My oldest DD joined a theather group this year @ Christmas time. She loved it and one of my other kids has since joined. They have a yearly competition and with us being new we didn't enter the kids for any solo songs, but the whole group is doing a song together. My DD and DS don't have a major part in this 3 minute song and are just part of the back up singers. I think there are 30-35 kids total in the group song. So the first 2 competition shows are done and I think my kids are the only two who don't sing any song other than the one group one. We are fine with this as we are new to the whole competition thing and wanted to see how it all worked. The problem is it cost money to sing a song and for the last level of competition it's $35 per child and it's being held 2 hours from here. The whole competition is over five days and everyone is going up and staying at a hotel for the five days. Money is very tight for us this year and by the time of the competition gas will probably be well over $4 a gallon. So I figured we would just go up for the day the group is performing( They are only singing the song once) and then drive back. But then I got thinking, it seems silly to pay $70 ( more, we have already paid $80 for the last 2 shows) and then drive 4 hours for them to sing in a 3 minute song. Plus we would probably end up eating out and all that, have to take all the kids and drive my stupid gas guzzler van. WWYD? It makes sense to NOT go, but I don't know what to do. I feel so guilty for not wanting to go.

When we added our oldest DD it went up $50/month, but when we added our DS it went up another $95/month! And I have another son who will be getting his license this month :ack2:

I am really worried about the state of the economy. We have no more room to squeeze with our budget and honestly have no clue what I am going to do.

I eat most of my calories from carbs and have been steadily losing. Not all carbs are bad for you. Eliminate refined carbs and white junk and add in whole grains and healthy unrefined carbs and you should be fiine.

This is the only recipe we use and my kids love it!

We are switching to BJU for science. I haven't used any of the BJU yet, but from the little I looked through the books, I am pleased with them.

Here is another intersting article by them recently: http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_ParentLife_Meet_the_Duggers.pdf

It really depends onthe workbook andhow many pages you will be copying. I used to copy most workbooks for multiple children, but recently started purchaing one for each of them.

Thanks for the encouragement! We are very happy things are working out for him. :)

We have a bunch of Latino stores here too and I never thought of shopping there, but I am going to try it this week! Thank you :)

She will have to file both state and federal taxes, so yes, I would have her put some aside. If you go to the IRS web site I believe they have a calculator that figures how much self employement taxes she would have to pay and coupons to print in order to pay them quarterly if she wanted to do that.

http://www.aop.com/enews/hsview/200806/duggars.php . Wasn't someone here just asking @ older kids helping with the younger ones? Sue in PA? Michelle states here how they plan their day and what curriculum they use. I always wondered what they used for school and I am curious if they use it for all thier subjects or not. I personally don't have my older kids teach the younger ones, but they do like to help sometimes with reading or explaing something in math that I don't have time for( or don't understand ha ha). Other than that I do all the teaching or outsource it via CC or DVD etc. I don't have a problem with having older kids help if that is what works best for your family, I just don't think it would work well here.

Definitely at your kids ages. Once they get into the upper grades the day stretches on forever. Joking, just joking... Sort of :)

He just got hired yesterday for a PT job! He is thrilled and he is thinking of doing something like you said. Work PT during the school year and FT summers to pay his AS degree in cash. He can transfer to the U his junior and senior years and have very little, if any loans.

Hilarious!!!

She gave me an Rx for progesterone pills, but said I could try cream if I wanted. I checked one of the HFS near here and they didn't have it so I am going to check the other one. If I can't find it there I will order it online.

:iagree: We have been very honest with our kids about our situtation. I think it's a good learning opportunity for them to see the right way to deal with it.

I agree with cutting out the snacks and if they don't eat it, reheat it when they tell you they want a snack.

This is what we do too.

Yahoo because that's who I use for email.

As someone who has BTDT I say HUGE red flags!!! She would even call our house.....:mad: THis girl knows exactlly what she is doing and I don't believe for one second she is innocent . Your DH telling you these things tells me he knows it's wrong too. I would be having a long chat with Dh asap over this. I second going to the office and making yourself known, but honestly its up to your DH to end this NOW. I doubt she is going to stop just because you show up at the office. If he isn't willing to end things then you need to decide how far you are going to allow things to go. Sorry you are going through this. :( My Dh ended upleaving the job, there were other reasons too, but she played a big part in the descision.

Camy, I was in to see the gyn on Monday because my periods have been all out of wack and she recommended progesterone for 3 cycles to get thngs back on track. I am to use it on days 16-26 each month and she said after a few cycles things should go back to normal. I asked her about pregnancy and she said the progestrone shouldn't affect the chances at all or hurt the baby if I were to concieve. I am 39.5 so I, too, wondered if it was menopause but she didn't think it was related at this time.

My kids eat way too much cheese! I am embaressed to say I buy a 5# bag of shredded and a 5# package of slices every 2 weeks and we are usually out before the next shopping day.

I have @ 30 left to lose, but thought I'd share my story. I am 39 and have lost 98#s in the last 15 months. I started by making small changes and concentrated on being healthier, rather than losing weight. I started by switching to high fiber foods; brown rice, whole wheat breads, oatmeal, lots of veggies and fruits. I also gave up red meat and pork and ate just fish and chicken. No baked goods or fried foods and I limited sugary stuff to very rare treats. I ate this way for a long time and then slowly added in more vegetarian meals and less meats/eggs/dairly until I gave them up altogether in October. I am hoping and praying that I continue eating this way. One of my biggest fears is that I will go back to the old way of eating and gain it all back. My family is now eating this way too and that does make it easier for me to keep on track and the best part is my DH and 16 yo have both lost @ 30#s now too!

All my kids are thin except my 16 yo who has struggled with his weight since toddlerhood. He can eat the same foods as the others and gain so I feel for him. He has been trying to lose and get outside more which is working and he has dropped 30#s in the last 2 months. My 19 yo eats her own food and doesn't eat what we prepare and just started gaining weight, which is sad but thats a whole nother post lol