Brave kid. I tried reading that one as an adult and didn't get very far.

I haven't quit using the dryer yet but we did change our thermostat from 68 to 62 and I noticed a drop in electric use and saved about $40 off the bill.

Did your husband not think to stop them or say, hey boys please take off your shoes? Sorry, that sounds very aggravating.

I make bread every day in my bread maker. Sometimes even twice a day. I try not to run out of bread, so when I get down to half a loaf I start a new loaf. There are 5 of us in the family and we pretty much go through a loaf a day. We mostly make whole wheat but I also make butter rolls, pizza dough, cinnamon raisin bread, etc.... I joined a wheat co-op so that I could get a good price on organic wheat flour (although most of the people in the co-op buy the wheat berries and grind their own).

I had a Kitchen Aid which I WOULD NOT recommend because the teeth kept breaking off the bottom after fixing it 3 times I gave up. It just couldn't handle frozen fruit. Argh! I now have a Hamilton Beach individual blender that was $15 from Amazon. It works great. Although it is small I can get two smoothies from it at a time. In a way it is good because the kids can each pick what they want in their individual smoothie. Clean up is so easy because it is so small it is easy to rinse. We also love spinach smoothies. Usually 2/3 fruit and 1/3 spinach.

That sounds great. We rarely do birthday parties. I just don't like them. The kids see their friends all the time at the park, playlands or bouncy places. We usually just do a family activity and have a cake. The kids don't seem to mind.

$70 on satelite tv $17 on netflix $15 on cell phone $50 home phone/internet service $153 per month or $1836 per year

It varies. Sometimes during the week they go to bed at 9PM. Tonight we are watching a show till 10 PM. Last night they all stayed up till 11PM since we went out looking for the comet. My 12 year old is allowed to stay up and read in bed at late as he likes. Sometimes he stays up till 2 AM but he is pretty sensible. If he is tired the next day he won't stay up and read but will go straight to sleep. So, no easy answer here. :001_smile:

My boys are 5, 9 and 12. They all know on an age appropriate level about periods and where babies come from and such. We are just very open about things. I don't want the kids to be embarrassed to ask things. So I am just very matter of fact. Today I told the kids I will take them swimming tomorrow but that I would just be watching this week. My 9 year old pipes up, "Oh, are you on your period?" I replied, "Yes, I am." He said, "Didn't you just have one of those last month, I thought you only got them once a year?" I said, "No such luck, once a month." And that was that........

Honestly, I'm wondering how much time and effort people took to research loans and stuff. I remember spending time researching rates and figuring out what dollar amount we could afford. We bought a house for about half of what the bank actually said we could afford. It seems like a lot of people want the biggest and the best NOW instead of working their way up to it over time.

Mine have zero interest in music. They couldn't even name one pop band or star. They just aren't musically inclined. They don't like sports either. I rather spend time on the stuff they are interested in, like science and math.

I've bought several things from mattresses, bunk beds, book shelves, bar stools, picnic tables, etc... I have been happy with everything I have bought.

I'm in NC and when my son was 4 he went to special ed. preschool through the public school so that he could get speech therapy 4 times per week. When it was time for Kindergarten I was told he would only receive services if he was enrolled in public school and I was offered services 3 times per week. In the end I homeschooled him. When I pushed them for services for a homeschooler they said I was entitled to services that were funded by Federal dollars and offered me 15 minutes once per month. I declined. I was forced to have to pay for private speech therapy.

I don't think I am nearly that organized. Mine are grouped by subject. Novels are alphabetical.

I have three boys so they like just about anything with the exception of meat since they are vegetarians. Favorites: tofurky, roast potatoes and veg pasta with vegetables soy sausage, mash potatoes and veg home made bread and hummus greek salad

I hate my MagTag fridge. I liked it right up until the point the compressor went out and it took Sears 2 months to get the thing repaired under warranty. It was really a tough time living out an ice-chest for that long and I just feel annoyed and bitter to this day about the entire thing. It would have taken even longer to fix because one part was out of stock and wouldn't be in for weeks so I went to a local parts store and paid for the part myself. Argh! I also hate my lovely stylish dish washer, also from Sears that hasn't been used for months because that is also broken but no longer under warranty. My stove is really ancient but it works and I am scared to replace it because they don't make things like they use to. So I'm sticking with my 30 year old stove.

I'm still using my one from Pampered Chef that I got about 12 years ago. Works great and has a little thing that helps clean out the holes.

After having several kinds of dogs over the years (I did rescue and fostering, so I have had German Shepherds, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, terriers, labs, and various mixes). I have to say that my Standard Poodle has been the best dog I have ever had. He is only 45 pounds and is so gentle and playful with my children. He learns very easily, and is big enough to make me feel safe at home. The only downside with a poodle is the grooming needs. Mine takes me about 2 to 3 hours every 6 weeks. Or you can use a groomer but that can be expensive. I would urge you not to get a designer pooch like a Puggle as they only seem to encourage puppy farms and backyard breeders. Unless you can find one through a rescue group that needs a home.

I am very frugal so I do all the hair cuts at our house, I have never had a manicure/pedicure, never used valet parking or airline/shuttle help. Over the past several months we have given up on eating out. For one the food just wasn't that good and service was so-so. Now that finances are really tight we have given up eating out entirely. When we did eat out we would tip 10% at buffet places and 20% a full service restaurants. I could never figure out if you were meant to tip at places like "Sweet Tomatoes" where you get your own food, plates and even your own drinks. Someone would walk round taking you dirty plates - do you tip for that? It wasn't even the same person each time, just some random bus boy. Honestly, I'm happier not eating out. My food it better, healthier and cheaper.

Mine will play outside, we'll meet friends at the park or we'll all go for a hike. They also like the Y where they can swim with friends, go to game room or play basketball.

This is very normal behavior. I use to have chickens and the roosters could be very mean. We ended up eating them as the roosters would attack and physically hurt the kids.

The other day my 5 yo was telling me how he wanted to have 10 kids when he grew up. I told him, "Honey, when you grow up and leave home you can have as many kids as you want." He said, "You mean I have to leave home when I grow up." At which point he burst out crying and sobbed uncontrollably for about 10 minutes. :001_smile:

There are 5 of us in the family and we go to the dollar movies about once per year. I love Netflix and the comfort of my own home vs expensive movie theaters. :D

Once every 4 to 6 months maybe. I have not really noticed any doggy smell from them. They are inside dogs, so maybe that makes a difference as they aren't really getting dirty.

I love owls. We had one fly into my windshield and get injured. We kept it at our house for a day until we tracked down a rehabber to take it. It was a Barred Owl.