I've been wondering about this, too.

I ended up trading my 32 to DD for her 8 because she filled that up in no time at all. I didn't need all that room for what I use it for. The 32 is pretty big. She has 12 movies, probably about 30 (or more, I didn't feel like counting) apps/games plus a huge number of videos and photos that she has taken with the camera, plus her music - probably 5 or 6 albums - Chipmunks, BTR, Victorious, etc. When it gets full, then it's time to either delete or upload some of her personal photos and videos to the computer.

I remember the PS grumps. They were tired and hungry when they got home from school. It was especially noticeable when DS was still home with me. He'd be so excited that his Sissy was FINALLY home from school to play, but she was miserable to him because she just wanted to be left alone to decompress. Once he started school, they'd both come home grumpy and hungry - then they'd really fight. Now, they still have grumpy times and fighting times but not nearly as often and it's usually my fault. I've been distracted, we've had a long day, or we stayed up too late/got up too early for whatever reason.

DD and I are much more literal thinkers. My guys are so quick to make a "play on words" that I wouldn't even notice unless they pointed them out. They're good to have around for some giggles, that's for sure. :p

And we have the SchoolHouse Rock DVD's here. Some days that IS English class. It's called "that time of the month" when Mom barely has the energy to get out of bed, let alone teach anything. DVDs, Netflix, Apps, and audiobooks make wonderful "substitute" teachers. SOTW on CD, SchoolHouse Rock, Magic School Bus DVDs, Song School Latin DVD, The Happy Scientist and Beakman's World, a little verbal/mental math drill, plus Splash Math or Rocket Math on the Ipad/Ipod, silent reading or having kids read a page to me, Audible or Lit2Go audiobooks and I'm covered for 2-3 days when my energy is beyond low - and the older I get, the worse that time seems to get as far as energy drain. I'm ALL about multi-media on those days.

Tonight in the truck, the kids were asking about something. I can't even remember what now. Anyway, my answer to the question was No. DS pipes up. "Mom, I'm in the Christmas spirit, so instead of saying No when I need to say it, I'm going to Say No! No! No! instead of Ho! Ho! Ho!" His quick wit amazes me sometimes - definitely gets that from his Dad. :coolgleamA:

I LOVE the whipped frosting. I can handle a little bit of buttercream, but in general, it's way too sweet. Whipped, I can eat by the truckload! :drool:

I'd take him to an optometrist, not just a pediatrician. Your DH needs to be helping you. He is 50% responsible for those 4 children YOU are chasing after, feeding, cleaning up after, raising, and training all day, every day. 50%. Sure, he "brings home the bacon", so that is 10-20% of his input. He still has another 30-40% to be doing at home - the hands on, nitty gritty stuff. He can help cook some meals on the weekends to last through the week. He can come home and pick up/vacuum the spilled popcorn. He can wash dishes. He can toss a load of laundry in, etc. I do agree that you've got to treat school like a paying job. Yes, you happen to be doing at home, and have your youngers there with you, but when you're doing school, then you need to concentrate on school (aside from baby/toddler disruptions like food/potty - other messes can [mostly] wait). Maybe by moving school out of the house, and into the car or library for a few hours each week so the distractions are not as "in your face". Ultimately, the choice and decision is yours, but your DS does not sound happy to be in school - and you don't sound happy to have him there. If it were me, I wouldn't wait for my DH to okay it based on my "performance" and I'd demand that he start "performing" better, myself.

:grouphug:

I've tried to read that thread a few times, but can never seem to get through it. I remember reading the first post on that thread before there were any replies to it and just thinking "Wow. Huh. Someone is unhappy." then closing that window. I did not ever dream that it would turn into the epic adventure in online forumdom that it did.

:hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Thank you!!!

This. I know some people who did use their stuff, but I was never sure if they really liked the products, or just talked it up because they wanted the commission from getting me to sign up and buy more junk than I needed (minimum order). If the stuff was THAT great, it'd sell itself and there'd be no reason for monthly minimums because people would replace as needed, IMO.

Continued prayers for a full recovery. :grouphug:

:bigear: This is an awesome thread! I have seen those books suggested before, in different settings. It must be fate. Must read them. Now, if only I could schedule the time in to read and implement them. :p I have so many "must reads" sitting around waiting to be read, or finished. I've started several. Hmmm. Perhaps these two books will be my Christmas wish list. Then I can schedule myself to read them in January.

I just have the ones that you can get in the sports equipment area at Target or Walmart. Mine are the 65 cm ones. I wouldn't go any smaller than that because they'd not be able to write at the table if they sat much lower, unless their work area is lower than normal table height. http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Anti-Burst-Ball/dp/B0016BQG50/ref=sr_1_8?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1354326221&sr=1-8&keywords=65+cm+exercise+ball

When I find that I can't keep the kids on track and paying attention to their own work, they put down the pencils and I pick 'em up. We do it orally, and I'll either put a check mark in the book that we did it, or just write the answer down. It goes much quicker because they've got to keep focused on me to hear the question and formulate the answer. Also, they rarely sit in chairs anymore. I have two of the big inflatable exercise balls. They sit (or bounce) on them to do their schoolwork. That seems to help too. I keeps their body and their mind busy at the same time. They'll bounce for a few seconds while they read the question and think of the answer, then stop to write, then start bouncing again. I should video it someday - it's quite comical to see if I really stop to think about it. :) As for general dawdling in life - my DD is like that. So is my sister. And my Dad. My deceased Grandpa and Aunt were the same way. That is just the way some people are. It drives my DH absolutely batty when my DD is dawdling. I obviously grew up around dawdlers, so while I do get antsy and short-tempered about it sometimes when we're in a hurry, it doesn't affect me the way it does DH on a more regular basis.

:grouphug: :grouphug: I'm sorry - I have no advice. I wish I did. :grouphug: :grouphug:

Lately my DS has been refusing to eat whatever I make for meals - for silly reasons. Yesterday's reason was that his Dad cut up the sausage, instead of leaving it in a "log" - for that reason he did not eat his pasta or sausage. Today I did not cook at all and made him get all of his own food. If he wanted a sandwich, he had to make it himself. I refused to help him at all. I'm evil.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Western cold is dry. Eastern cold is seep into the bones moist - the kind that you never seem to warm up from. It IS different. I'd take the dry cold (and heat) ANY day over the moist cold and heat. And I want to know where all these people are finding plain FLEECE coats that are warm. In my experience, if you're just going to wear fleece, then you might as well wear a t-shirt. I do not find it warm at all if there is any breeze at all, it just blows right through.

I knew that they weren't supposed to wear coats, but that is one of the "rules" I didn't follow - once they were in forward facing. In Canada, in -40 weather. What I DID do was tighten the belts so that their coats were already compressed against their shoulders/chest area as tight as possible. I also made sure the chest clip was in the correct position. In my experience (personal observation only), most kids are not belted into their carseats properly in winter or summer. They are usually too loose and the chest clips are usually too low because parents are too lazy to loosen the belt to get the kids out, then tighten them back up when they put them in. I did that though, every single time.

Yuck! I'm confused, though. Did he also put a new load in the washer? Clean stuff going to the dryer should have the detergent all rinsed out.

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/439126-favorite-christmas-read-alouds/page__hl__tammyw?do=findComment&comment=4470682 Here is a thread, with another thread about favorite Christmas books linked within it.

:laugh: