Yes, I know this has been discussed but not for a bit and the models change quickly! We just moved back to the US and need a washer and electric dryer. I am shocked at the prices! Wondering if you all like your front loaders? I am tentative about buying one because I can not stand any musty mildew smell. I know to leave the door open, etc, but do they really smell fine if you do that? Brand recommendations? I am thinking Samsung, Electrolux, or LG. Thoughts or experiences with those? Or, should I stick with a top loading with agitator model? I know they use more water, etc, but they are all I have ever had! Thanks for any help and suggestions!!

The only Quinn I know is a girl, she is about 10.

Both are available online.

You can easily take kids to Machu Picchu! It is an amazing site, lots of exploring and hiking. As long as you get it all set up with a reputable travel agency you really will not need Spanish to get by. They can get you English speaking guides, hotels, etc. You would have to fly in to Lima and then take a one hour flight to Cusco, Peru which is a beautiful city with lots of other ruins and sites to see.

The overall fit part is what I am wondering about. But how do you go about finding out which one "fits?"

We are getting ready to move back to the US after having lived in South America. At this point I would prefer not to have to use a high school, but want to live in an area with a good one, just in case. But the ratings I see don't seem to mean a lot. Some are rated off test scores, what else? I can look at one website that rates a school poorly, and another site rates it well. Who to believe? Any input or thoughts on this? Suggestions for what to look for? Even if we never use it!? thanks!

I used to have a pillow called Down Around. It had a firmer core but then down all around that core. I loved it because it was all fluffy like a down pillow but didn't flatten like they usually do. I don't know if they are still available?

Sorry, I have no input on whether or not you should get a guinea pig, but I just have to say that here in Peru they are considered a delicacy. When you see people here who have them in their house, it is only because they are raising them for dinner!

We just always buy the sets. The kids build them one time following the directions, then the pieces get dumped into the bin to be used however they like.

I read somewhere that the Blendtec makes things more frothy and the Vitamix makes things more creamy, has anyone found this to be true (or false!?)

My mom used to put a rubber band wrapped tight around the bottle, underneath the pump, so that you couldn't push it down so far and only a small bit would come out. It worked great!

As a kid our stocking presents were never wrapped but my mother in law wraps them and i think it is so much more fun that way! IN fact, I thought it was so fun that I got totally carries away and started a new tradition that I now will never be able to stop. Our kids have small stockings and one year there were too many stocking stuffers to fit, so I wrapped each kids presents in a certain wrapping paper and hid them all over. Now they love that and each year we have the stocking stuffer scavenger hunt. It is really fun and I keep an eye out for fun, useful things for months!

I have seen a lot of kitchen threads lately and have lots of new ideas, but I am looking for some guidance. My family did something a little crazy, we decided it was time to give back to others and so we sold our house and everything in it and went to South America to help people. We will soon be returning to the US and will basically be starting over. We call it being like newlyweds but with 3 children! I think I did keep my nice Calphalon pans, and other than that all I have is a spatula! If you were in this situation, what would you need to start with in your kitchen!? And specific recommendations for brands are great too, I am so out of the loop on what is good anymore! thanks!

My DH is extremely nearsighted, as in he can not read an alarm clock next to him without picking it up and putting it right in front of his face. For this reason he is very interested in having Lasik. I don't really want to hear all the horror stories, just wondering about how much it currently costs, recovery time, and would you do it again!? thanks!

Ok, looks like we will go with Turtle Beach! Thanks everyone!

Thanks again for all your responses GoVanGogh. I really don't think he is able to follow directions like that to test his mouth and tongue strength. He is completely nonverbal but quite alert and responsive. I do think he could communicate if given a communication board and taught how to use it. He does horrible with liquids. He chokes with nearly every sip and I have mentioned more than once how dangerous this is, but I do not think it has been adequately addressed. It is actually overwhelming some days. This home is full of kids with moderate to severe special needs and the services are just so limited. The staff does the best they can but the kids really only get the basics. Yes, it does make me thankful for what is available in the US but it makes me very sad for these kids because I just don't know what to do for them.

Thanks! Anybody else's DC (or DH!) use this type of headphones?

My ds12 is not a huge gamer or anything, but since we live out of the US he does like to play some games online with old friends from back home. Can anyone give me some ideas for good headphones that have a microphone and work with the xbox 360? I also am not sure, do we want wireless or with a cord? Thoughts? Thanks!

Most of the other kids appear pretty normal size for age. He gets therapy for 40 minutes a week. Not nearly enough! And I think they get 3 meals, but really they are high in carbs and not much else. And I have heard him when they feed him, he chokes on almost every bite. This is a poverty situation with not a lot of other options. I would love for him to go to the US for treatment, I think he could be like a new boy! My biggest dream for him is to be adopted to a family who could get him the therapy and care he needs. He really is a sweet and happy boy, he laughs and smiles so easily! I did suggest they add avocados to his diet, they are cheap and plentiful here. I am pretty sure Spam has not found its way here yet!

Thanks for all the input. This is a situation where there is very little money and the food is provided by the local government and from what I have seen has very little good nutrition. This boy spends most of his time sitting in a wheelchair and has very little active control of his body, although he can move one arm a fair amount. He has to be fed by someone for all meals. He is the sweetest boy and always gets a giant smile when I go by to visit. The parasite check is good idea as that is pretty common here.

We are planning a move across continents for early next year and I am planning to give each child one gift here and then a gift card for Target or somewhere that they can use once we arrive in our new state. I think each one will also get a magazine subscription that we will start once we have an actual address.

I think he probably has other medical issues. He has cerebral palsy as the only diagnosis I know about. He has extremely tiny arms and legs. The diet at the orphanage consists mostly of soup, white rice, noodles, and small amounts of protein. I would guess it is a low fat diet, not by choice but due to budget. I think he may have problems with aspiration but they don't seem concerned when I mention it.

We live in South America and I work with a few different orphanages. One of them is a home for kids with disabilities. There is a little boy there who is 7 or 8 years old and weighs maybe 20 pounds. He is fed and well taken care of but just does not gain weight. He desperately needs a hip surgery but can not have it until he gains weight. Does anyone have ideas for something that might help? I recently heard Isagenix can be used to help kids gain weight but don't know any more about it. They are currently using something like Pediasure. I would greatly appreciate any ideas to help this sweet boy!

It would probably help out if you could give some ideas of their interests, hobbies, likes/dislikes, etc. Also, if you do a search there have already been a few Christmas threads with lots of really great ideas! My DD10 is into American Girl everything, so something from there will be her present. DS12 wants headphones, and DS7 wants legos.

We are US citizens living in South America (so not at all in Canada!) and the country we are in does not care one bit about how we school our children. I do not think there is even a possibility for them to attend public school. So, I just wonder if any country would really know or bother you if you are not a citizen?