Thank you, everyone! DH respected your opinion and isn't showing the movie to the boys. He's an awesome father, but I sometimes have to keep a close eye on him!! Alley

Dh read the book to the boys who turn 6 in April. They're read to constantly, but get no TV. I'd call them sheltered. One boy loved "Up." It freaked the other one out and he wanted to leave the theater. Remember when they tied the cub scout up and were trying to throw him off the blimb? Or when the two old men were trying to blast each other? The really scary dogs who were after the sweet/funny bird? My son couldn't take it. Knowing this, would you go ahead and show him Coraline? Thanks! Alley

dh was only given about 40 days to pack up his life and move. The good thing is that the company is giving us a 3 month apartment once we get there. So we're fixing up and cleaning out. It'll be so much easier for a Realtor to sell without 6 year old boys and their stuff everywhere. So, yes, a Realtor is necessary. But I love the way you do it and always wanted to try that for myself. Alley

I've never sold a home before. This is a new "treat." I don't have a clue what to expect from a Realtor, hope to get from one etc. I also don't know what or how they charge. Anything at all that you can tell me? Something I should look out for? THANKS!! Alley

do you happen to know if Gunn is a married name -- or a given name? Is Ingalls her maiden name or her middle name? Thanks and very exciting! Alley

I. Get. Freaked. Period. For a long time I thought it "was just me." But I've learned that a lot of my friends get scared too. Alley

Our lovely Redwood's roots grew into our plumbing pipe and cracked it to the tune of $14,000. The plumber -- a nice guy -- says that he has a cousin in Oregon who buys redwood wood. But couldn't produce the guy. Is this true? Is it possible to sell redwood or at least get a company to bring these poor trees down for free? I think I'm on a wild goose chase, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. Alley

If it were me, I think I would want exactly what Sunshine said. People around me, helping, wet eyes, someone who wouldn't leave. I'm so sorry. Alley

Joanne, I just wanted to say how sorry I am. It helped me a lot when I put 2 and 2 together and realized that my parents totally fit the description of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Or a better name for it: the Me! Me! Me! Disorder. People disagree on this, but many think that people with this serious personality disorder can't really love the way you and I do. That's why it's so easy for them to emotionally or physically abandon their own child. It's awful to be the child of a such a person. I really am so, so sorry. In a sense, if you have a parent or parents like this, you don't really have parents. Alley

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know that I won't fly Ollie. He's such a sweetheart. i can't imagine crossing my fingers and hoping he'd be okay on a plane. Dh is going to drive him and the kids and I will fly. Teacher mom -- thanks for saying you love VA. I'm so nervous! Alley

A friend was RAVING about Apples to Apples. I think 6 might be a little young, but her 7 year old loved it. And my friend isn't the "rave" type. Alley

We need to replace our potty and, funny enough, the toilet the plumber is suggesting we buy is getting poor reviews on line. Have you bought a toilet that you can recommend? Thanks, Alley

Oh, Patty, our posts just overlapped. My post wasn't directed at you at all. It hadn't even appeared when I posted. I just meant that everyone is being somewhat funny and I got a little serious. Alley

I totally get that everyone is being humorous and right on to that!! I just want to add that while I'm getting more comfortable with these daft comments -- I really don't want my kids hearing them. They're only 6 and don't have a clue that people have these idiotic ideas about hs. So I'd actually, politely and with a smile, shush them and ask them to keep it quiet for the sake of my kids. They don't need to know that close friends and family think that what their own parents are doing is nutty. A "friend" recently called me controlling so I hesitate putting this comment out for everyone to read and think, "my, she is controlling!" Ha! But seriously, what good does it do our kids to hear that stuff? I don't think those adults are being thoughtful and kind to the kids. Alley

What a great Thanksgiving day present too! Great luck to you! Alley

We're selling our house. Yes, during December. :glare: I've never sold a house before. I barely remember buying this one 9 years ago. I'd love to get a deal of some kind with the Realtor. I know NOTHING about "points" and don't know how low to ask a Realtor to go. I have a killer background in marketing, am already putting together a nice blog on the house, posting on Craig's List etc. etc. Any advice? Alley

What's so bad about being a helicopter mom?? :lol: I would take this very seriously. Alley

Thanks everyone!! Kim ~ I hear that question a lot, "where will he be in Glen Allen?" How big is the place?? I kept thinking it was relatively small for some reason. He's on Magellan Rd. 8550 Magellan Parkway. Richmond, Virginia 23227. I don't get why it says it's in Richmond. My understanding is that it's in Glen Allen. So Midlothian to Glen Allen would be a bad commute. That's great to know. Is hs'ing really well accepted in VA? In CA it still very much has a stigma. Does it have a stigma in VA? Thanks!! Alley

Thanks!! We'll be moving in mid-January. Don't I need to get them set up for the spring semester '10? I shouldn't wait till the summer, should I? Where the heck do I get a high school diploma??? Call my high school? I have a masters degree from CSU, Sacramento. I'm also licensed by the State of Ca in my field. Would any of that do? Or do they need to see a high school diploma? Thanks! Alley

Writing from freak out central here in No. Cal. My dh got the job in Richmond, VA and, for all my big talk, am floored. I think I thought we were having a fun mind adventure where we yakked about plans etc. Turns out he was serious. I'm really scared. But I digress. How should I start the process of getting my two 6 year old boys legally set up for homeschool in VA? They're technically in the first grade. Anything you can tell me about Richmond is appreciated too. I need all of the uppers I can get. If it were just us leaving CA, I'd be thrilled. It's having my boys leave their friends, activities etc. that's breaking my heart. Also, dh will work in Glen Allen. He doesn't want a commute. But I've heard that Midlothian is a "hub" for hs'ers (thanks Grace's mom!!). But if we move to Midlothian, dh will have a 30 min. commute. Any thoughts on this too? Sorry to overwhelm. I'm overwhelmed!! Alley

We're moving from CA to VA in January. I've heard too many horror stories about flying animals on planes. If worse comes to worst dh will drive Ollie in the van back east. Any better ideas? I was hoping a pet airline existed and there are a couple but I can't tell if they're any good or not. Thank you!! Alley p.s Ollie is 10 and mellow at this point (for a Lab)

I just wanted to say how sorry I am. We live around a lot of well-to-do folks, many who are retirees and I know we don't keep our yard as pristine as they do. Let's just say I don't feel the love! Alley

My husband go the job in Richmond, VA. I'm trying to stay calm. I'm nervous. Excited, but nervous. We'd like to fly our Black Lab, but have heard horror stories about animals flying under planes. If worse comes to worst, dh will drive our dog in the van cross country. Any suggestions? Alley

I don't talk to my sister much at all. I gave up years ago. I tried and tried to be friends with her, but when I had my kids my energy went into them and I thought, "enough" where she was concerned. Now, I call on her birthday, Christmas etc. stay pleasant, stay off heated topics, swallow it when she's annoying me (yes, in one tiny conversation she be so rude it's almost laughable) and just get along knowing she's not part of my daily life. She talks me up to her kids so I make a real effort to be a good Aunt. I call my niece almost every week and chat w/ her for 20 mins or so. It's sad. It would BREAK MY HEART if my two boys ended up like this. One of my deepest wishes is that they be close and stay good friends for life. Alley

Thanks for asking! It's looking like dh will get a job in Richmond, VA and we live in California. I'm the kind of person who loves to have my ducks in a row as soon as possible -- while dh is pretty much the opposite! :glare: I thought if anyone would know how to move -- this group would know! Alley