My son loves to mountain bike and he received a ticket to a downhill mountain bike park for Christmas and.... I'm afraid to let him go! I didn't mind so much until I started watching youtube videos of mountain bike accidents. :eek: And the cost! The protective gear, the bikes, and the parts! :svengo: What dangerous sports are your kids allowed to do and how do you deal with the worry?!?

A newer iPod? :tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie:

If my son didn't sell any popcorn at all, I would write a check to the pack and be done with it. I just couldn't let all the other boys sell so my kid could get something for nothing! I understand about feeling nickel and dimed to death! I felt that way with wrestling and really bugged me, so we don't do wrestling anymore. Our den collects dues at the beginning of the year, then that is it! If it is going to cost money, we don't do it. We have always come up with something free that the boys have a blast with. One thing... the den bought my dh a gift card this year for Christmas and it made me cringe because everyone put in money for it. (although I totally appreciate the thought and gift... I don't like people to have to put out money!) I would have loved if they made a card and sang a song or something! :tongue_smilie:

The point of selling popcorn is to raise money for the scouts. There is a kid in our den who didn't sell even one bag of popcorn and yet he submits the most requests for earned beltloops. Our pack runs completely on the profit of the popcorn sale and beltloops, pins, patches, pinewood derby cars etc. are not free! Den dues covers supplies for projects and some trips but would be MUCH higher without the popcorn money. My son went around our neighborhood for weeks working his butt off to support his pack. He didn't force anyone to buy something but found that almost all of our neighbors were happy to support the boys and some people were looking forward to him coming back! (although one person collects the tins and there were no tins this year.. grrr) My son couldn't, in good conscience, let all the other boys do the work for the pack while he reaped the benefits.

My almost 8yo BOY loves his pillow pet! When my dd6 brought a unicorn pp as a gift to her 6yo friend — a 9yo BOY at the party came running over and said "WHOA, you are so LUCKY you got a pillow pet!!" (I was kind of glad to hear that because I am waiting for the day someone comes over to our house and tells ds pillow pets are for girls... or babies. :sneaky2: )

So I know for next year, where can I buy the Lego and/or Playmobil advent calendar and what is the release date? :)

Raising Smart Kids :)

:iagree: I woke my dh and one of the kids up because I was laughing so hard! :lol::lol:

I think a tin of homemade cookies would be perfect!

:iagree: This is exactly what I do.

I haven't listened to it and since it's a dramatization, I probably wouldn't buy it. The dramatized versions of books are kind of distracting to me.

I showed my kids calendar and they thought it was hilarious, I now have about a dozen lego showers in front of me. The kids think they can sell them, and want to know if I will buy naked santa in bulk :001_huh:...:lol:

Bwahahaha! Oh I want the advent calendar now...

My son asked for tinsel for the tree so I bought some at Walmart yesterday (50¢) and I'm going to put it on Christmas Eve so it will be a surprise Christmas morning! I'm actually pretty excited about it! :lol: He also mentioned a few times that he wanted a star topper instead of an angel so I will put that on the tree as a surprise too.

:grouphug: Oh no, I would be terrified! I hope it stays far away from your house. I am starting to feel a little better. :ack2: I didn't throw up... my dh thinks I'm nuts and suffering senselessly.

to :ack2: vomit? Do you really feel better faster or is it only temporary? I wouldn't know. I don't throw up. :eek: But if it will make me feel that much better, that much faster then maybe I can do it (but I doubt it). :crying:

My son would have loved your gift! My dd goes to the scout meetings because dh and I are leaders but she would not have participated in the gift exchange! I would have brought her a little gift though and wrapped it in pink for her to choose. ;) If the big sister ends up not liking the gift, she can always give it to her little brother but I think that gift was good for a boy or girl.

RSD on Foxnews.com hmmm... that doesn't say cured but is manageable when caught early. I have heard that the key is to catch it early but I just don't remember where else I read that! Probably the NYT... I'll check there for you. :)

I've heard that it can be cured if caught early enough but once it is chronic there is no cure.

Thanks :), I just saw that too, but I don't want to pay that much. I'm moving on to plan B! (I don't know what that is yet but will probably involve something to do with sewing like a sewing machine and I'll give dd the Bitty stuff for her birthday) I'm going to hold out... I'm hoping the backordered stuff arrives in time!! :w00t:

I'm also tempted to just wait and maybe AG will ship the backordered item before Christmas. Ugh, I wonder what the chances are! lol

Lesson learned here! I can't find the Bitty Starter kit anywhere (the one with the backpack) but I will call the store before I go. I am not sure what her big gift will be if they don't have it. :banghead:

I waited to long to order the Bitty Baby starter set and now it's on backorder until Dec. 30!! :eek: :crying: This was to be her big gift! Ugh, I may have to trek into NYC to see if they have it in the store! :auto: I can't even tell you how inconvenient and expensive that is. I will never procrastinate again! :tongue_smilie:

æ…¬˚∆©∂ß∑´ ®†¥†ø¨π“µ∫µç≈*÷ ™¢§∞§≠–ºª•¶§∞™¡` åß∂Æ’≈Ωύ∫ç˜ Sorry that got longgg, I'm really passionate about thiss subjecttt.

My kids love matchbox too! I totally forgot about that. :)