We're nearing our 16th wedding anniversary, so we've been together almost 18 years. I adore that man with every fiber of my being & am still teenager-in-love, dreamboaty over him. I miss him when we're apart and can't get enough time with him when he's home. (We do things apart from one another, and I enjoy those things, lol - but I always do have more fun when he's along with me...) He is awesome and amazing and my best friend and it just gets better and better every day. I thought I was lucky *then* to have found my soul-mate, but I had no idea just HOW lucky I was! :D We have no doubts that we're hitched for life and in this together, so whenever there are bumps in the road (and, of course, there have been and will be... no one together as often as we are would ever always get along perfectly... that would be sort of boring... ;), we roll with the punches - together. Love. him. :001_wub: He's my hero.

Yep - just put the pencil right in the middle of his workbook. If he grabs with his right hand, go with it... same with the left. If he changes back and forth - that's all right too. Teach him how to hold the pencil with both hands. Eventually, he'll discover that one feels more comfortable than the other and will stick with it. (or, he won't, and will write equally well with both hands. That's okay too. :D)

Dh and I saw it this weekend and I LOVED it. I haven't been able to watch "creepy" movies in years (I have a low tolerance for gore, and most recent "sci-fi thriller movies" all head straight to the gore...). It was soooo good. The kids were adorable, the whole movie was very nostalgic. Loved it. I'm going to take our older two (13 and almost 11) to see it sometime this week while dh stays with our youngest (who would definitely be creeped out). There was a lot of cussing, but that sort of thing doesn't bug me. My only whine was about the end... with the locket. :glare: It made me grouchy. I see why what was done was done.... it just made me, as a mother, a little disgruntled. It had only been 4 months.... just sayin'. :glare:

Another recommendation for Shannon Hale (although all the ones I have read by her are fantasy, so...). She has an excellent graphic novel set based on Rapunzel and Jack & the Beanstalk. My older daughter adores Brandon Sanderson's Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians series. I think there are 4 of them in the series now. Caddie Woodlawn, Strawberry Girl, Swiss Family Robinson...

We've watched the first season (a while ago, but I still remember quite a bit). Definitely geared to a younger audience (aka more "family friendly") than Xena or Hercules could be at times, but the same fun, "campy" sort of feel. hths! (now, their Arthurian story is quite a stretch for the imagination... so the show irks me on that level. But, it's a cute show nonetheless, once you let go of the way things "should be." lol) I'd let my 8 yo watch Merlin, but Hercules would still freak him out a bit...

Didn't see the 3D version, but the movie itself was amazing. The kids all said it was even better than the first (and we *loved* the first). Oldest dd and I cried 3 or 4 times through the movie. They sure know how to tug on the old heartstrings. ♥

Agreeing with Stewart's Arthurian series... George RR Martin is brilliant - but the books are definitely more "adult" than Harry Potter. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files is entertaining. I'd also highly recommend Brandon Sanderson - especially his Mistborn series. It's wonderful. And Patrick Rothfuss - love him - The Name of the Wind is the first book - Wise Man's Fear is the second (it's an incomplete series, though).

oooh, I was out of town when the Haymitch casting was announced. He wasn't on my radar, though, I'd sort of forgotten he was still acting... Very happy that John C Reilly didn't get the role as the article mentions was a possibility. No, no, no, no, no way he was right for the part. Will have to mull over my thoughts about Harrelson. I think I'm happy about it... Has everyone seen the first picture of Jennifer as Katniss? I think she looks perfect (pretty, yes, but this is Hollywood...). http://entertainmentweekly.tumblr.com/post/5612324505/the-hob-this-week-in-ew-katniss-revealed (click on the picture and it takes you to an article)

oh gosh. I was thinking that once a year would be tough, but manageable until I read this part. He's right!! And I'd never quite looked at it like this before!! :crying: That has to be a tough transition phase. I'd be saving up to buy them a computer, if they would be okay with that, so that you could skype.

Tootsie Roll Pop / flower combo ideas: (I would love to find these by my front door! :D ) http://www.stampingtoshare.com/2010/03/34-tootsie-pop-flowers.html

She DOES look a lot like him. She even "smiles" like he's doing in this picture. Just her coloring doesn't match up with the heeler colors. So the colors must come from the "other" parent, lol. We have three other dogs, so she has plenty of food and water. And she came up TO us with her leash still attached, so she's all good there too, lol.

Thanks for the suggestions. When you post @ the local animal shelter, they don't have a space for pictures - just a description (at least they didn't the last time we did this). I definitely think she's a mix of some sort - but being able to say she looks to be "part heeler" or "part GS" would be helpful in that description. We are making posters to put up on street corners and gas stations in the area ourselves. I do like the idea of just putting a headshot. I want the owners to be able to identify her (approximate size, tail length, etc) so that just no one can come in and claim her as their own. She is a cutie. I'll load her up on Monday to get scanned for a microchip @ the animal shelter when we go. I think they have two types of scanners there, iirc. I'll ask. If we have no luck midweek, she's destined for the animal shelter. :( There's a no-kill shelter near here, though, and I cannot imagine she will not get scooped up super fast, being as cute and as sweet as she is. But, she is well-fed, shiny coat, playful nature ---- I just can't imagine there isn't someone out there missing her terribly. I sure hope they come and find her.

She wandered up to our house yesterday, dragging her leash with her. She has a collar, but no ID tag. We're thinking maybe she ran away from her owner while on a walk or something? No one has come to claim her yet and no one has put up signs for her yet. We're going to post her information @ the pound Monday and put up a few signs, but I'm not sure how to describe her? (we must find her owners soon - the kids have already named her Suzy -and dh, who is adamantly opposed to any critter with fur that sheds, is even getting attached. Yikes!!)

Gorgeousness. Absolute gorgeousness. ♥

:001_huh: I'm so glad I read this thread since my youngest two have pretty severe poision ivy reactions. I had no idea about the mango skin. :svengo: So glad we didn't find out the hard way (we have mangoes frequently, but I'm always the one peeling it since it's such a PITA - but middle child has been taking over fruit-peeling duties lately since fruit salads are her specialty... so glad she left the mangoes in the fridge this afternoon! eek!)

My girls and I are SO definitely waking up early and watching the wedding. We're having scones on the nice china and orange juice in champagne glasses. :D The girls will remember it forever, so... :cheers2: When it's all over, I am going back to bed. School is officially out for the first half of the day. :lol: I love weddings. I'm sure that Katherine (spelling?) will look radiant. I hope they are happy.

Oh my gosh. The poor boy. :( I've been reading this thread, but... oh my. :crying: My ds was 3 when he ran into a statue and knocked his front two teeth back, but they weren't knocked completely out and they were baby teeth. And I remember how stressful THAT was & how freaked out I was. I can only imagine if it were to happen now that he is older with permanent teeth. :( My prayers are with your whole family as you all deal with the stress of the situation and the ordeal of making your ds comfortable and not in pain as he goes through the future dental procedures. (and I don't think I am ever going to let my kid ride on a slide again. Who would have thought?!?! !!!) :grouphug:

Oh my goodness - their song is awesome! What a fun family project that must've been! :)

ok. curiosity quenched. Figured it out.

The answers (only) to the odd problems are in the back of the student text. There is an annotated teacher's edition. Looks exactly like the student test, but has the answers written in for each problem. There is a student solutions manual. This manual has the solutions spelled out for all of the odd problems in the book. There is also a teacher's solutions manual. This manual has the solutions for ALL of the problems in the book. hths! (this all applies to the 8th edition of the book, at least... )

a kitten - definitely!! :D

:iagree: I wouldn't hesitate, either. But, man - this kid breaks my heart. He's obviously mixed up somehow, someway. I hope they (whoever *they* happens to be - his mom, his school... just... someone) gets him the help that he so obviously needs. Poor baby.

I'd love to see a new (well-made & accurate) version Anne of Green Gables. I actually like the first one (and no one will ever be as perfect for Marilla and Matthew as the original cast...) - but the sequels were SO horrid that I have a truly hard time watching the original now. :iagree: What is UP with that?!? I have a collection of Austen movies and just can't bring myself to buy any version of Mansfield Park.

Fat-tailed geckos or Leopard geckos are adorable, sweet, easy to care for, and docile.

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