The Unofficial Chatterbox Thread! Everyone is Welcome!

[funnygarcia]

Minnesota has the PSEO program (Post secondary education option), free program mostly for technical/vocational degree classes. We also have AP classes, AP tests, and Honors level classes that count towards college credit.

Justin's pre-engineering class has allowed past students to get credit for the intro to engineering courses at college level. Simply by showing their lab books, project completion. They haven't yet developed a test version for college credit, he took a test last year as part of a pilot project. Hoping that counts in the future.

He hasn't taken his ACT or SAT yet, the community and state colleges here prefer the ACT and he will take that this spring. Too many long weekends and other events with marching band to take it in October. I will be so happy for band season to be done! Math team next, but that's just a few after school events.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Good morning! Happy Thursday!

Megan, any news?

 

[sameyeyam]

Minnesota has the PSEO program (Post secondary education option), free program mostly for technical/vocational degree classes. We also have AP classes, AP tests, and Honors level classes that count towards college credit.

Justin's pre-engineering class has allowed past students to get credit for the intro to engineering courses at college level. Simply by showing their lab books, project completion. They haven't yet developed a test version for college credit, he took a test last year as part of a pilot project. Hoping that counts in the future.

He hasn't taken his ACT or SAT yet, the community and state colleges here prefer the ACT and he will take that this spring. Too many long weekends and other events with marching band to take it in October. I will be so happy for band season to be done! Math team next, but that's just a few after school events.

Well that's good that they do have some classes that count towards college. I'm so glad our state has Running Start. It just makes good sense...the state owns the high schools and the community colleges. It is actually less cost per student for community college than it is for high school. So the state actually saves money by letting them take community college classes. One of the rare "intelligent" government decisions.

Band has a season? I never knew that. Here our band goes all year, but then again we are to small to have a marching band or anything like that. Our band does pretty good, but amazingly the jr. high band gets more awards and honors then the high school band does. Obviously by the time the kids get in high school...well they have other more totally unimportant things to do.

 

[staley7580]

You're joking.. right??

OMG, I tell ya when nature wants something.. it strives very hard to get it!!
I'm hoping not.. but wow.. just wow... it would make life at the Staley house even more lively! Do I dare say it?? what if.. it's more than one... again!
Laugh or cry?.. laugh or cry?... good luck and do some praying to mother nature for your monthly "gift"

I SO hope my body is still just readjusting to not being pregnant. Lack of sleep... something! I SERIOUSLY cant imagine how I could possibly be pregnant. There is NO WAY. Eve dh is is scratching his head. After all we went through to have the twins.. trying FOREVER. What are the odds it would just happen again? But if by some freakish chance it did happen again... I wouldnt mind another set of twins.

Good morning! Happy Thursday!

Megan, any news?

Nope. I have my fingers crossed for a visit soon.

 

[staley7580]

Never mind. Please ignore all my previous worrying. I just went potty and there she was. I am SOOOOOOO happy!!


MEANWHILE.. So we filled out the form for free/reduced lunch.. Since we had the twins, we qualify for reduced lunch. Which is about a $2.05 savings.. I send him to school with his $2 for the week. The lunch lady tells him that he doesnt GET reduced lunch, and he needs to bring in more money. I dont HAVE more money! So I call the school, and they have the info for his reduced lunch... and they talk to the lunch lady and get it squared away. No problems.. Then she calls me later on and says that Alex is getting FREE lunch now. I dont get it. I dont want to get a bill at the end of the year saying we owe like $500. for lunches! Anyways... not very exciting, but it is what has been occupying my brain lately.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Never mind. Please ignore all my previous worrying. I just went potty and there she was. I am SOOOOOOO happy!!


MEANWHILE.. So we filled out the form for free/reduced lunch.. Since we had the twins, we qualify for reduced lunch. Which is about a $2.05 savings.. I send him to school with his $2 for the week. The lunch lady tells him that he doesnt GET reduced lunch, and he needs to bring in more money. I dont HAVE more money! So I call the school, and they have the info for his reduced lunch... and they talk to the lunch lady and get it squared away. No problems.. Then she calls me later on and says that Alex is getting FREE lunch now. I dont get it. I dont want to get a bill at the end of the year saying we owe like $500. for lunches! Anyways... not very exciting, but it is what has been occupying my brain lately.

That's good!! BTW- your twins are growing up and they look so cute!!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Hello to all,

I hope you are all doing well. Last weekend I found some cool posters from Cost Plus World Market. I also found some frames from Target and Walmart. I bought the Audrey Hepburn poster from Michael's Arts & Crafts. Here are some pics:

Sarah, Christina and Melody- you 3 need to join us on facebook!! Join the darkside- we have cookies!

 

[tinkermell]

Hello to all,

I hope you are all doing well. Last weekend I found some cool posters from Cost Plus World Market. I also found some frames from Target and Walmart. I bought the Audrey Hepburn poster from Michael's Arts & Crafts. Here are some pics:

Sarah, Christina and Melody- you 3 need to join us on facebook!! Join the darkside- we have cookies!

I did get on Facebook and it lasted about 2 days!!

I just don't have the time. I barely have the time to keep up on here.
Sorry about that!

Besides that.........how are ya?

 

[tinkermell]

So... we went to the fair on Saturday. it was WONDERFUL! We had so much fun! The babies were really well behaved for being cooped up in their stroller all day. We took them out of the carriers, and just had them sitting the stroller so they could look around at everything. They were so cute looking at all the new stuff.

We saw Darth Vadar, storm troopers, Obi Wan, and Dora. We took the kiddos to look at all the animals, and they just loved that.. we did the cheesy fair stuff, and some rides. Things like that really make you appreciate Disney. It was like $3. to $5 per ride. NUTS! We had 45 tickets, and they only rode a few rides.. I couldnt believe how expensive everything was! We got Earthquake burgers for lunch... which are GIGANTIC burgers. We had 3 burgers, 2 hot dogs, and a brick of fries.. For $50.!! It was to much food.. We brought home an entire burger.

My mom came with us, and I have to say.. it was really nice to have that extra set of hands. Someone else to hold a baby so Frelan could take the big kids on rides.. or to push the stroller... or hold a big kids hand.. It really made me realize... 4 kids under the age of 8 is a lot!

No pics of the babies at the fair... but here is one from that night. They were really tired.. So please excuse how rough they look.

Your babies and family are so cute!! Everyone is growing up so much!

My period is late.

Never mind. Please ignore all my previous worrying. I just went potty and there she was. I am SOOOOOOO happy!!

Whew!!!

 

[tinkermell]

Megan, looking back on the pictures again, it is amazing how Jazzy looks like you, and Vinny looks like Frelan. WOW!!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I did get on Facebook and it lasted about 2 days!!

I just don't have the time. I barely have the time to keep up on here.
Sorry about that!

Besides that.........how are ya?

Hi Melody We should hang at DL one day. That would be really fun . Sarah you too! We can visit Albort too. lol

I am doing all right btw. What's new with you?

 

[funnygarcia]

Band has a season? I never knew that.

Regular band runs all year, marching band is summer and fall. They do have winter drumline, if you're child is part of the battery for marching band oh glee, oh joy.. they can continue drumming until spring

Never mind. Please ignore all my previous worrying. I just went potty and there she was. I am SOOOOOOO happy!!


MEANWHILE.. So we filled out the form for free/reduced lunch.. Since we had the twins, we qualify for reduced lunch. Which is about a $2.05 savings.. I send him to school with his $2 for the week. The lunch lady tells him that he doesnt GET reduced lunch, and he needs to bring in more money. I dont HAVE more money! So I call the school, and they have the info for his reduced lunch... and they talk to the lunch lady and get it squared away. No problems.. Then she calls me later on and says that Alex is getting FREE lunch now. I dont get it. I dont want to get a bill at the end of the year saying we owe like $500. for lunches! Anyways... not very exciting, but it is what has been occupying my brain lately.

UGH! We had issues at school until they switched over to an electronic system. They used tickets in elementary school. The teacher was in charge of each child's packet and would send a note if the packet was running low. For reduced and free lunches the cafe staff wouldn't fill the packet until the beginning of the next month. At the end of the month the boys would bring home notes, worried that they wouldn't get lunch. If there was a sub it was a big mess!

With a PIN code system, only the staff person at the register is aware who is getting lunch for free or paying. (When they key the PIN it comes up as "0.00" for the charge.)The lead staff is in charge of checking funds and sending out notices to parents, no weird scolding and scaring moments as the kids go thru the line. Though N did notice one lady was less polite to him and others at the checkout last year (reduced lunch) .

The boys bag lunch this year, I wish programs would consider net pay and not base it just on gross. It's not like E has a choice to pay union dues and pension deduction (not 401K, this is an automatic deduction to go towards retirement).

 

[sameyeyam]

Never mind. Please ignore all my previous worrying. I just went potty and there she was. I am SOOOOOOO happy!!


MEANWHILE.. So we filled out the form for free/reduced lunch.. Since we had the twins, we qualify for reduced lunch. Which is about a $2.05 savings.. I send him to school with his $2 for the week. The lunch lady tells him that he doesnt GET reduced lunch, and he needs to bring in more money. I dont HAVE more money! So I call the school, and they have the info for his reduced lunch... and they talk to the lunch lady and get it squared away. No problems.. Then she calls me later on and says that Alex is getting FREE lunch now. I dont get it. I dont want to get a bill at the end of the year saying we owe like $500. for lunches! Anyways... not very exciting, but it is what has been occupying my brain lately.

Awesome! I know you love kids, but boy I think you would even be surpassing the rate at which Mrs. Duggar is popping them out!

Glad they got his lunch thing squared away. Our school has computerized everything. I go online and charge their lunches to my credit card. I can even see what food they order each day (jr. high & high school have ala carte items). Their account can also be used for extra school fees (art supplies, student store, Friday popcorn snacks, etc.).

The kids each get a school ID card with their photo, they can either swipe that at lunch time or they can give their PIN number to the cashier if they forget their card. Luckily our school is small enough the cashiers know all the kids. By having the computerized system it takes the stigma out of reduced or free lunches, nobody, not even the cafeteria staff knows if they are free, reduced or regular. You are allowed to overdraw and the staff never knows. An outside company called Mealtime(they process the credit card and payments) or the school will contact the parent usually via email. I think it's a very good system.

I did get on Facebook and it lasted about 2 days!!

I just don't have the time. I barely have the time to keep up on here.
Sorry about that!

Besides that.........how are ya?

I know how you feel, I'm on the DIS, Facebook and Komen. Sometimes I have time to post, but other times sheesh, I hardly have time at all.

Regular band runs all year, marching band is summer and fall. They do have winter drumline, if you're child is part of the battery for marching band oh glee, oh joy.. they can continue drumming until spring

UGH! We had issues at school until they switched over to an electronic system. They used tickets in elementary school. The teacher was in charge of each child's packet and would send a note if the packet was running low. For reduced and free lunches the cafe staff wouldn't fill the packet until the beginning of the next month. At the end of the month the boys would bring home notes, worried that they wouldn't get lunch. If there was a sub it was a big mess!

With a PIN code system, only the staff person at the register is aware who is getting lunch for free or paying. (When they key the PIN it comes up as "0.00" for the charge.)The lead staff is in charge of checking funds and sending out notices to parents, no weird scolding and scaring moments as the kids go thru the line. Though N did notice one lady was less polite to him and others at the checkout last year (reduced lunch) .

The boys bag lunch this year, I wish programs would consider net pay and not base it just on gross. It's not like E has a choice to pay union dues and pension deduction (not 401K, this is an automatic deduction to go towards retirement).

I swear our school must get money for referring people to the free or reduced lunch program. Almost every week they send home application forms. It's attached to the back of the weekly newsletter. If you overdraw your mealtime account they send an email along with an application for free or reduced lunch and let you know they can backdate it with proper income documentation. They almost act like they don't want you to pay for lunch!

 

[sameyeyam]

So wanna hear what my nice, relaxing weekend is going to be? I've decided to water seal/stain the two porches and deck.

I'm using a brown colored sealant for the front & back porches. They are wood decks, but covered. Our uncovered deck in the back is actually plastic composite. I didn't think you could paint them, but you can. They now have paints for them, so I am doing that in a brown color also. Now my wood and plastic can match.

DH pressure washed the front porch a couple of days ago and is doing the back porch today. He has no idea that I decided to also paint the composite deck. I just found the info. today and went over to Sherwin Williams paint store and got 5 gallons of sealer and 2 gallons of composite deck paint.

DH will be working nights this weekend. He tried to convince me that he could do the project, but as usual I don't listen to him. He knows that accomplishing projects like this is what keeps me going. I've decided that I suffer from some strange mental illness....I have to see and do everything and can't slow down. If I do, my cancer will come back and I will have wasted part of my life doing absolutely nothing. I know, sounds strange, but hey it keeps me happy and we all know if Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy! I guess this is what happens when someone with borderline OCD faces death and survives.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

Tomorrow DBF and I are going to a Firebird meet. He's talks with other Firebird owners online (kinda likethe DIS boards but for car people ) and they are all meeting up in Anaheim tomorrow morning and driving together to Big Bear. I guess one of the guys has a time share on the lake. Should be fun. On the way we are stopping at the Alipine Slide.

 

[staley7580]

Oh my freaking goodness. So Alex's dad just called me to TELL me that he was going to pick up Alex tomorrow to take him somewhere. UH. NO. I dont think so. He just didnt understand why. Oh I dont know... IDIOT. You dont show for over 2 and a half years, and then just think I will let you take MY kid somewhere? NO. NO FREAKING WAY. He got all mad, like he has never done anything wrong. IDIOT. How about the time you just took Alex when he was a baby and disappeared for a couple of days? NOT GONNA HAPPEN. He can come see him here... FINE. But no taking him out of my house. Not until I can trust him. Which I doubt will ever happen. JERK. GRRRRRR. I HATE him. I wish he would just LEAVE US ALONE. But... I suck it up for my kiddo. Right?? Right.

 

[sameyeyam]

Tomorrow DBF and I are going to a Firebird meet. He's talks with other Firebird owners online (kinda likethe DIS boards but for car people ) and they are all meeting up in Anaheim tomorrow morning and driving together to Big Bear. I guess one of the guys has a time share on the lake. Should be fun. On the way we are stopping at the Alipine Slide.

Awesome, sounds like lots of fun! I would love to go to the Alpine Slide.

Oh my freaking goodness. So Alex's dad just called me to TELL me that he was going to pick up Alex tomorrow to take him somewhere. UH. NO. I dont think so. He just didnt understand why. Oh I dont know... IDIOT. You dont show for over 2 and a half years, and then just think I will let you take MY kid somewhere? NO. NO FREAKING WAY. He got all mad, like he has never done anything wrong. IDIOT. How about the time you just took Alex when he was a baby and disappeared for a couple of days? NOT GONNA HAPPEN. He can come see him here... FINE. But no taking him out of my house. Not until I can trust him. Which I doubt will ever happen. JERK. GRRRRRR. I HATE him. I wish he would just LEAVE US ALONE. But... I suck it up for my kiddo. Right?? Right.

That's really a tough call. I know on one hand you want them to spend time together and develop a relationship. On the other hand you have obvious reason to be concerned.

You know my dad kidnapped me when I was about 2, I have no recollection of it. He was visiting me and told my mom he was taking me to the store with him to get a pack of cigarettes and her some Pepsi. But he took me to my grandmother's house, she of course called my mom and told her what was up. My mom used to come get me every day while he was at work, and he never knew. He brought me back 2 weeks later, exactly 2 weeks and 15 minutes later, came walking in with my mom's Pepsi handed it to her, sat and chatted for a bit and it was never mentioned again. Seems when he learned my grandmother was only going to babysit for two weeks until he found daycare and she told him she couldn't babysit while he went out with his buddies on Saturday night...well he then returned me.

I do understand if he is being genuine, how he might want to spend some time alone with him. But in this case I think he will need to earn trust...trust by paying all child support monies on time (as well as past due amounts), setting up times to visit and keeping those appointments, calling if he will be late to visit, etc...If it were me and he could do those things for the next several months, then I would think he has turned over a new leaf and is being genuine. Then maybe I would let him have him for a visit at Christmas time. MAYBE.

Do you have a current visitation order? If you do, then it could get into a bit of a sticky situation.

 

[staley7580]

Alison... thats what I told him. If he could prove to me that he could be responsible, and do what he says he is going to do and keeps it up then I dont mind him taking Alex. We have had that understanding since Alex was a baby. But of COURSE... as soon as he starts showing that he can step up, thats when he disappears. AND.. As soon as he gets all his back child support paid off, he disappears. The man is almost 40 years old. You would think he could hold down a job, and learn how to be an adult. I dont know how he is going to pull himself out of this child support mess. He owes me $7000. in back. Not to mention what he owes the state, and the current monthly. He is going to be paying this back until he is 80.

 

[funnygarcia]

I swear our school must get money for referring people to the free or reduced lunch program. Almost every week they send home application forms. It's attached to the back of the weekly newsletter. If you overdraw your mealtime account they send an email along with an application for free or reduced lunch and let you know they can backdate it with proper income documentation. They almost act like they don't want you to pay for lunch!

Actually, your school DOES get money based on how many students sign up for free or reduced lunch. They get extra Title I funding for each student in the lower income bracket, which translates into more staffing monies. Our district encourages everyone to sign up, even if you don't plan to utilize the lunch program.. they still want the form completed.

Head Start required every family to complete the form, the center pays for meals/snacks out of that funding. Lots of food, serving family style and providing over 1/3 of child's calories per day, per class. More food than a typical daycare would be willing to spend money.


Eloy's school does a turkey giveaway before Thanksgiving, I thought wow that's nice... he laughs and tells me.. well, there is a string attached. They don't give the turkey until the parent has gone thru the line and filled out/signed every form that is incomplete. Emergency forms, permission slips, food program application... That way the school gets what they need, the family gets something they need.. perfect!

I've decided that I suffer from some strange mental illness....I have to see and do everything and can't slow down. If I do, my cancer will come back and I will have wasted part of my life doing absolutely nothing. I know, sounds strange, but hey it keeps me happy and we all know if Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy! I guess this is what happens when someone with borderline OCD faces death and survives.

Isn't it funny the mind games we create for ourselves?
Whatever works, do it!

 

[staley7580]

At our school, even if we wont get it, we have to fill out the forms. This is the first time we have qualified... but we have filled it out in the past.