Firstly, I suggest Texas, Pretty much any mid to large city in Texas is great! I do not live in Texas anymore. We moved to a mountain state, took a 30% pay cut and had to buy a more expensive house just so we could look at a mounting (My idea) But, Texas is recession-proof so to speak. It has agriculture, education, energy, ranching, ports, refineries, big business, manufacturing,etc. so when one market drops, there are others doing just fine. We weathered 9/11 with barely a speed bump. Cost of living is cheap cheap cheap! Food is cheap, homes are cheap, gas is cheap. But, there are no real seasons, its just Texas weather. So an alternative would be Arkansas or Oklahoma. Very similar economies, (except no ports or refineries) They don't have the schozophrenic highs and lows in their economies like the mountain states, California, Florida, east coast, etc. I've heard Omaha is awesome for families, as well as Boise. All the different cities in Texas kind of have their own personalities, mostly because of their industries. They are all red states, so if your blue.....you may hate them. Even the blue folks are pretty red. Purple so to speak. Good luck on your new adventure. You have a long list of places to investigate!

Firstly, I am a real estate agent and would suggest you contact a real estate agent. By law we are required, if we are working for you, to put your best interests first and try to get the best deal we can for you. We must be lawful and give the best advice we can on helping you make good real estate purchase and sales decisions. I have a short list of lenders that I refer folks, because they have served my clients well in the past and close on time. I do not get any kickbacks or referral fees from those lenders, that is illegal. It is okay to interview agents. I pick up clients through referrals and by doing open houses. People often shop for agents by going to open houses and finding that personality that fits what they think they want. They should be able to give you a list of homes that have closed recently and comparisons to your home. My biggest asset is my ability to help you stage your home and make suggestions that will make your home stand out. So, that is where the agent interview comes in, finding the agent that will best sell your home. I have a long list of things I will absolutely do right away and a list of what I do if it doesn't sell in 4 weeks, 2 months. etc. Depending on your state, we agents want you to sign a listing contract with us which protects us from doing a lot of work and spending a lot of money, just to have the client turn around and buys and sell around us. When I market a property, I can expect to spend about 1% of my compensation on the marketing, flyers, postcards, print ads and MLS fees. So, instead of thinking the Agent has the power, realize that by law you are the one in control. Just ask a lot of questions and read through a contract to make sure you understand what you are singing. I think having a good agent is like having a good mechanic, doctor, dentist etc. I have clients that I'm in contact with that won't need me again for years, but they should know their market. Oh, and an agent will be able to give you a ballpark figure as to what you will net from the sale of your house. While it is for sale, you can still get approved for a loan based on the amount of money you will net from the sale as a down payment for your next property. Then, you can begin looking, even while your home is for sale. If, for some reason, the price drops then you deal with your agent and lender to change the numbers. Its also a myth that you can get a better deal on a house if you call the listing agent of that house. Since we sign a contract with the seller, we are required to give the owner of the house/seller the best deal we can, we have no requirement to give a buyer that calls us on our listing, the best deal. Good Luck! And don't be afraid to aske questions. You owe an agent nothing until you sign something! At least in my state:tongue_smilie:

My sister was diagnosed Hypo at age 3. My mother at about 20, my brother at 38 and me at 40. My sister has taken a thyroid pill since she was three. My mother said it really helped her behavior and she could tell right away that she really felt better. As a teenager, we could tell when she had forgotten to take her medication. I think you'll find its very treatable with medication and not a big deal. Your doctor will be able to make you feel better about it.

Something simila happened to me this past week. My daughter came home and told us about Columbus. She told us that the Catholics were mean and the Ottoman Empire was nice, the Muslims were nice and loved all the people regardless of their religion. Catholics would kill you or kick you out if you were not Catholic. Then she talked all about the Ottoman Empire. Now, we are not Catholic, and we are not Muslim either but I knew this was being presented poorly. Its always wrong to describe the Catholic religion in terms of the Inquisition. I didn't say anything to her other than to tell her father. (Mr. History, never forgets facts, knows obscure history as well as known history, particularly Ancient through well......today.) So he sort of gave her the "skinny" on all of it. Then she came home talking about Erik the Red, straight from Wikipedia, which is not always right....somewhat revisionist about some things. I tend to believe that the closer in time you are to the facts the more likely you are to be correct. Modern historians, I feel are more prone to interject their views and write accordingly.... Diaries and historical documents are more to be trusted. It alwasy irks me at Thanksgiving when schools completely overlook God. My kids say that the Pilgrims were saying thanks to the Indians. God is totally out of the picture. Sheryl

LOL that was one of the songs I sang my first baby, rocking it. I realized I didn't know any lullabies! And Row, Row, Row Your Boat is just, well... short. But, I could sing King of the Road and the rhythm is just right for a rocker.

Myrtle, you're awesome, those are all going on my Amazon.com wish list for Christmas!

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::iagree: Teeeeheeeee heeeeeeee There are worse things in life then being cursed with a baby....... liver...... dust bunnies.... late night TV.... static cling....

I was thinking about the post on Moby Dick.....how its a love/hate, man vs. himself kind of issue, just getting yourself to get through it. My DH finally read it. It put him to sleep every night over a months time. However, he was glad he did and we had lots to talk about after. I think a good book to read alongside or after Moby Dick to help give it more relevance is In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. Together, it brings the whaling experience to life and together they support each other. I think a teenager who is old enough to trudge through Moby Dick can handle the drama in the Essex. Not for kids though. Amazon should bundle these books together. One is literature and one is a modernized historical account. So if Moby Dick is still on your "Better Read It Before I Die" list, then the other is a good companion.

Xander, Wyatt, Noelle, and Claire. I don't know if it says anything..........Our next one in the oven will either be Rock, Juliette, Karzai, or Charlotte....so far... the list is changing, oh, and if the Longhorns win the championship, Colt. I usually let my husband come up with the list, I have Veto power. Their middle names are of places you can visit, or see on a map, that touched us....Bryce, Duchesne, Torrey, Duke

Thunderkiss 65 by White Zombie.

Funny, you posted that because we just recently had the big talk with one of our kids. Partially because he found and read a book about Talking to your kids about sex beside my bed. "Is that all really true" he asked, in disbelief. So here is the family sex talk. We are religious and have a deep belief that sexual pleasure is a gift from God for married men and women to share. "Sex is the most awesome experience thing that brings a man and a woman together. It creates a physical and mental feeling that is so amazing its indescribable. But it also can create life, a baby. So, a man and woman need to be committed to each other so that they will take care of that child together. Sex is not just for making children, its a special bond between husband and wife that they don't share with anyone else." "Someday you will have that same great experience with your wife." Then of course, there were lots of questions. I had my Anatomy and Physiology book out and he got the full biology lesson about where the sperm comes from, from a cutaway illustration and then the explanation of where the eggs are and how they get together. We got into erections and some other stuff. Abortion has come up and I gave him the full Anatomy and Physiology lesson on that,too, and he was mortified that anyone would ever choose that, especially since some of the most wonderful and talented people we know were adopted. We know a bunch. We are pretty open about sex and biology in our family and my A&P book sits out for constant viewing. But, ultimately, sex is a gift, its a blessing to be able to create life and its a big responsibility to look forward to in a committed heterosexual marriage. Viewing porn is considered a lack of self control, and will prevent you (son) from truly appreciating the beauty of your wife's body and will prevent you from enjoying fully the feelings of sex. (porn desensitizes men....remember a well turned ankle under a long skirt used to be enough to drive a man wild....now it seems like men need acoutrements, garters, big boobs, etc.....densensitizing.....):D The need for sex toys are a symptom......see a doctor. there's Viagra now and thyroid tests, testosterone therapy, etc.... I know my opinionated nature will get me in trouble. This post here is probably reason #20,089 I'll never be able to hold public office.:confused::tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie::tongue_smilie::hurray::hurray:

I was always fuzzy on the tattling thing, too because, by golly, I want to know what's going on around me that I can't see! I think its kind of silly some of the things I've read in parenting mags teaching children not to tattle! I think it takes care of itself when the PARENT responds to tattling or "information dispersal" appropriately. After a while every kid will discern what's going to get the right kind of response and what Mom will listen to, as well as what she will ignore. I need to know if one of the kids is doing something dangerous, mean, or inappropriate. I have an open tattling policy.... but children be warned, if its "He's making faces at me!" or "He said the Transformer I drew looks like a girl." then the response will be. "Work it out, ignore him. Sticks and stones remember?" No high drama from me. Often, they want help with how they should be reacting. But I was with a mom who was so anti-tattling that it lead to a possible dangerous situation. I'm at her house, my son comes to tell me about so-and-so. The mom steps in and says "Don't tattle, its rude" and pushes my boy off. Normally I'm all for having a village help me raise my kids, but I knew that my kids, because of our "open tattle but be prepared to be disappointed when Mom doesn't do anything about it" policy that they only reported important stuff. My son just stood there. "Go" the other mom said. Then I piped in "What is it" They're playing Ninjas and want to hang ..(their little sister). "I told them it was dangerous to play that and they won't listen." I jumped up and lo and behold, their little sister was happily allowing the boys to secure a belt around her neck. When I walked in they were trying to lift her by the end of the belt. No, if, as a mom, you respond properly to their tattles, they'll soon only come to you with what they are concerned about. My kids or any kids, are welcome to come and tell me anything at all about anything at all. Often, and parents forget this, they are trying to find out what is appropriate behavior, or needing help understanding a situation. ESPECIALLY when you get kids together with different personalities and different parental backgrounds. I think they experience different situations that they need help interpreting. Remember back to the first time your child was pushed down by another child. Did they sit there stunned? Mine did, like he had no clue as to what happened. Or, how about the first time your child got hit in the head with a toy pot, sand, or pushed off their tricycle. Those "firsts" are big things to them and I think they come to us for help on how they need to react. Soon enough it will be...."Mom, Billy said he was going to buy some Meth." or "Mom, Johnny said he's going to bring his Dad's gun to school to show me." If they have an inkling of fear to communicate with me openly, I haven't done my job.

When we did PP with the three that were reading age, I stopped about halfway through with each one and we moved right into BOB books. Once they were comfortable with box A, then we went right into early readers and so on. My kids were just so eager to move out into the world of books, that I've never made it to the end of PP. If she is fluent at simple reading, then maybe that time should be spent reading stories and books. We ended up doing phonics with Spelling Workout and some of the language books later. I don't think we missed out.

My daughter already knows Hannah is off limits because she is "inappropriate". In addition, we don't by ANYTHING that says GAP, TOMMY, POLO, or HANNAH, etc., because like I tell them, "Are they paying you to advertise their product?" "Uhhhhhh, No." Our clothes are not for advertising.

Hobby Lobby! 'Cause its right next door to the Homeschool Supply bookstore! Mardel.

Reminisce. I give this as a gift to all adults in our extended family. Old and young. He'll enjoy it.

I'm okay with Wal-mart and Target. My biggest complaint with both is that everything they sell is made in China and its junk. If they wanted to, they could completely change the economy of this nation by having a "purchase from the USA" policy. But since we live in a global economy, I don't see that happening. I think that Wal-mart going Union would ruin it and if they ever fall to the unions, I'd be inclined not to shop there. Last year I avoided both because they wouldn't even call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree, or a Christmas ornament a Christmas ornament. We'll see about this year. Also, I thought Target getting rid of Salvation Army because of its religious bent was a mistake.....oh, and the year they wouldn't use the word Easter ticked me off. Puleeeeze!!!! If they want my "holiday" money, they better not be ashamed of the darned word. Sears was non-Christmas a few years ago, but for last year they were all about Christmas and I think this year they are going the same route. I got an email supported by Snopes that said Sears employees in the armed services are given a pay differential when they are called up. They actually make up the difference in pay if there is any. I think this is a nice policy. I like Sears and go to them when I can. Their clothing quality is better than Wal-mart or Target and they have very chic ladies clothes. I buy my husband's Carhartt jeans there, (better than Levis, Lees or Wranglers, won't wrinkle or pucker like the other brands) and I like that they sell Land's End stuff there, also. So, I shop everywhere until Christmas time and sees who falls prey to Political Correctness. I try whenever possible to buy USA made products, though its hard to do. I like buying used items as well. Costco has a good record of employee fairness but they are anti-Christmas, and by golly they don't want to offend anyone by saying the "C" word. Oh, and by the way, China and Malaysia and Indonesia can thank the US personally for elevating much of their population out of poverty because we have built their economies with our money. Remember, the oil crisis was caused by China's and India's demand for oil to power all the cars their citizens were all of a sudden able to buy with US dollars. Oh, and although Wal-mart has put many small businesses out of business, the big box effect started at the turn of the century with department stores and the demise of corner hardware stores and groceries. Its not like Wal-mart came up with it. Wal-mart is just a department store with a successful business model. Lots of people hate success. Sears and JcPenney used to sell household items like detergent and soap then stopped I don't remember anyone going crazy over their business practices. Anyone remember Gibson's? Its easy to blame Wal-mart for the ills of the world.

I just paid $70 labor to carpet my stairs, not including carpet.

Our current position is 16 and they must group date. No one-on-one dates, period. I have a friend who instigated the "no dates to same person twice in a row." He started this rule with his last kid and wished he'd done it with all of them. I like the idea. Before they can go out with girl 1 again they must date a girl 2 before going back to girl 1. This way they can't get themselves wrapped up with one person when they aren't ready. Plus they have to date in groups. Seems like a good way to prevent some issues. Since my kids already know what the rules will be, they don't even question it, yet.

We are in the same boat, somewhat. We need to move because my husbands new job has created a long commute. We are lucky because our neighborhood has increased dramatically in price over the year. It appears that our city has hit bottom and values are increasing. However, every area is different. Some areas never experienced the great increase so they are not experiencing a great decline. We have made the effort to paint, some minor remodeling and new carpet so our home sells quickly. Even though our area has increased in value, my husband finally got on board about selling after a business seminar he went to two weeks ago. It was a talk by a banker on the economy for business clients of their commercial insurance company. The speaker spoke mostly about investments and the inevitable tax increases. He said the only thing to sell is your home, do it soon, he said and then look and wait for the bargain on the buy. We have already located some real bargains at our new location, the trick now is to get my house on ther market. You should speak to a real estate agent about trends in your area. But even if its not great. If you sell low you still buy. And we have found that neighborhoods that we could not afford a few years ago, are finally affordable to us...we're now buying acreage, an impossiblity before this real estate burst. We plan on keeping some of equity in the bank in case my husband loses his job next year. At least we'll have some cash on hand. Like I said, our trends say our bubble here alread burst in 2007 and we've been on the up since. Your area may be different. Check with an agent, agents at the larger firms, I know, have these stats updated weekly.

I agree that its not anyone's place to judge or try to influence others into homeschooling. But, often folks want to be convinced. I would never had homeschooled, because I thought it was weird, if it wasn't for meeting others who were positive, reassuring and were able to point out the positives. I would never had asked anyone for details, I was lucky that the women I did meet were forthcoming in their opinions and advice. I just happened upon homeschooled kids and their stories were what convinced me that this was what I was looking for.

Anyone out there ever use those storage bags that you use a vacuum to suck out the air seal. I store a number of blankets every year and they take up soooooooo much room. THe commercials make them look like they really work. Anyone with experience with these bags? Suggestions?

Ooh, I'm envious. I think Greece with a side trip to Turkey. In his future he may want to return with his wife to Italy. I've heard that Greece with a side of Turkey is like reassuring that the History we learned about really happened!

We are simple, simple, simple. Everyone has one bath sheet of their own color. I have guest towels (super soft) that I keep in one of those zippered bags under the guest bed and I only bring them out when guests come. I have black decorator towels hanging in the master. I have a tub of about 20 washclothes that are ugly and are used for bodies, cleaning, and kitchen, so there is no sorting. A few go in the kitchen and the rest under the bathroom sink for folks to use as washcloths or cleaning rags. I have 2 bathtowels under the kitchen sink to be used for huge spills or to be thrown by the door when it snows or rains. There are two hand towels in the public bathroom that I rotate. There is one towel in the kids bathroom for wiping hands. Every few years or so I throw a few towels in the garage for spills, throw out the other towels and get everyone a new soft one. Oh, and everyone has one beach towel we keep together in a rubbermaid tub that we put away in winter and get out in summer....their bathing suits are kept in there too, We have a family of 6 soon to be 7 and I hate doing extra laundry. I do towels once a week and sheets every few weeks. I pull them off, wash them and the kids put them back on before bed. We have no extras. My husband and I both grew up in cluttered households and we are working to just keep it simple, its hard for us not to want to revert back to our upbringing though. Every bed only has two sets of sheets. One regular, one set of flannel for winter. I store them in the off seasons between the box spring and mattress. Now blankets are another matter. I've got tons of blankets that I have stored in a large chest. In the winter it seems that everyone wants a blanket to watch TV or just to snuggle, plus the kids like to have "Slumber parties" (with themselves) and that requires lots of blankets, as well. That reminds me of another thread.

They usually say something like "How do you do it!" or "Wow, don't they miss the other kids?" or "I can't imagine doing something like that!" or something else. No one has ever been rude about it but the insinuation is that its weird. I usually reply. " Yes I know its a big step, bu you know, my husband and I are just hyper-academic and with this global economy now, school just takes up so much time that we feel we don't have the time otherwise to make sure they know what they need to know to survive in this world." They usually pause and think about that, see a little light and then nod. They pause, waiting for more. "My husband is a lawyer, and studied Latin, he's a prolific writer and knows more about the world than anyone I know and he really wants our kids to have a headstart and have a direction in order to compete in this world. I love to throw in that my son has a gift for guitar and writes novels, he'd like to get something published before he's 19. He wouldn't have any time to pursue that stuff if he went to school 8 hours a day." Then it usually goes into the "how do you get started" sort of thing. Very productive. Now this year, we are half in half out of public school because we got into the public school that has the academics we expect (Saxon math, open court reading. AR, Shurley English,an incredible music program and intensive math and writing) But, when we move in two months, I imagine it will be back to the homeschool, because our current public school is not the norm. So, when it comes up, I usually put the blame for homeschooling not on the inadequacies of the PS system but on our own idiosyncratic hyper academic neurosis. Then they can wonder why they aren't more concerned about their own child's place in this global economy.