In a heartbeat! We bought our house in the height of the market and would LOVE to be able to do this for more money (for retirement, travel, general living, etc!).

This is a hard question to answer! I have four kids ages 18 - 8. We struggled and then we didn't. We saved a LOT during that time. Since 2008? We feel like we are struggling. But, I need to get over myself and realize we aren't. We can afford a vacation once a year. The kids do nice activities (older boys row and Meg does gymnastics). We live in a very nice neighborhood and have wonderful parks and amenities just because we live here. It's a good life. BUT, we make sacrifices to make that happen. We eat out only on vacation. Seriously - never. (I take that back - we eat out on Easter Sunday. That's it.) I plan and cook ALL of our meals on a budget. Everything is planned around what is on sale that week/month. We shop for clothing at thrift shops first. Granted, we have NICE thrift shops here. But, we go there first. We drive OLD cars. And, we drive them into the ground. I count EVERY penny. We rarely go to the movies. Maybe once a year. The older boys all work and pay for ALL their extra activities. They babysit, dog and lizard sit, do lawn work, paint, shovel, etc, etc etc. We hang our laundry. I coupon. I do on-line surveys. I do a garage sale once a year. Anything that will add a few dollars to our "fun" fund!!! If we didn't do all those things, we would never be able to travel every year. But, it really is all about priorities around here. We choose to live frugally in order to travel.

Yup! Is this a sudden change? Has he been sick recently (think right before it started?) If so, definitely read up on PANDAS. My daughter suffered horribly with PANDAS for eight months.

((hugs)) from me too. My daughter was on her way to remission without treatment (beyond antibiotics) by the time we finally got into a ped neurologist. But, she suffered for 8 months before we really knew what it was. I pray your child (this is your child or is it you?) gets relief soon. I know the horror of Pandas.

I agree with Beth. Your guests chose to come when they knew you had a sick child. If your son feels well enough to participate or just be with the family, he should be allowed.

We traveled with my sister and officially booked a child in her room. We stayed at port Orleans riverside that time. We've also stayed off site in a condo.

My daughter is in remission from PANDAS right now. But every time she gets sick, we have OCD symptoms. (She had a fever and sore throat last night and we're on PANDAS watch) What treatments did you have? We did not swab everyone for strep.

I also wouldn't let it go. We stayed in a hotel that was under construction a couple weeks ago. I was upset because of the noise and dirt, but none of their services was interrupted. We still had a pool, breakfast, and business center. I would have appreciated warning of the construction, but everything else was fine. So, we chose to let it go. You had disrupted services. It sounds like certain conditions were even dangerous. I'd definitely take this higher.

Ice cream!!!

We had this happen in our old house. We assumed the noises we were hearing were mice and put traps out for them. Then, the bats stsarted getting into our house. We called Batman (similar to the PP's company) and he helped us get rid of them. He figured out where they were getting out and put a screen over the exit. They could get out, but not back in again. It worked. But, it was a really scary couple months.

Are you willing to share your budget? And, are you near big cities? I love to plan vacations (I'm not an agent - I'm just obsessed with travel!) and I did a little searching when you asked about cruises and found a HUGE variety in the prices. (And, holy cow! Disney in the summer? I was shocked at how much they cost!!) Your post sounds like you'd still like to take the cruise. You don't need passports if the cruise leaves and returns to and from the same port. So, scratch that expense!

Patience! It takes a lot of patience to deal with these kids. My now-16 year old was (and still is) like this, to a certain extent. I remember a time he lost at a game of Chutes and Ladders to his little brother. He threw the board across the room and it hit his younger brother so hard, he needed stitches! When he was little we always used to do what another poster suggested - identify the feelings. Frustration, anger, disappointment, etc...Practice appropriate behavior. ("If you lose the game, how are you going to act? What are you going to say to the other person/team? If you win . . . . ." You get the idea.) While it was tough as a younger kid, it has made my kid as a teen a very highly competitive athlete on the national level. He pushes himself VERY hard and wins. So, there is a positive side to this type of personality. But, we still have to reign him in when he loses.

I'm certainly not a guru, but my policy will waive my co-pay if I'm admitted through the ER. If I'm sent home, I owe a $200 co-pay. Maybe she's confusing the two? They'll cover it, but she'll owe a little?

I agree with this. 100 percent! I would rather go on a shorter Disney cruise than any other line. Interestingly, my kids agree (they are 18, 16, 13, and 8 - so not just for littles). The service absolutely cannot be beat. We've also sailed with Royal Caribbean. We had a good time. It was certainly cheaper than Disney. But, you really do get what you pay for. Oh - if you can change your dates, you'll find prices cheaper. September and October are usually quite a bit cheaper because of the risk of hurricanes. I'm willing to take that risk!

I actually love Loft shirts because they are light and airy and cool. I occasionally show some cleavage in hot weather when I don't want to layer, but I don't care. BUT. I bought a few t-shirts this year at Costco. These suckers are form fitting (i.e. not baggy) and don't show any cleavage. They are a little thick for when it's hot, but they definitely serve a purpose!

In my state, the laws change if the kids are driving to a school event. So maybe it's not illegal? I have two kids who are driving and I find myself more and more willing to accept rides from teen drivers in a 35 mph zone.

Do you have an archery store near you? We went in and they recommended bows for my ds and it was great!

We went for the first time when my dd was 2. The boys were older. I thought we were going for them. But, my favorite memories are of how excited my daughter got at everything. It was REAL for her. She doesn't remember it, but I sure do! Take or rent a stroller that can be slept in. That was a lifesaver. And, don't plan too much. Just enjoy your time there.

If it doesn't have feathers, try putting it back in the nest. We had a robin fall out too soon and I put in a glove and put it back in the nest. All was good!!!

I'm so so sorry Rosie.

I know. I can't remember why we didn't book for Free Dining with them. It was either because they didn't have the right meal plan (we don't wan just the counter service one) or because they were excluded from the deal. And, we have our favorite resort! We LOVE the atmosphere at Port Orleans. One of our waiters told us there that repeat customers tend to stay at the same resort each time.

Really? I think POR and FQ were the only two moderates that were excluded when I thought about booking as a Disney Visa card holder for the fall. That might change my mind about a fall trip!

We liked it too. We thought the shows were amazing. The kids loved all the animal interaction and talking with the trainers. We got tickets as a package deal when we booked Discovery Cove. We got 14 days free admission to any Sea World park - Sea World, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens. It was a really good deal for our family. I don't have time to look it up now, but there is a video or article (I can't remember which) that is a response to Blackfish. Google search it (maybe I'll do that in a little bit!) if you want to see something from the other side.

Free dining used to work for our family because we are a family of 6. We'd stay at Port Orleans Riverside (5 to a room) and officially book one of my kids with my sister's family. But, they've taken POR out of the Free Dining options. Makes me sad because our only other option is to book a suite at one of the deluxe resorts and that takes away all the dining savings. Oh well. We'll be cruising for our next Disney vacation!

One of my best friends in high school shared with me that she was depressed. I told my dad. My dad told her mom. I was mortified, but I knew he was right. My friend THANKED me a few weeks later as her mom got her the help she needed. So, I agree with the others.