This rocks! But I think we'd need two or more: maybe even a small forest of stuffed animal trees :)

I have 5 and 3 year old girls. About how many toys do your children have each? I feel like we are overflowing, but when we visit other homes and I see the number of toys they have I feel like we're The Grinch Parents! Basically, they have 6 of those roughly 1' cube fabric bins from Target that they share between the two of them, with a mini bookshelf filled with some puzzles, a few board games and odd other things. The cubes are mostly filled with stuffed animals and dolly clothes. They share everything except a few dollies and stuffies that are "special". We DO have a ton of books (easily in the hundreds) that my DH and I brought to our marriage, thanks to our parents who had the foresight to save all of our childhood books. So anyway, how many toys do yours have? Specific question for girls: do you have a dollhouse? (Not a Fisher Price type, but a real honest to goodness dolly house with furniture, etc...). Is it worth the cost?

Cute idea...a lot cheaper than these $60+ solutions, but for what it's worth, there is a "commercial" version of this idea: http://www.booninc.com/products/OvalAnimalBag/802 - small http://www.booninc.com/products/OttoAnimalBag - medium http://www.booninc.com/products/TrioAnimalBag - humongous

It all makes sense now....I didn't put two and two together until these recent posts re: Basic Youth Conflicts. I also remember thinking, "How can this guy (Bill Gothard) know so much about marriage and parenting when he's never been married and has no children?" I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, great Christian school, superb church, etc. "Everyone" went to BYC, so off we went as a family when I was a freshman in college. I rode with some long-time family friends who started asking me questions (I was a great babysitter candidate, you see -- moral, upright, conservative, kind, etc...). I specifically remember them asking me what kind of music I listened to, and I remember answering that I really liked Brian Duncan (ha, that dates me! it was 1986). The wife said, "Oh. I guess we won't be calling on you to babysit our children then." Just like that. Forget the rest of my upbringing, sunday school teaching experience, AWANA leadership, Christlike character etc. It all came down to that one little thing. I have heard references to BG's viewd on adoption eluded to throughout this string. What are his views, or where can I learn more about them? I just want to know in light of the whole Biblical doctrine of adoption as a metaphor for our salvation -- all throughout ROmans, Galatians and Ephesians, adoption is a beautiful, positive wondrous picture of how God MAKES US HIS HEIRS through Jesus Christ our Lord. How could anyone EVER twist adoption into something ugly and horrible when the Lord Himself adopts us into his family!?!?

Thanks to everyone who has participated on this thread. The advice and encouragement has been great. :grouphug: So, this is where we stand: Ilsa currently does not have a UTI, and it is likely that she did not have them in March or April either. The Sunday ER-visit culture also came back negative. However, Ilsa's doctor examined her this morning, and after hearing her loooong history of UTI *SYMPTOMS* actually took the time to explain what the cultures and quick strip test show her. She has not been having chronic UTIs-- the cultures apparently show that the results COULD HAVE been read either way, but her doc really doesn't think she had UTIs. HOWEVER, she most likely does have some sort of bladder issue, perhaps spasming. She gave her a referral to a urologist (here's where the prayers need to come in...this is Tricare everyone---they pick the urologist that is CLOSEST according to my address...not the best, or most appropriate) and we hope to have an appointment within the MONTH. Yes, MONTH. So, no horrible cath experience this morning, just more sitting, watching and waiting...but it could be worse. At least we got that golden referral!

I love my two Haiku bags...yes they are a little "crunchy" looking, but they are definitely feminine crunchy :) with great style and functionality. http://www.haikubags.com/originalCollection.html I have a "grab" and a "to go" bag. I'm hoping to get an "escape: next, as it is sized halfway between the grab (which is pretty tiny) and the to go, which is pretty big. www.Zappos.com is a great place to find them, as is www.REI.com. They show up from time to time on eBay (new and used) as well. They wear beautifully.

TJ Milk and dark chocolate chips :) Mmmmmmmmmmm

The main reason we didn't want "screen time" for our young children was because of the results released from the ongoing studies on babies' brain development out of the Univ. of Washington. Originally, we just limited TV time (didn't cut out totally, mind you). I am sure none of this is really new to you, but it is interesting: http://ilabs.washington.edu/news/TIME_BrainierBaby_Jan_06.pdf We're not Ludites, but we definitely want to limit electronic teaching mechanisms for a while...I type this as my daughters are watching a princess movie on a dvd :lol::lol::lol:

Lake Union is not a "walking" community, either, but it does have great views, and had great restaurants last time I was there. Edmonds is WONDERFUL. I grew up in the Seattle area, and my parents and in-laws live there still and we visit when we can (one to two times a year...). It has changed soooo much. The Eastside is great, but can be really pricey. I think that Priceline is a great idea...

I would try north and east if they are going to have access to a vehicle...perhaps Bothell or Lynnwood (near Alderwood Mall). Any driving in Seattle is tough. Where will they be visiting in Seattle, because "driveable suburb" can mean a lot of things :) Even going just north of the King County border a little bit into Snohomish can make a big difference when it comes to sales tax, etc. Also, a "Bellevue" or "Kirkland" hotel address could be significantly more than a "Bothell" address, and Bothell is 10 minutes north of Kirkland, especially across the county border into Snohomish... I'd probably stay away from SeaTac, just for safety reasons...some of the areas are pretty rough.

At what age did you start letting your children begin to use the computer for educational purposes? Our girls are only 5 and 3, but they have friends who are 5 or so and on the computer ALL THE TIME doing learning games up on the Noggin and PBS Kids websites. And these kids have talked about their "fun games" to my older daughter, especially, who thinks we're just holding back the world from her. DH and I have made up our minds that our girls WON'T use the computer for anything until they have something of a fix on the concrete world (whatever that means! Ha ha!). For us that means no counting, ABC, brain-training type "games", etc. on the computer because we want them to understand learning from paper and wooden toys (I laughed sheepishly when I read that, because I am kind of a toy snob...:blush:) We're not against technology, whatsoever! Just think that it has been pushed onto kids at such an early age that concrete learning can sometimes get pushed aside for the sake of the "new and exciting".

Anyone willing to share a recipe that really, really works??? :)

Check the trunk of your DHs car :lol: That's usually where I found stuff I've bought and have misplaced!

Bump...

John Piper has just written a book on marriage: This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence. He has also written a book of poetry: Velvet Steel: The Joy of Being Married to You. Here's a bit from Tim Challies' comprehensive review which gave it 5 stars (it's a long review, I didn't want to paste the whole thing in so I put in the first two paragraphs). (I highlighted the part in pink because I thought it was so excellent): John Piper waited forty years to write a book on marriage. It is only after forty years of marriage that he felt like he would have something valuable to say (or something valuable to add to a very crowded genre of book). "Romance, sex, and childbearing are temporary gifts of God. They are not part of the next life. And they are not guaranteed even for this life. They are one possible path through the narrow way to Paradise. Marriage passes through breathtaking heights and through swamps with choking vapors. It makes many things sweeter, and with it come bitter providences." Four decades of sweetness and bitter providences stand behind this book. Though I am tempted to say that no generation needs to be reminded of a biblical theology of marriage more than our own, I suspect that hundreds of generations past would disagree, saying that their generation is as desperately in need of God's wisdom. In the book's opening pages, Piper writes of the cultural distortion of marriage, a distortion that sees marriage as little more than temporary convenience that lasts only as long as the romantic feelings remain. He does so "in the hopes that it might wake you up to consider a vision of marriage higher and deeper and stronger and more glorious than anything this culture--or perhaps you yourself--ever imagined. The greatness and glory of marriage is beyond our ability to think or feel without divine revelation and without the illumining and awakening work of the Holy Spirit." The book is built upon this foundation: that marriage is God's doing. It is the doing of God and it is the display of God.

I might consider washing it through empty with Borax...it removes smells from clothes, and would probably work in this case as well.

Ooooh, thanks for the personal stamp of approval. I've got evap. milk on my grocery list now :)

I found this stove-top version of Alton Brown's Mac & Cheese over at the Food Network site. I haven't made this recipe, but boy does it look easy and good. I think I'm going to try it this week. I have been looking for a stove-top variety for lunchtime, the only time that we would eat it, as DH hates Mac & Cheese. This must be a common need, because I know of two other threads started with this question, one of which was started by me :) All of the recipes I got were GREAT for me, but too rich for my girls...they still love The (hideous) Blue Box, or as as one reviewer of the Alton Brown recipe above called it, "the slow orange death".

Fun thread :) 1. Olde English names for ye olde shoppes 2. "Old fashion" bread, donuts, bakery, etc....it's old fashionED! 3. Boeing's, Nordstrom's, Safeway's 4. The fact that there is a permanent item on the Fox News Channel crawl that lists the e-mail address with which to contact them about typos in their crawl. Don't they have proof readers? 5. When stores that are not toy stores (grocery stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.) load up with an unnecessary large amount of toys and/or candy at the checkout, especially branded/character toys and candy. 6. When acquaintances listen into my conversations with another then ease up alongside and say, "I just overheard..." or "I'm not being nosy, but..." 7. "Aren't you worried about socialization?"

We're military, so it might be different, but we HAD to file a claim with our HO first for anything lost, and then get a formal "rejection" for the damaged items which would be covered by the military. Our HO insurance then subrogates for reimbursement from the movers, as will the USAF. So one way or the other, the movers WILL pay...your insurance company WILL try to be reimbursed. (I used to be a claims adjuster.)

Well, we're home. Fever hit 103.6 at the ER. And guess what? UA was negative for UTI. The fever was part of a NEW thing: she must have caught something at the Urgent Care on Thursday because she started hacking up a lung and her nose starting running like a faucet while we were in the ER. Not flu, just a bug. BUT still doesn't explain the stomach ache. We were directed to still follow up with Doc on Tuesday on Base and get a referral, as this was the third one in 3 months. Thanks to anyone who prayed, and your replies have all been encouraging and informative.

We just got home from church, and she has a fever if 102.6...I have a call into the Base nurse line. If you have a prayer list, would you add Ilsa? She apparently complained all through Sunday School that her tummy hurt, and she was pretty lethargic. Why they didn't get me, I don't know... :( I have a feeling we're off to the ER now. At least there's a good pediatric ER here in Almost Mexico.

I don't know if Henckels makes gadgets and utensils anymore, but every single one of mine from 1996 is in perfect condition. Of the non-Henckels things, I've been slowly replacing with OXO, which are WONDERFUL! The grips are great and ergonomic. Go to their website...there are so many more available there that do things you wouldn't even imagine you needed (and probably don't), but it is sure fun to look! http://www.oxo.com

WEIRD -- The culture came back NEGATIVE FOR ANYTHING. The home dip test that I did was positive; the dip test at the clinic was positive. They want her seen right away on Tuesday....she has no more abdominal pain, and hasn't had urgency since the antibiotics. I'm confused. :confused:

When I exercise, I don't have it. When I don't, I do. Right now I'm in the don't/do camp. :(