Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

If I'm picturing this right - the HWT book lists this as an alternate but still acceptable way to hold a pencil. If they're okay with it - I am too. ETA: Here is what I mean. Is she using the quadropod grip? If so, I wouldn't worry anymore http://bas.k12.mi.us/webpages/aspaanstra/files/HWT_Help_Me_Hold_My_Crayon.pdf

:iagree:

Wonderfully said!

Lived in Grenada for 3 years for DH's schooling. Been in the US the rest of the time.

We decorate our desks (lots of stickers). We usually have some sort of celebration - like having a parade or making balloon animals (my oldest is only seven). I haven't thought much about this year - I like the going out to breakfast idea. I've heard of others who sit on their porch in their pjs and eat ice cream while waving at the other neighborhood kids getting on the bus. That makes me laugh, but I don't think I have the courage.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be getting the 2X3 board. Time to start looking for coupons...

Hi, We're starting AAS this year. Do we really need a 2 foot by 3 foot magnet board? I've found plenty of 17 inch by 23 inch boards on sale this week, and I'd much rather get one of those if it'll work. But I'd hate to get one, find out it's much too small, and still have to buy a bigger one later.

56 cents a tooth. Seems our tooth fairy is pretty cheap too. I should start taking applications for a new one...

:iagree: Sorry for your loss :grouphug: The above is pretty much the norm. LDS people tend to dress at funerals the same way they would for church. There is no need to dress in dark colors or black, unless that's just what you feel like wearing for the day. The younger the kids, the more leeway they tend to have. These are just suggestions so you wouldn't worry about standing out. But if it's difficult, don't worry too much about it. Just going and showing love and support is much more important than your fashion choices.

Thanks! Our city codes only allow for two hens - and I think some of our neighbors would be bothered if we had them. But we are trying as much now as we think prudent - mostly working on learning to garden and compost well. Maybe we'll do rabbits while we're still in the city - I know DH wants to try. That's really the sort of thing we're thinking of. We're pretty adaptable people (while living abroad we went without hot water for three years, and we figured out how to make things work). We LOVE free craigslist and freecycle - and are more than happy to just make do with what we can get. About your chicken coop - I know they don't need a heater (or plumbing ;))- but did you insulate it? Everything I've ready says you need a fancy insulated coop to have chickens in the winter. And how did you get your know-how? YIKES! We are very much NOT going to be extreme in this regards. What a sad way to ruin a marriage! We're not looking to be farmers and make a profit - just to take care of a lot of our family's own needs. And only as far as it is practical.

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. They were all very helpful! We're not moving to the country to become self-sufficient - we'll be moving because that's where DH's job will take us. We love the idea of taking care of ourselves - but have no misconceptions that it would be easy, or even practical beyond a certain point. For us - we are planning to start very small, and only add on one thing at a time depending on what we think we can handle. I would LOVE to be able to be completely self sufficient - but I doubt we'll get that far, and community is hugely important. We certainly can't make EVERYTHING ourselves. I'm just curious mostly about what I guess are two different issues. 1. Is it possible to keep the cost down after the initial start-up costs of a project - like growing chicken feed rather than buying it, or getting enough seeds from my garden last year so I don't need to buy any for this year. and 2. Are there super-people out there who really can do it all?

In about two years we will be moving from an urban setting out to rural America. DH and I have always dreamed of being self-sufficient. We love working hard and doing things ourselves. The Little House books make me long for “the good old days.†I admit that when I’m having a bad day I’ll peruse “The Backyard Homestead†and it will always cheer me up. We’ve got a small garden now, and when we move to the country we’re planning on starting small and working our way up to living off our land as much as we can. But – is it really possible to be self-sufficient? I know there will be start-up costs, but after that can you really keep going by yourself? For example, our first livestock will probably be chickens. I know there will be the cost of coop materials and buying the initial chicks. But do you have to buy their food or can let them dig up bugs and grow the rest yourself practically? A couple of dairy goats sound nice – but again, do we REALLY have to KEEP putting money into them (on feed etc.) in order to get good milk, or can we manage that somehow ourselves? It just seems to me from what I’ve read that most people who love self-sufficiency aren’t really self-sufficient. Rather than depending on the store for their eggs, they depend on the store for chicken food. Or rather than depending on the store for tomatoes, they depend on the store for tomato seeds or sets. Can you do it all on your own? Or are those days long gone?

I voted "other." My first reaction would be admiration for my cat's abilities. Then I'd leave it for DH to either dispose of or show the kids (depending on its condition). He's in charge of the science curriculum :).

:bigear:

Hummus! With veggies, pita chips, or flat bread (like naan) for dipping.

I'm 38 weeks today - and haven't done a thing to get ready. We've got most everything from the previous three kids. All I really need to do is get stuff out and wash it (including the cloth diapers). I'll probably buy a couple of things on my first trip to the store after she's born.

First - If they don't always take naps, they probably don't need them. dd stopped napping at 3 1/2 years old, but ds stopped taking them before he turned 2. my other ds is 2 1/2 and looks like he'll be phasing out of those soon. When it was time to sleep I would put my child to bed at a reasonable time. We'd do our little routine (books, songs, cuddles, etc.) then I'd tell them goodnight. I'd turn off the light and sit in their room (often with a book to keep me occupied if it was still light enough). I would not talk to or even look at the child, no matter what they did to get my attention. Whenever they got out of bed I'd just calmly stand up and put them back - no eye contact, talking, etc. Then resume my position. They would play in bed, sing, talk, jump, cry, whatever, but as long as they were in bed I didn't do anything. They tried to escape often at first, but after a few days learned that it wouldn't do any good. I'd creep out when they finally fell asleep. Once they stopped getting out of bed with me in the room, I'd hang out just outside the door and do the same thing. After a couple of days or a few weeks (depending on the stubbornness of the child) they all learned to stay put in bed and go to sleep when it was time. When my kids shared a room, I could still do this for naptime. At bedtime I'd let the older ones stay up later until their sibling was asleep. At first this took hours! But it was so worth the time I put into it. Nothing is more wonderful than putting your toddler to bed and knowing they will stay there and sleep without any help! Good luck with whatever you decide!

:iagree:

Streaming: Pawn Stars Mission Impossible Dick Van Dyke Stargate SG-1 DVD: Get Smart Ladie's No1 Detective Agency

Currently she loves her light bright and her bead jewelery making kit. She's recently become very interested in sewing, so for her upcoming birthday (7) we're going to get her a sewing basket filled with needles, thread, buttons, other notions, scissors, and fabric.

If you like the sort of thing - The Winter Quarters visitors center in Omaha would be a good stop. They've got some great stuff for kids.

wear closed-toe shoes too. it is factory work after all :)

Sounds wonderful! I want one too! If they don't exist and you feel like publishing one, let me know and I'll buy it.

In both of these situations I was relying on the more knowledgeable person who told me. Both your ideas are quite reasonable and possible, and I hope they are the case. My art history teacher's impression while she was there was that many of the artists enjoyed gawking. Also - you'd think they would get equal business for nude males as with nude females if it was just a matter of difficulty finding ANY nude models. The dr. presenting the lecture on art and anatomy had done much more research than I had and was quite sure that the model was the artist's mistress and he was likely the father. I was repeating what I was told, since those who told me knew much more about the situations than I do. As I think I've proven through my comments on this thread - I'm fairly ignorant on the subject myself :)