Yes, I agree with the razor scooters. You can look them up online and adjust the style to your needs. In other words, they range in ages/sizes. You should be able to just look at the specs and see if your son can use them. hth!

The answers to this question are going to be so great and varied. I'm not sure you will really be helped much by the answers as everyone purchases based on their individual likeness. I think that if your home is free from damage, clutter, and is decorated and updated (no orange appliances) with modern appliances you will be fine. Everything else is going to depend on the personal taste of the person buying your home e.g. land, split level, ranch, large kitchen/small kitchen..etc. For me, it's absolutely ALL about location. I can do just about anything to a house to make it livable and enjoy it, but I can't do anything about where it's located if I hate it. So, for me, I won't buy a house if it's not in the location I desire. I do have requirements for my house, but I haven't found anything that would be a deal breaker in a home if I loved the location. I think I might be in the minority though.:D

It sounds perfectly lovely to me!! What an awesome dilemma to be in...everyone wanting your children!!! :tongue_smilie: I think that's great. i think you did an amazing job organizing it and I would definitely keep them in VBS. I think it was extremely thoughtful of SMIL/FIL to offer to take them and share that time with them. It's obvious they are doing it for the kids. Them wanting a little time in addition to that would only make sense- to me. I think you did a great job and everyone will be happy. It's wonderful to hear stories like this where the gparents are so gracious and loving towards the gKids and DIL. :) You are blessed!!! Now, go have fun and eat chocolate and take naps! I'm so jealous! :D Blessings to you and yours!!!!

I'm so sorry to post this again. I just lost my list of 'must reads' to prepare me for the high school years. My eldest will be in the eigth grade next year. I'm in need of a few really good books that will prepare me for our new journey. Thanks for the encouragement!

Why isn't your husband buying gifts for his parents? Why should you have to take the kids out and do it? I remember doing that when my kids were young, but I just do not do it anymore. They are his parents and I let him do the buying and giving. It shouldn't be on you to do everything. I bet your dh would have some great ideas for his dad. You should try that this year! ;)

In the AM...I can only assume Dr's recommend that b/c it is more effective during that time. I don't know. I know ppl that take them in the PM too. So, I guess if you are wanting to change things around for your dd, you could certainly give it a shot and see what happens. i'm so sorry you are having to deal with these meds with such a little one. I'm sure you are very stressed in trying to make her better. :grouphug:

Wow...maybe she is just really relaxed and I didn't know it. She left the date TBA toward the end of the year. She doesn't nag at all. She doesn't stress perfection...just the joy of playing the piano. She's never contacted me over any concerns or anything. He just has his lesson and that's, that. He had two songs to perform, and they practiced those toward the end of the lessons for the year. I really don't have any other teachers to compare her too. Maybe she is too relaxed.:confused:

Oh, you are sooo sweet! It's funny b/c my littlest man has blue eyes like me! :D So, I never had to change my avatar name. :001_smile: I never, ever thought I would have a blue eyed little boy with blond hair!!!! It just goes to show that if you keep on...keepin' on...you never know what you will have!:D:D And, yeah, I do kinda feel like he was an afterthought. The situation makes me feel really sad for him b/c this is the one thing he loves to do. He doesn't like sports or things of that nature. So, it was a very big deal for him.

Thanks everyone...this is just one of those crazy things that happens. I really do like her. But, in this situation, I'm just stunned that this happened. I will think on it this summer and see what happens. I might get over it and be fine. Or...maybe someone else will come into the picture and be a perfect solution. You never know! I'm glad we have summer break to work it out.

Yes, I know. I guess I've been pondering on that one too. :confused: I'm shocked that she appears to be so relaxed about the whole thing. I look at this as something they've been working toward all year. She mentioned in the email that she had wondered where my son was that night.... again...getting mad!

Yes! I mentioned something about it the last two lessons we had. My son had his pieces to work on and he was going to continue to practice. She just didn't have the exact details (date and time) for me. She said she would email a reminder. I knew it would generally be two wks from the last piano practice. But no specific details.

I know...it's a part of the end of the year for us. I'm not sure why she was so careless with the details.

I know...I know... we just both like her so much. She's so good with my son. It's just hard to 'get over' like you suggested. It makes me really mad every. time. I think about it.:confused:

Just sent an email to my son's piano teacher about the date for the recital. I knew it was coming up soon and we had not received an email with the date/time etc.... Well, I just got an email back a few mins ago that she was VERY sorry but they had the recital last Wed. **UGH** She apologized b/c somehow our email was not in the student group email she sent out with the details. I'm so frustrated, mad, disappointed.... Accidents happen and it is what it is....but....it stinks!:glare: She is a great teacher. My son likes her very much. I'm happy with everything. I just can't believe that she didn't double check and make sure she had a response from everyone. She has a lot of students and the recital is a big deal. So, I see how she made the mistake. I just think it was careless not to make sure she had a system in place so that this didn't happen. And, I SHOULD have emailed sooner to make sure of the date. The only reason I didn't is b/c she said she was emailing everyone with the details.That was the last conversation we had which was the last day of piano lessons for the year. Vent. over.

:iagree: Yep,yep, yep! I'm glad you said this b/c I was thinking it.... I would not be comfortable with this situation b/c this is absolutely about HIM. Something is not right. I would want some answers.

:iagree: This sounds very much like mental illness- OCD and some anxiety issues. I would seriously try to get her to the dr. if you can. I understand that you might not want to get involved. However, you might be just the right person to help her. Otherwise, I think I would have very limited contact with her. I would not receive every call from her. I would possibly call her (at my convenience) once every two wks or something. However, I might not even do that. I guess it just depends on your circumstances. I was much more involved with my in-laws early in my marriage. About five years ago, maybe a little longer, I just quite trying to manage the relationship. It is what it is. I rarely talk with my MIL b/c she has mental health issues too. My fil is pretty good. We usually see him once a wk. He's easy. It's never an emotional thing with him. I appreciate that and respect it. So, we stay in touch. Hopefully, you can find some sort of resolution!

We started Apologia General this year, but it wasn't a good fit for my son. So, we ditched it and did something else. However, next year, he is doing Apologia Physical w/ labs. I'm certain it won't be a problem. I wouldn't worry about it. She should be fine reading along and doing the assigned work with her classmates. Apologia also sells various teaching resources that might be helpful. My son enjoyed listening to the audio version since it was such a lengthy text. It was kind of nice to have that option. HTH! :)

I had a situation with my sister very recently. Last week. It was bad. I had to get involved in a marriage issue where I had to tell her husband that she wasn't being honest with him. :( It was awful. It broke my heart, but she was really doing something deceitful and unkind to a very good man. Long story short, she immediately tried to see me at her house. At first, I accepted thinking it would be good to get the awkwardness over, but then, I started really thinking about her, her choices and behaviors. I decided I didn't WANT to be around her...now, or anytime soon. I sent her a heartfelt email explaining my feelings, told her I need some space and distance, and I would be in touch. She accepted the email and hasnt' pushed anything so far. Now, I have no idea what she is saying to our family behind my back. I know she blames me for a LOT of pain in her marriage (not her fault, ya know:confused:) All of that to say, I think it's just best to be honest with ppl. It frees you of 'game playing' and false pretenses and it allows you to be true to your real feelings. I feel like if ppl cant handle the truth that's on them. Ya know? Hth!:grouphug:

My dh cycles and was thinking of getting him some cycling equipment. Last year, he was in a biking race. A major goal of his. There was a photographer onsite taking action shots. He pulled them up on the computer and I secretly ordered one! I had it framed for him so he would always remember the BIG race! He lOVED it!

Ok, in the past month I have discovered that my sister has a relationship with someone outside her marriage. Ugh! That has been a nightmare for me and my family as I had to get involved. Now, today, my husband called and told me HIS sister has just been found out to be in a relationship with someone too. :001_huh: REally just kinda bummed out. I guess I'm getting to the age to where my loved one's will be getting divorced, but it still makes it hard. :confused: For me, it's not about the blame as much as I'm just hurt that their marriages are ending. Its weird when you watch ppl get married and then, you watch them divorce. Just a bundle of nerves. Feel sad. Thanks for listening.

lol...now this was awesome! :lol::lol:

Yes, your kids are certainly old enough to stay home, imo. I have left mine alone. I find that home schooled children are very responsible, but you have to know your kids.

Well, I could go either way. I can see on one hand that one bag of trash is no big deal and let it go. But, it also would bother me that he is being sneeky about it. If he is only using one bag of garbage, he is probably thinking it would be a waste to pay for pick up. But, if that IS the case, he should offer to pay a small portion of yours. The sneeky, not asking factor, is what bothers me. If I decided to DO something, this is what I would do. I would take his garbage and put a note on it and leave it in his driveway. I would simply say in the note that if he wants to tag onto your garbage pick up, you would be happy for him to pay____ and leave one bag for pick up. Otherwise, he needs to make other arrangements for his garbage. I would be nice and direct with him.

I agree with you...wait until you can do the whole kitchen.

Thank you. It has been very hard to deal with.... I'm still praying for a miracle.