We don't have video games so just tv here but I usually let them watch 2-3 shows in the afternoon (usually 20-30 minute shows). Weekends are more lax and will often let them watch a movie.

A friend gave this advice and I would say this to my son: "my job as a parent and your teacher is to raise you and train you to someday live on your own. You will have to be able to support yourself. So we can either do 1-2 hours of school or we can do hard labor for 12." This, and having a more rigid schedule (4 days a week. Usually Friday off.) has helped. But I think it's very common for boys to hate school so it's nothing you are doing wrong.

Netflix needs to have warnings up about when things will expire. :(

I dislike my name enough to want to change it but I don't hate it enough to go through all of that work. I threaten to go by my middle name everytime we move though. It's unique so I have my kids more common (but not crazy popular- think old man names) names.

Love the don't rush don't flush part.

This is all of the stuff I wasn't prepared for in motherhood. Babies were easy LOL

I agree with you. They need to follow the script- its a part of the program.

My 6 & 1/2 year old won't wipe himself. I guess I assumed that was normal lol. I probably need to start making him try.

Omg. I LoVE margot! And i like miriam too. I never got to name a girl :(

We do breakfast for dinner every friday night. We love it and everyone looks forward to it. I cook up a huge thing of rice on the weekends (rick bayless oven rice recipe) and use that for meals lunches through the week. We have fried rice weekly too cause its so easy & so delicious.

I, too, wish doctors would look less at the numbers and more at the symptoms. Hugs.

Hi! I just joined a gym with child care this week. Wish i would have done it last year but alas we didn't have money. Anyways, tuesday, thursday, and friday i did some circuit training and the elliptical. Wednesday and today 1 hour a day of racquetball. I am exausted! And trying to have patience with my body. I wish one week could shrink all of my body fat. Lol. I have about 20 pounds to lose but i have much more fat than muscle compared to before bearing children.

I got my first postpartum period back after baby three (born feb 2012) in dec of 2012. I was regular- every 28 days until may/June when my period was an entire week late. Since then it has varied between 27-30 days. One whole week late in November. Now, 6 days late. I'm just asking I I should go in for this. I did mention it to my regular doctor but she didn't say anything about it, of course she also wasn't helpful with the issue I actually went in for.... So... Please advise. :)

It cost us $5000 a piece for our children (and also for our loss). I am not sure we will ever adopt, though I have wanted to for a long time. We have friends with a big family already, great medical benefits, and are adopting 2 special needs children from china. I was glad to give after their request for prayers/donations. We are not equipt to adopt right now, especially special needs. I am happy to have a part in giving two kids a forever home and the care they need. If they used their adoption tax credit to go to disney world, what a wonderful family experience for the newly formed family. If we do adopt, we refuse to go into debt for it, even if we could pay it off with the adoption tax credit. I don't know if we would ask for money or fundraise or what.

I only have boys so they are all in one room. I'd put the baby in with your oldest. Seems like the girls are doing just fine. The baby will have an erractic sleep schedule, but the eldest may be able to adjust to it better, especially because he goes to bed later. I can't see the ages of your kids but i was always weary of two littles together. You can always change things if they aren't working out later.

We bought a house and moved 20 months later. We lost almost all of our down payment. We rent in our new area for a few reasons 1) i do hope we only live here a few years, 2) we do not have any money for a down payment, 3) i like not having the responsibility when something breaks, and 4) property taxes are really high here. We wouldn't save much money every month especially factoring in repairs and maintenance, etc. I would like to buy in the future- something in a low price range and pay it off in 10 years or so to free up money for education as our children get older.

Second snowiest winter on record. Now melting and rain in the forcast. Under flood warnings. My husband's work has collapsed ceilings, standing and running water. So... Working at home for the time being. Thinking his building will be condemned.

Neither of us care. We mow just to keep it managable throughout the season. Its usually pretty dead but not worth all of the money or water to water it.

We have about 800 square feet finished for our family of 5. Our children all share a room. The third bedroom has our book shelves, my husband's desk, my husband's road bike (on a trainer in the winter), and a small table for legos. Our room has our bed, one dresser, one teeny night stand. My clothes are in the closet. Our kids room has one double bed my oldest two share, a dresser they all share, and the toddler sleeps in a pack n play. We will get a bunk bed once he is old enough to safely climb up and down. We will eventually need a solution for them to all have their own bed but they are still little. Our living room and dining room are all one big room. There is a nice built in cabinet that all of our school stuff goes in. A tv stand that has a large shelf under it (kid books), an armoire that fits all of the toys. One little closet sans door for coats, boots, etc. also dining room table, couch, two chairs. Its wall to wall furniture. But it works. I'd rather have a cheaper payment and be squished than squeezed budget wise. We do have an unfinished basement that has a washer, dryer, a small freezer, our camping stuff, and in between size clothes for our boys. Also, a lot of our land lord's stuff that got left here (which does annoy me).

How much wiggle room do you have in your minthly budget for paying off debt? I agree with car repairs, emergency fund, and then paying off the high interest card. Depending on your monthly needs, then make a plan to get the others paid off, then save for the future. Hopefully this will give you momentum.

Update: I eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet for a while and instantly felt better! I ate aome bread to see if it is gluten OR dairy (or possibly both). Wow, i feel absolutely terrible!!!! So i am now gluten free. My family will be gluten free for Meals because i am not a ahort order cook. Will try adding in different dairy next to see how i tolerate it.

Congrats!!! I am jealous of cross country skiing. I grew up doing it but don't have access anymore. It's a wonderful way to exercise. Slow and steady wins in the race. I need to get my butt in gear with weight loss!

I am not currently using AAS. It's the one I keep coming back too though. I am afraid of how open ended it is but the timer is a good idea.

I am tempted by this new one but it wouldn't fit with our history cycles we are on. Is it still worth looking into? Or should I just keep on with what I had already planned? (I nee to stop browsing the boards lol.)

She needs help. I hope you can get help for her.