One year we made nativity blocks. I think my kids were 2 & 4. I'm not sure if this would work for the 1yo but your older child could do this with little or no assistance after the wood is cut. We bought a set of nativity stickers at a scrapbook store. Each character from the nativity was a separate sticker. We trimmed some wood pieces to fit the individual stickers. Painted the wood blocks black. Stuck the stickers on. Painted a layer of mod podge over the top to seal and keep the stickers from peeling up.

The grandparents loved to have something nicer than the usual kid art to display year after year (they have plenty of the regular kid art too, not knocking it). The kids loved seeing their work displayed every Christmas. And because they were blocks, they were able to play and act out the nativity story which the grandparents thought was precious and added sentimental value to the gift.

That's around the time dd1 quit taking naps. The best I could get from her was about 1/2 hour of lying quietly to rest. Then she'd go stir crazy. She didn't go back to napping until she started middle school.

Our troop has dwindled from 11 to 7 as they've gone into 7th grade. We've handed over meeting planning entirely to the girls, except a few things they need guidance on. They break up into small groups, choose a badge, figure out some activities, and lead the rest of their friends through the activities. They have a separate meeting for that and give me a supply list and a schedule for approval.

We don't really like the journeys either but we make the best of them. We modify them to suit our needs. We're making some really cool art journals to document our journey now. The girls actually asked to meet more frequently at our last meeting so I feel good about what we're doing.

If I'm not throwing up, I either want to eat or have sex. I can't get enough of either. It's crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

AnaBanana wrote:When my kids were that age they didn't want their parents hovering during play dates. They were happy to be set up in the playroom and they knew how to put on a movie if they got tired of toys. I didn't stay in the same room as them because they wanted to play with friends, not hang out with mommy. I don't see the big deal.

Dear AnaBanana,

Please read this inadequate supervision

When reports will be investigated
Considering the factors above, the following reports will be investigated or assessed:
Reports of children age 7 and younger left alone for any period of time.

So I need to take my 6yo and their friends to the bathroom with me so they're not left alone in the next room? Ok. Thanks for the tip.

If I can see them from the foyer while they're in the loving room may I accept a delivery or do we need to hold hands and make a train on the way to the from door?

When the baby needs a nap am I allowed to put her in her crib and leave the room or should I have the 6 year olds sit quietly in the nursery and read so none of the children are left alone?

Or could it be that the passage you quoted meant left alone without supervision in the home, not that we all have to be in the same room?

When my kids were that age they didn't want their parents hovering during play dates. They were happy to be set up in the playroom and they knew how to put on a movie if they got tired of toys. I didn't stay in the same room as them because they wanted to play with friends, not hang out with mommy. I don't see the big deal.

Our oldest stopped right around that time. I was sad because we just had our second child and I had this fantasy that we could all nap at the same time. She totally crushed that dream.

Haha I say it all the time. However, I promise you I'm not the overly cheerful teacher type.

DH makes biting sounds and zombie noises like in WWZ to wake me up. Or as I'm falling asleep. And another 10-20x a day to creep me out. He's trying to teach our 8yo to do it also.

About 3 weeks with both kids. Doctor said to wait until bleeding stopped and I'd know when I was ready. My sex drive never really declined. Sex was great for relieving stress, especially when we had a toddler and a newborn.

My oldest called roasted chicken "floppy chicken" when she was in preschool. That was 7-8 years ago and we still call it that. Sometimes I forget and say it around other people

Anonymous wrote:These are not mispronunciations but I will share anyway:

1. As kids get older they learn proper pronunciation for words and proper phrases (it's not the 'toot fairy' - she's not a farter). Some of them are super cute though, and we got a bit sad about DD learning the right way to speak. She's 11, and the only leftover cute mistake she has is "may you" as in "May you please hold my bookbag while I do cartwheels?".

My oldest did that for the longest time as well.

When my 8yo was younger she would say "st" instead of "th". So "thirsty" became "stirsty". My favorite was that "thanks" and "thank you" became "stanks" and "stank you". When people would give her gifts, it sounded like she was calling them stanks.

More recently, we were playing Pictureka and my husband was not performing to her standards. She told him he needed to bring his A game. Then explained that he should get some game and out an A on it with a sharpie. When DH started to explain that's not what A game means, she said, "I know. I Millified it!" (Her name is Milly)

I think I washed it weekly or so at that age. My youngest likes me to scratch her head so she really loved shampoo time. I may have washed hers twice weekly. Their hair would get really dry, especially in Michigan winters if it was washed too often.

I would probably give a warning not to spit the food out then take it away if it continues. Repeat that we swallow our food, not spit it out, and try again after a few minutes.

Our school has a container in the lobby for people to drop off costumes of any size. It's like a take one/leave one kind of thing. Parents or kids can "shop" in the container for costumes and accessories. I think any that are left over are donated if the teachers don't want them for their classrooms.