TKers...8 is NOT enough!

[Pikester]

I'm here safe and sound!

I get too caught up in FB sometimes. I'm still at the DIS looking up cruise stuff and shaking my head at stuff on the community board but not posting much.


Magi: Thanks for worrying about me. It makes me feel loved!

M&N: Thanks for letting me know that I was being asked about.

D&D: Hey Girl!

School starts on Monday so I took the kids out yesterday to finish getting school supplies. DS12 still needs one more thing and then he should be set. DS9's school supplies everything so we just got him some extra pencils and erasers. May pick him up some crayons or colored pencils but haven't decided yet.

All most had a catastrophe yesterday. DS12 left his ipod touch in the bathroom at Staples yesterday. Thank goodness it was still there when we went back to get it. I think it was there for 20 minutes or better.

 

[MagiKitty]

You should feel loved Pike coz you are!

Wow...I am amazed and so thankful that the iPod was still there! You guys got really lucky. I have an unhealthy relationship with school supplies. I'm heading to Staples tomorrow.

School starts on Monday?! Tell the boys to have a great first day and to rock the school year like I know they will!

 

[Pikester]

DS12 is so ready to go back while DS9 wishes he NEVER had to go back.


OK, so I'm about to post something that is going to make me seem like a big meanie. I am not liking one of the little boys that DS9 has been playing with the last couple of weeks. The little boy is named "J" and I guess he is visiting his grammie who lives in our neighborhood. He has good manners with "please" and "thank yous" but he just annoys me for some reason. He will walk in my house and ask for popsicles, drinks, etc without DS9 even being around. Today he came in and asked me if he could go upstairs and play in DS9's room while DS9 was still outside playing with another neighborhood boy.

When I was little you didn't ask your friends mom for a drink, you asked your friend to ask the mom for a drink, snack, etc. You always did what you friend wanted to do since it was their house you were playing at and if you didn't like what they were playing and they didn't want to do something else then you went home. You don't ask their Mom if you can play in their room. I can maybe see it if you are trapped at their house because you spent the night or are at a playdate but otherwise just go home. Sheesh!

 

[D&DDisney]

I'm with you Pike. Kids in our neighborhood do this too. I can't ever remember being so bold as they are today. I dont' mind giving out popcicles, juices or snacks once in a while. But these kids are like cats - feed them once and they keep coming back.

Does anyone have trouble with helicopter parents in their neighborhood? I mean the type who interfere when kids are arguing and come to the other parents' housese to tell you what your kid said to make hers cry.
Umm, lady they are kids. They fight one min and are friends the next . It happens all day long. I tell my kids to work it out among themselves. I don't go crying to another parent telling them how their kid hurt my kid's feelings. Jeeze, get over it. Toughen up that special snowflake of yours or that kid is going to get his butt kicked one day.

(Disclaimer - I would interfere if the fights were serious or there was some major bullying going on, but these are just he said/she said kind of spats )

 

[DL55]

Don't have any small children...so no problems. I don't care for helicopter moms. Kids need to work on their problem solving skills. Major fights or bullying being the exceptions. Also kids are supposed to get dirty and have minor scrapes.

I don't seem to have a spam folder.

 

[MagiKitty]

We all know I have cats, not kids, but for me, the same rules apply. Everyone is expected to have manners. Self-centeredness is not tolerated. I see it all the time. Obnoxious behaviour that is considered cute when the kids are young are not corrected as they get older. Kids are not taught to have respect and discipline. But I suppose they're not expected to have such things if their parents don't teach them. I see such bad behaviour from adults!

I would suppose that if a child is going to be a fairly regular visitor to your house, there may be a point where you explain your house rules. There's no reason for you to feel put off under your own roof.

As for parents, you guys are so right. Kids need interaction with their peers and need to learn how to function in their little kid society. Of course, step in when the situation gets overheated, but in general, I thought the point of parenting was to prepare the children to function as a contributing, interacting, responsible adult sometime in the future. Sure, there are different parenting styles out there, but you have expectations of your own children and your household should be respected. They are, after all, little guests.

Of course, this is all difficult actually put into practice. I guess in terms of helicopter parents, you just explain your viewpoint and they can choose to respect it or not.

 

[BKMETV]

Hey Ladies:

I figure you let the kids fight it out...winner take all!!

...and I have no problem telling kids the rules of the house and what behaviour will not be tolerated.

Ev, so are you one of the foreign travel planning pros around here? Got any info on Germany or England? I'm thinking it would be nice to take my son someday. He's also a Sherlock Holmes fan and wants to see 221B Baker Street in London. I'm thinking, if it were to ever really happen, while we were at it we might as well stop in at Disneyland Paris since I would have to give up my DL trip to go. Anyway, as far as I see there is no harm in planning way ahead of time!

Only been in Germany once...passing through so it was only a long weekend. Been to England countless times...be happy to help you out with ideas.

I was watching the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Philippines did really well, made it to top 5, but she totally messed up the answer portion. She got an easy question too. I would think that would be the easy part! The hard part is staying that skinny....her waist is 22 inches. I swear, my ankle is 22 inches!

Miss Mexico won. She is gorgeous.

Can't believe I'm admitting this but I watched as well. Kids wanted to watch the start since it was at Mandalay Bay (where we stayed in May), and then I had to see who won. Figured it was between Mexico and Oz. Didn't see what the attraction of Jamaica was?? Miss Phils definitely messed up the question!

Also---did you see Jr was beardless?

Thank goodness...that was one UGLY beard!!

 

[mariezp]

Jo, the family suite sounds like a good deal and would be great for your family. Hope you get to make it happen.

Kitty, too bad you can't relocate some of your rain to Texas. Hope it dries up for you soon so you don't have to go to all that trouble building an ark. Maybe you could start collecting some of that rainwater and get rid of your water service. It's been so hot and dry here. Good news though. We are going to actually get some cooler weather over the next few days. It was so much cooler today!
I like getting paper bills too so I guess that makes me old fashioned too. I do my banking and payments online so the least they can do is send me a paper statement. If I don't have it in my grubby little hands I am likely to forget about it. All of mine have always asked me to sign up for an e-statement so I would think that your water service people would have too. Funny about the cats loving the shreader!
Good for you racking up another gift card! I saw an ad for Spirit Airlines having $20 flights each way. Don't know if it is anything you could use but thought I would pass the info along in case you want to check them out.

Well, Deb that just plain stinks! Why India? Don't they realize folks here need work too? Hope he gets something else lined up so you don't have to relocate.
Yep, our online family would be so much easier to have Thanksgiving with. I bet you don't look forward to a big shindig with your relatives either.
My sister actually called me yesterday. Unfortunately, she had to close her restaurant and move back to her old house. She's having to work 80 hours for someone else now to get caught up with the debt they incurred trying to make her place work. Wrong location and crappy economy. I feel so bad for her. On top of all that none of her kids are speaking to her. Everything is just a mess. On the flip side I have started talking to one of my nieces via Facebook. Don't really want to end up in the middle but on the other hand I would love to help them find a way to settle their differences. Don't know why I should think I would have any luck! Never solved any of the problems that my sister and I have! Family is so complicated!

M&N, glad you had a good birthday! All that talk of food.... you made me hungry! Sounds like you had some yummy goodies.
I have an idea that it might be pretty crowded on Thankgiving Day but it will be worth it.... I think. From what I've read it can be kinda iffy as to which day will be most crowded. Over the years TG day has tended to be crowded but from what I've read about last year TG was not so bad but the Mon-Wed before was very crowded. Luckily we have enough days that if it is more crowded than we like we can stay awhile and leave. I'm thinking I really won't care all that much cause I will just be happy I am at Disneyland! The part about not being with extended family will also go a long ways towards helping me learn to love those crowds! We'll just be sure to get there early in the day in case they do close due to capacity.

Pikester, it's pretty easy to get caught up on FB and here on the Dis and waste the whole day.... at least it is for me anyway. Not that I do so much posting.... mostly reading. Glad you avoided catastrophe and the ipod was still there!
I don't think you sound like a meanie. I think some kids have just never been told you don't do stuff like that. And, of course, their little brains don't think anything beyond their wants at the moment.

Ev, do you generally do the overseas planning yourself or go through a travel agent? I can do Disney but the thought of foreign countries.... is just that foreign to me! Any recommendations as far as TAs? And favorite places?

Hi DL55!


Here's a few corny jokes.... hopefully good for a giggle or two.... or at least to pass on to the kids!

How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest ?
They Take The Psychopath.

What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
Polaroids.

What Do You Call Santa's Helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand?
Quatro Cinco.

What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
Spoiled Milk.

What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
Frostbite.

What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A Nervous Wreck.

What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup?
Anyone Can Roast Beef.

Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs?
Right Where You Left Him.

Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
Because It Scares The Dog.

What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
Sanka.

This one's for you Ev!
What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?
A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack , Dang!
A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.

 

[MagiKitty]

(giggling)...Hi Marie! Your jokes made me laugh!

I just purchased my airline tickets. Going to Florida had less mileage than flying to Kansas. Newburgh to Kansas will give me 3263 miles---and a free international ticket. I ended up paying the $240, but broken down it was really $99/ow which isn't too bad. Now my big worry is that my layover is in Atlanta, and only 40 minutes. There's a very big possibility I may miss my connection. But it'll be 10am, so hopefully it'll be ok.

Today's home testing: L'Oreal infallible lip gloss. I like it and thankfully its a good color for me.

I was really upset at another survey earlier. "For classification purposes, please indicate which race you associate with: African-American, White, Latino, Other" WHAT? Asians don't have their own category? I sent an angry email. Nothing like having a complete race discounted. I refused to put "other". Happily Asian, thank you very much. I checked "prefer not to answer"---coz your choices suck booty!

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Hey all. How is everyone doing?

Ugh work sucks. I know I should be glad to have a job in this economy, but they are reallyl making it super difficult.

Has anyone watched that show Minute to win it? I kinda find it stupid.

 

[LivinInTheCastle]

Kitty -- sometimes I just close my eyes and "pick a race" I mean really what freakin' difference does it make? Am I right?

 

[JOCAmom]

Evening!

Marie, love your jokes. Corny jokes always make me giggle like a little kid. Too bad Curt looks at me like I'm a complete loon when I do.

Pikester, so if we make it to Louden next year, you wouldn't like it if we pulled up and I sent my kids to your house to ask for popsicles? I'll make a note of it. BTW, my own nephew annoys the heck out of me. I love him dearly but there are times I want to nail him to the wall with some duct tape over his mouth.

I let my own kids fight it out to a point of course. And it think it should be like that for all kiddie squabbles. But you can't do that anymore. If you kid is working it out with another kid, you know there parent is about to jump in and give you looks for not interfering. You can't win either way.

I try to live by the saying "you should prepare you child for the path and not prepare the path for your child"

MK, I would have sent off a harshly worded email to that survey company about their choices of race.

So, I've been trying to find hotels to stop at on our way to WI and back. It is not easy. It's not like taking 95 down to FL where there is an exit every 10 miles with 5 different hotels. And one of the major stopping exits is South Bend, IN. It will be a Saturday night during college football season. Not a reasonable rate in site.

 

[MagiKitty]

LITC...I've never seen that show. I'm presently ogling LL Cool J on NCIS: Los Angeles.

JO...stay away from South Bend! Sorry, its personal for me. I applied to Notre Dame and was wait listed. Are you part of any points system for hotels? That may narrow it down for you. And f ree breakfasts. I've been rather lucky with La Quintas in my travels. I also use Choice Hotels to make my reservations.

 

[JOCAmom]

Hey LITC! Missed your post in there. Never seen that show but I don't watch much tv at all.

MK, I think I have it narrowed down. There's a Best Western on the way out that should work. It's a little farther than I like to have Curt do in one day of driving but then it only leaves us about 4 hours to get to WI. Figure we could sleep in and still get there early.

I use Choice Hotels pretty often since their website is pretty user friendly. I like that they give you other options around the area that you are looking.

 

[MagiKitty]

Best Western sounds good! And its always easier to drive on the way someplace. Its harder coming back. I drove to chicago--13 hours--by myself a few years back. I'll never do it again. I was practically delirious--this in an age before XM radio and Bluetooth. I'm sticking to my 5 hour radius. After that, someone else has to do the driving.

 

[BKMETV]

Hey Marie:

Love the corny jokes especially the golf one. I do all my own planning etc. mostly using the internet. I only actually book airline tickets through the TA so then I'm covered if the company goes under, also I have to in order to use my VISA points.

(I was really upset at another survey earlier. "For classification purposes, please indicate which race you associate with: African-American, White, Latino, Other" WHAT? Asians don't have their own category? I sent an angry email. Nothing like having a complete race discounted. I refused to put "other". Happily Asian, thank you very much. I checked "prefer not to answer"---coz your choices suck booty!

Oh come on...just because it's the biggest continent with the most people!!!

So, I've been trying to find hotels to stop at on our way to WI and back. It is not easy. It's not like taking 95 down to FL where there is an exit every 10 miles with 5 different hotels. And one of the major stopping exits is South Bend, IN. It will be a Saturday night during college football season. Not a reasonable rate in site.

Come the northern route and visit me!!

 

[JOCAmom]

Ev, I would love to come up your way. But I honestly think Curt would have my head. But one day, we are going to have to get together and you can make me some of your "special" lemonade.

MK, I just try to find someplace that offers some kind of breakfast. It saves so much time and money when there are 6 of us.

D&D, keeps giving me all these great ways to save some bucks on this vacation. I'm now on a mission to make this our cheapest vacation ever.

 

[MagiKitty]

woo-hoo! you go Jo! I love hearing about people vacationing on a budget!

 

[Pikester]

No pops and no drinks JO! I might let them use the bathroom as long as they flush and then close the lid.

 

[JOCAmom]

No pops and no drinks JO! I might let them use the bathroom as long as they flush and then close the lid.

You're mean! If I bring our own popsicles and drinks, can we at least store them in your fridge? Pleeeaaassseeee!

And I'm not sure about the closing the lid part. I'll just have them pee before we get there.

MK, I figure the more I can save on lodging and food, the more I can spend on something special. I know they have a raceway up there and I might be able to swing to let Curt drive one of the racecars.