I'm working all weekend :) I did bring some chores with me, though I've yet to do them! I brought along the SOTW AG so I could peruse the extra activities and get those scheduled; we'll be starting in February. That thing weighs a ton and I keep thinking I better get it done to justify having lugged it across the country a few times LOL. I also brought along another heavy text, Bible History, to schedule out and familiarize myself with,(I'm not and have never been a Christian. We'll be starting that in February, too. But here I sit looking at neither :D

From your list, I like Lorenzo/Enzo. What about Asa?

I'm so selfish. :tongue_smilie: I like to receive cards, but not to send them. I voted no.

Every year going back for nearly twenty, I've received something from Ghurka. This year I'd like to add THIS HANDSOME LAD to my collection. I also asked specific children for the following: handmade hairsticks, homemade loaves (preferably pumpkin or persimmon), a private piano concert, personalized notecards, and a foot massage.

No, I'm not. My husband comes from a long line of vets, but he's the first one to serve under the US flag :)

Shea Ann / Shay Ann Sally (if rhyming daughters don't bother you LOL) Shelby Ann Shiloh Ann Susie / Suzie / Suzy Ann (I'm also jumping on the Sadie Ann bandwagon :))

Really? :tongue_smilie: Re-gift the plant to someone else! Leave it for a neighbor or colleague! I can think of so many ways to dump an unwanted-but-appreciate-the-thought-of-it plant! It's so easy to pass it forward!

You ladies are so great! The poll makes me feel better that even those who hate playdough will make some allowances if it's gifted :D We've never before made it, but the consensus seems to be that homemade stuff w/cream of tartar and koolaid is the way to go. I'm intrigued by the glitter and other suggestions, and am going to tool around the internet for more ideas. This may turn into something I can have my boys make for my daughter, too - playdough and glitter all in one would be a dream come true for her LOL. I'm going to take the suggestion to make a little kit of it - a huge vinyl, cloth-backed playmat they can unroll onto the floor or tabletop, plus some cutting utensils and maybe some aprons. I'm going to also take heed that SIL might be sad/offended if I send it straight to MIL. I'll have my husband ask his sister directly which she prefers. She'll be honest and not offended if it's coming from him. Yay! His family is done!

My go-to is a potted plant. This time of year I'd probably go for some rosemary - it's hard to kill, and smells good until its bitter end :D. Orchids are lovely, too, but so fickle. I'd only spring for those for someone I know could keep it going (or may have someone to re-gift it to at church, hospital, or another seasonal gathering). My MIL would be gracious but slighted if someone brought food (desert/wine). I think she's oversensitive, but her personality and culture are such that it's something of an insult. Preparing food is how she shows love, she doesn't want you to butt in on her lovefest. Or to otherwise compete ;) :D LOL. So now that I know people like her exist, I avoid foods and wines. Never thought of the morning-after muffins, though, I like that idea!

I have both, neither of which I requested or really wanted. I grew to love the heck out of my phone. I love being on the road and checking emails, using the map, having my music. "On the road" in the figurative sense, not the literal, I should probably specify ;) :D I use the iPad for work because it's there (and because I go through airport security for work and it's easier to bring along than is my (preferred) laptop). I could live without it, and when I'm not traveling for work .. I do. I'm not into games or anything, so I use my iPad for reading longer emails and reading on the internet. And only because it's there. If it weren't, I'd do the same on my phone and be perfectly fine. Many of the people I work with have gone from iPhones to standard cheapo phones alongside the iPad w/data plan. They're more into games and reading or watching videos on their iPads - so they like the bigger screen. So I'd say it depends on what you're likely to most use the appliance for.

:D You're in good company. My son likes the White Stripes cover, which is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. Every time that song hits his rotation I have to put on my Dolly Parton version to find my happy place again. Dueling iPods LOL. That's why I like Harper. Sure a few celebs have picked up on it but I think it's still a bit out there for most people ... kind of like the name Piper. A sweet name and the kind that people *want* to use but not everyone (or their spouse) is comfortable enough to go with. And not unique enough for the Out There Crowd to latch onto. I love that because it's common enough to be familiar but distinct enough to still stand out. My daughter's name was around 26,912,683 on The List until the year she turned two, at which point a mega-celeb with a history of inspiring name trends also used it. I was so annoyed LOL. It's gained some popularity but not as much as I feared it would. It's gone from being in the 700s before to the 400s now. I sense Harper will fall in this category, too. My neighbor's daughters are Charlotte (goes by Char, pronounced 'Shar') and Savannah (goes by Vanna). I rather like "Savvy" LOL like ... you live up to your expectations kind of name :D

That's not a bad idea :tongue_smilie: if I liked my SIL. (Kidding LOL) Actually maybe that's what I'll do - I'll have the boys open it at my MIL's and just leave it there rather than mail it to SIL directly.

Couldn't have gotten two more appropriate responses straight out of the gate :D I'm asking because my kids want to make some to send my nephews for Christmas. My kids loved playdough! I'm just not sure my SIL is going to be keen on it. She doesn't have a nanny, but my MIL has the kids during the week so maybe it WOULD get used at her house (she doesn't mind the mess, she always did it with my kids also). I just remembered my kids being younger and most parents hating playdough. I don't want to send a gift that's gonna be a PITB :blush:.

I'm wondering how many parents: (a) liked or loved (b) couldn't stand © are indifferent to playdough, and (d) encouraged (e) forbid (f) tolerated at times having it in their homes. When voting, please select two options - first for a/b/c, and again for d/e/f. If none of these apply, select g and sashay yourself down the catwalk.

Thanks for sharing the article - pretty neat! I can't wait to share it in the morning with the kids :) At 58, she decided, "This would be a good time to change horses." - I love that. Inspires me!

From their expressions, I'd say they're trying to convince your DH as well! Those squishy smooshy cheeks are killing me - too sweet!

Yes, I would consider it. That's not to say I'd change my mind, but I wouldn't be personalizing any diaper bags or anything. I'd sit on it for a bit. In all honesty, though, having never been in your situation I'm not sure I'd be able to do it with someone who had a history of disliking my names. Then again, this reaction has been unlike any other ... so maybe it warrants some thought. FWIW, my family hasn't loved my kids' names but their reactions are more of a frown, harrumph, then shrugging and moving on. Then learning to love it, darn it all LOL. I work with a woman named Eurydice. Her last name is a not-common, but recognizeable and easily pronounced male name. She has always introduced herself and identified herself as her last name. She won't correct anyone who calls her Eurydice, but you can tell it's the name she uses only for official purposes (payroll, taxes). I love her name. She's in her mid-40s and is only now coming into a place where she can appreciate the unique name she was given. Personalities are a crapshoot, your daughter could love it or hate it - but the same would be true of any name you gave her, even something plain. If the name speaks to you, it speaks to you - you know? :grouphug: Now you have me incredibly curious about the story of Persephone. I'm realizing I also don't know the background of Eurydice, though I know it's Ancient Greek or Roman or something. I'm outing myself as someone who didn't pay attention during the first year of our history studies, aren't I ::blush::!

I'm a tropical weather gal. I'd like to get back to any island in the Pacific Ocean - preferably South, but I'd settle for anywhere in the tropics. All I need is an internet connection and a Starbucks somewhere on the island :D

Harper Jolene (Harper Jo), ... ... but with the disclaimer that I've had Dolly Parton on for most of the day so that's where my mind is :D.

I think I'd use clay. Maybe masonite.

At that age, bean bags were huge hits for the kids in our family. Right now I babysit my nephew (just turned 3) and he's loved it for as long as he was able to stand and throw :) My mom had beanbags for us when we were younger, too. They're great to play alone but also with me in the room (but doing something else, like chores). Sometimes if I have dishes to do I'll get out an old Twister mat and call out colors for him to throw to. A few years ago for a different nephew, my son constructed a small wood "goal" for the bean bags. Slapped together a basic wood box and cut a hole in the middle. The kids love trying to make a basket. A stainless steel bowl would work, too. The other thing my nephew loves is a little plastic house we inherited from neighbors who were moving. Whatever that company that makes the great outdoor, heavy duty plastic stuff is. They climb over it, it's sturdy so they can, open the doors, play on the phone, etc. That and the toy kitchen. Sort of messy, but not painting messy -- I can throw it all in a basket and shove it in a cabinet at the end of the day ;)

I voted that I had no idea what Common Core was/is. I have neices and nephews the same ages as my kids, so that's how I stay on top of what my kids' schooled peers are doing. I do see the value in having some idea of these things, and I do loosely plan my own school with them in mind. We homeschool from year to year, and I'm not opposed to sending my kids to school so I try to keep them in the general vicinity as their schooled peers.

How she plans to market your home? What changes (if any) she recommends to make your home more marketable? And of those changes, which are top priority/most important with regards to your budget/level of interest. What is her pricing strategy? ETA: remembered one more that's kind of important: how will you conduct the bulk of your communication? Our last realtor was big on calling/texting but since I am often on airplanes and out of the country, this method didn't work well for me; I preferred email. It took some time and frustration to work out a way that worked for us so that we both felt on top of things.

OOh, I like their lipsticks. I've bought a few at my local health food store and they glide on like nobody's business. I bet their mascara is great!

A pretty spiffy microscope to replace the dinky one I thought would be good enough when I bought it this summer LOL. An intro dSLR. I just upgraded and had planned to gift my old one to my nephew, but I broke that one last week and ... he still wants/needs one for school. He's very into journalism. And a year's pass to both the zoo and the local modern art museum are standard, from my brothers. Another brother always gives pitching lessons and horse-riding camp to my kids for their winter birthdays. I buy a subscription to Highlights and GAMES magazines every year for my nephew's school fall fundraiser, and those start arriving around Christmas time.