Here are a couple of my boys under the tree
Posted By: ERMT on 2007-12-12
In Reply to:
I have 3, but don't know where the third one was. He was probably playing in the box we kept all the ornaments in! Also have a German shepherd who won't fit under the tree!
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Schefflera/umbrella tree/ octopus tree
are deadly to cats/kittens as well.
Fake tree or real tree? Big or small?...sm
How about one of those old Evergleam aluminum trees with a color wheel? Wish mommy hadn't gotten rid of ours, darn it.
Copy and paste this link into your browser and enjoy!  Cat
http://www.oldchristmaslights.com/beyond_the_50s.htm
Wow, a couple of people need to take a couple of happy pills!
j
Is your Tree up?
My Christmas tree won't go up till way closer to Christmas. We always get a real one. I know some people love to put theirs up right after Thanksgiving day! Some of us wait it out a bit longer.
When do you put your tree up?
Real or Fake?
X-mas tree
We put up tree 2-3 weeks before Xmas. Kids are 17 and 15 now and don't get as excited about it anymore. Last year, DD's friend who is Jewish helped decorate. She had so much fun because she has never done it before that it made it fun for all of us again.
And you know, the tree and the egg nog
Had LOTS to do with it :)... you can turn even the crabbiest HumBug scrooge into a rum-drinkin, holiday singin fool! And I appreciate that tons....:) Thanks.
Here is my Tree ...
Please post yours.
Our tree
Our tree
Sorry, it is kind of blurry...
Our tree
Sorry, it is kind of blurry...
Our Tree
It's way too small for the space, but we got it when we were in a smaller house with lower ceilings. I still like it though. Took this before I got all the presents wrapped.
http://forum.mtstars.com/misc/images/g7BP-g7BP.JPG
Definitely boys for me.
nm
23 and 24 with my boys...sm
I used to be able to climb trees and did the iron kids triathelon with them....
My sister had her child at 42....the only girl outta 7 grandchildren....guess who's grandma's princess?
oh boys
will be boys!
boys
My son is 15 and I cannot tell you how many interviews and interrogations we have had to go through. Every time he has been on a date the parents want to meet us and see our house, etc. I has been a flipping nightmare, especially since these little flings last about a week and are over after the dance! In my humble opinion, find her something else to do. That is what I have had to do with my son. I just can't take the pain anymore. Join some super busy, mega overly scheduled adult supervised something! Shoo, shoo, mama is working!
I don't think so. I have 2 boys. They have
proven that circumcision can be beneficial for several reasons, not to mention it is more hygienic. I was conflicted with my first son because my OB/GYN was against it. She was African-American and I don't know if it was a cultural thing or what. She did do my son, but she didn't take enough off, it wasn't her decision to make. My second son I didn't hesitate.
My mom said that at 8 days she took my brothers to be circumcised - based on the Bible.
I can't see how it would be called abuse. I think it is personal choice. I can't tell you how many reports I've done on men over 50 who have had problems and have had to be circumcised.
Two boys
I have 2 boys; 24 and 19. The older one moved away to college, the school dropped his program after 2 years, so he floundered and moved back home. After 6 months told him get a job, pay his bills, go to school or get out. He went to work FT and paid all his own bills, moved out for a few months with some guys (who did not pay their share of the rent) and then moved back home, went back to college, has made the honor roll for the last year while working, just started in 2009 charging him room and board as he is after all 24. Other son 19, almost lost him to bad decisions and bad friends at 14-15 but is on the right track now; in college and working PT, pays his bills. He goes to the community college, looking into a 2+2 program, told him to go away for the last 2 years as he will get the experience of being on his own without being totally on his own. He has a serious girlfriend. I am more worried about those 2 getting an apartment together first and then him not finishing school. Older son is working on buying a house within 18 months and younger son will live with him (if not with girlfriend first.) I have to say I'm looking forward to an empty nest.
While I don't have boys but -sm
two young girls, 9 and 10, for years I would cover for my DH, get the card, mail it to his mom, make him call her on Mother's Day (remind him 50x)....For years when my kids were babies I would get nothing from him, because as he would say, I was not his mother. Well what about those two squirmy kids of ours, I am their mother. I told him he needed to help them and get a card from them to give to me, or help them make me a card, whatever that did not matter. (I have always made sure he got something from the kids on Father's day). The kids have been able to be the ones to remind him now for the last few years about special days, Mother's Day and my birthday which is great. I don't want much, just a card and Happy B or Mom day, just acknowledgement basically. He had some sort of epiphany a year or two ago and now sends his mom flowers every Mom Day and at Christmas, think this was the 3rd one in a row(guilt and belief they are dying coming to bear now, MIL is 74 but doing quite well), still did not send her a card though, figured the card with the flowers was enough. I made him go out an buy the card (instead of me coving his butt as usual). We all signed it and he mailed it. I never missed with my mom and did something every year until she died. She kept ever one of my cards too, found them after she died. ---I would still send your son a card on his birthday but leave the money out, betcha that will grab his attention. ----My DH doesn't remember anyone's birthday, he forgot mine a few times which stunk. I take care of getting the cards, mailing them, etc., though refuse to do Mom day anymore, I still have to nag at him to call his mom, dad on their birthdays, etc. Some guys are just lazy and don't want to be bothered with it.
Two boys.
I have 2 boys and enjoy them immensely. The oldest drives me nuts with some of the decisions he makes. He is funny, easy going, lots of friends and just doesn't take life too seriously.
My youngest is 17. He is very smart, has big plans for college and career (he says, you don't have to understand what it is mom, you just have to pay for it). My regret is that I wish I'd had more kids. I would take a whole house full of boys. So much fun!!
Real Tree
We just put our tree up today. A 10 footer that we paid $35 for which I thought was a great deal. We used to have an artificial tree until our cat started eating the needles (she won't touch the real needles). She got really sick (the needles stayed in her stomach) and she had to have an emergency operation. No more artificial tree from then on.
Real tree
I'll never do fake.
real tree
not bought, but hunted for; we love the smell of cedar throughout the house!
First fake tree ever!
I put it up last night and I have to say, it's quite impressive! Lots of lights, nice shape, easy to put together and even has a remote control to switch the lights on and off. I miss the smell of a real tree but not the mess.
lending tree dot com
I am interested in buying a home. The banks here want at last 20% down. I am just wondering what other options I have.
The Education of Little Tree (sm)
I don't watch TV much, but found on a Google search and on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Education-Little-Tree-Forrest-Carter/dp/0826328091/ref=sr_1_3/102-4654440-8282531?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194528822&sr=1-3
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hn9MPi92q2bX2QxOxZ5hRLrwaPywD8SOGA601
Education of Little Tree?
I did not see the View, but I do own this book and loved it. It supposedly was an autobiography by Forest Carter, but turns out he made the whole thing up, which ended up being a really disappointed me as I found the characters so real. I live in the mountains of WNC and am part Cherokee. Good to hear that your kids are into tribal life.
prelit tree
I agree with the others, I love mine and will never, ever have an old tree again. We keep ours in the garage and have for the last 2 years, and it still works! 
Artificial tree
My MIL has a table top artificial tree that she decorated around 10 years ago. At the end of each holiday season, she covers it with a sheet and puts in the back of the closet. I don't know if the lights even work anymore or if she changed them at some point. It is just really funny every year when we get it out of the closet, take off the sheet, and voila! grammy is ready for another xmas.
Our tree was not prelit but we don't take
the lights off now that they are on. We put up about 5 trees, all different sizes and my DH just puts them in the back of a pick up (without decorations) and puts them in a storage unit.
We always put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. sm
we all sing-a-long Christmas songs to CDs while we decorate. I can't stand putting them up until after Thanksgiving. I have to close one holiday before i move onto the next, lol.
The other tradition i started with my kiddos is they always get to open ONE present on Christmas eve. that one present is always and will always be PJs. when they were little and i looked back on our Christmas pictures, i realized they were in whichever PJs they went to bed in. so then i decided every year to get them PJs for a gift so everyone looks nice for pictures the next morning.
The Cookie Tree -sm
Sprinkle Town
Scrumpy-Umpy-Umpkins
Cookie Jar Delites
Rainbow Cookies
Pretty Pony Cookies
My little dog and the Xmas tree...s/m
Hayseed you brought back the sweetest memory. Had a little lhasa apso named Blondie. One year the tree went up, got decorated, etc. Hours went by with no sign of Blondie. More time passed, no Blondie.. Started calling her name, looking from room to room, then looking outside for her. Nowhere in sight. About 1/2 hour later I just happened to go under the tree and there she was, laying on the green tree shirt and looking up at the lights. She spent about another hour like that and finally came out. It was the sweetest thing I ever saw........
You left one out ----- NO tree.
x
Real tree...sm
I like tall and thin, but DH likes big and fat. This year, it's kinda tall and fat.
Education of Little Tree
GREAT BOOK!! I passed my book around to my friends and they all loved it too. My aunt even bought a couple as gifts to others. Easy read and very enjoyable.
Pic of our Maple Tree
It's just about ready to lose the leaves.
Our tree is undecorated until 12/24.
Maybe it's more a European thing. (My grandparents were immigrants and we lived with them.) Or it's more of a Catholic thing, but we observe the season of advent leading up to Christmas. We decorate the tree on Christmas Eve day, light it after midnight, and then observe the Christmas season through "Little Christmas" on January 6. Then all the decorations come down. A few of our neighbors do the same, but it seems that most people start Christmas at Thanksgiving and then have everything down the day after.
I do have a selfish reason for enjoying the Christmas season, which is that my birthday is 12/26, and I LOVE having Christmas decorations up on my birthday! People with "normal" birthdays in the middle of the year don't get to do that!
When do you buy your Christmas Tree? sm
What kind do you get and how tall do you get? We redid our living room over the summer and since then, at least once a month, I've walked around asking where we are going to put our tree (a big boxed tree that is a pain in the rear to put together and sheds about as many pine needles as a real one). I've decided (yesterday - haven't approached DH yet) that I'd like to try one of those tall skinny ones so I think that buying a real one this year would be better to try out before making the investment in a fake one that I might not care for.
One more question - any problems with your pets and a real tree?? Years and years ago, the guy at the tree lot swore up and down to me a specific tree (can't remember what kind now) that cats will stay out of - yeah right!! My cats still managed to drag that tree halfway through my apartment! LOL
We got our tree today
We went to a tree farm, took a tractor ride and cut down our tree. We have 12 foot high ceilings and usually get a 12 foot tree, but this year we put it at the other end of the family room, and we got an 8-1/2 footer.
We used to have a fake Christmas tree up until about 8 years ago or so when our cat began eating all the fake pine needles. Long story short she ate so many she had to have emergency surgery to remove them (she wasnt' able to pass them) and $1,500 later we decided no more fake trees. She's no longer with us, but when she was younger she would climb in the tree and actually knocked it over one year. We had to anchor it to the wall. Our other cat never really bothered the tree except batting around ornaments at the bottom. He's been over sniffing it today, but hasn't paid much attention to it over the past few years.
Christmas Tree
Real and anywhere from 8-1/2 to 12 feet tall depending on where we put it in our family room. It's up and decorated since Saturday.
Love your tree -- I am a big UK fan so that
x
kitty's own tree..
I think that's a great idea!
Combined with the squirt gun when he tries messing with the big tree.. love this idea!
...and if he/she destroys the little tree, you can likely buy a replacement after the holidays for next to nothing!
Happy Holidays!
I raised 2 boys on my own.
Maybe some of these techniques that assisted me can do the same for you:
1) Literally write down a list of rules that you want observed in your home. Not what you think you can get him to do but what you actually WANT. Make copies for his bedroom, for the refrigerator, for his billfold, for every room you can. (I printed mine off and framed them in certificate frames and hung them up. Be specific. Cover all areas.)
2) Literally write down behaviors and language you are not going to tolerate and rank them.
2) Literally write down a list of everything that is important to this youngster. Include friends (by name), electronics (iPod, computer, etc.), privileges (telephone, friends coming over, going out, driving), and places he enjoys going (movies, sports events, eating establishments, etc.). Rank these in order of importance to him.
3) If possible, have your husband (separated, correct?) to meet with you first and agree and provide a united front. Agree on what you expect of him as his parents, what is best for his wellbeing. Write down how you will construct discipline and dispense punishment. Make it appropriate, reasonable and, above all, something you will actually do.
5) Have a meeting with your son (and your husband, if he is onboard with you). Give your son a copy of the new rules, the discipline tactics, the unacceptable behaviors and the punishments. Go over each one of them. Don't argue. Don't explain too much. The lists are clear. Everything has a yes/no as to its use and everything has an if with it as well.
Here's the hardest part: Do what you say. If his language is offensive, he can't talk on the phone. Period. No exceptions, period. Even if you have to unplug it and keep the cord in your pocket. Never argue; never raise your voice. Just calmly make your statement and leave it alone. The more he carries on, the more trouble he will incur. Let him handle the stress of it. If you protect him from the consequences of his actions, he will never, ever change and never learn. (Warning: His behavior WILL get worse before it gets better and then it will wax/wane on occasion just to test the waters.)
Stay with him after school in his tutoring. I showed at school one day in high school for my oldest. One day for 2 classes and that was all it ever took. Made the difference with my youngest, too! Neither one wanted me showing up and sitting next to him in class! Be there but let the teacher do the tutoring. Just be there to enforce his attendance and understand what is happening in the sessions.
Praise good/changed behavior but do not reward it. If it is behavior you are wanting to be an expected behavior, praise it, acknowledge it. Reward exceptional behavior that goes beyond what you have set rules for.
Make sure he is involved in his own caretaking: Laundry, specific chores (no pay -- no ma'am, do not pay any child to contribute to their household), help cook one night a week, yard work, etc.
Be watchful of his music, TV watching, movie going. These can have just as devastating of an impact on him as his so-called friends. Make sure you know who his friends' parents are, what they do; do you agree with how they live? How these friends act? If not, restrict his activities with them.
Get him involved in some type of sport he enjoys and into a youth group if at all possible. It is important.
I hope these tips will help you as much as they did me.
my boys are warriors
Both have been deployed at one time or another to Iraq. One is there now. The other boy told me that he had gone to the funeral of one of his brave friends who had been killed. Those horrible people were there from Kansas, but the Harley people were there also, 200 to 300 of them, each holding a flag, protecting the family of the soldier from the disgusting behavior of that supposed church. Made chills go up and down my spine. Can you imagine that many flags in one place being used to protect a family! GO HARLEY WARRIORS!
boys or girl
I have 2 of each (yes 4 in all) and I would defitenly say boys right now. My kids are still young so may be my mind will change with age!
huh? boys much easier? NOT...NM
Boys do go through stages.
On the other hand, depression can come out as anger.
I think mothers are supposed to help their kids understand their feelings and talk to them, but it can be difficult to get boys to express themselves.
It's think it's a normal stage to go through for boys to just be annoyed by girls because girls are so talkative and different, sometimes dating-obsessed or gossip-obsessed or whatever, and for a boy it's annoying.
Maybe he doesn't enjoy competing with a girl who is older.
I think he would rather spend time with boys right now, but boys need something to do together so they stay out of trouble.
But he needs to realize that he doesn't really hate girls. He just doesn't enjoy the different developmental stages they go through. And your daughter might benefit from knowing how males' brains work - that guys don't admire girls who are obsessed about stuff they think is silly.
Just some thoughts. Parenting is hard, but respect for siblings should be taught, and some space from each other can go a long way.
That's for sure and something I hear over and over. Boys
s
To me it always seems to be harder on the boys (sm)
My husband are like that - oil and water for sure. We just can hardly stand to live together anymore. We have been trying to stay together for the kids for years.
How did affect you and your sister?? Would it have been better if they had stayed together or was it just a bad situation either way? I feel like I am choosing the lesser of the evils.
My boys had to pay me twice as much as their tickets sm
If the ticket was 50.00, they had to pay me 100.00, too. No ifs, ands or buts. Didn't have to take away the keys. This worked every time. They are all good drivers now. None of the speed.
The first of my new boys has arrived. (sm)
Introducing Teddy! He's a Schipperke mix, only about 20 lb. He has a tail, which is very cute and curled, but he's hiding it. I'm new at photographing black dogs, but I think it turned out okay for a first try. He's already had a bath and flea treatment with Frontline Plus, because we're in the South and he had fleas.
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