Right now dd's husband pays $160/week for coverage for their family of 5. They've just been told it is going up $30 per WEEK. They don't have a huge income, and are pretty much living paycheck to paycheck as most young families (they are a one income family). Are there any options? I don't even know what's out there because we've been insured so long through dh's company I haven't had to think about it.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. ;-P. This stuff is seriously killing me as a granny! I will say that the swaddles are only around $20, so it's a great way to see what the stuff feels like and also get a useful item that no one will outgrow. At that point you can venture to the footies and other clothing items. Once you put a newborn in those footies though, it's really hard to put them in other clothing. The softness is just beyond compare. We DO wash ours inside out and hang or lay flat to dry just to keep the bamboo in the best shape. It stays plenty soft, but it becomes a slightly different kind of soft if you dry it much.

Anything Kickee Pants! Seriously - this stuff is AMAZING!! Their swaddle blankets, stroller blankets and outfits are like nothing you've ever felt (well, unless you wear bamboo or buy it for your kiddos).

I am pretty much attached at the hip to my phone. I know it's sad, but it is THE one thing in my life I couldn't give up. I send myself reminders for everything, use it as an alarm clock, talk to text/text, look up things, check the weather, use the maps, pay bills, listen to music, play games, and also make phone calls. ;-p I am seriously pumped about trying the watch and seeing what all I can do with it.

Interested to see how this develops.

Well I totally love gadgets AND all things Apple, so I feel like I'll like certain aspects of it for sure. I am a watch wearer as well, so it's not like I'm getting something I wouldn't wear anyway. I like the idea of being able to see if a text coming through is important enough that I need to excuse myself to respond. I like the idea of being able to use Apple Pay without pulling out my phone. I'm also excited about using the fitness and heart rate components. I got a pretty good deal on it, so I figure if it's not for me, I shouldn't lose much reselling it.

If so, what are the main positives for you? I just picked up a barely used for a pretty good price on eBay to give it a try, and was just wondering what actual owners thought of it.

When my mom died recently, a neighbor brought over a big honey baked ham. It was nice to have something on hand for quick meals, snacks, and then, once we wiped most of it out, I used the bone and scraps to make a huge pot of beans that we ate on for another few days.

I'm in the process of going through digitals on my computer, weeding through them (I think we tend to take WAY more pictures with digital), and sorting into folders the ones I want to keep. My plan is to upload everything to Shutterfly, and make simple yearbooks just to get caught up and get the favorites printed. I'll also do some favorites as prints for frames. Once I'm caught up, my plan is to upload from my phone monthly and at the end of each year, make a yearbook of that year, and print anything I want from that year.

Said a prayer here. I know the struggle you're going through, as we are having issues with a horse here as well. It's so hard to make the right call. :(

I honestly always wanted to be a mom and have a lot of children. I studied forensic anthropology in college because I did wind up with a real interest in being a coroner as I got a little older (I know - fun stuff), but when I wound up pregnant not long after my first dh and I got married, I quit college and stayed home. After having kids, there was never a time when I really felt like I could "handle" being a coroner just from the emotional aspect. Sometimes I think of going back to school, but I would definitely change my major! ;-p

Crawfish boil here with my husband, children and grandchildren. Got a great canvas with handprint flowers from one dd's 3 kiddos, and a nice little Sur la table gift card to go get myself some kitchen goodies!!

I couldn't just "like" this. I think it's a shame when you have to be so concerned about how any and every thing can be painful for someone that no one can enjoy a day of celebration. I just lost my mother, and it was tough getting through this first Mother's Day without her, but I certainly wouldn't expect anyone else to not enjoy their day today or any other day that might be difficult for me.

My mom died at the end of March. I really felt I was handling it fairly well, until yesterday. I couldn't stop crying for most of the evening. I guess it just finally hit me like a ton of bricks. :(

Are you happy with it? Does it progress slowly?

Thanks for the input. She's got the TG and is checking it out. This is going to be her first year to full on home school. She's a bit nervous! She and her sister are both gonna try to agree on a program they like because I told them I'd purchase their main program each year with enough student materials for all 3 of the older grandkids if they'd be willing to use the same one. I'm gonna have the older 3 kids one day each week (likely Wednesdays) for my daughters to have a day to go off with the babies, have lunch and run errands, and I plan to do the more crafty, messy things with the kids that day. I think using something like this would give me some good options each week.

So what IS the reading portion, and what does it consist of?

Well it might be perfect for a just 5yo and turning 4yo. Dd was thinking she was gonna get dgs Rod & Staff first grade math to use for K anyway, so we could do that in addition. What about phonics/reading? She has Phonics Pathways - is that overkill?

I'll jump in! I did one a little earlier in the year, but have been feeling really crummy recently as I've been eating too many grains again. I don't really have issues with sugar anymore as sweet stuff, if I can even eat it, makes me feel ill nearly instantly. My plan is to pretty much adopt a Whole 30ish diet for life. I will probably have some dairy here and there because I only do grass fed, raw and often local and I just think it has health benefits, and I'd like to do some sprouted grains on occasion, but I'm really thinking gluten is just not for me - my joints ache considerably when I have too much. I probably won't get super strict til next week because I need to get back to the grocery store and do some food prep, but I'm definitely going to participate!

A friend has this she can loan DD to use for K and then first grade; all she'd have to do is buy the student pages. What are some pros/cons of using MFW? Dgs will be 5 in August and dgd will be 4 in December (and she has a toddler), so she's going to try and do some of the stuff with both of them. Did you add any math to this? I see it uses the Cuisenaire rods, but dd had been planning to get him the R&S first grade math to use for K - is that overkill?

My problem would be actually choosing a single place, and the only way I'd ever move would be if I could move all my kids and grandkids with me. In the US, these places appeal to me for various reasons: Asheville, NC Colorado On the beach in Florida (gulf side; not Atlantic) Maine Seattle area Hawaii If I could go outside the US, and I've never been outside the US, so I'm choosing based on things I've seen/read, I'd choose Scotland Ireland Netherlands New Zealand I love so many things it would be difficult to choose a single place, but after living away from my grandchildren while dd's husband was in the Navy, I know I'd pick being near those kiddos over anything else, even if it means living in the hottest, most humid, crappiest state in the US. ;-p

Our location (dead end of a mile long gravel road surrounded by woods and cattle pasture) Our property (it's only 5 acres, but it's laid out well and my husband keeps it meticulous, so most of it looks like a pretty park with trees) I'm not really in love with anything on the inside at the moment (it's not bad; just nothing I LOVE to pieces), but we are going to be doing some renovations in the next year and I think I'll love it much more after that. However, that does bring me to my third thing I love about it and that is the price. We bought it at a great price and put money into it then, but we have waited to the point where it can be paid off pretty soon, and we are going to do more updates at that time.

That's so exciting!! I'm happy for you! I know what it is like to desperately want another baby. I'm glad your husband is on board with the idea.

Well we went for the day yesterday and I doubt I'd ever go back - not for the beach anyway. The walk out from the public parking area was awful, and the water was definitely yucky (by our standards for sure). The beach certainly didn't compare to Destin, but the sand was pretty white, so that was good. The only reason we wound up there instead of Pensacola is because my 10mo old grandson was NOT enjoying the ride. We figured the hour time savings x both directions would be worth it. Suffice it to say I will just never do a day beach trip like that again with kids - period. Live and learn. ;-p

Thanks! I'll share with my daughter (and probably get on the bandwagon myself).