A friend shared with me a link to these fantastic-looking programmable robots that are being released this summer. I am quite excited about them. There are a limited number available for pre-order as part of their backing campaign. https://www.play-i.com/crowdfunding/rewards

I have one of those about-to-turn 4 kiddos as well! We play a lot of games, usually 3-4 different ones per day at a minimum as it is a way to satisfy her little brain without sitting down for yet more 'work' . We have actually found it better to buy games more advanced and play very fast or alter the rules, but there are a couple of favorites that are probably more what you are thinking of. I am sure you already have loads of games from your older kids. Rush Hour, Jr.-this is one of the first I bought at about 2, and it has always been a hit. We now have Rush Hour, and honestly? The Jr. Version is more cutesy with the little ice cream truck, and the levels do move up more quickly, but I think most advanced preschoolers could handle Rush Hour. If you have an IPad there is an app version. No Stress Chess- this one has been awesome! The game has several levels, but in the very beginning you are only setting up the chess board and flipping cards to teach the kids how each piece moves. They still get the joy of capturing pieces, and it moves very, very quickly. Almost immediately mine began to anticipate and plan ahead. And because the cards dictate the moves for that level, they often win. (I don't do the whole letting them win thing.) oh, and the cards have a holder so that they don't have to hold them. Blokus- mine really likes Blokus, both to play and to play a pattern strategy game she invented. We play it with only 2 players as it goes much faster and is a bit easier. Someone in the forum mentioned there is a Blokus, jr. As well, but I have not played it. Card games- we like Rat-a-tat cat, Zeus on the Loose, UNO, and lots others. I made her a card holder from two plastic disposeable lids with a brad through the center when she was smaller, and this has helped a lot...both for holding her cards when she plays and to quickly resume when her exuberance or endurance necessitates a dancing or jumping break:) She also really likes to play checkers, connect 4, and the older games. Not so much as a strategy game, but she really likes Q-bitz. It can be played as a race to create the pattern between 2 people, and this has been really cool. It has helped me so much as I was always a bit more spatially-challenged:) Quirkle is also good for this age, although we find this one a bit more difficult as she tends to get a bit over-zealous and the pieces end up being moved all over. ETA: I can't believe I forgot Zoological! That was a favorite forever.

Mine was a complete and utter shock, and the the timing sure wasn't planned! We had given up, assumed we weren't going to have any of our own biological children after more than a few years of trying/testing by all sorts of fertility experts. Amusingly enough, I had undergone X-rays and an MRI on my back and hips over a month prior to discovering I was pregnant. The doctor (knowing/believing I was infertile!) noted a 'cyst on my ovary and a fibroid in my uterus', and recommended I follow up. The cyst was the corpus luteum, and my 'fibroid' turns four next month:)

I am shrinking too!! Definitely think posture helps, and yoga or Pilates. Although when I complained of this to my hubby recently he told me not to worry, that not ALL of me is shrinking. He assured me that your nose, ears, and feet continue to grow all of your life! Thanks dear...

I will check the shoes this afternoon, but I am fairly certain you are in luck! I am leaving in a few minutes, but just wanted to quickly say There are lots of options for beginning as you are. There are messaging boards for connecting with like minded/like experience climbers, even mothers groups that take turns watching the kiddos. Even the gyms farther way will have a pin-up board for gear/climbing partners/ and the like. One thing to keep in mind is that many people choose to get started with bouldering because all you need is shoes, chalk, and a crash pad. No belaying or harnesses. The problems are shorter, nearer the ground. I personally don't really boulder except at home because of the nature of my disability, but many prefer it. My hubby does both, but we both prefer the heights. Yes, the next step will be learning to belay. This is usually pretty quick, at least for top-roping, which is what you are doing in a gym. You usually just ask at the desk at a gym. Most gyms are now using auto-locking belay devices, so you also need to ask about learning on something like at ATC unless you are going to make sure to buy a device just like the gyms. Re the home woodies! When you build the wall, you drill pre made holes and pound in what are called T-nuts. They are threaded to accept bolts. This way you can constantly move and change out the holds to make new routes.

Soror, What size shoe do you wear? I have three brand new pairs of climbing shoes that we have either won in various comps or decided we didn't like the style...if any fit I am happy to give you an early Christmas present:) When you get into it a bit more you will find you like certain brands or styles better, but this way you won't have to (maybe) buy a pair of $100+ shoes to figure it out!

Oh Soror! You have been bitten by the rock climbing bug! I am sorry to say the effects only grow in strength the more you climb. Before you know it you will be haunting all the climbing websites, planning your vacations around decent climbing destinations and 'sending' weather. You may even find yourself, in the process of job hunting, only applying for those jobs that are within a reasonable (say 20 min!) distance of at least one crag. And I have to tell you I feel your pain. I am from Idaho, hubby from England. We now live in FLAT Texas where climbing outdoors is difficult, to say the least. We have been driving way too often to a destination roughly 3 hours away for the last 5 years for a bit of limestone. And it is quite the production. Although I am in a wheelchair, climbing isn't a problem...but the approach is. My awesome, amazing hubby will piggy-back me in (sometimes for miles), set me down and go back for our gear:) Even our almost 4 year old climbs. She has her own gear, and loves it. I will say it is a very, very expensive hobby. Especially if you want to do it outside. For us, climbing inside only serves as training for outside, but other people do primarily inside. It is obviously much more accessible, non-weather dependent, safer, cheaper, etc.. It also is a great place to get started. We don't live very close to any larger gyms, although we do tend to plan our weekends, errands, shopping around traveling to the larger cities we live between:) During the week we tend to get our fix at the Uni where hubby works, and we have converted our entire garage to a climbing wall/cave/training area/playground for kiddo. Have you checked to see if your local Uni has a wall? Some of the other things: Depending on funds, there are other options. It actually isn't too difficult to build a woody. (Home wooden wall). But it does take quite a bit of time and it can run up pretty steep cost. If you are interested still I can PM you some sites with plans, approximate costs, ways to find holds at discounts, things like that. Again, pricy, but for larger trips where either it would be unsafe to take someone disabled into a climb with hubby or the approach just isn't feasible, hubby will contract with a professional guide. This summer he was able to do the Diamond on Long's Peak this way. We have both taken classes from Colorado Mountain School, and hubby is certified to guide. I took the guiding course because I wanted to have the information, but did not test for the physical reasons. But you can do all sorts of trips and courses this way. Other training at home: things like installing a pull-up bar in a doorway. There are specific training boards that can be hung in a doorway, but you really, really shouldn't use them until your fingers are stronger. And you know how to warm them up properly. Otherwise they can do more damage than good. Anyway, I guess I send you a mixed happiness/sympathy wish:) It is the most amazing sport, one of the best whole body workouts, and something that can be done as a family. Make sure the kids are exposed enough to get bitten by the bug as well, so they start clammering for a wall too!

When my dd was born we started something similar...hubby is a bit of an artist, so we bought 25 of the same hand-blown clear glass ball ornaments. Every year he had paints the year in pictures on an ornament for his dd. Milestones, HIS memories, how he sees her. We even had a special wooden box made to house them. When she is an adult she will have a full set to sart her own tree, but to me it is a very special daddy/daughter thing. His love for her really comes out in the ornaments and I think it will be very special to her:) We also get one family ornament every year to immortalize the year. Where we are living, a vacation, an event, something to remember that year. Hubby and I started it when we were engaged and have continued. They are more fun and amusing than anything, so our Christmas tree reflects that! No gorgeous, themed, planned trees here, just straight kitsch:)

Yep, not even a smile here:( So sorry that your table was damaged. I love you 'making lemonade from lemons' attitude, and think a lazy Susan will be useful and will cover the spot.... I would be sure to move that lazy Susan often to dust, and everytime it would remind me just how lucky/blessed/grateful I was for the things that mean the most...the child who told you, the hubby who offered to work extra to replace something he knew meant something to you...awesome.

I actually think that RS is the absolute best! for very young kids because it has such a hands-on, game feel. As Jackie said, that is what it feels like, and very little of it requires writing. I bought RS-A for my dd when she was 2 as well, and we went through about 3/4 of it before switching over to RS-B. We then went all the way through B quite quickly as much of A and B are the same with a more rapid pace and deeper understanding. I love how well it teaches place value, how visual and hands-on it is. We play a LOT of math games here, and RS was a huge part of not only my daughters success in math but her love of all things math! At this age I think that is the most important aspect. The other thing I love about RS: my dd is about to turn 4 now and has worked her way through Singapore 1A/B and 2A/B. I know some SM users worry about what seem to be big conceptual leaps in those books but we have not found that to be the case. I honestly think that is because of how well RS works to provide deep number sense, understanding of place value, and works on math facts as relationships. I also think RS simply lends itself to adaptation for the early years! There are lots of things you can do to help. We did sooo many different things...in particular I think the AL abacus is a bit flimsy for the very young. If you happen to have one of the Melissa and Doug versions, it is VERY simple to take it apart and re-paint it in the RS yellow/blue colors. This works really, really well for almost all of RS A and B. We used number stamps for a lot of work as well, which was a bit hit and helped with fine motor, lining up columns, etc. I even made a set of bowling pins (10 of them, five blue/5 yellow) very early on when she was practicing math facts and 'making tens'. I will say that I also have Miquon and played quite a bit with it. It is the only other program that I think can be very successful with very little ones...mine seemed to like it more as a supplement, but I have friends who have used it for young kids with much success and fun.

I just sent you a PM so I can possibly help, but thought I would give the thread a bump....

Something for everyone to be aware of. Just because you can 'read the chart' and display even 20/20 vision does not mean that that is always the case. Especially at night. I was diagnosed as 'Night blind' a year ago, but stopped driving at night a few years ago. It got too scary! Those halos around lights, the reflective glare, are often early signs of cataracts. (Although some people do simply have night myopia, a condition that results from the dilating of eyes in certain lights, as I undertand it). And when you have cataracts developing in one eye, you often become 'one eye dominant'. This can lead to a problem with depth perception. My vision issues stem from what is called a Krukenberg spindle, but it acts very similarly to a cataract. It went un diagnosed for years and years...I tested 20/20 and even served in an area of the Army where 20/20 vision is mandated--yet could not see at night to drive safely. Essentially, if you have a cataract the light is reflected, and effectively blinds the eye. Add in the rain where everything is reflected? Suicidal. If you think it is a problem, ask the optometrist/ophthalmologist for a glare test to help diagnose the extent of the problem.

NM...

This thread brought to mind an anecdote, so I had to go check my library for the source... During the late 1980's the then- president of Olive Garden restaurants (Ron Magruder) fielded a phone call complaint. The call had been forwarded through the chain of command as nobody knew what to do about it. A man named 'Larry' was very, very upset that he had waited over 90 minutes for his table, only to fun that his local restaurant did not have a single chair or booth in which he could fit comfortably. Magruder (who was a bit portly himself) was sympathetic. He immediately ordered 1000 oversized chairs and distributed three to every restaurant. (They have since made ALL of their chairs oversized) Two months later, in a follow-up query to see if 'Larry' was happy with the solution a surprising answer came. Whilst the restaurant had been busy trying to accomodate Larry's girth, he had been busy as well...losing that girth. It turns out that he was very grateful. That too-small chair turned into the impetus he needed to confront his weight problem. Now, this is obviously an oversimplification of the entire issue. There are myriad reasons people are different weights and sizes. And I don't think that judgment or harsh, one-size-fits-all restrictions are the answer either. But, as previous posters have said, they are fully aware of the issue. At some point there WILL have to be rules put into place and enforced. And as far as reseating goes...I don't think this really solve much either, as generally what it means I to find someone small to place them next to....which simply penalizes a smaller person who now gets only 2/3 of their seat.

I know exactly what you mean, and it keeps flitting across my brain when I read POS...

I love the way you think:) I have done all of these in the past, with great success. Fred in particular, has made a home for himself at our house. I got her a subscription to MSB kits when the sale happened last year and it was a lot of fun. We made a portion of our Sunday afternoon 'Science Sunday' and did them as a family. It might be fun to investigate more science kits, although we are pretty well equipped for experiments around here now. The camera? Probably one of the reasons the last SeaWorld trip was so much fun. And I have literally hundreds of pictures of random people, random people's shoes, electrical outlets, etc., to go with the whales, dolphins, and penguins! One of the best gifts ever:)

Thanks, I always forget I can order specimens now:) She has commandeered my old dissection kit from back in the day, but...lets just say a new one might be in order! We are vegetarian, so I think that she believes that the fish/meat section in the grocery store is just the place to go to look for interesting creatures to take apart,lol.

Hubby and I are chemists, and we have a couple of these games so I can share our opinion:) First off, I have not played Compounded so no opinion there. But of the rest, if I were going to choose one? Hands down, Periodic Quest. I actually bought it last year as a Christmas present for my husband. It is fun for so many levels, even my almost-four-year old gets in on it. And it is definitely the most versatile. It is supposed to be six games in one, although I consider one of those to be just a variation, but we have used the cards and tiles to make up other games as well. We like the scrabble-esque game with tiles for making compounds the best:) The BrainLinks is also fun, but is really just a card game. Definitely not as versatile, but is pretty good for learning basics. Elementeo- this one I really wanted to like as it was invented by a high school entrepreneur! But I just couldn't get past the whole give each element a strange personality. Just not my thing. Sort of a Basher books meets Dungeons and Dragons kind of thing. And the whole thing was just too 'distant' for me from the real chemistry. Still, I can see the allure for a certain group. Hope that helps a bit. If you have specific questions or can tell me what you are specifically looking for I can give you more details:)

Not sure if you are hoping for science books most 1st graders could read independently or to be read to them as there is such a difference in the levels of Let's Read and Find out series. We really enjoy the science series written by Gail Gibbons. There are not as many of them, but they are nicely detailed and fun. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_8?k=gail+gibbons&sprefix=gail+gib

This has happened to me several times on long international flights. Always very aggravating for all. And I do think that the airline is responsible on some level, especially because people seem to keep getting larger on the whole and the seats seem to keep shrinking as the airline tries to squeeze out more of a profit. That being said, I have relatives in the UK who have never visited for fear of not fitting into their seat and being unwilling to purchase two seats...their choice. Yes, a lot of factors involved, but still...their choice. The best solution I have been a party to was on an international flight from NY to Frankfurt. I was recovering from hip surgery and was very uncomfortable anyway, and had to sit kind of sideways in my seat. I weighed about 100 pounds then, but the guy next to me literally could not be contained in his seat. I felt for the man, but there was no way I could handle it. And honestly, shouldn't have had to. Instead of moving him, they moved ME! Right to business class:) much more comfortable. Now days I doubt they would even consider such a solution as this situation is becoming very common and complaints are more common as well.

I think the ChiaPet may well have been invented solely for this purpose:) In fact, I think I shall order a slew of them, in differing animals, for my extended family...

Okay, so my first question would be whether or not you are seriously attempting to the the bigger person:) Sounds like others are giving you some good ideas, but this situation screams for a bit of fun, so... The little evil on my shoulder sends this advice: Instrument lessons for kids- anything loud works, but percussion is particularly nice. Maybe an AC/DC album as wellfor inspiration. Huge furry slippers in various, hideous, but trendy characters. ThinkGeek always has some great ones. Speaking of ThinkGeek, a collection of bacon-flavored/bacon themed goods is sure to please. Nothing says I love you like bacon! (Said from the bottom of my vegetarian heart) Subscription to random magazine, particularly in a topic of little interest...this gift keeps on giving the whole year long. Something handmade, the tackier the better, so that it is necessary to be displayed when you visit. A collection of self-help books in a beautiful basket. Angry bird mittens to go with last years hats. Two gifts for the price of one:) I saw an little container with grow your own carnivorous plants the other day and was sorely tempted. A beautiful sweater in a color that is simply not flattering. However, if you are honestly trying to be thoughtful, please ignore the above! Maybe something from the following... A family-night basket: a DVD or a couple of red-box coupons, pizza coupon or crust mix and sauce, popcorn, a small game, etc..this looks nice but isn't too pricy. Last year I gave my SIL an Omaha Steaks subscription. Every month they delivered a package to her door. She seemed to really like it...and of course there are companies with similar deliveries...like coffee or chocolate. A calendar-lots of companies do these now, with pictures of your family, artwork, etc...you can even get several made up for all those gifts you need for people not as well-loved. Hhmm..strange how my nice list is much shorter than my naughty list!

Oh, serious hugs! It WILL grow back, but... There is nothing quite like that anguish of just knowing it looks horrible. And of course, it always looks more horrible in your mind than it does in real life! It is absolutely ridiculous how something like that can undermine you confidence and general mood, but it surely does:((( If it will make you laugh, I will share my own tale of hairdresser woe... Imagine, if you will, preparing to travel with your British fiancé to a new country, to meet his family (extended and all!) for the very first time. I had my hair in carefully colored layers at the time. I went to an appointment at the waaay overly-priced salon to have it touched up on a Saturday, when we were scheduled to fly on Monday. I should have canceled the minute I heard my regular stylist had a family emergency. I knew there was a HUGE problem when the very young stylist gasped and told me not to move, running for help. And then the help gasped. And it all went progressively more wrong. The closest I have to describing the result is...I looked like a sucked-on candy cane! White and BRIGHT. PINK. Swirls. Everywhere. My hair is naturally brown. Pretty sure my impending wedding was jeopardized with all the drama. Total hysterics on my part, laughter on his. Ugh. I was able to schedule an immediate appointment the next day at another salon, where it took TWELVE different colors of dye , six long hours, three different stylists, $500, and a partridge in a pair tree, just to get my hair approaching a single color...which happened to be decidedly purple! My in-laws never said a thing, but I am certain hubby warned them in advance to keep a straight face. And there are pictures to immortalize the 'do:(. I finally went with attitude as my only disguise! Yep, I LOVE my hair thirty shades of purple. I paid a lot of money for it! Would you like the name of my stylist?! Hubby is more scandalized that I never managed to obtain a refund from the original salon as it was a gift certificate, lol! Anyway, yes. It is painful just to know the problem exists. TRY to own it, pretend like you purposely chose to have a bald spot as a fashion statement, and look people in the eye daring them to question it...and buy really cool hats:)

At this point for her there is not much difference between educational materials and toys:) and I am quite happy with that as it saves me a bit of money. We have loads of Legos, so I never really looked at the Playmobile stuff...but I think she would go nuts for the ones you linked! It seems to be a nice mix of educational/imaginative play. We took her to Sea World last month and she was absolutely heartbroken that she could not do all the behind the scenes tours due to age...so much so that we are taking her back in January as she will then meet the age requirements. The Playmobile aquatic vet set looks like something she would really, really enjoy! Thanks for the idea:)

Thanks, I actually didn't realize there was a jr version. We have the regular set, but she would rather play a game of 'patterns' she invented on it! We all play together, according to her own rules:)