We got a new couch. I really like it, we needed it and it will fit our family much better. So I hate to be a whiner.... The old couch is sitting at the curb waiting for the garbage truck tomorrow. We had it 12 years. I have so many good memories with it. We bought it just after we got married. It's been through 4 babies, three puppies and 4 moves. It looks sad, so it's not like I want to keep it, I guess I started thinking about where we'll be in life by the time this one will need replacing (if we keep it as long- it should have been replaced a few years ago). We could potentially have all three girls in college and our son would be in his senior year! Sigh. So I know it's stupid (especially since I picked out/like the new one!!) but that's where I am. I can't be the only one to get sentimental about stuff like this. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had a much easier time coming up with girl names. It seemed like there was more of a creative license to be taken with them rather than the boy names. Or they were just... prettier? I don't know. We didn't know the genders of our first three until delivery, but we found out with ds. It was SO hard. I loved a certain name, but dh didn't and we went with option 2. Now I cannot picture him as the name I wanted, but I still love it. I remember with our first we seemed to play a game with names. I'd suggest one and dh would say no. And that's how it went for months until he warmed up to my first and favorite suggestion. It was maddening. [emoji4] And I think your list of names is very nice. I always wanted names for my children to not be so "old" that it's weird to call it out to a child, and not so trendy/cutesy/babyish that an adult would be embarrassed to claim it. I think all of yours are good! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can only speak from our experience of house hunting... To the question of way outdated vs poorly maintained- when we look at houses that have obvious damage or wear in obvious places it makes me wonder what things have been neglected that are behind the scenes or not so obvious. I would think the fact that you've updated the bathrooms would be very helpful. I would assume the kitchen would need to be done as well. Again, I would wonder - were the bathrooms worse than the kitchen and that's why they were done? Is there a can of worms in the kitchen and that's why it hasn't been renovated? But perhaps that's just me. Did the real estate agent give you specific items that would help? The kitchen in our first house was sad. It was super big, but the cabinets were yucky and the counter was bad. Our goal was to renovate someday. Well, we needed to move before someday happened. So we painted the cabinets, got new laminate counters (not too expensive) and it made it look so much better. Now, perhaps the people ripped out everything to start over (I hope they have) but what we did helped it sell. I hope you can sell in a short time and get what you need! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Google "wet wrap for eczema". They did wonders for my daughter. Her's is food related. Our doctor also told me it couldn't possibly be food allergies- babies don't have food allergies! [emoji849] Aquaphor is great stuff! What steroid are you using? Creams always made dd's worse, no matter which steroid. We had to have the ointment. Preservative free triamcinalone ointment really helped. Good luck - it's hard when they're miserable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

"Have I ever told you about the time when ...?" Long irrelevant story. The more random the better. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What happened to differences make us stronger? What happened to being the same is boring? When did I have to always to agree with everyone or we can't be friends - or civil even? I'm so tired of everyone being on edge about everything and so very my way or the highway. I know there are people with real hurt going through tough things, but let's be honest - a bunch of stuff people are just being stupid about. And not just stupid, but plain mean. Be nice to people. If you have different opinions talk about it, don't yell and get nasty and dissolve relationships. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Stop being offended by every little thing. My liking something doesn't take away from you liking something else. I know people we have to walk on eggshells when we're around them because they're so easily offended. They're like a balloon waiting to pop and I don't want to be the pin that does it. It's exhausting. It would be so nice to relax and talk without being afraid all the time. So many topics we can't discuss- church, politics, almost anything in the news, homeschooling. And we're missing out on good conversations that could be had if everyone could just settle down. I do hope something can be done to change the current climate. Not a tragedy, but something. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My oldest just got her ears pierced at a doctor's office in town. Not as $$ as a tattoo place and more sanitary than Claire's.

B12 supplements cause my acne to flare big time.

This is quite interesting. Do you mind giving examples of things you do eat?

In the small (3500 people) town we used to live in we had a day called Franks A Lot. The city would buy thousands of hotdogs and give them to "downtown" businesses. They'd shut down main street and everyone would come eat free hot dogs and walk around. The pizza place always made hot dog pizza. (Bleh) In the winter they do something similar, but with soup instead and the city didn't provide anything. That town was like living in Mayberry. I loved it.

I love my Nike Flyknit 3.0 sneakers. But they're definitely sporty looking.

I loved the JuJuBe Be Prepared! There was room for everything and so many nice features!

I have a very heavy platter that I want to hang in our dining room. I have hung smaller plates before using the spring grip things, but I don't want to see the prongs in front for this. I also don't want to use a hanging rack. I read about hanging "discs", but it seems they don't work too too well with heavier items. Any ideas or methods that work well? TIA

"Can everybody have one?" We have a variety of food allergies. Followed by "how many? Guuuuuuuuys, mom said we can have cookieeeeeeees!"

Our stable let my daughter do a trial class before we signed up. Maybe some of the stables you are considering would do that.

I didn't search, so maybe there is already a thread on this... I think the echo dot and others like it seem creepy and I don't see a benefit. Is there one? Pretty much everything it does I can do in another way. My husband was given two for Christmas by different people. Are these things helpful and useful? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And his name is... :-)

I agree about being in the moment. I don't let sass slide, but I'll let them know we'll be talking about it later or make them stop what they're doing to cool down and come back to reality. It really hits home with my kids when I point out what happened (mouthing off, snapping at someone, being mean) and say something like, "that's not you. I know you're a kind/thoughtful/respectful/whatever person and what you said/did earlier does not show that... I want you to think about your actions/words and how they affect others before you act/speak." If they can't change their 'tude I find something for them to work on that chances are they won't enjoy. I get having bad days. I have bad days. But I do not tolerate being sassed by my children. I'm the mom. Don't' like something? Tough noogies. I'm not perfect, but I AM the mom and a pretty good one at that, so let's have some respect. "So, wanna change how you said that?" [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Curses can be a hoot. [emoji4] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My senior year in high school I worked in the children's department at a department store. One day I saw a lady come in the store with nothing, no bags, not carrying anything. She walked through the boy's area and then over to my station, now carrying a a little boy's dress jacket. She wanted a refund and didn't have her receipt. She wanted cash. Riiiiight. I called my manager and explained. She came over and gave the lady store credit. We knew she was lying, but my manager said we couldn't accuse her. ?? Isn't that why we had security tapes?

Ask if they have copies of recent performances. That will give you a good picture of the instruction. After watching a live performance at our dance school last year (ahem - note we're no longer there) it was obvious that there were areas lacking in good instruction. Also, if crazy/revealing costumes are a concern, ask to see pictures of past years. Our current studio allows new students to try out as many classes as they want for two weeks for free. You could see if anyone offers that. Good luck! I hope she loves it!

Yes, find an OT that works with children. One that does dry skin brushing and "listening" with them. It sounds kind of like hooey, but I've seen the difference it makes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Something like this happened when I went into labor earlier than expected. I just completely forgot about the eBay stuff I had posted. Although, it wasn't as long as 14 days... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's partly excess, partly toys they like but weren't able to maintain their rooms. Some of the clutter is a storage problem. We're coming up with some solutions to that, hopefully soon. [emoji4] my husband is thinking one big toy box for each so they can pick up and dump things in. I like things to organized and separated (legos in their bin on a shelf, crayons and coloring books on a shelf). I do like how toy boxes hide it all though. [emoji6] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They each have at least 1 large storage tote full of toys/animals in addition to what I listed. :-)