We like it here as entertainment if you are talking about the one called Merlin. It's a bit weird in set up, but I think it works. And it's fairly mild. I don't know if it's intended audience is, but I have no issues letting kids watch it. Some of the episodes are very slapstick, but there are some scary bits.

Another thread made me think to ask. Our family has always rented. We were talking about perhaps buying in the next few years while it's a buyers market here. However, I have noticed that we do like the idea of being able to pick up and move every few years for a change of scenery or a change of home-type. If we buy, we'd probably not be selling every few years, kwim? I am starting to wonder if we're meant to be renters forever. Has anyone made this choice intentionally? I see the pros and cons of both choices. I am the type of person that gets antsy and wants to explore more. All of our moves have been a comfortable drive from our remaining parents. Since we still have kids in school, I always check out the area public school first. If my husband gives the greenlight on homeschooling down the road, that would open up even more possibilities.

Nice post. What changed for me so far is that I have decided to engage in life fuller too! I used to be a very busy and active person, but something happened along the way while I was having kids. I think we have decided our family is complete now too, so that's a big change. I have been pregnant, nursing, or TTC since the late '90s. I had to be watched carefully in my last pregnancy and struggled with my c/s healing. It was nerve wracking! Now I feel like I am about to enter a new step in life. I am using the internet more and actually joining in on things online. That's more related to having better access in the city. Oh, that's another thing. We rent, but we will probably buy in the next five years. We moved into a small town not far from our old city to see if we like small town living. We've now lived in a rural home, a bigger city, a smaller city, and now a small town. I think we'll have a good idea of what we like when we find our forever home! Or conversely, we might decide to remain renters because we tend to get itchy and want to move every few years. That isn't going to happen if we own!

Huge pet peeve of mine because it's usually accompanied by some assumption that getting the flu shot will prevent you from catching a gastro type stomach bug. I do say stomach flu at times, but I have been trying not to because soooo many people around me think flu=throwing up and diarrhea.

the butter and margarine thing makes me want to hurl. I give my kids hits off whatever caffeinated coffee drink I'm consuming at the time. From about 18 months on. Even now, I know to get the venti frappechino from starbucks because I know everyone is going to ask me for a sip. It ends up between a tall and grande by the time they're done with their 'sips'.

Okay, I don't feel bad now because it brought tears to my eyes too to see a family do so much for their mom and wife and how she is so overjoyed by the results!

This is what I imagine for myself. I am afterscholing year round, but I am of the mind that I'd like to integrate learning into daily living. If given the chance to homeschool, I'd like to just have some general goals for completion mapped out so we could be spontaneous. I would probably be doing things on weekends too because their father would want to participate and he works M-F. I think we have to do 180 days in our state, so if you just did year-round, you'd cover that eventually.

This sounds like a great idea! I will have to look at that other thread and brainstorm ideas for this. I have always thought about pre-making or buying birthday cards and organizing some way. This might be a way to do that. Oh, and the activities- great idea. I always forget about things that I learn about months before the event. Just recently, I found out the place where we cut our Christmas tree also has a July berry fest. If I had a July binder, I could make a reminder page where I note when the fest is and the approximate cost so I can also budget way ahead of time. As my family has grown, I have had to miss festivals and events because admission for the entire family, even for a $5 event, can set me back too much for a spontaneous decision. If I know 'Berry Fest' or whatever takes place in July and write it down and budget for it, it won't sneak up on me when I read the paper in June and see the 'Berry Fest' ad and go though that whoops-wanted-to-see-that-forgot-about-it-can't-afford-it-now.

I'm sorry. I've been thought this with a parent but I was a wreck and have no clue how we pulled it off. I hope your mom - and you- find peace.

I buy used shoes in boots in good shape. My kids will be in them what, maybe 6 months tops before they need a new size?

I know what you mean about the snow. I'm near the stateline and all the little snowmobile signs are out here but there's no snow. It's so weird. I was considering getting back into cross country skiing this year to work on my abs and can't do that without snow.

We have had indoor rabbits in the past. Our last one was a dutch and she lived for nearly 10 years. She had a cage in our family room and was crated when we were not home. We used a dog crate and included a litter box. She litterbox trained herself, though there were occasional scattered poop balls. When I was home, we let her loose and had her in one room- confined by babygates. She had her own little toybox and we would keep things in there- they also sell little cardboard playhouses. She did have a few accidents on the carpet, though not many over the years, and when she was happy and saying hi to us, she would run in a circle around me and leave little dried poops. They are easy to pick up with a tissue. I'd say over the 10 years, there really weren't many actual big stinky messes- just the occasional poop (My vet said it was her greeting to me, ha!) We did have a vet that specialized in small animals, and she was fixed. For outside days, we had a harness for her and would either keep her on the leash, or we would put her in an outside run/pen for a while. She was very social and personable. FYI, my vet did say that the wire mesh bottomed cages were vary bad for their feet. She recommended using a dog crate or non-wired hutch if outdoors. I would read up at the House Rabbit Society for more info if you are interested. I think a rabbit makes a great pet, but I'd say it's more care needed than a guinea pig or a cat. ETA: I forgot to add that yes, we did get a bunny-sitter when not there. Otherwise, she would get mad at us and pout when we got back. We also had to thread all of our electric cords in that room into aquarium tubing to protect it from chewing. You can use bitter apple too, but ours liked the flavor of it!

court house. We had a child out of wedlock already and I didn't want to do that again.

Thank you, SWB. I have my kids in a public school and have a spouse that works in a public school, and we are heartsick along with everyone else. I was afraid to log on earlier because I feared there would be many posts that were homeschool safety vs. public. Thankfully, everyone here is grieving together over this horrid tragedy.

Hahaha this is great!!!!!!!!!! eta= "play with your sister" rotfl I love this. I am going to have to read more of your blog!

The canada geese have been all over the place here. We have been talking about how the flocks seem to be following the interstates and roads when they fly. There is a big nature preserve and a river if you drive about 40 minutes south on my closest interstate. There's a Ducks Unlimited habitat about 15 miles north of me off the same road. We think the geese are flying back and forth between the two because they seem to have a schedule. There hasn't been snow yet. I wonder if that'll make a difference? My kids are in school, but they can still keep track of the geese because it's so loud! It's very hard to miss a huge honking flock of canada geese!

I'm just curious. We did a Christmas-in-different-cultures thing last year and made food and talked about different traditions. I led up to it all of November and we finished with a different culture/country area each day for all 5 kids - four in ps, one that was a toddler and so was really my country. I am no way prepared this year! I had some family situations and parental illnesses/surgeries that kept me very busy. Does anyone do anything special or take advantage of the time? I am thinking we might do a winter tree study with something I can put together really quick on a shoestring budget. Then I could cap it off with a visit to an arboretum. I know I have a few within a two hours radius of me. Anyone else?

Ever since my great-grandmother lost a child to a medical error (wrong medication prescribed by the doctor) that side of the family have always had a someone accompany to doctor appointments. In my generation, some of us has stopped this and some have just had people come for certain exams, but my mom's generation still does a buddy system for medical appointments. My kids are small, but I will probably be involved for as long as I need to. I keep very good medical records now and will give that to them when they are mature and teach them how to keep more records though. My DH was brought to different clinics throughout his life, then just went to the university health center in college, then just toughed things out or went to the ER. He had insurance, but not the experience of having a primary health provider. He is now struggling to put together his medical history.

here with bells on!

I went on a tour of one in high school but that was well before 9/11. I don't know what they do now, but I'm curious as well. We have a few near us too.

No, my DH makes my breakfast and the school kids' lunches before leaving for work. It's rare that I will. Some of the things he does: cottage cheese and fruit yogurt with granola and toast with PB french toast (with whipped cream and pie filling, it's a little crazy and horrid for you.) eggs in a variety of ways: scrambled with veggies cut the night before, overeasy, omelets, cereal and fruit oatmeal and various grain cereals cubes of cheese and fruit breakfast pizza - crescent roll flattened out on a baking sheet, beaten eggs/eggwhites over that, veggies and sprinkles of cheese on that in oven for a bit pancakes and crepes DH has diabetes and always does a good protein in the AM. He loves cooking though and if he didn't want to, I'd probably make the same things because I've grown used to it. One big thing-- he always does prep work the night before. He'll chop veggies, leave out pans or a griddle he might need, premix any dry ingredients, stuff like that.

I love step aerobics. I know they aren't 'cool' anymore and a lot of places have dropped it, but they were the best thing for me. I have my own step now but I haven't done anything with it. Since New Year's is coming up and everyone around me is making their resolutions, I might make mine to use the step more.