I don't have a dutch oven but have the Lodge enameled pot. For us the 6 qt is plenty big for our family of 5 with 2 (formerly) teen boys. Mine were never huge eaters, though, so ymmv. Also, the non-enameled Lodge are made in the USA--in case that might be important to you.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is set in Maine. It's the third in the series and it would probably help if you knew the background of the characters. It's been awhile since I read it with dd and I can't remember how well it would do as a stand-alone story.

I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of such activity. My dd has a bazillion stuffed animals on her bed and the cats like to sleep in the middle of them so we can't tell where they are and pile other random things one them *ahem* pick them up and cuddle them. Dd has asked to get one of these so we can try putting the cat on it. We did try the cucumber trick on our two. One was like the cats in the video--jumped about a mile high. The other just looked around wondering what all the excitement was about. He wasn't fazed a bit.

My ds goes to the gym regularly and though he loves the workout, he pretty much hates all the other people there. Ok, not really all, just the ones who try to show off and act like they're special. Which according to him is quite a lot of people. I'm sure he's not cussing out loud, but he's probably cussing inside. :p

My mom--ten years. I know, right? We live over 4,000 miles apart and it never felt quite right for me to go visit by myself--the whole family would want to go too. So it took awhile to save up that much. (Along with the cost of airfare, we had to pay for a hotel--needed 2 rooms!--because none of my family could accomodate us. My mom visited us a couple times before that but her fear of flying has only increased over the years and she's not comfortable coming to us anymore. Mil--it's been a few years for the whole family but dh sees her about once a month. (His job takes him there about that often and he's able to go for a day visit.) She lives 1,000 miles away. We haven't talked about a family visit to see her but she can't travel--health reasons.

Can he wear a combo of foam earplugs and the "mickey mouse" ear protectors? It would dampen the sound but probably not enough to block alarms.

I'm not sure how fancy you're planning for, but I like the simple parties where they just have the large party sandwiches/subs, fruit/veg tray, chips, cake, punch/water. It was the visiting with people part that was special.

We pack them in grocery store bags and put them wherever they fit, assuming they're reasonably clean.

I visited Disneyland at 12yo and 15yo. While I enjoyed it then, I have no desire to return. Neither dh nor any of my dc have ever had any interest in going to Disney for vacation. My mother is aghast that my dc haven't been to Disney and feels their childhood is incomplete. :001_rolleyes:

Oriole? Listen all the way to the end to hear rattling type sound Found recording of a rattling bird sound but he doesn't describe the bird at all so no idea what it might be.

Eastern bluebird?

I can't even remember how I taught my dc, but I do remember a friend saying she taught hers to wind the tp around their hand three times then tear it off. ETA: that was for 2; 1 might require fewer wraps

Love all the Pooh quotes. When my dd kinda-sorta asks a question that might require an answer but I'm not sure, I respond with, "Knock if an arnswr is requid." That's probably not exactly right but it's close. Other favorites: "Tut, tut, it looks like rain!" (Christopher Robin) and "A huge big--well, like a--I don't know--like an enormous big nothing. Like a jar." (Piglet) "Oh, my leg!" -- Drover from Hank the Cowdog -- when someone tries to walk but their leg has gone numb. We also used to quote random bits of Sandra Boynton books: "Three singing pigs say, 'La, la, la!'" and "I want to be your personal penguin."

:smilielol5: :smilielol5: :smilielol5: Good thing I'd swallowed my coffee before reading this!

None. They wear tshirts and shorts/sweats instead.

When ds had his first in-person interview for his tech job he wore a suit. He was told he didn't have to come in a suit; they usually wear tshirts to work. But they did appreciate that he was showing a certain level of seriousness about the position. For his next in-person he wore the polo/khaki combo and again was told they usually wear tshirts. He thinks they were just trying to reassure him that there wasn't a dress code because they knew his previous position was at a place that did have a dress code.

I said Other, gender doesn't matter. In our home I tidy up the kitchen always--unless deathly ill--because I like it done a certain way. I'm a sahm and usually make the meals as well. But this was our routine since early in our marriage when we were both working full-time. In a friend's home the dh tidies the kitchen because he likes to. He works full-time and doesn't usually do any meal prep; this is the routine they've established. In SIL's home they take turns cooking and cleaning and often clean the kitchen together. I don't think there's a "should" to assign to either person; they need to come to some kind of agreement based on individual and household needs/preferences. And they need to be flexible enough to help one another when the situation calls for it and not be rigid in only doing "their" job.

I knew a young mom (married at 18yo) who said she was asked this a lot when she was pregnant with her third. Her oldest was just under 4yo at the time. Her standard response was, "Yes I do, and I *like* it!" :lol:

OP you must come back and reveal what was in those goody bags! :bigear:

Usually about 3 cups regular (no cream, no sugar) Then, depending on the day, I might drink decaf and/or tea--black, green, white, herbal, whatever I'm in the mood for. No real set amount on those drinks. I've had a few days where I drink only tea, though; no coffee. :svengo: :laugh:

Or waved with both hands and started throwing kisses ... :001_rolleyes:

Maybe we're weird, but none of us--my immediate family--likes talking on the phone in front of other people.

There's a church near us that has a number of trees which, when its flowers start blooming in spring, give off a rotten fish smell. :ack2:

I usually call them: Those headbands with the springs and things on top of the springs. :tongue_smilie: I've used the term "deely bopper" before but not for these, just as another word for thingamajig.

I don't care for either.