DD1 at 13y 1m. 1 month later DD2 at 11y 7m. I felt so bad for DD2 :( I don't know what they weighed, but both have grown in height this past year even though they started 2+ years ago. DD2 is having growing pains and may yet pass DD1 in height.

I was sure I would get the 6 b/c I thought those mini-tablet phones were ridiculously big. BUT, when we looked at them, and I really thought about how I use my phone (original iphone 5), I decided on the plus b/c the bigger screen would make for a much better ereader and there were educational apps that would work better on the bigger screen. I got the 64 gb b/c I couldn't talk DH into the 128. I think the smallest is 32gb. I am able to carry it in my pocket, but I am quite fluffy so perhaps my pockets are bigger.

Just walking past air "fresheners" in their packaging in a store usually triggers my asthma, can't imagine I'd be anywhere but the ER after a few minutes in that house. But the peanuts left out? The combo is seriously life threatening. Maybe she doesn't understand and never will, but surely your husband does? Glad you can cut the trip short.

I would also love to know about tanks as I have a girl who is about a 30E. This whole thread has been so informative as I am looking into yoga and pilates for me. Stretching type exercise will be so good for me and I want the right clothes.

I second having no space in the first name. When I got married, I just added DH's name to the end, so my last name is "Maiden HusbandsLastName", no hyphen, just a space. Many computer systems are not set up for a space in the name, which sometimes doesn't matter but does to the IRS! And matters when scrips are sent by Drs. Sometimes when showing my driver's license, they only see the first half of my last name, which can mean phone calls and lots of frustration to straighten out. If I were to change my name, I would drop my given middle and put maiden there instead. I wish I had known all this when I filled out the form. *sigh* So again, please NO SPACES. Otherwise, I like the sound of Abby Jane. :)

I have UHC too and had the same problem a few months ago with an asthma medication. The one the insurance company okayed tastes so bad I can't take it. Makes me heave. :( Thankfully I don't need that med now so I'll just wait until next allergy season to see if I can get the one I can tolerate. Good luck getting your med :)

My mother told me to say "thank you" to one of my kids just a few years ago. I was 40+ :( I try to let what I didn't like as well as what I read here inform me on being the mom to my growing children I wish I had. I think DH and I are doing all right so far, but oldest is not yet 16, so still quite early to say we are going to be successful with that.

$1.82 in Tulsa. Just three weeks ago it was ~$2.50. Last week prices dropped 2-3 cents a day.

Karen, thank you for figuring this out. I refuse to do holidays with MIL b/c she is like this. fairfarmhand, you've received some great advice. Separate the youngers and ignore the olders :)

I am in this year b/c I finally have a story idea! My first year, I'm not much of a writer, and I have a week-long trip scheduled for Thanksgiving--I am still positive this is doable :)

I always buy "Like New" or "Very Good" (no markings), look for descriptions that are not generic but specific to that copy and seller ratings that are >95%. The one time I had a problem, I had taken a chance on a new seller (no ratings) and was sent a "Very Good" book with nearly the entire first chapter highlighted. She refunded me quickly.

We started using this one last year. http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Mate-Mechanical-Assorted-34666PP/dp/B001PV2KYM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412028121&sr=8-3&keywords=paper+mate+mechanical+pencils The oldest uses .5mm, next 2 use .7mm. We really like the large twist-up erasers. So far not had one broken that wasn't eaten by a dog :D The youngest uses regular pencils until I can talk him into using mechanical.

SWB addressed the name issue on the FB post in the comments. I didn't even think of the Hakim series when I saw it, but I haven't read it/used it so am not as familiar with it. I am really looking forward to reading it myself, but my kids probably won't :(

I play and have never heard of nor seen anything like what you describe. Can you provide references to this research of yours? I use the wiki, the forums, other websites to learn more about the game (mostly redstone stuff), including watching youtube videos. NEVER anything about sacrifices. Certainly not in the base game, perhaps in a mod (modification) created by a player.

My hair was also stick straight before pregnancy. After the first, I could tell the texture was no longer baby fine. I had it cut super short, then saw some waves as it grew out. After the fourth child, I again had it cut really short, then as it grew back I saw big CURLS! Some even do the ringlet thing. It is incredibly annoying LOL I did have a curly haired friend who told me her hair was curlier before pregnancy, which I didn't believe until she showed me pictures. She nearly had an afro before. For the record, I have auburn red hair (that is greatly faded now) and she had medium brown, both of us very fair-skinned caucasian.

We were considering buying a place that had no HOA, but did have a "community" clause in the deed. This was a small fee collected for road repair (private). There were also a few deed restrictions and information on what would happen when the last lot sold. Perhaps there is something in your deed about any "community" obligations.

It isn't that God is punishing those without free will to choose Him but that He is granting clemency to some who deserve eternal punishment. We *all* deserve eternal punishment because our natural desire is to love our sin. We are only free to choose within our natures. God chooses to glorify himself by justly punishing some and "mercying" others to worship him. Remember the analogy of the potter and the clay (Rom 9)? Some vessels for honor and some for dishonor. It isn't that their salvation wasn't strong enough, there aren't degrees of salvation. A saved person is just that--saved. If at any point they aren't saved, then they never were prior to that. Those who are saved *will* persevere to the end. Jeremiah17:9--The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? As sinners, we happily deceive ourselves day in and day out, even about the state of our souls. HTH

We are teaching our children that they should wait until marriage. Unlike my parents, I am explaining *why* they should wait. The creep factor of everyone knowingly watching what should be a special and *private* moment (which might have been pointed out here at The Hive) is why I will be explaining to all of them why "remaining pure" does not include not kissing prior to the wedding, even if only the night before. DO NOT put that on display for everyone. Well, they can each choose whatever, but we certainly don't expect that level of waiting.

I just skimmed through the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child until I found the relevant section. If there is another section that applies, I missed it. Article 38 1. States Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child. 2. States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities. 3. States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not attained the age of fifteen years into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, States Parties shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest. 4. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict. I don't see that this addresses weapon training. However, I think what bolt might be misunderstanding is that groups like Boy/Girl Scouts, NRA groups and the like have no government sanctioning ("officially sanctioned"), they are private groups. The US government does possibly offer weapon training to those under the age of 18 through ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps). I am not familiar with other government avenues to under-18 weapon training. If someone (bolt?) knows of an international treaty/law that directly references weapon training for those under 18, please let me know. I'd be interested to read it. Just skimming the UN treaty was interesting and now I want to read it through several times so that when I get emails talking about it, I will know exactly what it actually says for myself.

Starting K at 5 and putting graduation at the end of May, my boy will be 18 (May b'day). Two girls will also be 18 (Feb and April), one will be 17 (Aug).

So that he can gift you something he knows you will like? It isn't always about the giftee. I cannot imagine how unappreciated I would feel if DH told me (or implied) I was lazy because I didn't figure out what he wanted all on my own. And I want him to read my mind so that I don't have to tell him what I want! But I have figured out it doesn't work that way and I don't consider him lazy for it. Also, stopping to grab chocolates or flowers or whatever takes a bit more thought than doing nothing. It does still mean you are on his mind. I appreciate when my husband does things like that for me.

I didn't know to reverse them and just wore them in the order he put them on my finger. I didn't have anyone to consult and can't imagine why they would need reversing.

Calculators don't typically allow entering a fraction.

Beethoven certainly. It would almost be like having 3 composers. Bach would make a nice second, but I love Bartok and Stravinsky (including The Rite of Spring--I have several recordings of it). I think Bartok would win though b/c "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta" is awesome. And if I had a piano, I could start with Mikrokosmos, working my way up to Third Piano Concerto. Beethoven and Bartok have awesome string quartets, too, and I love that texture.

The hat looks terrific. Maybe the snake will grow into it :D