We've had down comforters from IKEA for about 5-6 years. They've help up perfectly well, actually they're as good as new. And I machine wash and dry! Same with our down Land's End comforters, which are 3 years old. These are on our beds now and I was them about every 6-8 weeks. (I wash the duvet cover every week.)

This is a fantastic idea for me because I only eat sugar when I'm by myself! With coffee after kids go to school, late at night with a cup of tea after kids go to bed, etc. So, I'm in! :hurray: But I need to be held accountable in some way.. Should we report back on this thread from time to time?

Thank you! :) It's a good thing none of my kids heard the comments - they were pretty young at the time.

Whenever I'm asked how many kids I have, and I respond "four", people always seem to repeat me, "Four. Four? You have four?" :laugh: Our family of 6 once walked into a restaurant. As we passed by a mother sitting with her 2 kids, she said to her own daughter, "Too many kids!" And the daughter (who was about 8) said, "I agree!" Then they kept looking over at us during our meal.

What I mean is that anything 10,000 steps and over is a long walk, according to my iPhone. I don't know how accurate it is. I walk briskly so my stride length is perhaps long. I've got average length legs, though.

2-3 short walk 4-5 average walk (about an hour) 6-7 "good" walk 8-10 long walk (hitting the 10,000 step mark)

I've seen this in the past, but what exactly is it? I'm willing to help if I can.

We had a mouse escape once. I found it in the middle of the night when it crawled alongside my body under the blanket then tried to crawl inside my pillowcase.

6 people. Average 2 loads per day, so about 60 per month here.

Can you drive by and leave it in the mailbox when they're not home? I've left groceries on a friend's doorstep. When she called to ask if I knew who did it, I told her a had no idea.

I wouldn't move her. This place seems as nice as any other, and there's no guarantee she'll like the new place better. My MIL went to rehab after she fell and broke her hip. She, too, wanted to move after the first day but eventually got used to it. I hope your MIL will too.

We don't use our fireplace to heat our home, but I've been allowing ds since he was about 10 to start the fire and add logs throughout the night. It makes him feel "manly." :) Dh showed him how to stack the logs and such. The girls don't really have any interest to start the fire but they will add a log if the flames are gone and they want to roast marshmallows.

DD14 is using Apex online high school for Algebra. It's a mix of both, I guess. The material for the entire course is pre-recorded and available on the first day. She can work ahead of schedule, essentially rendering it a self-paced class. There are deadlines for quizzes, tests and projects, but since she worked ahead in the beginning when it was easy review, the deadlines are now very flexible, (she may go days without looking at it, or spend 4-5 hours in one sitting getting ahead) but they're still there to keep her on track. She would feel "too much pressure" if she had to keep up with a live class.

:iagree: Also Twinings decaf Irish Breakfast - my favorite.

Wow, that's very minimal! Not counting undies/socks/bras/pjs you've got only 15 items of clothing!

My first shipment is arriving tomorrow! I signed up after somebody mentioned in on the boards a few weeks ago. :)

Is this a drop-off or will the mom remain nearby at all times? Does either the boy or mom carry an epi-pen? I'd probably choose A and have the mom sign a liability release form, or something similar, if possible.

The homeschool version has a worksheet daily, side A and side B. After 3, starting with 5/4, there are 30+ problems per lesson, plus a facts worksheet daily. Not saying this is better or worse, just my observation. :)

My impression was just the opposite. I owned and briefly used Saxon 3 (the new "school" version) and felt that it was a watered down imitation of the 3rd edition homeschool version. I don't know anything about 2, though the homeschool editions are tried and true, IMO.

Spot clean it with Clorox bleach spray, being very carful not to touch the surrounding patches. Or, spray any stain remover and let it sit for a few hours.

I don't remember if she gives a specific reason for not hanging things - maybe because they take up less space folded? Anyway, I hang almost everything including t-shirts and jeans. I only fold sweaters, exercise clothes, socks and undies. I don't have too many clothes anymore and it's nice to see all my tops together, for example. I must add that I don't have a dresser and all my folded clothing is on a shelf in the closet. Socks and undies are in a wicker basket on the shelf.

Super quick and easy read! :)

Something to make her stay in the U.S. more comfortable and welcoming. A fuzzy blanket? A soft robe or slippers?

I don't think so either, anymore. I didn't know he "knew" something wasn't right.

I can totally see that now. The articles I read made it sound like the kids were just having a jolly good time waiting for their parents to come home, and I couldn't believe the 13 year old didn't see past it.