I hope they didn't charge your SIL for the carpet cleaner and now are going to make you pay for it! Maybe they need some cash.....:001_huh: strange. Convince dh that paying them isn't in the budget! Then it's easy to get rid of the stuff once they leave.

Oh many of us have been in your shoes!!! You have our sympathy. Look at the bright side: It really is only 2 days. You can do it!!!! As for the stuff they give the kids: When they gp's leave (it sounds like they live far away) have them pick their few favorites and get rid of the rest. As for the stuff they want you to pay for: "It wasn't in our budget. We don't have the money for it." Plan now for easy meals - or take out!

Seinfeld Home Improvement (I miss good family shows!) The old 'cleaner' Simpsons

Thank you all for your answers. PP seems to get a bad rep. when ever on the news and such. I don't think abortion should be legal, but I like the other options and education they provide for those in need. I didn't know what they really did until now.

I did this with my son: when I knew he was due for a poop I sat him on a potty chair (naked butt) in front of the TV and let him eat while he watched. Once I got him to do it once, he wasn't so scared of it anymore. That's the only thing I can think of! HTH!

Some people are here mainly to buy things :001_smile:

Thanks for all you replies!! I think a lot of times people ask to make conversation but when you ask if 10 will be enough for me.... that's just rude! As if I'm not completely in love with the 4 I have! I get these comments every.place.I.go! I don't need to be told "Wow, you have your hands full!" I already know that! And sometimes people offer to help, which is nice. I think I might just have to say "Why do you ask?" Puts it on her plate. Some of you had some great answers!!!!! I needed a laugh. I gotta go, my husband just walked in;) 9 months and 30 minutes...

He's already in the real world, not an institution established by the government. What are you doing to prepare your child for the real world?

how many kids are you going to have? Not your bf asking you, but church people and the like! I'm getting so irritated by people asking!! Today I was asked, "How many is enough? 10? (laugh laugh)" Dh comes from a big family so I think that's why we get the questions. We have 4. I don't know if I want more or if we'll have more. Do I have to explain my reproductive thoughts, feelings, and actions with everyone? I want to say so many rude things... but I guess I'm too nice. Anyone have a creative answer??:bigear: (and why are kids seen as such burdens?)

How sad! I don't understand the point after being together for so long!!! :confused1:

Good for you! Sometimes that's the best way to learn! If mama's stressed out, everybody is.

I like cottage cheese. 12g protein in a half a cup, low on the carbs, can gey low or no fat too. All you have to do is open the top and scoop!

I think you should go camping! You can even rent cabin's for the weekend or something that have kitchenette's. Buy a few fishing poles, a baby carrier.... hit the lake and the hiking trails. Plan it all out before you tell dh (book it too) and go if he doesn't want to. Then let him know how fun it was! Maybe he'll then want to come the next time :001_smile:

I felt like a single mom for 3 years while my dh started a dairy farm... down the road! I wanted him to live his dream, I wanted to sacrifice so he could be self-employed and happy. It was HARD. It made me one strong woman because if I didn't get strong, I'd lose my mind or my husband. I voiced my disapproval (without arguing) of how much he had to work at times, acknowledging that I knew he couldn't help it but that this wasn't the 'family farm' that I thought we were going to have (You know, the more family time, closeness, etc...) I felt so torn as well because I didn't want to be the 'thing' that got in the way of his dream and I didn't want him to resent me for it. I TOLD him that. I think that is important, to communicate what you feel about it. We eventually agreed to set a time to call it quits if we couldn't purchase a farm so our house and barn and land were all together so we could be together. I prayed for an answer and we are where God wants us to be right now (2 years later.) We're both happy and have sooooooooooo much more time for each other (probably too much time!) End of the story - some how we ended up purchasing a farm, despite all financial odds. And I even got to quit my job! I thought I was finally going to be out of the farm mess, but we still in it and now we love it. Communicate and make a plan. Then pray. God will open and close doors, ones you probably dont' know about!

Corn does have undigestible sugars in it (hence the corn in the you-know-what on it's exit.) I enjoy my sweet corn a few times in the summer. There are much worse things to eat! It's technically a grain, not a vegetable. That's why it's starchy.

ok, I'm replying again! I think the food controlling needs to be done!!!!!!! It is a major health and behavioral issue. It bothers me so much too! Maybe DH needs to do it since he's their son. And tell them before they come so they don't stop at costco on the way! Keep it simple though - Please don't by the boys any snacks. (Yes, that means none!) and your second rule: Please don't undermine our discipline. Maybe just stick to those 2.... and have dh do it. But keep it simple so they remember!

From what I understand the Rotavirus vaccines of the 90s was revoked because of possible intussiception (like twisted bowels or a type of blocked bowel.) My pediatrician said they made this new vaccine completely different so it 'shouldn't' do that (how can they know??) Anyway, I did NOT given it to my newest baby because the worst that could happen is they get dehydrated but that's what we have IV's for. The other vaccines are more life saving (polio = paralyzed, measles = birth defects, blindness, etc...) I did all the other vaccines. My sister's pediatrician stated that he never gave it to his kids either because it's not critical. She should not vaccinate anything when he's so sick! And there's no point in giving him the rotavirus vacc. now either, the worst has happened, and that's why he's being taken care of in the hospital. Her kids = her choice! Be her advocate, she needs you esp. when she's under stress and under pressure.

:bigear: I'm in the same boat with a 6, 4, and 2 yo kiddos.... HELP! They irritate each other on purpose. One thing that seems to work somewhat is the one who offends the other has to pay them 25 cents each time. If your kids like to keep their $ they've earned, this might make them think twice, especially since they have to pay the other child, not you.

I can definately see where you are coming from! I do agree with most of the other posters. (My dad once spent over $80 on a trip to walmart with my kids and it included multiple boxes of sweet cereal, cookies, crackers, gatorade, and toys:blink:) Yet, his love language is gift giving, so dh told me to just let it be because they all had fun. HOWEVER, I think it is a good idea to state what kind of treats or snacks they CAN have for snacks like popcorn or craisins or say "come over and lets make trail mix", or "I prefer they have juice boxes instead of kool-aid." Go for the lesser of the evils! Also, I think it's okay to tell them the school times and bed time (for during the week!) but let them come see what they are doing for school. Plus remind them that the earlier the boys get done, the more they can spend with them! Even better, make a grandparent history project to remember: Have them interview their grandparents about things that they did when they were kids, and what they did with their brothers and sisters, what listening to radio programs was like, how school was back then, what color was their hair!.... Maybe have the gp's bring pictures and make a scrap book, or put them on your timeline! That could get really fun.......

I love it!!! You were there first! I feel more sorry for you having the sight pollution of their houses. Maybe you should have put up a sign when you knew they were going to build houses: "Fields fertilizered frequently with fowl manure." On the other hand, they could have figured it out on their own. No use complaining now. My dh always says "Manure is the smell of money!" $$ Your bling is just different than theirs. We farm, so I don't understand anyone else's complains. Stinky loud animals = sounds and smells of home :D

ew! I am an RN, and I don't even take my shoes into my house.... I always yake off my clothes and immediately take a shower. But I had co-workers that climb into bed without showering after a shift...... :001_unsure:

Protect your children!!!! All I can think of is "Bill's a pedophile!" or who knows what else. She could kidnap your children. It's the next 60 minutes mystery... She doesn't know you and you don't know her. If you really want to try to see if a relationship would work, have Thansgiving at a public resaurant.

Good for you! Maybe they should throw out the other machine! All that stress it caused...

I think it's easier to pack all the things you really need/want first (pretending as if you can only take a set number of boxes with you!) As yourself, "What do I want most in this closet/drawer?" And, of course, if you haven't used in the past year, it gets tossed (all those intended projects...) Then whatever is left gets thrown or donated.

I started reading this thinking "If they only knew I ate ice cream every night! I can't tell them...." But I'm glad someone mentioned it! I ate chocolate ice cream from Aldi's with walnuts or peanuts all the time! I didn't have problems with my fasting sugars though (always 60s and 70s) so I could eat anything. The dietician liked my choice of ice cream and nuts though! I've learned from having GD how to properly portion my foods and concentrate on protein and good fats so I eat much better even now (I feel better too!)