Like your husband, I don't like stuff cluttering up my stovetop. I've had more than one small fire from people using the stove as a countertop while the burners were still on or hot. But the one exception I make is for my teapot. I have a glass pot, so it blends right into the background instead of standing out and reminding me that my stovetop is cluttered LOL. They do make smaller, one-cup glass pots ... it wouldn't be hard to store one of those in the cupboard with your teacups or -mugs. Grab and go, kind of thing. My brother has this weird electric thing that fits into the cupboard. It heats the water up in a few minutes, and it resembles a short, plastic pitcher. He uses it to warm up water for oatmeal every morning. It's my opinion he doesn't save much time over using the stove, but he likes that it's convenient ... can be left on to stay hot for awhile ... and can be shoved (literally) into the cupboard when he's done with it. That might be another idea, also. I think he got it at Target for, like, $10 or something.

The chocolate is simple and nicely understated, but I voted for Strawberry. The gummy one had my vote until I saw the cross-section. I could vote it most impressively creative or most labor-intensive, but a gummy graveyard at the end of a rainbow just doesn't do it for me appearance-wise LOL. Who won most tasty? What a fun idea :) I'll have to remember this the next time we have a rainy day.

I will be neither rich nor broke, but comfortable. I have plans to "retire" in the next year or two ... by that I mean to stop working at my current F/T job. It's a great, flexible and stimulating job but the older my homeschoolers get the more challenging it is to balance work and school. High school academics don't lend themselves well to work travel and being on call. I do want to work in some capacity, though, and am considering those options now. I think I'll take a year off, then jump back in. I have advanced degrees and a strong resume, so finding something in my (non-tech) field shouldn't be too hard. I'm fortunate to work out of desire, not need. When I lost my husband I got a lump sum plus life insurance and survivor's benefits. Instead of living off of that money now, I invest it all towards my retirement and only live off of my work income. I remain eligible for his healthcare plan, so for now health insurance isn't something I need to factor in for work or retirement. Obviously I'd rather live broke and work with my husband beside me during our golden years. The grass seems greener on the other side, no matter which side of the fence you're on :)

Jean, this response above is pretty much my experience. My grandparents always lived with us, and would be included in the circle of primary caregivers. My grandmother is in her 90s, still lives with me, and is still providing daily caregiving to great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild who just turned 2 - we tried to force her into retirement, but she says the kids are her fountain of youth :) I am very close to my parents, and always have been. It might be likened to the different friendships one has -- how when you need a good cry, you go to the friend with a good ear, bear hugs, and dark chocolate ... and when you need a kick in the pants you find the friend who doesn't mince words but who speaks from a place of love. You don't go to the second friend when you need to cry, nor to the first friend when you need to hear the cold, hard truth about stuff. How close you are to each friend is somewhat irrelevant in deciding which you seek out based on a specific need or situation. That's how I see this. I adore my grandmother like nobody's business. When my mom got pregnant again after me, I moved into my grandmother's bed. I slept there off and on throughout my adolescence. Truth be told, when my husband fell ill I spent more than a few nights snuggled up in Grandmother's bed LOL. She's the friend I seek out when I need a shoulder to cry on. But I also love my mother and would do anything for her. She's spent her life in selfless dedication to improving ours, as a family. She says to jump, and I ask how high. When my neices and nephews lost both parents in the span of a few months, Mom asked me take in the kids. Me, with a full-time job, more kids than any of my siblings, and a husband who spent more time downrange than he did home. She's the friend I ask when I want to honestly know if the jeans I'm wearing makes my butt look big or if I'm being an idiot to someone LOL. (I'm that annoying sister/SIL/cousin/daughter/you-name-it that is always needing to be kept in check!) I wouldn't consider myself closer to one or the other, and frequently when I'm stuck in the decision-making process I'll consult them both. They offer such varied insights, in such varied manners. I benefit so greatly from their personalities, their life experiences, their collective wisdom, and most of all from their respect for one another and their own, close relationship. My mother was lived with, and was primarily cared for, by her grandparents. Maybe it works for us because it's been modeled well and we've always shared a roof :)

Lots of people knew what my husband made because it was published information LOL. It was a community where everyone knew what everyone else made, or could easily find out. I'm sure my older kids knew, even though we didn't expressly tell them. My family is open about money, including earnings. I don't know if the kids know my full income, but they know our bracket. And my brothers' that live near us. And my parents. Money is an open topic. We discuss the great-aunt back home who had no kids and how much each of us need to send her each month. We discuss our younger siblings away in college and how much each of us need to send each semester. We discuss the cost of grandma's meds and how much to send her each month. We discuss money a lot in my family, usually at meals, and the kids are either present or running around the room and in earshot of it all. My husband's family kept money issues private (to them) - no kids, even once those kids were adults. It's just a different family culture. I think they'd have had the same reaction as the OP were the kids ever to ask! If it's something you grew up with as being private, it's hard to just feel open about sharing that information. I think that's okay, too. I imagine there's probably a fabulous middle ground between the two :)

Stacey, I think I see where you're coming from. He's not complaining about it, and probably accepts it as this "season," but you know he misses having some of those non-work, non-family social opportunities. I don't see you as trying to micro-manage his social life. It reads like you just want to make sure his (social) needs are being met :) you love him, it's natural to want to do so. My friends have a monthly get-together - it's usually Bunco, but when there aren't enough people it's just cards. It's the same date most months, and usually at the same person's house, but we're flexible with kids' activities, family visits, cold season, and all that stuff. We skip holiday months and some months just get called off because the host needs the break ;) all that to say, it's reliable but not a source of high stress - even for the host family. Maybe you can get your friends together and start something like this - they extend the invite to a few other people, too, and you get a good-sized group gathered. It'll expand your social network, and even when your friends are busy THEIR invited friends may still come, too. We have 30 people on our email list, and anywhere from 10-20 will come to any given month's gathering. Food is easy, it's bring a dish to share - we have a theme every month (Mexican, Asian, Dessert) and no one expects gourmet (or even home made) LOL. You could do something similar with your existing friends, or as suggested upthread you might start a Bible study or service project or something with your church community. Or, get together with some of the other swim or AHG families, after events. I disagree with the poster upthread who said chatting with other sports moms is not like doing lunch with a friend - for me, it's exactly the same and just as good. Even better in that I can get a social fill without the stress of fitting in a date with a friend who is also to the max with her time. I work outside of the home, too, and my work conversations aren't comparable. Work is work, play is play, and the dynamic behind those relationships is very different. My brother and I have boys on different teams that practice at the same time and place - we both enjoy the other parents, and when our schedules allow we both show up to practice even though we could carpool.

Are there any dietary restrictions or preferences that factor in? I'm running out the door but will be back with recipes next time I'm online :) In the meanwhile, what about bakmi goreng? It's a favorite here, especially during hotter months.

We have salads at most meals - just your plain, unoriginal salad not the kinds that are meals unto themselves :) And then it's either baked/grilled chicken w/rice, chili w/rice, roasted/grilled/steamed veggies w/rice, soup w/rice or stirfried leftovers w/rice. We don't eat meat on Fridays, so that is typically cheese pizza or spaghetti w/tomato sauce. It's also pretty much the only day we don't eat rice LOL.

The rage of the heat of 1000 suns :lol: BT and DT, Sis! I have to agree with those saying USAA is top notch when it comes to customer service. I opened a claim with them this week, and they were not just helpful but dare I say delightful? My rep was sweet and seemed to enjoy her life or her job enough that it really made our interaction a pleasant one - all things considered. Not ten minutes after I finished up with her, I spoke with the rep at another insurance agency (not mine) and he was flat, bored, and made no secret that he'd rather be doing just about anything else. I hold elite status on American Airlines, and I fly a lot. As a whole I have really good service; that is, only a few who are "primarily there for [my] safety" use that as an excuse to slack off on the service. Even with all the drama going on with its bankruptcy and merger, I spend my money with AA for a reason. I'm not sure I'll stick around once they become USAir - I've never had good service the times I've flown them. I'm thinking about reducing my work travel to coincide with the merger. I don't care as much as customer service if I'm paying rock bottom prices for a ticket, but if I'm flying over 100,000 miles a year then I expect a great product. Customer service is definitely a dying art!

I'm on a temporary work assignment, and in the few years I've been "here" I have had a number of visitors. I always take them to a local place - something they can't just get anywhere. When I'm a guest, that's what I like :) But if she's not an adventurous eater, or if she's picky (at food or at you LOL) I'd play it safe and pick restaurant where she could order a familiar dish but still experience a local hangout. In that case, your favorite restaurant would be a good, safe call!

I work now "for fun" - that is, I don't need to nor do I rely on my job for income or benefits. I do it because I enjoy it. If I won the lottery, I'd keep working where I am. My job doesn't prohibit me from seeing, doing, and exploring :) I planned it that way, though, intentionally seeking an academic and professional path that would allow a lot of flexibility. I feel like I kind of won a lottery of sorts already, having it all work out as planned. Nothing else I plan ever works out the way I want it to! LOL

I have only one daughter, and the rest are sons. My daughter is still young, but for the past four years has been set on becoming a religious sister. If she ends up following through with that, all of my grandkids will come from my sons. I admit to wondering the same as you!

I love my bed :) it's extra firm, which is just what I need. It's actually a futon, though, not a mattress. I spend a fair amount of time staying in hotels. Marriott beds aren't bad, and Westin's Heavenly Beds are reputed to be as good if not better. Both are too soft for me. You may wish to look around www.sleeplikethedead.com and see what others have to say about some of the mattresses you're considering. Good luck finding the right one; it's like trying to find the right foot to fit the slipper ;)

I have so many boys that most of them have always shared the master bedroom and en suite bath. Right now my middle five are in there. I don't care which floor it's on :lol: but I like the rooms on one level. For me it's an electricity issue - cheaper bill keeping all rooms at a sleepable temp. I don't have a strong preference, though. It's not something that would make or break a house deal for me, not by any means.

My mom has a very close relationship with all of her grandchildren. There is no way someone on the outside could distinguish which of those grandchildren came from her daughters and which came from her son. People don't even know that 4 of her grandchildren are step-grandchildren who came into the family at the ages of 6, 8, 11, and 13. My in laws are awful in laws, but are dedicated and loving (if misguided) grandparents. My husband's job kept him away and out of contact for lengths of time, so he wasn't usually around to run interference. I learned early to forge my own relationship with them - something between what a normal DIL might be (defer issues re: his parents to him) and their own child (take the bull by the horns). It was exhausting, but proved a good thing - he's gone now, and it made the transition much easier because we were already mostly operating without his being present. If I never saw them again in my life, it'd be too soon. The feeling is mutual. But my kids are in contact with them on a very regular basis. They know well enough to be able to shop for us, by size and interest - especially the younger six. Though they live states away, calls/texts/emails happen throughout the week. Pictures are sent often, invites are always given and accepted for their extended family events.

Faces are good! Yours is exceptionally good B) I'm with you on the little things. Were it not for those .... sigh!

I've never been accused of being interesting, but it looks like GTJoe has you covered there :lol: So instead I'll wish you all my best: the delivery you hope for, a quick-moving board in the meanwhile, and prayers for your sweet little one.

San Antonio? Drive safely ... and I'm so sorry. :grouphug: My grandmother is in her late 90s and I keep waiting for the call. She lived with me for most of my life, until just a few years ago when she moved overseas so she could die "at home" when her time came. I opened your post and immediately my heart sank for you. I wish you a beautiful visit, despite the sadness and difficulty surrounding it. There's nobody like Grandma, is there? :001_wub:

We're on summer break, but I manage to squeak in a few schoolish subjects even over summer. Lest the children's brains atrophy ;) But actually more because it takes me forever to get back into the swing of things. Thus the solution is to slow the swing down instead of jumping off entirely for three months of summer! We're doing handwriting, CCD, and health - it's about an hour a day, if that. Like you, we're cycling back into the Ancients come Fall. That's my kids' favorite era, so they're looking forward to it. Wish I could say the same. I'm more of a Modern Era kind of gal B) I have homemade chips and salsa to share. And just yesterday when I cleaned out the freezer I found an unopened sleeve of Thin Mints from who knows how long ago. I wasn't gonna tell anyone about them, but ... if you can keep the secret, I don't mind sharing a few with you. There are less of you than there are kids in my house right now LOL. Quel relief! I thought it was just me LOL.

If it were me, I'd stay at the library. I don't mind driving, and like you gas isn't usually an issue ... but I know me. And the me I know would have grand delusions of accomplishing a lot during that three hours at home, but would then sit down - exhausted - and just veg in front of the television or internet. I'd get nothing done at home, despite great intentions LOL. So I'd save myself the time, gas, and resulting self-loathing and just take a stupid nap at the library. Or find a Starbucks or sports bar to pass time in. But if you're actually motivated to work at home, three hours is a great chunk of time to get a lot in. That's the ideal option, I think. If you're not me B).

:leaving: :lol: That'd be me you've seen. And heard LOL. Sorry!! Okay, thank you for saying that. I find this annoying. A quick answer is one thing, but full lengthy converations are really annoying, especially when the person uses that amplified Cell Phone Voice as though the person on the other end is deaf or nearly so. That'd be my best friend LOL.

I love naps at the library :) Our children's area has big comfy chairs so I'm most often found there - my sleeptime snorts are masked by the kids' voices and play, and I sleep best with some white noise. It's pretty much win-win LOL. Hope you had a good nap, Parrothead!

Could one learn a few magic tricks? My 7 year old checked out a book from the library and has a few up her sleeve after just a few days. You could xerox the few tricks decided upon to take for review and further study at camp. Do the two daughters memorize well? Could they find a simple, familiar children's story that one can narrate and the other act out. Not true acting, just re-enacting the story in real time - maybe in an exaggerated fashion. Can one do a shadow puppet re-enactment or original story? That can be learned relatively quickly :) Yo-yo tricks? Juggling? Comedy is always good!

I'm glad to see the use of Jay - great name, highly underused IMO :) The Eminem thing cracks me up. My friend didn't realize until her son was four years old that her husband got the name (Logan) from Wolverine. At least you're more pop culture saavy than she was! So in the realm of Juli Ann ... what about Jodi Ann or Jaci Ann? Other considerations (that you've probably exhausted already, I'm sure) that seem pretty clear-cut on pronounciations, at least IMO/IME: Keri Ann Rubi Ann Codi Ann Lexi Ann Cori/Kori Ann Dani Ann Rori Ann Geri/Jeri Ann Teri Ann Gigi Ann (I have one little nephew who calls me Gigi, and I love it!) Laci Ann Lori Ann Leni Ann Niki Ann Suzi Ann Toni Ann Tori Ann Mari Ann Vivi Ann <-- there's a girl on Dance Moms (don't judge!) and it's grown on me nicely Maci Ann Jodi Ann Loni Ann Cami Ann Levi Ann Kaci Ann Roni Ann Some that might be mispronounced, but fit the bill: Kati Ann (Katie versus Catty Lani Ann (lah-nee versus lan-ee) Tabi Ann (Tabby versus Tah-bee) You didn't ask, and I'm sure by now you've exhausted them all (and then some). But thought I'd throw out some names. When we went through naming my daughter, the first after several boys, we over-thought the entire thing in our eagerness to not have to come up with another boy name LOL. And names I once hated began to sound good, and ones I liked I came to like less. Good luck finding that perfect name :)

I love placemats. We use them atop a table cloth, even. We have an assortment of cloth placemats, plus a few "decorative" ones my daughter made and laminated for the younger kids. I always thought placemats made it EASIER to clean the table :lol: Funny how different we all are!