I think when mine were little we did heart shaped doilies glued on red and pink construction paper. Or fingerprinted red/pink on heart shaped cut outs.

I feel like the OP...no celebrities deaths have made me sad, well robin Williams I guess because suicide is sad. I feel more gut wrenching pain when I see war torn countries and refugee victims.💔

My five year old sometimes says she doesn't want to go to gym also. When she goes, she is full of smiles and giggles the entire time, and I know her teacher quite well. I can hear and see it's a positive environment for her. I simply tell her *I* need her to go to gym class to burn off her energy. 😜

We love this! http://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Gym-Plastic-Climbing-Swinging/dp/B00FM62YD8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452221089&sr=8-1&keywords=gorilla+gym+indoor+playground

My big girls (10 and 7) got iPads for their last birthday. (We initially got them Fires but no one here liked them, so we sent them back and got iPads). Here are our rules/limits, and it has worked well for us for almost a year. -First off, we gave them these with the caveat that even though they belong to them, WE monitor usage. They understand that the iPads can be taken away for a time if they cannot follow the rules. -I took off all internet access. No Safari, YouTube, Pinterest, ect. If they want to google or YouTube something it must be done on either my or dhs iPads, in the common areas of the house, under supervision. -1 hour of screen time daily. They set their timers, and must turn them off immediately when the timer goes off. No "1 more minute" " can I finish this game?" Ect. Simply because with three of them, it gets ridiculous for me to be policing that they only have ONE more minute or whatever. They know that any whining or arguing results in a five minute penalty for next time. My kids have chosen to use half of their time during the day, and the other half at bedtime. -School and chores come before iPads. -No asking, begging, or badgering about iPads before school and chores are done. Asking for iPads before that results in a five minute penalty. This is mostly for my youngest, she will obsess over screens and will ask non stop for them. At five, she understands the rule about not asking. -Shows on Netflix/Amazon must be approved by me. I am rather lax about adult themes (well, for my ten year old anyway) except sexual innuendo and tweeny bopper bad additude. 😒 If they start mimicking nasty behavior or attitude, that show gets banned. -No iPads at family/social dinners, restaurants, or when friends are over. When friends come over, iPads are placed in my room, off limits. This not only prevents accidents from roughhousing, but also encourages good host manners. -All app purchases come to my dh as a request to purchase first, and he has to approve them. They do not know the password for any purchases. -And probably the biggest thing-iPads are a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT. They do not NEED a device. They know this. They will survive if we are too busy having fun and they miss their iPad time. Screens do not replace any enriching activities, exercise, or creativity. They are simply a tool to unwind, find information, and text or FaceTime their dad when he's away working. I set limits on my screen use as well. I limit my screen time to one hour while they are awake, i don't turn it on at dinner, ect. We have mine craft, not on a server, just the iPad version, and it's like anything else. Interesting and potentially addicting. My kids played it a bunch when we first got it, but it was a passing thing and after a couple of months they didn't really play it any more. However, the rules we have in place have helped to prevent major addiction and obsessiveness. My girls are heavily involved in outside activities- Dd10 does four hours of gymnastics, two hours of archery, four hours of PE, coop, and tons of art/creating during the week. She also reads (physical books and on her kindle app) for hours everyday. Dd7 does nine hours of gymnastics, four hours of PE, and coop each week. She reads daily and has lots of time to play and do arts daily. Dd5 does two and a half hours of gymnastics, four hours of PE, and coop each week. She also has tons of free play and creating time. They get outside most everyday-they spend hours playing in the woods and creek, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the sand, riding the zip line, dirt bike, four wheeler, bikes, scooters, skates and pogo sticks. We play board games everyday, I read them bedtime stories every night. I say all this to show that screens can be turned into the 'ENEMY', or they can be just one of the many things kids can choose to do. I used to be super anti-screens. I still don't care for them as passive entertainment, but I have to admit, I HAVE learned a great deal here and elsewhere, and that is made possible because of technology. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Obviously, I don't think it's wrong to give kids their own technology, so long as there are limits. Hope that was helpful to you. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Those look really cool! I'm going to order some for sure!

We meet at our house. Usually between 9-12 kids and about that many adults. One couple had a sitter they hired to come and supervise...mostly the two youngest kids who are five. We meet from 4-7, so no one is up too late. Who ever is there pitches in $10 for the sitter. We have three levels and a few acres, so there is enough space for us adults to talk and the kids to be off playing. It works great.

Another vote for Miele. I love mine.

Just wanted to update on the potions kit I made for my dd. she LOVES it. All three have been happily mixing potions daily. Best part? My 7 year old is writing a TON by keeping a journal of her potions. ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ˜

Looks like the deal is over? 😟 Bummer, I would have loved to try some of these!!

5 days, 4 nights at the Great Wolf Lodge the day after Christmas. We haven't had a good family vacation in years and this is amazing. The kids had so much fun yesterday, they are all still sleeping! Can't wait to do all the fun things here.

My in laws. 😕 There are a multitude of issues with them, which FINALLY, after 12 years of being married, Dh is starting to see. Passive agressiveness, controlling, manipulative, ect. MIL invited us down to spend Christmas with them, which I politely declined. Dh has been working out of town M-F for months, and will have one week off between Christmas and New Years. We planned to go on a little vacation, as it's the only week of the year we are sure he won't be called to work. She got very huffy and passive aggressive with me, which I just ignored. In retaliation, they wouldn't answer their phone all day, and when we finally got a hold of them, they were all despondent and depressed, saying Christmas was just 'another day' with nothing to do. 😒 Funny, no one on my side of the family would ever dream of reacting that way, they were all pleased we are spending some time together as a family. I know I shouldn't let them get to me, but I do...mostly because I know they lay the guilt trip on dh, and he has a hard time with it. Honestly, no matter what I did/do, it wouldn't be enough for them. I have given up trying, but dh hasn't, and it puts a big stress on us.

I can not think of a non hit item with the kids this year! Dd1 (10 years old), loved her pocket knives, hunting knife, sculpey clay set, mom-made tinkering kit, huge box of recyclables, duct tape kit, Magic the Gathering game, Laser Maze, Star Wars Lego book, Greek Heroes book, and skate shoes. Dd2 (7 years old), loved her pocket knife, duct tape kit, Harry Potter hardback book and coloring book, mom-made HP potions kit, bracelet making kit, Eye Found It game, 'grown up' art set, and skate shoes. Dd3 (5 years old), loved her Scholastic DVD collection, sight word Zingo game, paint wooden animals kit, spider web swing, multi tool (no knife on hers 😉), unicorn blanket, mom-made sensory kit, and a Dough Vinci set.

No way. I like my privacy.

My 7 year old is getting- From my sister-Slingshot and pogo stick From my dad-sleeping bag, lantern, and tent (combo gift for all three kids) From my mom-bracelet making kit, skate shoes From dh and I-Harry potter hardback book and homemade potions kit, art set, crystal growing kit, duct tape crafting kit, board game My 10 year old did- From my sister-knife and book set From my dad-sleeping bag, lantern, tent From my mom-leatherman, skate shoes From us-sculpey clay set, leather bound A Wrinkle in Time, tinkering kit (basically a bunch of raw/recyclables and some tools, geode kit, duct tape crafting kit, board game Both will share a Brock Magiscope and slide kit from us.

Pretty much nothing. But, he has been working M-F out of town. He works 12 hour shifts, and comes home in the wee hours of Saturday morning. I want his time at home to be spent with the kids, doing daddy things. And he needs time to rest, take a nap, ect. I get (mostly) a full nights rest, in my own bed. It's a crazy season of life, and I have just resigned myself that this is how it is for now. I wish his job didn't take him away from our family so much, but it does, and he provides for us since I don't work. I'd rather him take the kids out on their dirt bikes than mop the floors, know what I mean? He WILL help if I ask him, he isn't anti helping at all. It's just easier for me to see what needs to be done and do it efficiently since I do this all the time anyway. I used to be really resentful, but I'm not anymore...I'm not sure what changed, but it doesn't bother me now. Oh I still get frustrated when I run to the store alone on the weekend and come home to a disaster, but overall it's not bad. Like I said, my dh IS willing to help-with whatever I need. I try to do the heavy cleaning during the week so weekends can be fun, and the only things we have to get done are daily maintenance things like dishes, pick up, laundry, and sweeping. The rest can wait.

Not horrible. I would have done the same thing if I had that feeling. You didn't go and accuse him, he didn't even know you felt that way-you just made a minor adjustment in order to cover all your bases.

I love my Shun knives.

I would love to have a set of sensory diet cards to leave with Nana or DH when they will have dd for an extended period of time. I'm the one who has done all the research and who currently does the sensory diet. Dh would like to be more involved but it is hard for him to come up with ideas on the fly. If he had a set of cards he could pick from, it would be easier. I could just write ideas on index cards, but it would be nice if the cards had picture cues for dd. I saw some for sale, from Super Duper and they look amazing. They have a bunch of sets-sensory, scooter board, exercise ball, ect. However, they are very pricey! I figured I'd ask/look around to see if someone knew of a free or less expensive version first. Thanks a bunch!

I'm doing a HP themed gift set this year. My 7 year old did is getting the new HP illustrated hardback book, this coloring book http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Coloring-Book-Scholastic/dp/1338029991/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448888689&sr=8-1&keywords=harry+potter+colouring+bookand I'm making a homemade 'potions kit' a friend recommended from Pinterest. I'm saving all sorts of glass jars and droppers and printing out old fashioned labels for them. There is a "spell" book floating around somewhere, that renames household ingredients HP style-black cookie sprinkles become spider legs, dry beans become some sort of egg, soaked chia seeds are lizard eyes, baking powder is ground up bones, vinegar is bile, corn syrup is frog slime, ect. I can't wait, I think she will love it!

How to better parent, help, and understand a child with aspergers/HFA, SPD, ADHD, and anxiety. I am not looking for quick fixes for specific behavior, but more of an insight to the why of the behavior in the first place. Does that make sense? Nothing punitive, that just wouldn't work for our family. Something where when it suggests a parenting choice or method and explains the why of how it will help the child. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around some of the things dd does and I know they are related to this, but I can't always tease out what I should accommodate or where I should stick to my guns...sometimes her emotional outbursts seem so...bratty, but I know that she wouldn't be doing this is she didn't feel out of sorts. I just don't know how to get her out of that defensive mode. She is 5, if that helps for suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Yes to this. With our little nephew, I make sure I run everything by his parents. Ingredients, spices, seasonings, methods of keeping contaminated food away from his food, ect.

I don't believe it is the hosts OBLIGATION, but it is a nice gesture to provide some alternatives without the allergen. I'll tell how we handle bother being a host to a family with severe allergies and how we are guests with intolerances. First, our nephew has severe, life threatening allergies. To multiple things. Nuts, wheat, dairy, pitted fruit, and a host of other random things. I make sure that first, my children know his allergies are very serious, and that they must not touch him after they've eaten until they have washed both their hands and face. I provide cooking utensils that are just for his food, and allow his parents full range of my kitchen. They are very good about packing his food, but I always attempt to make part of our meals safe for him. That means I alter the menu entirely or provide a similar food item without his allergens. So if I was making mashed potatoes, I would make one batch with cream and butter and another with olive oil and soy creamer/butter. When we have dessert, it's usually coupled with soy ice cream or Popsicles for him. Most of the time, my kids eat the choice he picks, to make it easier for him. I absolutely have no problem doing this, and in fact I usually feel I haven't accommodated enough, even though his parents (and our nephew!) are wonderful, and do not expect any accommodations what so ever. We do not have any true allergies. However, for behavioral reasons, we avoid food dyes like the plague. I bring a safe dessert for my kids, as that is usually harder to find without any dyes. For thanksgiving, we went to a friends house. I offered to make the sweet potato casserole (and dessert) so that I could use the safe marshmallows for dd. (ironically normal marshmallows have blue dye in them😕). I have no issues with providing a safe alternative for my own child. I do not expect anyone to accommodate for her. It is not a true allergy, and if she is exposed the worst that will happen is a few days of meltdowns. Which, while it sucks, we can deal with. I do ask a lot of time what the ingredients in a food are, or if it's ok for me to see the packaging. Now that we've been doing this for a few months, I generally know what mainstream foods are safe for her. I don't think there is a hard and fast rule for this. I think, as a host, I will always try to make our guests feel comfortable. And as a guest, I will not expect that the host will go too much out of her way for us.

My dh bought a bag from them, we are very happy with it!

I was just going to suggest this! We have the book on video from a Scholastic DVD and it's pretty cool. Perfect for the ages of your kiddos.