Sonic diet coke. My parents live in the boonies and I have been known to drive the 40 miles *just* to get a Sonic diet coke with extra ice. I don't know how you northerners (?) do it! Maybe you just don't know what you're missing!

This was a few years ago, but it has made a long lasting impression on me and my children. My dh was down at Ft. Hood preparing to go to Egypt. We all went down to visit him and went out to eat dinner. Now, this is a huge military installation....I think the only reason the city of Killeen exists is because of military families. So we weren't an unusual sight with DH in his uniform. We were at a nicer steak restaurant and ordered dinner and ate. Had a very nice meal. When we were done, dh asked for our check and the waitress said it had been taken care of. Another couple had paid our check and left before we even knew about it. I'm tearing up just thinking about how much that meant to all of us. Then, on the way out of town, I was filling up with gas before we dropped off dh. Someone in the store paid for our gas without telling us. It always amazes me when people do kind things and don't want any sort of acknowledgement at all!

My 5yo will dip her cheddar cheese in ketchup. I can't get my brain around ketchup on eggs. I feel the gag reflex kicking in just thinking abou that one. :tongue_smilie:

I have a friend that has adopted 2 children. They are 2 years apart, but the little boy is tiny so they look about the same age, just very different in coloring, features, etc. Someone at church asked her if they were both hers because they look so different, but so close to the same age. Her response, "Yes, they just have different fathers." She didn't clarify that they have different mothers also. :lol:

This is so much like my youngest dd. We took her to Magic Time Machine for her birthday dinner. Our waiter was taking our drink orders and asked if we were celebrating a special occasion. DD pipes up, "Hi, I'm Lucy, I"m 5 now. I'm a little 5, I used to be a big 4. My mommy has fake nails." The waiter looks at me and as the blush is climbing up my face asks "Is anything else on your mommy fake?" I almost died. Of course, the girls wanted to know what he meant, so I explained, surely he meant fake eyelashes, or fake teeth, or something silly like that. :lol:

We started with Saxon but *I* hated it. I'm sure my dds would have been fine, but I couldn't stand doing it. We then used singapore, and I love it. I was worried (as only a mom can be) that maybe it was too easy, because the girls are so efficient with it. So I bought MUS. They missed the Singapore and we went back to it. I love the ease of it. The girls love that it's no muss, no fuss. Just do the math. All of the 'stuff' with the other programs seems to get in the way for them. My dd5 started earlybird math last year and is flying through it. The earlybird books are so bright and fun, she asks for them everyday. HTH!

Just to get this out there....I HATE teaching bible class. I don't like the classroom environment, I don't like being responsible for other peoples children, I don't like it. Now, I have always done my quarter of teaching/child, until I had my ds. That would put me always teaching and NEVER in my own class. Now that DH is gone again, I have to have that time without kids. I feel tremendously guilty, but at the same time, I know I would not be of benefit to those kids. That being said, I do have ministry I"m involved in. We have a soldier care ministry that is my "thing". I love it, I love the people involved in it, it is the most fulfilling thing I"ve been involved with at church. We did a class a few years ago about matching your passion with your gifts. Not all of us should be classroom teachers. Of course that doesn't make it easier on the SS supervisors.

That NCIS finale.....well..... Be prepared!

I loved it too.....but yeah, that 10 yo could take out my family in one fell swoop! One of the reviews of it warned men that they may spontaneously sprout ovaries watching this movie. :lol: It was well worth the time for all sorts of reasons!

I absolutely love it. I have all three and we get a big kick out of them. Well, I did for the first 50 times we listened to it. It's getting a tiny bit irritating right now, but I make them listen all the way through the cd instead of just to the words, so I get to hear just the music for half of the time.

One of our ministers at church was talking about this the other day. He said instead of imagining a ladder with God at the top, picture 2 concentric circles. God is in the center circle. The outside circle is like a pizza, you decide how to cut it up, but everything is touching God. I would NOT classify work at church as part of your responsibility to God. Your responsiblity to Him is to know him and spend time with him. A woman at church always reminds us younger mothers...."If the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." There is so much truth to that!!! If I am so busy being "good" that the other parts of my life suffer, I am not serving God or anyone else to the best of my abilities.

I'm back! The evening went well, the dress was perfect....all is well at our house. I told the owner of the alteration shop that I would call and discuss reimbursement this next week. I was too angry and had too many kids with me to discuss anything without losing my temper. Nordstrom's charged $40 for hemming the dress. They apparently have a scale, if the dress if full priced, the hem is less than so many inches it's free. Since this was a full skirt, it was $40. It's more if the clothing is on sale, and they will even do alterations on things you didn't buy there. I didn't see the whole price list, but they did a very good job, so it might be worth it in the long run.

One more thing I just heard this last week.... Apparently the military accounts for 50% of all the diesel fuel used in the US. There is a bill that has been introduced to allow military bases to build their own refineries. Now, if the gas companies lost 50% of their demand for diesel, that would have to have a serious impact on prices for the public. Right? Plus, that would mean more jobs because of course the military would more than likely hire civilians to run the refineries. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-6125 Just thought I'd put that out there.

My parents live in west TX, just off the caprock. They are putting up windmills EVERYWHERE. There was a meeting a few months ago because they are planning to expand the project. To have ONE windmill on your land would get you a $12,000.00/year payment. At no cost to the individual. The company pays to put it up, all maintenance, etc. It's hard to see the beautiful landscape and scenery ruined with these things, but I told my parents, if you have to look at them anyway, you might as well profit from them. I drove past a field last time I was out there that was full of beautiful cotton, 2 oil wells pumping and at least 10 windmills. Talk about living off the land!

I'm not quite 40s yet, but another vote for mineral makeup. I use Pur Minerals and absolutely love it. It's super humid here somedays, super dry the next and it always keeps my skin looking good. Plus, it's just one step. Concealer, foundation, powder all in one. Can't beat that!

Just saw that one yesterday, it's pretty darn yummy. But I am in love with the sage-citrus candle from Yankee Candle. Have been for years. I'm nothing if not loyal!

Well, I went a spent entirely too much money, but found a dress AND Nordstom's is hemming it for me tonight for not the most gigantic amount of money ever. I remember why I used to enjoy shopping there! The saleslady was amazing and not at all offended when I almost threw up on her when she brought me a clearance dress for $400. Anyway, this is the dress I ended up with. Of course, I don't look quite like that, but it's alright for a last minute dress.

Tomorrow night is the Cav Ball for my DH. I HAD the perfect dress. I love it, not too revealing, very classy. I took it to have it hemmed....not brain surgery here. I would have done it myself but I didn't have time. And they ruined my dress. It is now about 2 inches above the ankle and uneven. Now, 24 hours before the party, I have to go find a formal gown. ARGH! I am so angry I could cry! Off to the mall with 4 children to see if I can find a left over prom dress that isn't too tacky for a formal dinner. #*#%*(@*#&!!!

If you want them to be full, even when closed, yes, 1.5-2x the width of the window. So, 4 panels would be right.

When I was pregnant with ds, I spent the night in the er thinking I was in labor after eating some goat cheese that was....off. Not moldy, didn't taste bad, but boy it did a number on me. Now I'm super paranoid woman about cheese that might be a little funky. But cheddar with a little mold? No problem. Of course, we eat cheese like candy around here, so that hasn't happened in a good long while.

I completely agree. While we do spank, that is a punishment, which is part of discipline. Discipline = training, not automatically spanking. And certainly not an older child/adult.

Sorry, I don't have any idea. Funny though, I was just wishing they had track for 8 yo girls. She'd love it and I'd love her to love running. Because I HATE it!

Exactly my thoughts.

It must be on some show, dd1 is saying it all the time too. I just asked her and all 3 girls replied simulanteously - Hannah Montana *gag*

Wow, I admire you for having such a wonderful heart to serve those kiddos! I'll be the first to admit, I cannot stand teaching bible class. I avoid it at all costs. That is one of the things that I count on the pro side of DH being deployed all the time, no one expects me to teach class. God will give you blessings throughout the year. It's never easy changing your situation, but I do believe God blesses those things that are hard decisions for us, when we are truly doing his will.