Happy Monday!

A few questions for fun:
1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?
2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do?
3. Global warming--does it really matter?
4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean?
5. BEST money saving advice?

Today SCHOOL BEGAN!!! omg, the alarm clock was a rude awaking. Not quite ready for routines yet. LOL The kids all had a good first day.
Two days and I leave for Norway! OMG< I am sooooo excited
Kiddos are over tired and are having meltdowns as we 'speak'. Gotta go love on my tired pumpkins.

1. soccer, golf-participate and watch
2. kids' game room
3. global warming is a huge issue
4. any swimming location is great!
5. stay away from stores


Tracey

Michael (9)
Francesca (8)
Matthew, Alexis & Gabrielle (6)
Torunn--exchange student (18)

1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch? Swimming for participating, hockey for watching
2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do? Kitchen, completely done wrong, espcially the sink area.
3. Global warming--does it really matter? Yes and no, the climate has been hotter and colder in the past. It can and will effect our weather, but we will probably learn to adapt
4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean? Pool, I can see the bottom, nothing brush past me while swimming and it's relatively clean
5. BEST money saving advice? Ebay for clothing

Well, it's going to be a big week for us. Nate had to have allergy testing done today and the officially diagnosis is that he's allergic to grass, corn, beet, and pine pollens. We live in the middle of a farming county, so all of the above are in abundance here. The good news is he has no food or pet allegies. The test sucked, 35 little pin pricks along his back, poor thing. Then on Thursday and Friday Noel and Nick will be having their tonsils out. I'm hoping that these things will help us not be so sick in the upcoming winter. The boys start preschool on the 23rd and I'm waiting to hear from the teacher to know what they need to take. Did anyone take their kids shopping for preschool? Mine already have lots of clothes and backpacks, so other than maybe some supplies I can't imagine what else they may need.

Well, that's it from here...

Kim
Nate, Nick & Noel(36w4d)and Nia.

<a href="http://www.tickercentral.com"><img border="0" src=""></a>


http://www.tickercentral.com>

Hi Tra et. al.,

1. We are an RV family, and love it! So, we are definitely into camping. In the winter months here, we enjoy skiing and tubing.
2. The garage- ew!
3. Yes, global warming matters to me.
4. Like them all but prefer a lake
5. If you don't need it bad enough, don't buy it.

I am home today and loving it! We have a vet appointment with our newbie. We are in that transition stage with him and our boy, so we don't want to leave them along too much right now (yes, I faithfully watch the Dog Whsiperer! haa haa)
I am nearly done with the painting and everything is stunning! I am so proud of all the hard work! I need to buy some furniture, and am looking for the deals!
I fly to Chicago next week and am thrilled! I am going to see an alum from college (ut's been 10 years!), and travels are ending. I need to get that school shopping done this week, get to the movies, and really savor in the the final countdown. Busy and hectic describes the rest of the week, so I want to enjoy the time I have right now sitting on my arse and typing here! LOL

7mozz

Enjoy your time in Chicago!! And have a bite at Gino's for me, please--Best Pizza In The World

WTG painting! You've been working hard on that project. Glad it's almost complete (if there is such a thing?)
Tracey

Michael (9)
Francesca (8)
Matthew, Alexis & Gabrielle (6)
Torunn--exchange student (18)

Hi Tra,
WHEW, it's been a long time coming on that project! I can't believe the transformation. I actually had some help this time around, and it just looks really nice.

I am so excited about Chicago! I don't do the traveling like
I used to, so it's about time that <<<I>>> get a break! Is that pizza place called Gino's East by chance? Are the walls graffitied inside?
If yes, I remember that place from a looooong time ago and it was delicious!!!! I will take him out for letting me stay at his place. Thanks for the suggestion!

Have a wonderful, safe journey overseas! Take lots of pictures! I can't wait to hear all about your visit with your 'daughter!'

FF,
7mozz

Someday I will have to visit your room creations~~you've completed many a masterpiece
Gino's East IS the restaurant. Lots of grafitti and ambiance. The pizza is truly divine. (I can almost taste it now) It's criminal to make a food that delicious
Thanks for the well wishes. I will try to call tonight after the darlings are in bed, which will still be early for you.
TTYL, HUGS, Tracey




Tracey

Michael (9)
Francesca (8)
Matthew, Alexis & Gabrielle (6)
Torunn--exchange student (18)

Gotta send a pic

Sure you can home school your kids: www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf
*†¯`·.,*† ¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*† .¸¸.·*†(¯`·.¸*†¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*†
I believe in miracles - I have three that live in my home. g/g/g- June 2002

Hey all...

Sports...we play ALL but I and my son follow NY Yankees. My kids will be playing soccer this coming school year. Prior to this they were very involved with gymnastics.

Rooms to re-do... ALL!!!!! Why not? Someone else is paying! LOL

Global warming...I don't believe it. The Earth has gone through many changes over the past gazillion years. I believe this is just the normal course of things. However, I do believe with the increase in engine usage, we have exaggerated some of the warming trends.

Swimming...I personally do not like the beach. I enjoy a good, CLEAN pool.

Money savings?...is there such a thing? LOL

We spent a few days at the Jersey Shore this past week...rides, boardwalk, collecting shells. It was a ton of fun. Today I had to pay my tuition for Nursing School and I took my treasures with me. They were amazed at the size of my school and asked me, "When you leave your classroom, do you have to line up?" LOL

1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?

Love watching football (yes even the girls) & swimming

2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do?

The downstairs bathroom which is going to be our master bath once we finish our basement. We were only planning on a large glass block shower but hey with someone elses money why not add the jacuzzi tub too!

3. Global warming--does it really matter?

I think it matters but I agree with Kim (VonWasden) I believe the earth will adapt to it like it has for millions of years. There may be a time where the earth starts anew again. Kinda scary but that's what I think.

4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean?

Pool for swimming, but I love the lake for having fun.

5. BEST money saving advice?

Like Tracey, staying away from stores. I live in a rural town so the nearest Wal-mart is 30 min. away. After 9 years of a 2 hr. commute I had to work before the girls were born, I hate to drive anywhere that's not within 15 min. of home. It's a good excuse to save money by not going anywhere.

School enrollment is tomorrow & Wednesday. Luckily our school keeps all our information and has it printed out and just asks us to change anything if we need too. I just got finished filling out the reduced lunch application. We qualify with our family of 6 and our income. School supplies are all bought now I just have to take the time to put everyones name on everything. I have a label maker but it doesn't work on some stuff. Beside sometimes it's faster just to take a sharpie and write, write, write.


Kris & Co.
************************

1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?

None...as far as organized sports goes. Much more interested in outdoor activities.

2. If you could remodel any room in your home...

The kitchen -- more work surfaces. But what I'd love to do is to add on to the back of the house -- making a 1/2 bath into a master bathroom, add a small office and perhaps another clothes closet. This would free up our 3rd bedroom (small - 9'x9') we use as an office as one of the boys' bedroom.

3. Global warming--does it really matter?

Probably the most serious issue facing us. The earth will adapt and/or correct the balence, but our kids and their kids may curse us for death and pain it will cause.

4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean?

Ocean -- river -- lake -- and as a poor fourth, pool

5. BEST money saving advice?

Don't buy into the cr*p they try to sell ya on TV.

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks

Good Morning everyone!

A few questions for fun:
1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?
We love to watch football together (we are huge U of Mich fans) and we love to watch and play basketball. All three kids play basketball.

2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do?
Kitchen.
3. Global warming--does it really matter?
Yes, it matters, but I agree with others that we will adapt.
4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean?
POOL
5. BEST money saving advice? No shopping.


I'm so glad the kids don't go back to school til after Labor Day. I took tomorrow off and we are going to spend the day back-to-school shopping. Girls basketball practice begins on Monday. DH is doing pretty good. His new kidney is still working great. Unfortunately his vision has gotten much worse. He has had cataracts for several years due to the steroids he takes for his tranplanted kidney. Well he had to take mega-doses of steroids for a few weeks after the new transplant in April and he is still on a higher dose than before, so that has made the cataracts much worse. He can't read at all and can't use the computer, can't drive and he has to have the lights on in the house even during the day. More lights on the better for him. He is calling today for an appointment with his diabetic eye doctor. So far the eye doctors don't want to remove the cataracts because they say DH's overall health is too fragile, etc.
Jessica had her first paid babysitting job last Sunday. She had to be next door at 5:30AM to take care of a 2 year old and a 4 year old all day while the mom was at work. She worked til 3:30PM. I told her that she might make $35 but I wasn't sure. She came home so excited because she got paid $70. When Elizabeth heard that, she said she gets the next babysitting job.

Trish Dawson
Mom to bgg (1992 @ 31
weeks)

Trish,
Glad to see the kidney is working well.....hope they figure out something w/ his eyes soon.....
Becky
SAHM~
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?
We are huge baseball fans. The Yankees are our team!

2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do? Definitely the kitchen, (since we are getting ready to put tile in it). I would get new everything! Countertops, water fixtures, tile,.....and much more

3. Global warming--does it really matter? Yes, I think it does matter. Now what to do about it, I don't know....

4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean? We swim in the pool all the time, but my favorite is the ocean.

5. BEST money saving advice? Don't take the kids shopping with you!!


We are having alot of fun this week. It is our last full week before school starts next Wednesday. I finally did get my kids enrolled (after forgetting about it!) Have all the school supplies, gym shoes, lunch boxes...now I'm like Kris, I need to label it all. UGH!! We went to a water park yesterday and had a blast. I think today we are just going to stay home and play inside. It is suppose to be 105 here. We'll probably go to the pool tomorrow. Might catch a movie later in the week too.

DH and I had our 12th anniversary Sunday. We decided since we had no babysitter that we would just do something fun as a family. So we all went to the water park and then out to dinner. We had so much fun. The best part was when we got home, the kids were exhausted! They took their baths and went straight to bed!! Hope everyone has a great week.

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

YANKEES Rule! Hey guess what? For my thirtieth birthday I purchased a pair of Ron Guidry's pants (baseball uniform) from the Yankee store in Manhattan! LOL I still have them!

You go girl! LOL I just bought tickets for my oldest son to go to the Yankees game in KC in Sept for his birthday. We have done this for the past three years and absolutely love it. We're right behind the Yankees dugout!! Woohoo!!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

Tracey

Michael (9)
Francesca (8)
Matthew, Alexis & Gabrielle (6)
Torunn--exchange student (18)

Thanks, Tracey!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)

A few questions for fun:
1. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?
Does ballet count? If so thats what we watch and enjoy our girls doing

2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do? Bedroom - we have the most plain room in the house.

3. Global warming--does it really matter? I dont' think I am sold on this whole thing of a hole in the ozone that no one can see.

4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean? Ocean all the way baby

5. BEST money saving advice? Write down where you are going to put your money that month BEFORE spending your money.

Today was rough. Kids are ultra rude today and won't get along for nothing and tired (I see an early bedtime for them and me). I am zapped lots of stuff going on in our business that is just draining all that I have in me. I gave myself permission to buy a cheap ticket to visit a group of woman with like age triplets as myself. We have emailed each other for almost 5 years now (counting our bedrest). I missed last years event b/c of our business and I refuse to let that happen again. I am excited it can make me smile just thinking about meeting all those wonderful ladies who have carried me through these years with their advice and support.

I am also in the market for a booster seat so any suggestions I am ALL ears.

Sure you can home school your kids: www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf
*†¯`·.,*† ¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*† .¸¸.·*†(¯`·.¸*†¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*†
I believe in miracles - I have three that live in my home. g/g/g- June 2002

. What sports do you and your family enjoy to participate and/or watch?Fishing/quading and just playing baseball/basketball int eh yard as a family...we watch whatever the kids are playing at the time.
2. If you could remodel any room in your home (at someone else's expense), what room and what would you do?Basement...finnish it,add a bath and bedroom down there.
3. Global warming--does it really matter?I think it is real....but I also think we will adjust.
4. Swimming: pool, lake, river or ocean?lake,pool,ocean,river.
5. BEST money saving advice?Stop eating out,buy generic groceries,and stock up when things are on sale.


Kids start school on Tuesday,busy w/ last min things....and FOOTBALL.....I learned about a cup last night.LOL I had him put it on upside down and he kept tugging at it,my friends husband asked me if I helped him put it on...so he took him to do it the right way.....LOL.
He hated practice last night...not the fastest,to hot,why did the other kids get a break....
Umm you aren't the fastest b/c you weigh about 30 lb smore then 1/2 the kids,you are there for your size not the speed.
Yeah it is freaking hot.....I am sitting here watching you play in the heat and I am not complaining.
They got a break b/c the fastest kids got to sit out as a reward....sorry!

I start school in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!I got my books and have started to read ahead.

Anyone got any good casseroles for me?????
Becky
SAHM~
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

1.Running races, track, bicycling, skiing (both xc and alpine).
2.Basement isn't finished yet - I want a media retreat down there!!!
3.Yes. We have the knowledge and ability to be more responsible stewards of our home. Global warming is just one warning of many that we aren't being as responsible as we should be.
4. Lake (Superior!!) It is fresh water, COLD, clean and no plants, crud or critters!!!!
5. Live within your means. If you can't pay for it outright, or would have to delay paying the rent/mortgage/heat if you were to buy it, you shouldn't buy it.

We had my parents and two neices visit us last week. The neices stayed here, so our kids didn't sleep much. We are paying for it now!!

Soccer started last week. The girls are split 2/2 on two teams (they are all in the same age group), so we have three teams/schedules to keep track of. Ds T has really improved this year - he pays attention to the coach and what is going on around him. Last year he was oblivious! We have two competitive players among the girls, and two that play just for fun.

School starts Sept. 5 - so we have a little more summer vacation left.

My friend who was battling cancer in her brain died on Sunday. She has four kids, three girls who are in the same grades as my kids and a boy who is two years older. The kids stayed at our house when she went in for surgery at the beginning of June. We were all hoping for a little good news, that she would at least be able to spend one more summer with her kids, but it wasn't to be. Despite experiencing serious complications from the surgery, she came home for her kid's last two days of school; to go to her dd's kindergarten tea and to see her fifth grader 'graduate' to middle school. She was back in the hospital within a week, and never improved enough to come back home after that. I admired her grit and determination. I will miss her humor and her absolutely comic stories about her kids and all their antics. I really wish she could have had the summer.

Love'em all!!
B,E,S g/g/g 12/96 @32 weeks
R g 6/98
T b 8/00
D b 1/04

Thank you, Nikki.

Today was a tough day. Catherine's funeral was this morning.

The school principal and teachers from K on up were there, as well as half the HS football team (her DH is the coach). Her kids were having such a tough time before the funeral, yet after they seemed to be relieved and lighter in spirit to have that tough part behind them.

DH was an angel and cleared a whole mess of procedures off his schedule to stay home with the kids so that I could go. There are people grumbling about sore backs and knees today, but he will get back to them as soon as he can.

As for me, I think I would like to be remembered as someone who would always help anyone in need. I think I am more in danger of being remembered as an overly sentimental, blubbering fool at any emotional event, funerals, weddings, births, hallmark commercials, the poem my daughter printed off the internet today.... I did ok today, though. I have found that by doing more to help that I cry less. 'Doing' feels good.

Love'em all!!
B,E,S g/g/g 12/96 @32 weeks
R g 6/98
T b 8/00
D b 1/04

1. Sports? Our family was a huge basketball family and I guess football.
2. I would add on a main floor familyroom right off of my kitchen. I want that wide open space for entertaining our group as they start having families of their own and coming over for holidays.
3. I like the global warming here in MN because we have had milder winters. My son who is in enviromental studies says it is a very terrible thing, so I guess I have to really side with him against it.
4. I love swimming in a pool because I always know the depth of the water that I am in and it is so much cleaner!
5. Spend less on your kids for Christmas and birthdays when they are little because they won't really remember those gifts anyways. Then once they start getting older and remembering holidays and birthdays then you can spend a little more. I mean, you will have to spend a little bit more because their wish lists have more expensive items on them.

mom to:
Ryan 32 The Lawyer
Jason 30 The Chief Meteorologist
Chris 30 The College Student
Tim 30 The college grad

I love hearing their versions of their childhood memories!!

Nikki...I don't think you'll get flammed unless some from the other boards pop in.......I don't think we have ever had a flame or removed topic over here........

I think it is sooo very true! BUt we wouldn't have chosen it...hell that is how I got in debt in the first place.....TRYING to get Pregnate.
Becky
SAHM~
Emma,Amber,Ian 8/18/99
Olivia 9/29/00

OH NO Nikki! It has to be abstinance!!! Any other form of birth control COSTS money!! And then there is the whole dinner and a movie thing to consider. Why bother with a dinner and a movie if you can't have a "date" afterwards(how DH and I referred to those planned togtherness times when trying to start a family....)!!!!!

So with abstinance, you can write off the cost of birth control, the dinners AND the movies TOO.
Love'em all!!
B,E,S g/g/g 12/96 @32 weeks
R g 6/98
T b 8/00
D b 1/04

One of the best bumperstickers I've seen...

"Don't make the same mistake your parents made -- use birth control!"


Vaughn

***good job interview vibes****

How exciting, what will you do?

Sure you can home school your kids: www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/How_To_Homeschool/tosbrochure.pdf
*†¯`·.,*† ¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*† .¸¸.·*†(¯`·.¸*†¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.->*†
I believe in miracles - I have three that live in my home. g/g/g- June 2002

Good luck on your interview! Update us when you can....

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)