Both my boys started ballet almost 2 years ago, they are now 7 and 9. Their instructor has them and the other 3 or 4 preteen boys just wear shorts and a white t-shirt. No one has ever teased or picked on them for dancing, and it's funny how all the girls seem to know all the boys' names. My boys have been paired with several different girls for Nutcracker and other performances and they're very comfortable holding hands with them - maybe we can skip the girls are icky stage altogether.

Thank you very much!

The boys started dancing almost 2 years ago now and moved up to Ballet 2 this year. Both boys will be ginger snaps and little toy soldiers in this year's production of the Nutcracker. So happy that someone was considerate enough to place them together so that I wouldn't be driving even more.

Are the houses worth $800k now or did they pay $800k then? He paid $800k then. Let's say Sean's dad was able to save and put down 5 percent on the house - $40,000. His house payment using the average 30 yr fixed interest rate at the time of 6% would still be about $4500 per month or about $55,000 per year. Add in taxes, insurance and PMI and you're at $6000 per month or $70k per year just in housing costs. And that's assuming an average rate. A $760k loan would be in the jumbo range with a higher interest rate. Down and dirty rule is purchase price equal to 3 times annual salary. Some people stretch it to 4 but Connecticut has very high sales, income and property taxes. With both spouses working, there are then childcare costs offsetting a portion of the second spouse's income. So, again, the family either had family money/ assets or were making enough money to afford a house that expensive (in the $200-300k/yr range). Either way, I think Auntie was jealous.

DS7 was tested using a blood test but it came back negative. After continued stomach issues, he went gluten free and we started seeing improvement within a couple days. It's now been a month and a half and the child hasn't had a stomach issue since.

The aunt lives in a third story walk up in NYC (probably a rental) while her cousin has purchased a home that is worth $800k. Having lived in Norwalk, CT (one of the neighboring towns), the salaries are NOT much higher and there has to be some money somewhere to afford a house that expensive. It's irrelevant that it's not "much" house, what's relevant is that their purchase of a $800k house after the housing crash when mortgage underwriting became stricter shows that the family has money/assets and I'm guessing Auntie hurt herself and saw a way to get some of it.

I'm guessing the lawsuit had more to do with the house being bought in 2008 for $800k - address was given in another news story.

And this is an example of why no meaningful conversations on guns can take place. I should have known better than to try to explain.

I think what you misunderstand is that I DON'T live in fear. I feel prepared in the unlikely event I ever need to be. It's like having a fire extinguisher - you hope you never need it. But target shooting is also a sport and I enjoy going to the range to keep up my skills.

New Hampshire, as a whole, is extremely safe with one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the nation. But while home invasions are rare, they exist everywhere. Maybe I have a heightened sense of it - my father was one of the firemen who responded to the Petit home fire in Cheshire, CT and friends/acquaintances of ours were seriously injured here in New Hampshire. I guess it's like cancer, if a friend is diagnosed you might be more likely to do routine screenings.

Houses are on 3-5 acres each. The problem wasn't the unoccupied vehicle, the problem is where the driver to that vehicle was. The closest public place to walk to is about 2 miles away and it's enough of a walk down the driveways that NO ONE parks on the street unless their driveway is being paved or sealed. Houses are partially hidden by trees and the driver could have been hiding anywhere. While I was not likely to need the gun, I believe in better safe than sorry.

We got here because we live in a time that people can be brutally raped and sodomized, stabbed and left for dead in their own home. Whether it's actually more prevalent or more publicized, I'm not sure, but I refuse to risk my safety or that of my loved ones to enact more gun legislation that I don't feel would help the real issues. I find it ironic that my FIL, an army veteran, can not even purchase a gun in Long Island because he has been unable to get a permit for over a year. The police department there has "lost" his application multiple times, and given him the run around so much that he has given up. I will guarantee that the criminals there have no issues getting guns, but yet a law abiding citizen does. That is why I'm concerned when people bring up "common sense" gun reform, because only the law abiding citizens are harmed by it.

I have my concealed carry permit. While I do not usually carry, there have been times when I have done so. One example is when there was an unknown car parked on our very suburban street where no one parks on the street. No driver was in the car and I had to bring one child to go pick up the other child at preschool. Husband was at work. I will guarantee that no one knew or even suspected I was carrying. Other than family and close friends, no one in "real" life even knows that we own guns, never mind that I might be carrying.

For those honestly curious - Gun is stored in a biometric (fingerprint) gun safe next to the bed. Magazine containing ammunition is in the safe with the gun. I can open the safe and load the gun in about 30 seconds. House is equipped with an alarm system. Bedrooms are on the second floor. if the alarm goes off, either my husband or I go to the children and grab the phone to call 911, the other accesses the safe and guards the stairs until help arrives. Thieves can steal anything they want from the first floor but if anyone comes up the stairs, we will protect our children. This probably sounds paranoid to some of you, by there was a home invasion in our town and friends of ours were seriously injured. Admittedly, the chances of a home invasion are rare, but so are the chances of a fire and we're encouraged to run fire drills with children. How is this any different?

That might be the problem where all the objects are round. I no longer have the book, so I might be wrong. Jenn

I now avoid the problem by a) not shopping at Kohls and b) recommending to all my family and friends that they don't either. If you think a gift recipient has any control over what type of receipt they are given, you're nuts. It's interesting that you are choosing to blame your customers instead of your own stupid policies.

Anyone else find it ironic that this is a zombie thread that's been dead over a year and gets resurrected by someone with 2 posts defending the Kohls policy?

Until you watch a loved one struggle to take their last breath, you can never truly understand. My father was was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer about 4 years ago. He went through multiple surgeries, drug trials, and by the end was on so much pain medication it was unbelievable. It still didn't completely control his pain and the side effects (constipation, etc) were just as bad as the pain from the cancer. At the end, about 2 years ago, he was in hospice where he went downhill fast. The doctors were having trouble keeping up with his pain because they could only up his pain medication by x amount per hour by law. Their hands were tied. As my mother, sister and I sat by his side, we watched him actively die for hours. His breathing became shallower and shallower, with every breathe taking longer to come. It was actually a blessing not to watch him suffer when his time finally came. All I could think of is that we don't let an animal suffer like that, but we in this country allow humans to do so. I only share my family's story because I think I understand what this young girl was trying to avoid. When death is inevitable and life is no longer worth living because the pain is unbearable, who are we to judge or determine what the right course of action is?

One other option is to hop on the monorail or walk to the Contemporary and grab the Downtown Disney bus from there. Driving would probably be quicker, though.

I'm grateful that things seem to be resolving. We've been boycotting for the last 5 or 6 weeks and trying to eat out of freezer and pantry to avoid the higher priced grocery stores. Needless to say, selection in the house is at an all time low. Hopefully it won't take too long for them to get up and running again.

If you're into theme parks, there's Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH Squam Lake natural science center in Holderness, NH is great if you head further north. We were just there for a homeschool day a week or so ago. Smaller venues with limited hours but that my kids enjoy are Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester, NH and Massabesic Audubon in Auburn, NH. Depending on the time of year and dates, Contoocook River Canoe company in Concord has canoe and kayak rentals. If you get as far northeast as Portsmouth, cross the river into Kittery, Maine for outlet shopping.

My children went to a private, half day preschool/kindergarten. We didn't start homeschooling until this year as I was unhappy with our public 1st grade. DS2 still attended private Kindergarten. Last year - I would drop the kids off at 8:30/8:45 and head to the gym. I would workout for an hour, take a shower and run an errand or 2 or working in my garden before picking up the kids at 11:45/12. Afternoons were spent playing with the kids, cleaning the house and going to their activities. This year - Drop DS2 off at 8:30 and work with DS1 until we picked up DS2 at noon. Between commute time, homeschool science and art classes, etc, we were constantly stressed to get work done in 2 to 2.5 hours. Afternoons were spent doing errands, cleaning the house and getting them to their activities. Exercise has gone by the wayside and I have gained 25 pounds. The only reason I am finally having some "me" time is because I spent the money to send the kids to camp for the week. Unfortunately I am so burnt out that all I want to do is take a nap instead of my lofty plans to deep clean the house, mulch my gardens and get some much needed exercise. If my children never attended school, I might not realize what I am missing. However, I really do miss my "me" time. but I still don't regret homeschooling as I know that it was the right choice for our family. Jenn

To keep deer and other animals away - shred up some Irish Spring soap and put it into a spray bottle with water. Shake it well and spray on any plants the deer like. They will stop using those plants as a buffet.

How about Forbes? http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/05/14/disarming-realities-as-gun-sales-soar-gun-crimes-plummet/ It points out that as gun sales have soared, gun crimes have plummeted. It also points out that only less than 15% of criminals that owned guns when they were arrested, obtained them through "legal" channels. The rest were from family or friends and 40% obtained them illegally (surprise, surprise...). So if we limit guns available to law abiding citizens, but at least 40% of criminals still would have access, how would that work?

From one biased source to another: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/21/media-cherry-picks-missouri-gun-data-to-make-misleading-case-for-more-control/ The article points put that the murder rate was increasing at a faster rate before the repeal than after. Then there is the murder rate after Massachusetts enacted a permit to purchase and how the rate increased substantially more than neighboring states after enactment. http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2013/02/massachusetts-murder-rate-has-risen.html