If I am honest with myself, the only thing holding me back from doing it is what other people would think. I guess that's why I posted here. I wanted to see what others' opinion would be. I would be interested to post on my FB page and ask if any of my FB friends even know what any of my kids' middle names are. I would be surprised if many people did. Maybe I should do that and factor that in as well? Or maybe I'm simply crazy.

I've been looking but this particular name does not have many (only 2) variations and they're both very similar to the original name.

I see your point! I chose the extreme phrasing only because I'm really on the fence about this. I see both sides but I can't decide at all. I was hoping that the Hive would weigh in on one side of the fence or the other. I don't need more people sitting in the middle with me. :)

Let's just say it's more than 6. :) We also never call the 11yo by their full name. You know how some parents do that when they're upset or whatever? I do it for some of my other kids, but never this child and another sibling. Why? I don't really know but we just don't. It's not a name that is spoken often (if ever) around the home now. It has always been really important to me that the kids' names not only go really well with our last name but that they all sound good together. If I depart from our theme it will be fairly obvious (but again, only to those who would really care and who would actually put any thought into it) and would likely result in the child having the "odd" name and sticking out even more.

I see your point. I hadn't thought of it that way. The *only* reason it is that child's middle name is because I've always loved the name but back then my husband was adamant that he didn't like the name enough to use it as a first name. I didn't want the name to go to waste, so to speak and so we agreed to use it as a middle name. I wanted to hold out and use it for a future child of the same gender but hubby was sure he would never change his mind. Of course, over a decade later, he has changed his mind about the name and I'm faced with this predicament. My oldest has suggested we legally change older child's name so that the name in question is no longer "in use" but that's the most bizarre suggestion of all. Meanwhile, I do keep looking. In face, I've scoured baby name books for the past decade. I know every baby name out there and I still don't like any of them as much as this name. I've managed to name other children of the same gender without feeling too much like I didn't like their names as much but now I'm really hitting the brick wall. I don't think the Hive could suggest a name that I haven't already considered. I've been thinking about this for a very long time.

I didn't know what to put for "other" other than maybe, which would leave me right back to where I am now. lol It would probably be mostly family (and we don't have a large family) and maybe really close friends who would know? But, given the age gap, it's not like the kids would have play dates or be in classes together. And in 6 years the older child would have graduated and would likely be off at college of some sort.

We have a large family and all the kids have an easily recognizable theme to their names, for example all are popular Shakespeare characters (not the actual theme, but it's somewhat similarly obvious). The names all flow really well together and I often get compliments on all their names. Thing is, I'm running out of names to go with our theme and I really feel it's too late to change things up. My 11yo's middle name goes perfectly with the rest of the family's first names. It's not widely known what her middle name is, but it's not a complete secret either. Would it be completely weird to name a new baby with that name as a first name? For the sake of simplicity, let's say 11yo's name is: Portia Juliet Elise LastName. She always goes by Portia and not many people know her middle name is Juliet. How weird is it, given the age gap, to name a new baby Juliet? For this situation, let's assume that this has been discussed with the child in question and s/he is completely ok with naming the new sibling with their middle name as they really like their middle name.

Dd11 (grade 7 in the fall) is not an avid reader. She doesn't dislike it but it can be a struggle to get her to read books which I select for her. I would like to put her in an online Lit class in the fall so that she gets used to reading books assigned to her (and hopefully does so with less moping and complaining) and so that she can have exposure to different points of view and feedback from other students. I think I have narrowed my choices down to the Centre for Lit junior high classes or the WTMAcademy Socratic Discussions class (this one is one semester with the option of full year). I am really waffling. Could anybody please weigh in on other of these? I would be especially interested to hear the negative aspects (I find the websites do a good job of extolling the virtues of each class). Is anybody else in the same boat and willing to share which decision they are leaning towards (or have already made)? Is there another fabulous online Lit class that I should know about? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I lived under media rock last year and didn't watch any movies. I have a bit of spare time in the next few weeks and would like to simply chill and watch a few (new release) movies. What were your fave ones that came out in 2015? I don't recognize most of the titles. :huh:

Thanks. I've been doing some additional research too. Looks like I'll be heading to the stores again tomorrow.

I couldn't get a decisive smell because of the seasoning before I put them in the oven so I've decided to toss them once they're cooked. I really don't want to be wasteful but some phobias just can't be conquered. :( I can feel my anxiety about it rise the longer they cook. Plus I am supposed to volunteer at the local food bank tomorrow for 5 hours and they're counting on me to be there. Bummer. :(

I threw them in the oven before doing this. I have really bad emitophobia (fear of vomiting) so any chance of food being off and I won't risk it. But one day late doesn't seem that bad. And I really love wings. I need someone to convince me and my phobia that I won't regret this.

They are raw.

Fresh seasoned chicken wings from Costco. Packed on Monday Dec 7, Best before Dec 10. It's Dec 11. Would you bake and eat them still? They don't smell off but they are heavily seasoned. The meat I can see under the heavy seasoning is gray/blue but I don't know what color they normally are. Kept in fridge all week.

As a spin-off of my "Angel Tree" thread: I couldn't find a Hobbit Lego set anywhere within 1/2 hour drive of my house. I tried Target, WalMart etc. and they're all gone. So I got him the Lego Hobbit 3DS game. I also stopped by the book store because the parent told the "Angel Tree" coordinator that the boy really likes to read. He likes mysteries and I told the lady at the store this, but highly recommended "Red Rising" saying there was little to no sexuality and it was a better writing than the Hunger Games. She was a librarian and seemed very knowledgeable. She did say the book had some violence but a 13yo should be able to handle it. I purchased it and came home to read reviews on amazon. Those say it's very violent and graphic and now I'm not so sure this was the best choice in gift. I'm going to go with the video game, a great book and a chocolate bar. Now I need the "great" book part. I've decided against "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" as recommended in my other thread. I do understand that it can be good for boys, but I fear he will read the back cover and toss it aside. I don't know what this kid has read. Someone else at the store recommended "The Martian" but I feel like I'm completely digressing from mysteries. I'm not a big fan of fiction so I really need the Hive here. "Red Rising" or no? And if no... then what?

If it were *my* flour I would use it to make salt dough maps and ornaments with the kids (in fact, I have done this with an old bag). I personally would not eat it, but I would find another use for it.

I thought so too, but we are not permitted to give cash gifts. I understand the reasoning behind it but it makes things harder. ðŸ˜

This is a large concern on my mind. The only reason I would consider a book or two as part of the gift is because the coordinator insisted that the parent told them he likes to read. I didn't really think a 13yo boy in PS would love a few new books as his gift. But I don't have a lot to work with both in terms of ideas or money. Unfortunately I think Lego is out. I don't think I can purchase a decent sized locally for $50. I could probably swing it if I had time to use Amazon but this "angel" was given to me on Wednesday night as the family was a last minute addition.

At our church's "Angel Tree" we picked with a 13yo boy to purchase for this year. I would like to keep the gift to a maximum of $50 but I would really like to get him something that will make him smile. He's an only child (so board games and such would not be a good choice) and from a single parent home where the parent has recently lost their job. Apparently he really likes mystery books and Lego. He has a 3DS and a Wii. I mention this because I am thinking of purchasing the Lego Hobbit video game for him as well as perhaps a book? Not sure if this would be a good gift or not? I could really use some good book selections. I spoke with the coordinator, which is why I have a bit more info than typical and she seemed to think he was interested in the Hobbit (not sure if that means he's read it, owns it, or just liked the movie?) and that he had recently read Diary of a Wimpy Kid as well as the Chronicles of Narnia. That doesn't help me much with regards to what reading level of book to select for him. I was thinking maybe a nice Sherlock Holmes book but not sure if a 13yo boy would be into that, even if he does like mysteries? Or something more contemporary? What says the Hive? I have to grab this gift tomorrow before we head out of town so I'm feeling a bit rushed for time and there's no time to get something from Amazon (I don't have Prime at the moment). TIA!

I normally make a big deal out of Christmas gifts. It's always been something that was important to me for various reasons. This year we are on a tight budget. Not only that but I've been spending my whole year going through and purging. I'm not big on frivolous and random toys- IMO pretty much anything that can be found in WalMart toy isles- but even though the kids don't have cheap plastic toys, they all are not in need of anything. And this year I really don't want to bring more in more "stuff." The kids don't need it. We have talked at length and are focusing on giving to others where we can but I would still like to get them each something. But we already have been blessed with so much, it all just seems like more "stuff." They have all the clothes they could possibly need- I tend to buy used off Craigslist when people sell entire boxes of one size for really cheap or I shop at the local thrift store on sale days. None of my kids care for clothes, not even my teenager. I will get them each 1 book. Normally they each get a small pile for Christmas, which they look forward to and gives them something to do over the holidays, but this year it's going to be limited to 1 each. I've asked the kids what they want but none of them want anything. 😳. My 7yo mentioned one item (a specific Lego) which dh sourced and ordered for $30. But the rest don't have a single thing they want. I don't feel right getting absolutely nothing but what do you get kids who don't have anything that they really want, and I feel they have everything they need? We have memberships to local museums worth our time to go to. They have ample sporting equipment. My 7yo could use a bike but that's too much for one child right now and not the proper season. I'm trying to make Christmas special for them. I know it's not about the gifts. But I do want them to each have something to open and something to be excited about. Being on a tight budget also means no trips or short get-aways either. So far I bought the new Mario Wii U game for them all to share and I think maybe I will get a new board game for the family. There is not going to be a whole lot of money left after those two items- probably $25-$30 each because there are so many of them. How do I stretch it and also get them something meaningful?

Without a few friends life is not strong. In the above sentence, is the underlined word (friends) the direct object? TIA

I actually really enjoyed DQ, and I finished it in just under two weeks. It was Pilgrim's Progress that just about killed me. Uuuugh. My oldest read it for Omnimbus and I shuddered everytime I saw the cover.

Nobody was bit, thank goodness. I did flip it over when it was alive and there were no obvious red markings though spots did seem to shine red, if that makes sense. No carcass left. I ground that thing into the carpet until it was a fine powder before vacuuming it up.

My thoughts exactly. I need to burn my house down.

I thought maybe as I know they don't have to have red. But yes. This one was more brown than black. But it was more dull than shiny. *shudder* Please tell me it's not a widow. Please tell me it's not a widow. Please tell me it's not a widow. :willy_nilly: