Where the Deer and the Antelope Play - Living in the USA (visitors welcome)

[SuperBunny]

East Coast
MaNanny - Boston
Twinmommytobe - Boston
MuminCT - CT
Greatgooglymoogly - NY State
Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
Brooklynmom - NYC
alarkaspree - NYC
MKG - New Jersey
Mummimamma - PA
Poetmum - PA
Twirl - MD

South
Earlybird - TN
jabberwocky - AR
Sunchowder - Florida
Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
Tinpot - NC
MadameDeathStare- AL

Midwest
SuperBunny- Chicago
Dodgykeeper - Dayton, OH
Chocchipcookie - Ohio
MonkeyLover
KickAssAngel - Ann Arbor, MI

Rockies
Alipiggie - Boulder, CO
Ribena

Northwest
AnnieLaurie - Seattle, WA
Dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR

California
SittingBull - nr San Francisco
Califrau - Milpitas
loopsngeorge - Brentwood, LA
Syd - Manhattan Beach, LA
SofiaAmes - LA
LATyke - Redondo Beach

Texas
Texan - Dallas
Tiggyhop - Houston
Vixie78 - Houston
BananaPudding - Austin
Cosmicdust - East Texas

Canada
Hellish - Ottawa
Shouldlistenedtomymum - Hamilton
Nooka - BC
Jacksmama - Langley

Exotic Islands
Anorak - Bermuda
cp - Trinidad
Barefeete - BVI

Brazil
Albert

Ingenious, isn't it?!

DOing fine thanks SuperBunny. Just waved off parents so trying to keep positive as will really miss them.

They stayed for ages though so nice to get the house back and settle into a rountine just the 5 of us (5 sounds like a massive number!)

Baby Bunkup is a dream and has settled into a lovely routine of feeding and sleeping I'm pleased to say. I think she just has to fit in around the rest of us.

Have struggled getting my head around valentines day here!! DD was only one at school who didn't bring cards / gifts for the whole class. Is that normal? Luckily teacher had some spares. I guess it makes a change from shops being full of easter eggs the moment Christmas is over!

Oh Bunkup, goodbyes are always hard, aren't they?

Valentine's Day in the US is always odd for me. I still think of it as a romantic thing but I actually really like the way it is here. That said, DS is not is school so is not expected to give cards to everybody - I don't think I like that side of it.

Bunkups, you stick out like a sore thumb if you don't bring cards for everyone. Trust me, I remember every single Valentine's Day in elementary school being the only person who never brought them.

I think kids have so much fun getting them, though.The kids have happily been playing with their cards and candy the past few days. I remember lovingly looking at the few I got before I got home and they were taken away.

I'm really bah humbug on Valentine's Day for adults, though. Either it is depressing because you're alone, or you are compelled by some sort of stupid social pressure into buying something for your significant other. DH has finally learned to get me nothing. I do bow into the pressure and make a special dinner. This year, the menu was dictated by Colin.

Yep, the whole class is the norm. I got a little kit so that ds1 could make his without creating too much of a crafting disaster on the dining room table. I did feel bad about ds2 though. Just sent him in with a box of spongebob cards .

"I am NEVER going to get to the seasonal throw pillows stage, nor am I going to decant my liquid soap into a festive soap dispenser but I really do love the way people throw themselves into things so wholeheartedly over here!"

I don't believe you. You have seasonal wreaths, don't you? It's a slippery slope Cali...

Well done to DS2.

From where would you order craft supplies for playgroup? Paint, glue, craft kits and suchlike.

i also like the whole seasonal thing & would prob go with the cushions for each season if dh let me. we're still at the stage of waiting to get sofas though, so cushions would be a little pre-emptive.
dd's class ALL did candy & tatoos, she had done cards (as per the instructions sent home, no-one told me about gifts) but there were obviously some mistakes made, as although she got the right number of things, they didn't all have her name on! the night before she said, 'but, uh-oh, i bet something got confused!' so i think the TA had to go through & count stuff out to make it fair, i think some kids just emptied their gifts into the first tray in the line!

i have a wreath i'm thinking of decorating for easter - haven't found a haberdashers yet, but will try to get some ribbons & fake eggs. can you get those dies to boil eggs in? there must be soemthing. i am SO looking forward to spring now.

dh & i don't do valentines at all. he did once come home with a sledgehammer for me when it co-incided with 10% day at homebase, though. they say that romance never dies.

I got engaged at a Red Robin once. It was the only time I ever followed through and got married.

? does that mean you've been engaged numerous times?

Only 4.

lol @ sledgehammer

You can get egg dyes - I think Walgreens and Target sell them.

I went to a Red Robin once and there were only 2 things on the menu that I could eat

'only' 4?

i only ever got engaged once 'as the resultof a misunderstanding' (wilde). luckily, it all worked out for the best in the end.

tell us about the 4 though - i'm so nosy

I look at it that I never came close to loving the first 3, and they don't really count.

First I have to say, Valentine's dinner turned out great, so I'm really happy.

Um, well, first of all, I was in a religion where you're an old maid at 19, and I was 20. That explains number one.

Then the second time, I met an older guy from Iowa. I liked older guys, and most importantly HE WAS 1500 MILES AWAY FROM MY FAMILY. I pretty much realized that I was running away from one unhappy situation to another.

The last time was a result of meeting a really nice guy out of the religion. I was in love for the first time, but it went nowhere, as I couldn't date anyone who wasn't part of the religion. He ended up dumping me (nicely, he was a very nice guy), and I was horribly depressed. I know I was just kind of aimlessly wandering through life, and I don't really know what to say beyond that.

DH is just wonderful. When I married him I lost every single family and friend I had. My only regret is I didn't have the guts to leave earlier than what I did. Before I married him I had been diagnosed by a medical doctor with depression, panic attacks, ulcers and high blood pressure, and without doing anything medically for any of them, they all went away gradually.

MrDooney is quite amazing. What a lovely story. Don't suppose he has a single brother or cousin in Chicago, does he?

I have the Oriental Trading catalog so will have a look there later, thanks.

His brother is dead, but you wouldn't have wanted him anyway. It was like DH got all of the good for the both of them, and there was nothing left for his brother. I'm seriously not sure where he came from, because all the males in his family don't do anything around the house and aren't that involved with their children. Except FIL, and that was only after he married DH's step mom, and she pretty much makes him. Too bad I can't clone him. He's great, and you guys could sit around and make lists all day long.

Oriental Trading company is seriously addictive

I feel really bad now for saying something so insensitive. So sorry

dooney, that expalins an earlier comment of yours that you & your dh couldn't be seen together when you were dating!
yes, i think you can safely say your ealier engagements don't really count.

No, not insensitive at all. My bad. It was more making a point that DH is very unique in his family. I've said some VERY insensitive things to others (not DH, or MIL or FIL) about BIL since his death.