer on a skirt.

Very fun! DS apparently needs a new horse because he has one more knight than horses. But he also apparently needs more knights, which will lead to more horses... ;) Good deal on the Roman arena!

:lol: I want a box from Playmobil! Well, DS does. ;) What did you get?

Hehe. Tuning a CG is a pain. And you are brave to have done it. I learned to tune by ear first. Has your DD learned about temper tuning yet? Just more fun to watch out for... To the OP, check your pile of song sheets. There might be a tuning sheet in it. My mom just found us one (from Belarus!) at Goodwill too. :D In the sheets there is one that has one a side for string replacement, and the other side for tuning. If you get desperate, pm me and I can mail you a copy or take a pic of it for you. Sometimes drummers use the same type of tuning key, so any local music/guitar shop should have one that's workable.

:iagree: My brother and I are natural spellers and were never taught to spell. We just read and read and read. One thing that did help was exposure to other languages.

Oh my!!! I want her! She's adorable!

Don't sit in the chair nearest the children's section during lapsit story time, and then make loud huffing "I'm disgusted" noises when you can hear the children. If you are the children's librarian, don't smoke a cigarette right outside the door. :glare:

DS3.75 had a funny observation today watching the Max & Ruby version of a few fairy tales - "Ruby doesn't know that story is Jack and the Beanstalk, Mom!" Anyway, I too have been reading nursery rhymes and fairy tales to my boys since birth, and was surprised at first to discover that these are the basis of Sonlight, etc. But I'm glad they are, especially for any parent/teacher who didn't grow up with them themselves. I'm glad too that she gets this time with you.

This isn't just about the leaves changing, but it is a fall story: http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Acorn-Don-Freeman/dp/0670010839/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285638018&sr=1-1. We just discovered it at the library, and my DS3.75 loves it.

Thanks for your replies. I'm going to view the ages as guidelines and take him. I'm very excited! We adore Peter and the Wolf here, and I'm a big Prokofiev nut. He's been listening to various recordings and reading a book version since he was wee, including the Patrick Stewart one - that's a great one. I'm sure I've played the 1st Symphony, but never pointed it out to him particularly. And I doubt he's ever heard the Music for Children. So I'll play those for him more frequently between now and then. I grabbed recordings of them all for our road trip today - we're going to a wolf park for a wolf walk. :D

The CSO is performing an all Prokofiev program, including Peter and the Wolf!!!!!!, on its November family concert. I really really want to take my son, who will turn 4yo a couple of weeks later. The "common questions" section of their site says the family concerts are for children 5-8yo. :glare: Surely they don't i.d. the kids. ;) Should I just pretend I didn't read that and take him? Or should I accomodate their (dumb) rules and wait a year? I have no worries about him sitting quietly or generally behaving well.

I currently have a half beagle. She is sweet and wonderful with the kids. She wrestles with the older one, plays ball with both, follows the leader, doesn't mind if the little one steps on her, etc. Boys in crate, food dish, toys, treats, everything is good with her. Today she and my 1yo spent some time panting and tongue lolling at each other. (She's one day older than he is.) And she is convinced she's a lap dog. She barks and bays and howls, which is what I expected but can still be annoying. She got out for the first time the other day, but I was right there (since I'd opened the gate) and she followed me right home. She's a compulsive counter cruiser, and will eat anything left out. She's as much of a pain as any pup, but very good natured and just what we wanted/expected. I did know an amazingly well trained beagle once who could be walked off leash, stopped at curbs and corners, came when called. He was great. Still barked/bayed/howled though. Maybe spend some more time with both breeds and go with your gut. Good luck deciding!

Funny, my DS will be getting a wooden sword in a couple of weeks, and then a shield for his 4th birthday in a couple of months. :) The sword will be bought at an historical festival we participate in. I may buy a shield there too, but have also been considering the Schylling one or a couple from etsy. Curious for reviews. :bigear:

:bigear:

I said no, but that's not entirely true. I can't resist a little apple juice and cranberry juice in the fall, and my husband requests OJ once in a blue moon. And if we're at someone else's house, I don't mind. Once my boys are older and past the stage where they don't calorie compensate, I'll probably keep juice in the house pretty regularly. I just don't want calorie intake regularly wasted on juice at this point.

How cool! My son is going to love this!

:lol: Great!

Maybe? Yes to the description of the beans, but I think they added garlic and don't remember the peppercorns, but maybe that's my problem - maybe I've been misremembering and if I tried this it would be right. Guess I should plan a field trip to Chinatown soon to buy some salt and give it a go. :)

freshly caught mussels in Finisterre, Spain pa amb tomaquet in Barcelona freshly caught fish after a mid-winter canoe trip in northern Michigan cider we pressed ourselves with doughnuts made by our prof's wife on their farm szechuan string beans at a resaturant in Toronto owned by friends of my friend - it wasn't on the menu and I've never been able to duplicate it anywhere a mango shared on a bench with a pocket knife some cheddar cheese my sister brought me from Seattle my mom's pound cake and pork chops after a long absence from home

Drat about the cat allergies. My next suggestion was a terrier :001_smile: - hopefully your dogs have flushed it out. I doubt the snake would want to spend much time in your garage, especially with dogs. But I would definitely make my hubby make sure.

I only found the treasure chests listed above, but instead of the Johnny Appleseed I got a Mark Twain item. Today when I click the free stuff chest, I get the Johnny Appleseed. So I think I've only found 19 treasure chest locations, but 20 items. :001_huh:

Ick! Wouldn't a cat be nicer? ;) My son very nearly peed on a big rat snake recently on a nature walk. I think the snake froze during the activity, so we didn't notice him right away. I would not want one in my garage either. :eek:

Mine gets home between 7:30-8 in the morning. Unless he has a late arrest, court, or there is some other emergency situation. Then it can be whenever.

Thanks! That was lots of fun. :)