The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 5

[tink2020]

Well, it's been an emotional day for me! A neighbor of mine lost her oldest son this week to a tragic car accident. She is absolutely devastated, since her second son killed himself not 9 months ago. Right after the suicide, her husband had a massive heart attack (fortunately he survived), and then she was diagnosed with several small brain tumors. When I heard the news about her oldest son today, I just started to bawl. How much more is one family expected to handle? I feel so badly for Connie and her family, and wish there was more that I could do. Our congregation held a special prayer meeting for them today, and then we were all told that another member of the congregation is having surgery on Wednesday to have a majority of his colon removed, and a third member is taking her oldest daughter to a rehabilitation center this week so she can get therapy for a drug problem that is related to some sexual abuse she suffered.

I feel like I've been crying for hours. I probably won't be checking in here, much as I've volunteered to help with dinners for these families this week. I feel like next to praying cooking is one thing I can do to help. If you've got any spare pixie dust and prayers to send my way I'd appreciate it for the Romney family, the Folkman family, and the Loser family.

Thanks.

Oh my gosh.... I can't even imagine dealing with one thing after another. That family (and the others) will definitely be in my prayers.

 

[itdjbw]

My DH says that the vinegar's acid reacts with the calcium in the eggs to help set the dye. If I have a question like this, I always ask him. If he doesn't know (which he does more than half the time), he looks it up on the internet for me.

Interesting - Thanks

 

[MinnieMouseMom]

Expedition Everest is on at 8pm..travel channel I think!!!

Yay, I just set the DVR!! Thanks!

 

[tink2020]

Hi, everyone. The kids had a blast at the b'day party yesterday. It was a Batman theme. His mom and Dad had it at home, but they went ALL out with themed games, food, activities, races, goody bags, and treats. All I could think about was Amy and JoJo's cirucus! She'd made Batman cookies, cupcakes, and a cake too. I felt like Martha Stewart had invaded. My little party in June will look quite pitiful in comparison.

Dinner and the symphony was fun. It was good to have a night off. We went to this fancy place that has gotten rave reviews, and of course we thought it was just ok. We've decided to quit trying those fancy restaurants and still to "hole in the wall" places where we can get good food, enough of it, and a beer or glass of wine. Much more our style. I had 2 glasses of wine with dinner and promptly fell asleep during the 2nd piece at the Symphony. The last one was by far my favorite. They played all the music from West Side Story. It was very good. Stopped at this great after dinner dessert place and got cake to go home. I got 2 pieces: carrot cake and gingerbread cake. Delicious! Now I'm so glad we're going back in December so I can get some gingerbread at the GF. Came home, and I took my 15 minutes to give some attention to John... (I snorted when I read that today).

Been playing with the kids outside today. Just finished a vicious game of horseshoes. They're getting pretty good at it. Off to cook dinner and pack lunches for tomorrow. Back to the real world.

Sounds like lots of fun! I hope that means you all are feeling much better!

 

[yellowfish78]

Denise - Since I haven't been around as long as all of you, how old are your kids? My sister in law has triplets (we joked with her that they tried for kids for three years and got one for each year) and they are 8 now.

Glynis - Sending

Dumby - Congrats on the new house!!! Good luck with the surgery in May and !

 

[tink2020]

Whew! Done

Now I've got to go get some food.... this took much longer than I thought! Please slow down a bit, I have other things to catch up on!

It was great looking at all of your pictures. I was looking through the old thread the other day for a specific picture and came across all sorts of similar posts.... I was just thinking that we need to "retintroduce" our pictures so we can see each other again, especially for newer folks!

 

[itdjbw]

We had a nice evening. Dinner turned out pretty good and Alyssa absolutely loved playing with Alex (she's a 4th grader). Debbie said she was looking for a "sign" this week, with where to move (they're currently in an apartment), and then I sent her an email updating her on our situation. She loves our house, the price is right...she just has to decide if she wants Alex in the school district we live (and she works--secretary at the middle school) in. She promised she was going to do some soul-searching and she said she'll let us know soon, since obviously we need to contact a realtor, if she decides not to move to Sharonville.

Like I said last night, I'm trying not to get my hopes up! Please keep us in your thoughts!

Thanks!
Amy

 

[itdjbw]

Looks I may be in for a bad night...my girls share a room...the oldest is at a sleepover. Kirsten has decided she's afraid to sleep alone. Mind you she has slept alone numerous times...she's already working herself up.."can I sleep in your bed" Bill didn't have a happy look on his face....I knew I was in trouble when he put on aftershave a little while ago...think he had other ideas. Oh well...what's a mom to do?!

Obviously needs more 'charming'!!!!

 

[PNO4TE]

No offense, but I avoid I-95 like the plague! I follow Route 13 and go over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. I'll wave as I get off the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

No wonder it is a draining weekend for you, June! Drive safely

 

[PNO4TE]

No kidding...Kevin signed up in 2001 and I bet he's posted less than 100 times!

Amy

That was me, until I found you all

 

[Eeyorecln]

I am looking for airfare for our trip in fall, does anyone know where to look for deals? We haven't flown anywhere for years always been cheaper to drive with our size family. But, for our fall trip, we are flying due to time out of school and I am trying to find a good price. How far in advance do you book airfare to get the better prices? Thanks I told DH I would take care of everything for planning this trip, but I don't know the first thing about booking airfare as I've never done it before.

 

[my3princes]

Well, it's been an emotional day for me! A neighbor of mine lost her oldest son this week to a tragic car accident. She is absolutely devastated, since her second son killed himself not 9 months ago. Right after the suicide, her husband had a massive heart attack (fortunately he survived), and then she was diagnosed with several small brain tumors. When I heard the news about her oldest son today, I just started to bawl. How much more is one family expected to handle? I feel so badly for Connie and her family, and wish there was more that I could do. Our congregation held a special prayer meeting for them today, and then we were all told that another member of the congregation is having surgery on Wednesday to have a majority of his colon removed, and a third member is taking her oldest daughter to a rehabilitation center this week so she can get therapy for a drug problem that is related to some sexual abuse she suffered.

I feel like I've been crying for hours. I probably won't be checking in here, much as I've volunteered to help with dinners for these families this week. I feel like next to praying cooking is one thing I can do to help. If you've got any spare pixie dust and prayers to send my way I'd appreciate it for the Romney family, the Folkman family, and the Loser family.

Thanks.

Wow, What an emotional day. Your communtiy coming together is amazing. Here is some and from Vermont. I hope that somehow everyone will find peace and comfort.

Deb

 

[itdjbw]

That sounds like a lot of work accomplished and how smart to share receptions!!

Yes it just hit us that it is 4 months away and summer in between so now I am going to try get as much done as possibe before school finishes and MIL arrives to start interferring!!

 

[my3princes]

I am in a funk. Can someone please help me get out of it?

We went to the circus this afternoon, which by the way, was great. We stopped and had lunch on the way there. When we arrived we got the kids a program book, and each a light-up clown nose, which they asked for. Then start the "I wants". So after saying no to all the toy and food requests, we had a lemonade at intermission. Then when it was over, all I heard from Nicholas is "I want" and "why can't I get" and then the pouting started. I was so mad as we were leaving. How do you explain to a 6 yr old how much money it takes to go to these things and how overpriced what you do buy there is???? This is the second event where I have had to get on him about this. The other was a few months back at Princesses on Ice. It's just like he is so unappreciative of what he does get and all he wants is more. Does this mean he is being given too much?

I try to plan a nice family afternoon out and now I am just so mad at him. Plus it doesn't help that I am PMSing on top of it. I know I am being overly sensitive and that he is only 6, but I need to find a way to nip this before it gets really out of hand.

Sorry to rant, but I needed to get this off of my chest.

We discuss finances with our kids so that they know how expensive it is just to live let alone the cost of fun things. Once they realized how much things cost, tickets, food etc they tend to not ask for additional items. If they really want something I know that it is because they really want it, not just a spur of the moment thing. If I don't think that it is something they need immediately I will often get it without them knowing and then give it to them in their stocking or easter basket. They think that Santa or the Bunny was watching and looking out for them. It has really made a huge differance in their teasing or not teasing.

Deb

 

[dumby]

Thanks for all the good wishes and pixie dust. Right now I am just taking deep breaths and making list of all there is to do before we move.

Glynis sorry to hear about your friend. That is so sad. Her family has been through a lot. I will keep them in my prayers.

Delinda

 

[marcij]

Deb and Kate -- beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Jo -- I agree with the above posters. It is ridiculous for family to expect to be paid, and you had FREE help.

I'm back on Saturday morning and trying to catch-up. A baseball tournament, batting lessons, more baseball practice, birthday party, church, and a school auction made my weekend go pouf!

 

[babytrees]

Hey all just wanted to drop in a say hi. I have been very busy and will be very busy for the next month or so. We finally after five months of renting found a house and bought it. Woohooo. I am sooo happy.

I have been so stressed about this as we had to be out of the rental house by May 6. So finally my DH decides on a house and we close on April 20. The house we are getting is one I have been looking at for a couple of years and he just kept saying no.

The house is brand new but just has not sold for whatever reasons. Did I say I am exstatic (sp)?

Besides the house my DS 5 has started acting up at school and we cannot figure out why. This started right after we got back from Disney. He is just in 4K but his teacher thinks it is awful if he tells her he does not want to do something. She said "Her kids never acted like this." I think he is only 5 years old for crying out loud. She thinks he is being sooo disrespectful. Anyway it has been stressful more dealing with her than with my DS5.

I have been following along and Kate I am so glad you do not need surgery for you knee but I DO. Arrrg. I have a torn ligament in my knee and just walking to the mailbox will get it to hurting really bad. I am not going to have the surgery until after we move probably the middle of May.

Anyway if you all don't mind send me some pixie dust that I get through until school is out this year. My DS will be in a diffent school next year, I will finally be able to unpack all of my stuff that has been in storage for over a year now, and my knee pain will be gone.

Sorry so long AND I WANT TO GO TO DISNEY SO BAD!!!

DISNEY TAKE ME AWAY!!!!!!

Disney take this poor girl away!! If nothing else take some of the stress away.

I agree with others that said it sounds like you have a very normal kid. til the end of the year!!

 

[Glynis]

Thanks, Glynis. You always make me feel better. I know that this is what we should have done, and in hindsight I could just kick myself for not setting the boundaries before the day started. So it's my own stupid fault.

Now this has all spilt over into an argument with dh and the day has progressively gone downhill.

Just remember, "this, too, shall pass!" Next time you'll have a better handle on it. It would be so nice if raising children came with a manual for how to deal with situations like this, but unfortunately, we have to learn as we go along.

We're here for you! Just remember how much you love your kids and your hubby, and it will be just fine.

 

[my3princes]

My day has been a roller coaster too, not nearly as bad as some, but still some stressful moments. My parents will be celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary on April 23rd. I had planned on renting a hall and inviting all of their family and friends to a huge celebration. I had even bought decorations here and their over the last couple of years. A couple of months ago they told my brother and I in no uncertain terms that they did not want a party. They said no party and no presents. Well obviously we couldn't let such a huge accomplishment go completely unnoticed. Fast forward to today. We finally decided to just take them out to a nice restaurant for dinner. My mother's aunt and uncle have been asking what we were going to do and they really wanted to be included in whatever we decided. So I made reservations for 13 and made sure that I could bring a cake. I call my great aunt to tell her when and where and she tells me that it needs to be for 15 as her son and DIL wants to come too. Now I know that if they come my mother's other cousins will feel jilted and it will cause a riff. We planned to tell my parents the plans anyway so I called them and explained the situation and asked if I could please have a small party at my house for cake and ice cream on their anniversary to get out of this sticky situation. Much to my surprise they agreed. So now I'm having a party here for 40 - 60 people for cake and ice cream when I could have done a nice meal at a hall. Alas it is too late to pull off a big party so cake and ice cream will have to do. My Dad does not want me to invite his brothers and sisters. They live a couple of hours away and haven't been in contact with each other in years so he doesn't want to "bother" them. So I guess it will just be my mother's family and I'll probably call the girls that she works with and invite them to a small get together at my home on Sunday night at 6:30pm. My hope is that this will pacify the family. We still plan to take them out on Monday night, but I really don't care to have more then 15 people as it will not be the special event that we wanted. I know that I'm rambling on, but it was such a mess for a while. It's a good thing that I've been cleaning my house, I should be able to pull it off. Now to find the decorations and plan the food etc. But wait, we are having Easter dinner here at 2 PM next Sunday so I should plan that first right? Disney take me Away!!!

Deb

 

[Glynis]

We do something similiar to Glynis...

My kids have gotten allowance since they were all little. Also a small sum when they were very young..started with 50 cents at 3 for putting their socks in their drawer, at 4 years I gave 75 cents a week for folding towels, putting the napkins on the table..things like that...they never did anything "right" as younger kids but they took pride in doing a job so it was a good thing. Now my oldest who is 10 gets $2-4 a week. Depending on how busy she is with school & activities. She likes to help load & unload the dishwasher, clean the table after dinner, fold towels, put her clean clothes away & things of that sort. My DS who is 6 is more of a "laundry" man. He folds, puts away & sorts wash. He also likes to put things in the recycle bin. My little one who is 5 also helps with the laundry & cleaning her room.

Today they all planted bulbs & seeds that DH had left for them. For that they all got a $1.02 each...that was money towards their pressed pennies for August. Part of their allowance goes towards that & it gives them control over how much they can spend. They all have zip loc bags with thier names on. If they want they can have their allowance in quarters & pennies. Last year when we went they had their own $ & they had to decide which pressed pennies they wanted. They would stand there for a moment & think "Do I want this one from Splash Mountain or do I want to wait until I see another machine with better characters/rides on it". I think that really helps them evaluate how important getting something is to them & how much they are willing to pay for it.

Good luck...

I like this idea. Thanks for passing it along. We've started telling our kids that they have to wait until the last day of vacation before spending their souvenir money. That way, they have a chance to see everything and can make a better choice.