I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Haley R]

I love your goals. We can't even decide what's next in theory, so I can't even start to work on the points. Africa is on the list (but less likely than some other options) so I'd love to hear what you are planning. As for the Galapagos, a friend sailed SilverSea and loved it, but it was cash and expensive. I saw that Celebrity has a very small ship out there that could perhaps be booked with points, but I would think that Lindblad would do the area better.



You're going to have so much fun. I loved those preschool years so much - there is so much to see and do and learn and experience.



Love the Kauai Hyatt. We've spent quite a few vacations there and it never disappointed.



If you're paying attention, you can tell when they are cold. DD loved the water but her little lips would start to turn blue (by the way this happened at swim team practices when she was under 10 also, so it's not something scary) and we could tell it was time to warm her up. I think she was at least a few months old when we first took her to a pool, but then we didn't have one in our back yard.

I already started saving some fun sensory bags and busy boards on Pinterest!

 

[wendow]

@orangecuse Disney Wholesale number is 407-939-7671

 

[wendow]

I already started saving some fun sensory bags and busy boards on Pinterest!

Are you sure you aren't a future homeschooler!?!

 

[Haley R]

Are you sure you aren't a future homeschooler!?!

I haven’t decided yet lol. It’s just me being a teacher. I’m leaning more towards doing public school just because we have really nice schools near us

 

[wendow]

I haven’t decided yet lol. It’s just me being a teacher. I’m leaning more towards doing public school just because we have really nice schools near us

We don't homeschool because our schools are bad. They're excellent, in fact. And we aren't anti-public school. We're just very pro-homeschooling.

Just focus now on enjoying where you are. I'm in agreement with @kmc8826 that babies don't really need much socialization. We started going to story time at the library when my dd was 10 mos and that is where we met our first friends and we formed a playgroup. We started that right when dd was 1 yo. It was perfect timing to begin playing with others. By the time she was 2yo, we joined Little Gym. But honestly, the best socialization comes from just living - taking baby out to shop, out to eat, to the zoo, the park, the pool, etc.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

We went to a heated, indoor pool. It was warm like bathwater. DD, at maybe 6 mos. loved the water, but couldn't stay in a normal temp pool for more than a few mins. Even at one year her little lips would start turning blue. She was a water baby, though, through and through, and still is (went swimming today even though it's cold outside).

We got DGD a “shorty” wetsuit when she was fairly young. It worked fairly well to keep her core warm. At 6 she still uses one when the lakes are cold up north here.

 

[Alexle2007]

So my Arrival + AF has posted. If I downgrade to the no fee will I still earn 2x on everything and be able to cash out on travel expenses? I’d like to keep a MC in my mix.

 

[smmco]

I haven’t decided yet lol. It’s just me being a teacher. I’m leaning more towards doing public school just because we have really nice schools near us

We homeschooled since the beginning. If I could go back in time I don't know what I'd do. There are positives and negatives to everything. There was a 5 year period where my DH was working 4 days a week in another state and my mom was going through health problems in another state. If my kids would have been in school they would have been kicked out for absences.

My husband and I both have good-paying service jobs that require working weekends, holidays and odd hours. Homeschooling works well for our crazy lifestyle. It's also allowed us to travel a lot without having to worry about school schedules. There are negative such as your kids are home way too much. As far as the socialization aspect it's a mixed bag. Some positive and some negative....probably no different than for kids that attend a public school.

 

[Haley R]

We don't homeschool because our schools are bad. They're excellent, in fact. And we aren't anti-public school. We're just very pro-homeschooling.

Just focus now on enjoying where you are. I'm in agreement with @kmc8826 that babies don't really need much socialization. We started going to story time at the library when my dd was 10 mos and that is where we met our first friends and we formed a playgroup. We started that right when dd was 1 yo. It was perfect timing to begin playing with others. By the time she was 2yo, we joined Little Gym. But honestly, the best socialization comes from just living - taking baby out to shop, out to eat, to the zoo, the park, the pool, etc.

I’m planning on getting an annual pass to our zoo because it’s only a mile from us and has a great splash pad. I’m sure we’ll go to Disney a lot and try to go out to eat when we can. I’m overthinking and over planning things like usual lol

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I haven’t studied this much but for my friends traveling to HI it might be worth a look
https://beatofhawaii.com/139-flights-to-hawaii-airfare-war-today/

 

[Haley R]

Apparently the baby really likes Boston. I’m playing music through headphones and he’s been kicking nonstop since this song by them came on.

 

[wendow]

We homeschooled since the beginning. If I could go back in time I don't know what I'd do. There are positives and negatives to everything. There was a 5 year period where my DH was working 4 days a week in another state and my mom was going through health problems in another state. If my kids would have been in school they would have been kicked out for absences.

My husband and I both have good-paying service jobs that require working weekends, holidays and odd hours. Homeschooling works well for our crazy lifestyle. It's also allowed us to travel a lot without having to worry about school schedules. There are negative such as your kids are home way too much. As far as the socialization aspect it's a mixed bag. Some positive and some negative....probably no different than for kids that attend a public school.

And we are the homeschooler's who are never home enough to actually do much school lol! Thankfully, the kids in public school do a ton of busy work so the little we do keeps the kids on par with the schools. We know a lot of homeschool kids who score almost perfect on the SAT and such. That will never be my kids. We socialize far more than we do school but my dh and I value things learned outside of books more than what is learned from books. We've graduated one and she is doing awesome. I wouldn't change a thing. Homeschooling is not always easy or perfect, but it's always worth it for us. If I come across as passionate about it, it's because I am

 

[WVMomof3]

We got DGD a “shorty” wetsuit when she was fairly young. It worked fairly well to keep her core warm. At 6 she still uses one when the lakes are cold up north here.

Wore a wet suit for first time today. Didn't realize that wet suit meant you get wet! lol I was like mine doesn't work, it is leaking!! But those of you that know me on here know that i am petrified of the water/ocean/fish/sharks/whatever lurks beneath the surface would be so proud of me that I did it! I think I may have to steal @Killer Fish 's manatee pic and pass it off as my own though. lol I was told I saw them, they swam under me, but I am blind as a bat and I couldn't see a thing with the goggles and no glasses. I saw big rock shapes moving, so I guess I kind of saw them. lol I tried to get pics but was having difficulty with that and trying to breath through my tube at the same time and not panicking. Could only do 2 of those 3 things at once so breathing and panic attacking won out. Snorkeling is not my friend. I can't say I liked it, really hated it, but I did it. Did much better on the kayak and did see several manatees from that vantage point.

 

[wendow]

So my Arrival + AF has posted. If I downgrade to the no fee will I still earn 2x on everything and be able to cash out on travel expenses? I’d like to keep a MC in my mix.

There isn't a 'no fee' Arrival+. IME, you will need to downgrade to a Rewards card (there might be another option) but it doesn't earn 2x. And you will redeem your points differently. Mine will come up soon but I think I've decided to keep it. I actually use my Arrival+ a ton.

 

[smmco]

I’m planning on getting an annual pass to our zoo because it’s only a mile from us and has a great splash pad. I’m sure we’ll go to Disney a lot and try to go out to eat when we can. I’m overthinking and over planning things like usual lol

Another thing that's weird with the Zoomers is how much education they have at their fingertips. My 15 year old decided to do an online Geography challenge and learn where every country was on the globe. I bet him a hundred bucks he couldn't get a 100%. Well, I lost. He makes fun of me because half those countries I haven't even heard of........and all those islands???? I think my kids are so much smarter than I was at their age, but definitely lacking in life skills. The technology your child will grow up will be even more amazing.

 

[wendow]

Wore a wet suit for first time today. Didn't realize that wet suit meant you get wet! lol I was like mine doesn't work, it is leaking!! But those of you that know me on here know that i am petrified of the water/ocean/fish/sharks/whatever lurks beneath the surface would be so proud of me that I did it! I think I may have to steal @Killer Fish 's manatee pic and pass it off as my own though. lol I was told I saw them, they swam under me, but I am blind as a bat and I couldn't see a thing with the goggles and no glasses. I saw big rock shapes moving, so I guess I kind of saw them. lol I tried to get pics but was having difficulty with that and trying to breath through my tube at the same time and not panicking. Could only do 2 of those 3 things at once so breathing and panic attacking won out. Snorkeling is not my friend. I can't say I liked it, really hated it, but I did it. Did much better on the kayak and did see several manatees from that vantage point.

Sounds amazing!!! I really want to do this!

 

[wendow]

I think my kids are so much smarter than I was at their age, but definitely lacking in life skills.

I'm really curious what you mean by this...I think my teens are amazingly prepared for life. They've been allowed to grow up and 'adult' without the constant peer pressure that you'd find in public school.

 

[mmmears]

We got DGD a “shorty” wetsuit when she was fairly young. It worked fairly well to keep her core warm. At 6 she still uses one when the lakes are cold up north here.

Oh my gosh, we did the same thing! I found the first one online at half price and I think it was a 2T, and we kept replacing them as she grew. She still would get those blue lips but it definitely took longer.

 

[platamama]

How is it only Jan 2 and my first post is on pg 38?? lol Happy New Year everybody!

I'm not sure how much churning is going to happen for us this year. Between DH and me, we opened 21 cards last year and now I'm at 5/24 and DH is 4/24 until Nov. I might get him a Hyatt card, and I'm planning on one of us getting a SW CP for 21-22 since my CP expires end of this year. Since I'm not sure which of us will be going for the CP (I think it's more useful for me to have it than him, but I'd have to wait longer to apply because I got my bonuses in early 2019), I'm going to keep both of us at 5/24 or lower. I guess I'll just be doing more MS'ing on the cards I have. And try to do more bank bonuses.

@SouthFayetteFan Congrats on paying off your house!! That's a huge accomplishment! But, you know, how are you going to convince banks that you're not a bust out risk?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

@SouthFayetteFan - what's your profession/job?

I had a successful career in Wholesale Distribution, ended up as VP of Purchasing for a company.

Then at 30 (5 years ago) I pivoted into commercial banking.

I also have restaurants in my background from my earlier years. So I’d contend I’ve had 3 successful careers lol!