Thanks for sharing that with me! That was the gist of what I got out of KS hsing laws. I thought that sounded easier than MO, but ???. I'll look into Manhattan, too... :)

Hmmm... I suppose I thought it would be easier to hs in Kansas because no Standardized Testing is required (the same as Missouri), and I test my kids in their different subjects, anyway so I'm not bothered by their asking me to test now and again. I'm used to hsing in Texas where I don't even have to keep records, if I choose not to do so. As far as choosing MO over KS for its rolling hills and such, my husband would be working in the Grandview, MO area so we have to choose where to live based on him being able to get to and from work every day without a long drive. So, it needs to be in that area. We are trying to decide whether to live on the Kansas or Missouri side of things. Thanks for responding! :)

I'll go and read the laws again. Maybe I mixed the two states up!

Hi. :) We may be relocating from Texas for a job in the Grandview, MO area. I read the hsing laws for both Kansas and Missouri, and it seems as though it would be better to live in Kansas? What is your opinion? As for where to live, we are looking at south Kansas City or ??? do you have any recommendations on a good area in which to live? I am so excited about having a basement. It's all up in the air right now, but I still want/need advice, if I've given enough information for you to give some... Thank you *so* much. :)

Dave Ramsey recommends a $1000 emergency fund for...emergencies. So, if my tire blows out, I use a portion of my emergency fund to pay for repairs. :)

Thank you so much! :)

Could it be a kidney stone? I'm sorry he's hurting... :(

Go to the children's hospital, to the records department. Request a copy of the test results. Then, look at what it says. This is what I had to do when I had kidney issues. My doctor went out of town without looking at the results of a dye test. I called the hospital, talked to the radiology department and was told to request my records so I could see the results and opinion myself. Doing this prompted me to get in touch with the urologist my doctor recommends. By the time she was coming back into town, 3 days later, I was on the operating table having shock treatment for the stone that was almost completely blocking my ureter. Be proactive. The urologist and his staff were really supportive of me getting things done on my own. Oops, edited to add: Obviously, if no one has looked at the test results, you won't have an opinion of the problem in records. But, shouldn't you be able to see what the test results are anyway? Trying to help...

Yes. I make my own sheets in Excel. That way I can make the spaces the way I want them. I print out the first side of the sheet, then the second side so I can see a week at a glance. I three hole punch the pages. Then, I three hole punch two pieces of cardstock. I add blank notebook paper at the end of my planner pages and a few other note type pages and I put a piece of cardstock on the front of the first page and at the back of the last page. Then, I use paper fasteners (brads) through the three holes. I use packing tape across the front of the paper fasteners and across the backside. I cut another piece of cardstock in a triangle shape and tape it in the front cover. I make another for the back cover. They are my pockets. I tape them in with clear packing tape. Here's what my planner looks like: On the front piece of cardstock, at the bottom: Serendipity Family Planner November 2010 - May 2011 (Next year, I will make quarterly planners) Inside front cover: pocket with those blank circle stickers in two sizes and various colors First page: Serendipity Academy 2010 - 2011 School Year Calendar (all twelve months with vacations and co-op days highlighted) On the right edge of this page I have one of those colored circle stickers folded over and taped over so when my planner is closed, I can find the calendar easily...it's like a tab) Next 6 pages: Monthly calendars. One month per side of page. Every day has its own spaces. This is where I keep track of my cycle and appointments and exercising and such. My planner pages are next: The first planner page has a red colored circle sticker folded over the edge a bit lower than the green circle on the yearly calendar page. This is so I can tell where to find the planner pages when my planner is closed. The week at a glance starts here. I write: Planning for the week of: AND FILL THIS IN BEFORE I PRINT Then are my school subjects. Spaces underneath Then: Things I would like to get done today... Then: The day of the week with the day of the month after it. For example: Monday 22 Spaces underneath Then: Our appointments, engagements, classes, field trips, and practices... Then: hourly slots beginning at 6AM, with 12 shaded for lunch, and ending at 8PM. This first page goes from Monday to Thursday. Friday through Sunday are on the next page. At the top of this page I write: My goal for the week is... THEN I HANDWRITE A GOAL. Next, the school subject spaces are blank because we do co-op and field trips on Fridays. I use these spaces as needed. Again, I have: Things I would like to get done today... The day and date. Spaces underneath. Appointments and spaces underneath. On the far right side of this page where Thursday is on the previous page I have: My notes spaces underneath One Step at a time (little things I do for myself) Spaces underneath Our menu spaces underneath My extras spaces underneath My shopping list spaces underneath I cut the top corner off the page that is being used so I can quickly find the calendar or week we are on... Then I have blank, lined paper in the planner. Then I have green accounting ledger sheets in my planner for my budgeting. Then I have several Excel sheets in a row, the first one with a blue sticker on the edge so I can easily find this section. The first several sheets are: a running remember/reminder to-do list Then: a praises/prayer sheet Then: a reading list for myself Lastly comes my back piece of cardstock with a pocket taped in for receipts and such. ***I use Excel because I can make use the columns and rows to make my boxes and spaces. My husband finds much humor in the way I use Excel. I know it sounds complicated, but once the template is made, it's just a matter of changing dates and printing. Hth? :blushing:

YES.

I just adore it when folks share their frugal victory stories! Way to go, you two. :)

Hobby Lobby. They're already reasonable, but you can sign up to receive e-coupons and can get a further discount. Hth... :)

http://www.flixxy.com/my-blackberry-is-not-working.htm I hope this hasn't been posted previously. If it has, so sorry... :)

Yes, you can start with the lightest weights or even NO weights at all! You'll work your way up in no time. :)

raw sugar cookie dough...

AHA! So, plural forms of measurement such as dollars do take a singular verb. However, there ARE exceptions, such as when one is counting said dollars individually. WordGirl, I'm so glad you edited your source post to add another sentence and a smiley. :) 'Cause I'm like, really? What's there to get all uptight about? We're all having a casual conversation and trying to figure things out and WHAMMO. :)

Ooh. I googled subject-verb agreement and yes, the word 'other' does seem to make the $72 need the verb: is. One example I came across was: That coat is $50. According to that website, we wouldn't say: That coat are $50 because $50 is a single unit of money. BUT...Doesn't the verb depend on the subject of the sentence which is actually COAT? So would it be correct to say, "That other $72 is not from me." ??? Well, since the point is subject-verb agreement...What is the subject of the sentence? Is it other? Other is an adjective. Is the subject $72? Yes. So what does that mean in regard to the verb? I am googling...lol! So, basically...We need Ellie to help us out here. ;)

That hundred dollar BILL is in your drawer. (if it is one bill) The hundred DOLLARS are in your drawer. (dollars is plural) You shouldn't say, "That hundred dollars is in your drawer.", if it is only a bill. The other $72 are not from me. (dollars is plural and understood to be present) Because 72 what? 72 dollarS. 72 what? 72 duckS. NOT 72 dollar. Not 72 duck. Hth... :) Oh, and anyone out there correct me, please, if I'm wrong. I'm sure I messed up the punctuation surrounding my quotation marks...lol. :)

I wash the outside, cut it in half, and scoop out the seeds. Then I lay each half on a baking sheet and pour water into the sheet. I bake the squash like that at 350 degrees for an hour or so. I remove the squash from the oven and scrape the flesh into a bowl. If the flesh doesn't scoop easily, keep baking. I recently made a 'pasta' bake with a spaghetti squash. Bake squash and remove insides into a bowl. Add 2 Tbsp. butter and 1/2 c parmesan to squash, then mix it up. Put cooked squash into a baking dish, spread evenly. Spread ricotta (mixed with some parmesan) over the squash. Add spaghetti sauce. Add mozzarella cheese. Baked covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered until cheese is bubbly. Hth... :)

Here are a few sites to get you started: http://alittleofthis---alittleofthat.blogspot.com/ http://www.allthingsthrifty.com http://www.fleamarkettrixie.com Edited to add: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/10/spray-paint-faqs/ These ladies thrift store shop and then re-do their finds. Hope this helps... :)

I would like to be a part of this club. :)

Here.

http://www.collagevideo.com/workout-video/cathe-friedrichs-stretch-max-7455 I LOVE this stretching DVD, but I still have only done the first segment. You can search for stretching DVDs at http://www.collage.video Down the left side of the screen, you click on search by: WORKOUT. Then choose stretching. Hth... :)

I would probably take a photo of the children holding the artwork, have it enlarged slightly, and hang it up with the gift. :)

I would buy a calendar of these photos! Adorable, thanks for sharing. :)