That was a dead giveaway for me, too. I never turn down champagne! Otherwise, you could have a present under the tree unlabeled that would be for a newborn baby (unless there will be a baby or another pregnant woman in attendance). Someone will have to open it to see what it is and who it's for. ETA: Oops, I read through the thread too fast and see Miss Mousie suggested this too! Also, congrats!

I think that might be a jazz standard? Maybe look for a CD collection of 1920s jazz. ETA: I should say that I didn't listen to the clip! lol I'm at the table with my parents and they are talking so I'm just going by the popular style of the age. I did look on amazon though and found this CD.

My son loves this game and it's one I enjoy playing, too. It's a bit more fun with more than 2 players, but we've played it with just 2 players lots of times.

Somewhat teaching it. My son can thread a needle and do simple stitching. He sewed a stocking together last week. I am trying to find him a kit for sewing a stuffed animal similar to the ones I had when I was his age, but so far I keep coming across no-sew kits.

So the world will end for everyone except those who have a decade's worth of beans? It reminds me of those guys with all the guns and potato chips in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World who didn't seem to understand the part about it being the end of the world. ETA: To answer the OP's question: No. If I did, I probably would try to stop knowing them.

I had to vote for Elf. It's just so watchable. I also really like The Family Man (Tea Leoni & Nicolas Cage) this time of year. I hate Love, Actually. Like PrincessMommy, I like the actors and I generally like British comedies (and dramas).

I voted "other" because I have one child and he has never shown the slightest interest in Barbie dolls. However, I don't see myself banning a toy my child likes so I probably would allow it. I just wouldn't introduce it.

It makes sense if she sees the kids when they are with her ex-DIL, which it sounds like she might. It sounds like there is some painful stuff going on, but I think the inclusion of the child and the one on the way as grandchildren is the least of it, and it's not something I'd focus on.

My son (age 11) got a lot out of the Horrible Histories cartoon series (the one with the characters Stitch and Mo). I bought the 26-episode set when he was 9. I think it does have a decent amount of content without getting too bogged down by it. He also liked/likes the You Wouldn't Want to... series of books and the newer Top 10 Worst... series. Richard Brassey's Brilliant Brits books are good too--it's too bad there aren't more in that series. My recommendations aren't comic books, but they are heavy on graphics.

My son has them somewhat organized, but not by sets. They are organized more by color and type of lego. For example, all minifigs are in one bin and all minifig accessories are in another. He does like to keep all his Star Wars legos separate from the rest. We have a bin where we keep lego instructions. He will rebuild a set according to the instructions once in a great while.

Get him a Spongebob Chia Pet. I bet next year he'll want to go back to the lists.

Yes, they can go on and off without undoing the fly. My son has the jeans and a canvas pair and he says they are really comfortable.

Now all I can think of is: You're a mean one, Mr. Cat You really are a heel... He's cute though! (ETA: in a diabolical sort of way)

In case your 9 year-old would like these, my son really liked the Brilliant Brits books.

William Tell! Whereabouts in Switzerland will you be?

That is wonderful!

Wow, that's so cool!

We have D'aulaires and have read other books (and listened to audiobooks) from the library. My son also likes the Myth-o-mania books, by Kate McMullan. They are great for the kid who already knows a lot about Greek Mythology because the stories are told from a different angle.

I remember that! I was happy to vote for it because they did such an awesome job and their song had such a great message. Congratulations to them!!

I am sure there are plenty of homeschoolers who agree with you, but there are also plenty who do not. The quote bothers me because it attempts to put me, as a homeschooling parent (or my son, as a homeschooled child), in an adversarial position to institutions and programs that I support and agree with.

If he's feeling better and he really wants to go, I would probably let him.

I wouldn't want to ban a lot of good music due to that word, but I can understand not wanting younger children (or yourself) to listen to it. Many songs that use that word also have an important message--Lupe Fiasco's "Show Goes On" comes to mind. There's a reason the artists choose to use that word and I don't think it's shock value. It seems wrong to me to ban it, to silence the rest of the message. There must be some common ground between "it's completely unacceptable" and "stop being such an old fogey"!

What a cutie! I think Margot Julianne is a beautiful name.

Nice! I could use one like that!

My son can wink with both eyes and I'll often remember a line from a movie, book or tv show and won't have a clue where I'd heard it and he's just about always able to tell me precisely what it's from (and who said it, what scene, etc).