I just heard of them this year and I love them!!! Who knew a capella could be so fun??? :)

I have started noticing that ds (almost 8yo) is getting stinky...even on shower day. I think maybe it is time for deodorant, but I'm not sure what brand to buy. Suggestions? (Also, is there any reason why I wouldn't want to give him deo? Any other options?)

Here's the list that I emailed to dh: - business card holder (something I can carry in my purse) - iPhone car charger - ear buds - Pandora charm (something with a little color on it) - Burts Bees stuff - Nice body wash (even stuff from Target or Walmart - just something that looks luxurious) - Amazon gift card - Gift card to local nail place for dd and I to get a pedi. I LOVE stockings and have always dreamed of him filling mine. It never quite works out like I want, so this year I decided to give him some clear direction. Good luck!

I agree with what you are saying here. However, I don't know that ds really knew that we didn't want him to have a tv in his bedroom. He had been noticing lately that some of his friends have TVs in their rooms and when his uncle asked what he wanted for Christmas, that is what he asked for.

I currently make vegetable soup (which my kids love), chili and taco soup (which my kids tolerate). I would like to expand my soup-making horizons. Any good suggestions?

BINGO! His kids DO have TVs in their rooms. His kids actually have a lot of things that I wouldn't want my kids to have. And I know that he thinks that some of my parenting choices are a bit "weird", like homeschooling (although he has never said it out loud). I guess I'm a bit worried that he will feel like I am judging him (and I didn't even realize that! Thanks Alte Veste Academy!!!).

Yes, he does have kids (4 of them!). My brother has done very well financially and has always been good to my kids. As a matter of fact, for Christmas this year, he is giving 3 of his kids iPhones (the 4th is only 2yo) and is giving my kids their old iPod Touches after Christmas. Since the iPod Touches won't be given to my kids until after Christmas, he also bought them "regular" Christmas gifts (not sure what though). He is the guy who gave my ds a DS Lite when he was only 6yo. He also gave my dd both a little tricycle AND a battery-operated ride-on toy when she was only 1yo. He really loves to give...and he has the ability to give. But I agree that I shouldn't change my values to spare his feelings. I am trying to figure out how to say No (I'm really bad at saying that word!). I hate to hurt his feelings when he is trying to do something nice.

I think we were typing at the same time. We have no cable and stream Netflix through the Wii. If we allowed him to have the tv, it would have to be for DVDs only.

OP here...I have always said no tv in the kids' rooms, BUT... My brother is a very generous guy and he really wants to give ds the tv. It is a 22 inch flat screen! When brother asked ds what he wanted for Christmas, this is what ds asked for. My brother would love to do this for him. We do not have cable and only stream Netflix through the Wii. Therefore, ds would only be able to watch DVDs on the tv in his room. I would like to have another tv in our house, as there are times that it would be nice for the kids to watch something while I get to watch my own thing (I rarely watch tv). I like the idea of asking my brother if the gift could be put somewhere else in the house, but I actually think he wouldn't like that. He wants to get ds a tv for his room because this is specifically what ds asked for. It wouldn't be the same if it was a tv for somewhere else in the house. I guess I just hate to tell my brother no. It is such a kind thing to offer...it feels weird for some reason to reject it.

The giver is my brother and he already has the tv (says he didn't buy it directly for ds and I believe him). We only have one other tv in the house (in the family room).

What if the TV is a gift from someone for Christmas (although they did call to ask our permission first)?

Bumping! Your generosity is amazing. Merry Christmas to you!!!

:iagree:

My dh started a new job where he is out of town during the week (Sunday night through Friday night). I would like to get him something for Christmas that would make his hotel stays a little easier. Any suggestions?

Other than Legos, I am stumped. I would appreciate any suggestions. :) (I hope this thread hasn't already been done. If it has, could you please post the link for me?)

OP here...so it will be $129 + $89?

Does anyone have any experience with the Lego WeDo products? My mom is considering getting this for ds (almost 8) this year for Christmas. He loves Legos and has a slight interest in robotics. Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for all of your responses! I never ever dreamed that I would be in this position. When we bought our house 10 years ago (and then when we took out our second mortgage :rolleyes: 5 years ago), I had no idea that the entire housing market would crash. I also had no idea that dh would end up out of work for almost a year, which would cause us to have to move. I also never thought that we would both have jobs that require travel (I travel a few times a month while dh works out of town each week). Our jobs just don't work together. I have to rely on too many people to take care of our kids and it is causing stress on our family. I am willing to get a more "normal" part-time job, but I would definitely take a pay cut, which would mean that we couldn't afford our mortgage. It is a tough decision. I am a Christian and I wholeheartedly believe that God will provide for my family. I am trying to trust in Him right now. I just wish I were a bit better at it. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!

I only have one sibling (a brother) and my answer is - ABSOLUTELY!

I work a part-time job and earn a good salary. Dh has a newish job (great opportunity) but works out of town. Our jobs are not meshing at all. We are completely underwater in our house. We tried renting it out, but after a few months our tenants stopped paying. Now we are working out how to get them to pay and get them out. The house is over 3 hours away, so this is stressful. If we continue with things as they are, the kids will have to go to school and we will continue to be stressed out all the time (due to our house and my job). It is possible that I could quit...but then we couldn't afford to keep the house. We are still in the preliminary "thinking stage". It is definitely a moral/ethical decision for me. I almost feel that I'm having to choose between what is best (as deemed by society) and what is best for my family (as deemed by me). However, there is overlap, and I realize this. I just wish there were an obvious black and white answer to our problem.

Okay...what if you were no longer living in the house (instead living in a rental in another state). Would you feel right letting the house that you own foreclose so that you could continue to homeschool?

Would you let your home foreclose (assuming you have somewhere else to live)? Would you declare bankruptcy? Would you quit a well-paying job? Just some things I'm thinking about these days. ETA: I added this in a post below, but thought I would add it here as well. Okay...what if you were no longer living in the house (instead living in a rental in another state). Would you feel right letting the house that you own foreclose so that you could continue to homeschool?

Love, love, love Survivor. It is actually dh's and my "show" that we watch together each week. I actually love Coach...and Ozzy. I find myself rooting for both of them. I also like Cochran (he's smart) and I agree about Little Hans. He just seems like he has something else going on. And to the PP who posted about age...I totally agree! I'm watching the show and find myself relating to the younger people. Then when I force myself to think about it, I realize that I am closer in age to the oldies. :tongue_smilie:

DD is getting this set for Christmas. I like that it is actually a playset, rather than just a big doll (not sure what she would do with the big doll). I think she has seen commercials for this at grandma's house, and apparently marketing works on her!

I wanted to add that this has been our experience as well. The table works fine for the train if I build the track for the kids. However, if they (really meaning my 4 yo) are building the track, she does better in the floor because she can make the pieces fit right on the table (if that makes sense). Her track tends to go all across the floor. But the table has been used for Lego building and Little People.