One of my kids has a pet-sitting business. He has watched dogs, ducks, hamsters, rabbits, snakes, turtles, lizards, etc. The other two babysit frequently. They also get asked to do all sorts of odd jobs. One time they all helped out at a child's birthday party - organizing the games and crafts and all. Another time, they were paid for decorating the outside of a house for Christmas. They've shoveled snow, mowed lawns, weeded, etc. They just had to put their names out there as willing to help. One time, they were asked by a family on vacation to help them by cleaning their house from top to bottom - including laundry. That was a great job! My kids get paid anywhere from $10 - $15/hour. Occasionally, they'll get $20/hour! Sometimes, I want their jobs!! :P

Amen on the heels! I have awesome legs and they look amazing in heels. And, I'm 5'10" without heels. I feel powerful in them! I'm trying to come up with something to say about the WDW comment and Satan but it's just not coming together. I'm sick and feverish, so I'm not sure I'm even making sense now! So, pretend I'm funny. Humor me here. (I love Disney!)

Yes! We host a lot of parties. If I say please don't bring anything for the party, I mean it. And, I totally agree with Kristen - don't bring flowers that she'll have to put in a vase right when you arrive. But, I really appreciate a small gift. Last year a few people brought Christmas themed serving trays wrapped nicely. Or, a homemade gift for me to enjoy after the party. Wine is always appropriate!

I agree wholeheartedly with the internet stuff. I LOVE it. I love that I can keep in touch with everyone. I love that I don't have to get on the phone much anymore. I hate talking on the phone. I used to think that about sports too. Then, I had athletic kids who hyperfocused. :) And, after running a marathon, I agree with that one! But, I still love to run! I'd love to have the opportunity to try this!!! I detest the cold weather. It's dreary, cold, dark, damp, yuck. I love snow, but for some reason we haven't had a good storm in years. I will TOTALLY be one of THOSE people who winters in a warmer climate. I love Disney. Everything about it. I love to feel pampered and Disney does that. There's something for everyone. I love Disney cruising even better than the parks. None of my kids has ever cried himself to sleep. They are now perfectly well-adjusted kids without sleep issues at all! I think being a SAHM IS hard work. But, that may be because I'm an introvert and don't get enough down time. Everything is harder when I'm worn out. I don't limit screen time or much of what my kids watch or play on videogames. I really enjoy listening to pop music in the car with my kids and singing along with them.

You should start watching the Detroit parade!!! We are always there watching it live and it's really good.

This. They will definitely ask if anyone has had tummy issues or fever in the last 72 hours. IF you are all healthy at the time of check-in, they will have a ship doctor check you out to decide if you can board. I'll pray that this is a temporary thing and he gets over it quickly and nobody else gets it!!! But, just in case, does your family have trip insurance?

Check out the Cozi app! I started using it a couple months ago and am in LOVE with it! I put all appointments/activities, etc in there and it sends the entire family reminders. I can enter to-do lists for each child and they are emailed to them. So far, it has worked really well!

That is SO exciting for him - and you!!! Congratulations!

Need more info. What does your dd like? If she really likes sea life, I'd go for a day at Discovery Cove. That will also buy you time at Sea World, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens. Take your pick! We opted to do a day with dad for the kids' 16th birthday. Our oldest did a hot air balloon ride. They had a blast!!!

We have been numerous times and always stay at Port Orleans Riverside. The rooms are beautiful. They were recently renovated. There are lots of buildings around the resort and your room will be in one of them. You walk outside to get to the pools, lobby, playgrounds, fishing hole, etc. It is SO relaxing. VERY well themed. Gorgeous greenery. The main pool is my absolute favorite place - especially after dark.

My husband just said the same thing. We'd work something out, I'm sure. But, we built our budget around the fact that we had this tax advantage. With a couple children leaving for college, I really think it would. Our area is a very high COL area. Our housing allowance is very high. I don't even want to think about it. It would shove us up into another tax bracket, for sure.

This would break us, that's for sure.

We had a medical emergency while on a cruise ship near Mexico. I was FREAKING out because they had to do surgery there. There wasn't time to fly my son home. But, it was absolutely wonderful! The doctors there told us that they are a rare facility in Mexico that lends itself to tourists. They are there for the people on vacation and those who need cheaper surgery than they can get in their home countries. I wouldn't hesitate to go back there for a procedure. (As a bonus - this hospital had an ocean view from my ds' room!)

We have an assistant too. But he's 85 and really can't make it more than once/week. So, dh gets both holidays. It's actually fine though because my family usually comes to me!

My youngest sister always volunteers to work on Thanksgiving. She gets paid time and a half and usually gets in a TON of hours! We can work our family dinner around her. My husband always works on Thanksgiving and Christmas too. He's a priest. :)

Cold. Too cold. It says 44. But it's raining and feels colder. I used to love this time of year. Now? I want to move to FL!!! Shut up. :)

I have a 13 year old and I still have to remind him to shower and put on deodorant. His older brothers will remind him too! I think it gets better around 14/15. I'm refusing to put this 13 yo in braces until he can remember to brush his teeth regularly. He is just starting to be embarassed by his teeth. So, maybe this will help? He doesn't care about girls yet. But, I know that helped with my two older boys.

Can I go too???? :) I'm also a PW. During the winter, I typically wear jeans or khakis with nice sweaters. I always throw a scarf or necklace on too. Sometimes I wear my nicer boots, sometimes I just throw on my LL Bean shoes. To church? In the summer, I LOVE the Audrey Hepburn style dresses (you know - the higher waist line, straight skirt, hits above the knee), a set of pearls and heels. But, I can't stand to wear tights or nylons. So in the winter, I usually wear nice dress pants with dressy sweaters and boots. My bet is what another poster said - that they meant it as a compliment. You look very with the times and not dowdy as the person expected.

I do! We also ask our parents to come with us on vacation. I love spending time with them.

We are under a tornado watch here too - Detroit area.

((hugs)) I'll pray for your dad. This was my mom's last year. She fell and broke her back and leg. Then got blood clots and a pulmonary embolism. It just felt like she couldn't catch a break. I remember being SO scared the phone would ring and it would be more bad news. I pray your dad has as good an outcome as my mom. (Mom is just off the blood thinners and fully recovered.)

Her hair is SOOOOO pretty! And, it looks exactly like my daughter's. But, my dd is 7 and her hair is down to her bottom. I love it when she wears her hair down. But, it gets in her way and she does NOT want me to cut it. So, most often, wash and condition just like Kara does and braid it wet. She can wear it for a couple days that way. I've learned to do very fancy french braids!!

What are these????? I need them! I pull my stove out every three months or so and clean the sides of it. It's SOOOOO disgusting! I'd love to eliminate that mess!

I was amazed one time when my now-13 yo had croup. We rushed him in to the ER. His lips and nail beds were blue. He was obviously having trouble breathing. They took him from me in the ER and worked on him immediately. They gave him an inhaled epinepherine. It worked REALLY fast. I'm familiar with that drug, as he also has food allergies and carries an epi-pen. I asked if we couldn't get some of it (the inhaled version) at home. They said no because the kids need to be watched for a few hours afterward. I was a little ticked because it seemed to me that if he could go from fine during the day to blue nail beds at night, he needed emergency meds at home - just like the epi-pens! That was his last attack of croup. You definitely did the right thing taking her in! 90 oxygen score?! Poor kid. (We ended up buying a meter to use at home - it has saved us numerous doctor's visits!) Glad to hear the meds are working! I remember when ds went in with a 90 reading. They debated whether to admit him! Gave him steroids and breathing treatments. That evening, he was bouncing off the walls!!! I was thrilled. I hope she's all better ASAP!!!

We just bought a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country Touring to replace our 2000 Chevy Venture. The T&C was coming off a lease and we paid WELL under Blue Book value. We sold the Venture for about $500 under Blue Book because we just wanted it gone. So, maybe it has to do with your area. We had a neighbor who traveled to TX to get a car! So, different areas definitely have different prices!