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tots2teens

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Everything posted by tots2teens

  1. Awesome!! I am PM'ing you now. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
  2. I am just finding out about chalk paint, too. There are ways to make your own! Just add plaster of Paris to your paint! I haven't tried it yet. Google making your own chalk paint & you will get some good tutorials.
  3. I am so sorry you are going through this! Just so you don't feel alone in this craziness, that sounds exactly like something my mother would do. For safety reasons, we had to cut off all contact with her but she still drives by our house & shows up at places she know my kids will be (but only if she knows that I will not be there). She lives an hour away from us but still stalks us like a crazy person. So much so that I have had to file a police report against her. She has no idea that she is just reinforcing my reasons of WHY we don't have any contact with her. You need to keep a record of all this just in case things escalate. But hopefully she will get the hint & back off!
  4. I love organizing, too! I have actually thought about starting a similar business. Good luck!
  5. Growing up (and even now with my own kids) Easter baskets have always contained a new bathing suit, sun screen, and beach toys. Sometimes I will even use a new beach bucket in place of a basket.
  6. I don't remember how much we paid but I can imagine it would be much more expensive to go across country than just up the coast. Space was limited but you just have to pack smart and do laundry along the way. I'm on my phone & can't figure out how to quote but I will try to respond to questions :)
  7. We rented an RV from Cruise America a few years ago to drive from Florida to New York. We took 6 kids ( ages 2, 6, 9, 9, 11, 11). The kids (and dh and I) still say it was the best vacation we ever took! We stopped at campgrounds along the way. Ate in the RV. The kids could get up and walk around, use the bathroom, etc while we were driving. I did keep the 2 year old in a carseat while on the road. It was so much fun! I think it worked much better than a minivan because we weren't on top of each other the whole time. The kids could play board games & put together puzzles. Cruise America was great to work with. They have specials all the time. Check their website. After that experience, the whole family cannot wait for the day that we sell everything & explore the country in a RV!
  8. I appreciate all of your responses! You guys have given me a lot to think about. I must admit that I have been pretty shocked that so many have recommended divorce. I realize that there is a lot wrong with my situation (and this is not the only issue) but I do want to try counseling first. Stay or go? Seems like nobody wins in either case. Try to fix the situation seems like the only way to benefit all the kids. Of course, I realize that if that doesn't work, then more drastic measures would need to be taken. I will have my eyes wide open now for other controlling behaviors. Ever get to a point in your life where you wondered how on earth you got there? And, no, I have not posted about this before. I don't really post very much and never about such personal issues. Makes me sad there was someone else in my situation. Wonder how it worked out for her?
  9. If I didn't have 2 children with him, I would be more willing to consider divorce. The kids kinda make it complicated.
  10. I totally agree with all of this. Just because I was divorced once, doesn't mean I'm ok with it. I would love to avoid divorce a second time. Mainly, for my younger kids. I grew up with a step dad like this and it just kills me that I'm in the same situation. My mom never stood up for me. I try very, very hard to stand up for my kids (all of them). It is a constant battle and I know that they notice. It breaks my heart. Usually, I just spend the money on whatever I want for the kids. Or I will just buy whatever they need without even asking (because I know the look & comment I will get). But if it's anything big, I know it's going to be a fight. Sometimes I will even put a little money aside here & there if I know of an upcoming expense. It's a terrible way to live, I know. I agree with most of you about counseling. I discussed it with dh and he is willing to go!
  11. This is by far the hardest part of a blended family.
  12. The child support I get goes on a debit card each month. We have always called that money "kid money", meaning I can use it for whatever the kids need. That money is what I was actually going to use for the trip. But he still gave me a hard time about it. His kids are pretty much taken care of by their grandmother. They go to dance almost every day & out of town competitions most weekends. The grandmother pays for all of it. My older kids do not have a rich grandmother that will pay for activities or anything. Financially, my dh provides a majority of the care to my kids. The amount of child support I get would not even pay for a weeks worth of groceries. Long story, but that's how it is. I really appreciate all of your responses. It is a very tough spot to be in.
  13. Please don't quote... Thanks for any advice!
  14. This is the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-SCCPVL610-S-6-Quart-Programmable-Stainless/dp/B004P2NG0K/ref=pd_sbs_k_1 I love it! I use it 2-3 times a week. We are a family of 6 and the 6 qt size is perfect! When it is done cooking, it switches automatically to warm mode. Everything always turns out great.
  15. After trying every thing under the sun with my 3rd, I did the castor oil. Like others have said, I would NOT recommend it!!! I took it at 10pm & was up alllll night using the bathroom. I mistook labor pains for all those times going to the bathroom so I didn't realize I was in labor. I thought it didn't work! Well, dd was born at 8am, so fast the midwife almost didn't make it to the house. She walked in the door literally 5 min before dd was born! I had severe complications from doing the castor oil. I was almost transferred to the ER. I credit my midwife with saving my life that day. Needless to say, with number 4, I didn't care how long it took! I let him take his sweet time!! Good Luck!!
  16. I am so so sorry. My heart is breaking for you & your family. :grouphug:
  17. I am so sorry. Your family is in my prayers. :grouphug:
  18. My dd would LOVE it if our backyard looked like that!! We live in north Florida and there is a very, very, very small chance of snow flurries tonight. She is just beside herself & is wondering if there will be enough to make a snowman :lol:
  19. I wanted to add that the fort (Castillo de San Marcos) is a National Park & they participate in the Junior Ranger program. Ask the desk when you walk in & they will give the kids a Junior Ranger booklet that has questions & puzzles the kids complete as they tour the fort. If they finish the booklet, the ranger will give them a Junior Ranger badge! My kids did it last year & they had so much fun & learned so much! Have fun!!
  20. I absolutely LOVE St. Augustine! You can take a free tour of Flagler College (which is actually an old Henry Flagler hotel, beautiful!!). And, I agree, the trolley & fort are a must see & do.
  21. We have all of ours mailed out! Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this!! My kids have already received a couple of valentines & they are THRILLED!!! DD5 rushes out to check the mail every day!!
  22. Just saw this!! We would love to participate!! Add us in anywhere you can... My kids are 2yo ds, 6yo dd, and 13yo dd. All can be counted as one to make things easier :)
  23. My dh & ds (15yo & Type 1 diabetic) are the same way. I've found ds in the kitchen in the middle of the night eating cereal & a sandwich & whatever else he can find. He is always hungry, lol! Some things that help: They both drink protein shakes once or twice a day. Or they will make a fruit smoothie and put protein in it. I also buy big bags of frozen chicken breasts from Costco for them. It is easy to thaw & cook a chicken breast and makes a great healthy snack.
  24. I totally agree, it becomes a new normal. My ds was diagnosed at 9. He is 15 now. He has an insulin pump and is almost totally independent. Although he was homeschooled for several years, he is in the local high school now. He has great friends who are aware of his diagnosis and keep an eye on him (remind him to check his blood sugar, know the signs of a low blood sugar, etc). One of my biggest fears was that he would be embarrassed and not want to check his blood sugar at school but that has not been an issue. :grouphug: This is a difficult diagnosis but it does get easier with time. Feel free to PM me if you need advice or encouragement!
  25. We used an envelope system for several years & it really worked for us! To answer your questions... 1. Yes, what is left over in that category would just stay there for the next month. 2. I always carried the envelopes with me (actually, I used a coupon organizer thingy) so when we went out to eat, I would just pull the cash from the dining out pocket. For times when we were not together, we had our "own" spending money to use. So, if dh chose to go out to lunch during his workday, instead of bringing a lunch, that would come out of his own spending money.
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