This is how I feel this year. The post had their Christmas festival the week after Thanksgiving (which was still NOVEMBER) and were givinf away trees for troops. The line was so long I thought I'd managed to avoid it. We have cut down our own tree for the last seven years and I love doing that. However, when we went to the festival later they had 3 stinking trees left. So not only did we not cut down our own tree, we got the leftover tree no one wanted. And by the way we never put up decorations before Dec. Except this year the tree got put up and decorated early. But no one wanted to do the rest of the decorations so they are still in the garage. And I responded poorly to all of this - really its a free tree and I should be counting my blessings, but I just feel like a grinch. THEN add in the fact that my neighbor is already crying because we'll be moving in the spring to a place I do not want to go to and this whole month feels like a huge pile of bricks waiting to come down on my head. Now, was that helpful at all! LOL!

I'm going to have to call foul on this - dh has to take drug tests for work. In the Army now, but before that at all of his civilian jobs they had regular drug tests. He was a computer engineer for a very high profile company. Are you suggesting that the mandatory drugs tests insinuated that the management thought they were all users? I don't think anyone believes that. It's a protection for the employer and the other employees. My husband wanted to work for them and was willing to pee in a cup to verify that he was eligible for employment. Now the cost is a valid question, but getting offended because they're being asked to do something that a huge majority of employers require at this point anyway seems like a bit of a joke to me.

Yesss! This is my all time favorite!

My 4th grader is a much better auditory learner. If she hears it, it sticks better. I'm visual - I get nothing from hearing a text. I do make her read some thongs on her own but content subjects I'm happy to read aloud.

I always look for or make local food things. Here it was a local wine and peach syrup for people who live far away. This year I've made candied jalapenos and escabeche (veggie relish - not fish) for people here and ordered wine from home. I know there is nothing anyone I know *needs* and food gifts will be used up and not take uo space forever.

Kindle nation daily also has tons of free books organized by genre. My parents are on the same Amazon account so we can share kindle books. Somehow their credit card got set to our one click and I managed to buy over $100 worth of books before anyone realized. Oops! Luckily Dad just said Merry Christmas and laughed.

In Charleston - the Exchange and Provost Building was one of our favorite spots - not too pricey and a LOT of history in that place. We also went out to Ft. Sumter - it was good but you don't get a huge amount of time there.

Yes, a few days if you store them in an airtight container. And if you can keep from eating them!

I'd rather just skip the rest of the day. I don't want to do it all again!

I run dd a very warm bath with lavender and epsom salts. I always snorted at the idea when I was initially dealing with panic attacks myself but after trying it I'm a huge believer. I sit with dd (9) and wash her back, wash her hair - she needs some physical touch to calm her down. If I can see her building up to it we do a bath as a preemptive strike.

Get the pretzel rods, melt white almond bark and dip in red and green sugar sprinkles. My kids *love* making these amd everyone loves to eat them. Just fyi the Snyder's pretzel rods seem to be sturdier than other brands.

Guiness cupcakes with Bailey's buttercream frosting. Yum! I also have a recipe for an Irish Whiskey Cake. Haven't tried that one yet.

I wouldnt worry about too much cream cheese. It turns out creamy and sweet - not the same texture or flavor at all. It is one dessert that I *know* will have zero leftovers ever. And it's the easiest thing ever I think.

Sopapilla cheesecake 2 cans of crescent rolls 1 1/2 sticks of butter 1 1/2 c. Sugar (divided) 1 8 oz. Block cream cheese In 9 x 13 pan lay out one full can of crescent roll - if you can find the solid sheets they work best. Cream the softened cream cheese with 1 stick softened butter and 1 c sugar. Spread over crescent dough. Top with second can of crescent dough. Melt an additional 1/2 stick butter, mix with remaining 1/2 c sugar and spread over top. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Bake at 350 for 30 min. You can cool slightly and serve small squares as finger food. I prefer a big spoon and huge pan to myself, but that's just me!

I'm making candied jalapenos to giveck to teachers, neighbors, etc. I'll post the link when I get to my real computer. They're easy and not your typical hot chocolate or brownie mix. Not that there is anything wrong with those things. I just seem to get several of them at the holidays. For a great teacher I'd include a box of fancy crackers. Suggest serving with cream cheese.

Old Navy/Aeopostale/Crazy Eight are all having huge sales on tshirts - like $5/shirt. For the kids that requested clothes a cute shirt with a cute scarf would be great. JcPenny also had a lot of things on sale - $3-$5 dollars for trendy shirts. I would be returning some of the names but if that isn't an option I hope that gives you some ideas.

I agree 100% with Rosie. Get thoae bags packed and get going! How much amazing history will your kids.get to.see and experience!!! Go to Charleston and Savannah - follow Sherman's march, visit Vicksburg. How much fun!

My dd was in school for a short time last year. At the meet the teacher night the teacher was positively gushing about how sweet, helpful, smart, hardworking my child was. I responded that it was all good to hear because I had been concerned as it was her first time ever in PS. I almost fell down laughing at the turn-around. Immediately she started telling me all of the things dd * might* have problems with like, you know, listening to instructions since she'd 'never done that before'. :confused1: I didn't last too terribly long with her in ps.

Dh's dad offerrd us the cash they would spend on the wedding if we would elope. In my stupid 19 yo brain I said no way. What I would give to go back and take the cash! Btw - I'm pretty sure the rules say the grooms family pays for the tuxes.

Speaking from experience here - we got an older kitten from the shelter. She was 6 or 7 mo old and it was the very best decision ever (as far as cats go). Little kittens are cute and precious til they want to climb your face at midnight. Or they attack when you're walking into the kitchen with loads of groceries. Or they want to snuggle in your hair at 2am. Older kittens will still easily adapt to your family withour keeping you awake more than a newborn child. Just my (none to opinionated) thoughts on the matter!

Really - the danger to your friends would be negligible. I came down with shingles the week before dd was born. It was on my ribcage so I had to keep it covered while I was nursing, but even the ped and ob said if I was cautious she would be at minimal risk.

Look at local churches for a good MDO program. Dh was deployed when ds was 2 and it was a lifesaver for me.

Bendaroos! Best thing ever - they stick to the fold- down tray without making a mess. We took them on a flight to Germany and the kids played with them almost the entire way.