My MIL is 500 miles away (on purpose), so we don't have Thanksgiving with her. This year, I was the MIL! I made a traditional Thanksgiving meal AND a vegan meal for my son and dil. She was very appreciative as her family has already told them to "deal" with the food they serve. We had so much fun sitting around the table laughing and talking. They had a very sweet idea for everyone in the family to "create" something meaningful to unveil and share with the rest of the family on Christmas morning. We also decided to serve food at the homeless shelter as a family this season. I am so proud of them. I hope I have learned what not to do from my mil and she can actually enjoy being around me. So far, so good.

:grouphug: I am so sorry. Praying for you all.

:grouphug: I'm sorry, but glad you got to the bottom of it so that you can deal with it. Hang in there, Imp.

:grouphug: Praying for your brother, Ellen.

Just wanted to say that it's nice to get to know you, everyone! Welcome! Great idea, Jean.

We tried to incorporate it, but it just seemed too much with everything else we were doing. Too many resources, too little time!

:iagree: It doesn't last that long and it REALLY damaged my dd's hair. I won't ever let her do it again.

Extended family demanding we buy gifts for EVERYONE. I'm buying for kids whose name I don't even know. Having to drag all that cr*p all the way to Florida, and then dragging their cr*p back just to put in Goodwill bags. Mostly that. My best friend calls me The Grinch. I don't care. If I could do the holidays my way, I wouldn't hate it so much.

This sounds like my mother. My dad cooked when he had time and was good at it. I have a sheet of paper with my dad's bread recipes on it that he and I wrote down before I got married. I still go to his recipes to make cornbread, biscuits, pancakes, and hushpuppies.

:grouphug: I'm so sorry.

My 13yo dd is going to cook us breakfast for dinner tonight. She has been so much help this morning. We have baked 10 pies, made cornbread for dressing, and chopped all our veggies for tomorrow!

I would recommend Meditations. It is my 17yo's favorite book of all time. I also wouldn't skip Plutarch, and would cover Horace if you have time.

:grouphug: Praying for Amy.

:grouphug: Thanks for the update. I'm glad things went smoothly. Wow, the treatment must be quite a drive. I'll continue praying for you.

I have found that my relationship with my older children has changed into "advice when they ask for it." Thankfully, we still have a close relationship with them and they will talk with us about decisions they are making, things they are thinking about, etc. My oldest son is married and my 2nd son is a Marine, so they are independent, but know they will always have a home here if they need it. My oldest son lived here until his wedding. He was 24.

This is me. I don't even start until second week of December. I put it out of my mind until then.

:grouphug: Hoping you get to go.

I honestly didn't think my dh knew how hard I work, and not just with homeschooling, but with keeping a clean house, laundry caught up, homemade meals, running kids to gym/dance/etc. every day, and just life. He would tell me that he appreciates what I do, but I didn't think he realized how much I juggle. He surprised me the other day by saying, "You work harder than anyone I know." I know it's silly, but it meant the world to me for him to acknowledge that my job is not easy.

Congratulations! :party: What a dramatic way to arrive. I wonder if it means she is going to be a drama queen. :001_smile: Enjoy your family and precious new one.

I couldn't vote because I have never heard sorry rhyme with lorry. That sounds very strange to me. I have only heard sorry rhyme with starry.

Jennifer, I just saw this as I've been busy with "real life." :001_smile: I am praying for Meg and hoping she recovers quickly so that you can have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had one child (my oldest) who ran extremely high fevers, but thankfully never had a seizure. How scary.

Right now my 8th grader is doing: Bible Math Language Arts Literature Logic History/Geography Physical Science Algebra I Composer Study Art (history and drawing) Dance (performing in company dance theater)

We go to bed at the same time. He says he can't sleep until I go to bed, so I go when he does. Sometimes if I can't go right to sleep, I'll get up and read.

Yes, we always take this week to regroup. I'm like lionfamily, though. I have about a zillion things to do. My kids have their activities through Wednesday (gym, dance, etc.), so I'm still running around.

I'll be the odd man out and say that I assign A Farewell to Arms for high school. It is one of my dh's favorite books, and therefore one he can take over discussions on. So, more to give me a little break than because I think it is a better choice than Hemingway's other books. :001_smile: My 17yo son finished it about a month ago. He liked the writing style, and had some great discussions with his dad, but is too much of a lover-of-life to appreciate the darkness of the story.