Living in America....... summer 2010!

[redflipflops]

So.... new thread.... please join me

introductions:

redflipflops - California (central Coast)

That is wrong red, what is the problem with giving out stickers or fun pencils, or something? Good work = fatty, sugar filled food? That should be within parents' control imho.

Had scan today and everything was really great! So relieved. Sonographer said baby was really photogenic! Found out gender as was really obvious and not what we were expecting! Can start planning a bit more now. Got to get dh to speak to HR re our L1 visa being extended come March if the green card hasn't arrived by then. Well, the company's lawyer has taken a month so far to download a 2 page form, fill it out, send it to us for approval and send it off. That doesn't bode well, does it? [worried emoticon]

I get so irritated with candy as treats. I am almost tempted to send DS' new teacher a thank you note for going 2 whole days without giving them candy. Last year DS' teacher gave it to them early on in the day, and let them eat it there, so I didn't even know it was going on, because DS was devious smart enough to know not to tell me. We had to send in sheets and sheets of stickers. Use those instead. I'll go to the dollar store and fund thousands of them if I have to for the use of treats if candy isn't involved.

Have you heard of the Smart Food Initiative, dooney? I don't know if it's just a Bend thing, or Oregon wide but it's about trying to get the school district to remove candy from their schools, getting healthier snacks etc. You could probably find it on facebook. It would be nice if Jamie Oliver's food revolution could get the million signatures it needs to go to the White House!

Looks like it is just a Bend thing, but I 'liked' it anyway, just because I agree with the principles. Don't get too cold tonight, I saw on the news they're predicting it to be in the 30's in your area tonight.

Hopefully a really good weekend ahead for us. I got Trans Siberian Orchestra tickets for November today, my kids have 2 birthday parties to go to tomorrow, DH's birthday is Sunday, and I had a friend call and ask me if she could watch our kids for our anniversary in a few weeks.

You had a friend call and ask if she could watch your kids? Hope you have a great weekend and your dh has a lovely birthday. Another Brit friend in Bend - dh from Reno - his birthday is Sunday too and they are going to the Enchanted Forest! I always fancied the Trans Siberian Express but the orchestra sounds really cool! There's always great stuff going on in Portland.

Am a bit at the use of chocolate in schools

Well years ago I used to give out celebrations (the tiny mars miniatures) at the end of the Christmas term but that was one thumb sized chocolate once a year, the rest of the time it was stickers in their books and/or pencils and erasers. Many of the kids were short of stationery so it seemed more appropriate.

It's the lazy way to motivate kids. Reminds me of training animals with a lump of sugar!

dooney sounds like you have a very thoughtful and kind friend! tad how's the pregnancy going? when are you due? It's hard work when you have 2 other little ones to look after too.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Do you mean like throwing fish to sealions? I'm halfway there now and can feel him moving around a lot! Absolutely no idea about boys' names as I was convinced it was a girl. Spent today actually working for a living! Translated some documents into German for a student I had taught briefly. Really enjoyed it but also realised just how much German I had forgotten. Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday evening.

How do I point out to my colleagues that there is no e in basil. Still shocked at how many differences there are in the language.

may the work continue for you tad, I always enjoyed doing odd bits here and there.

who been up to much red?

Hi Climber just been settling the kids into new school/pre School term. Think DD is more into the swing of things now and less horrified at the idea of school every morning!

Must be nice to use your brain tad! I used to do some freelance work from home in the UK but not done anything since moving over. We also found out sex with third baby - it's nice to be able to talk to older kids about a new baby 'brother'

We're thinking of going to San Diego for Thanksgiving. Apparently it's empty then as most Americans will be with family. Obviously will have to avoid driving in the holiday traffic though.

Also not sure what to expect from Halloween?? I know it's big here but feel I misjudged Valentines so need to be more prepared! Do they take stuff into school? What ages go trick or treating???

I mean places like Seaworld and Zoo will be empty (not San Diego )

Round our way it was mainly kids under 10 who were trick or treating, but I don't know what happens in school. Technically they shouldn't celebrate it as it's All Hallows Eve and therefore has Christian links but dooney or earlybird or jabberwocky ought to be able to tell us more! Glad dd is settling well.

Here, it seems that even the middle-school kids go out, and we even get a decent number of groups of high schoolers (they either seem to not go or go in packs of about 20).

Not sure what is "normal" for schooltime, though. I know there are starting to be a lot of schools around here that don't do anything to celebrate, and won't let the kids dress up. They're even divided in DS' school district with some allowing celebrations and some not. Last year (Kindergarten) DS got to go all dressed up in his costume, and was supposed to bring 1 treat (piece of candy, cheap plastic tat) for each member of their class and they had a big party. I think the older kids got to bring their costumes to school and change into them for a parade and that was it.

I think if they are supposed to bring stuff, the teacher will usually let you know. I think you maybe got caught out on Valentine's, because it is just an unwritten expectation that the kids will bring Valentines for their class mates. It isn't so cut and dry for Halloween.

I killed it. I killed the thread.

Anyway, here's my story for the day. DS has been asking for more snacks to take to school because he has been "really hungry" for the past few days. Today I found out he's been trading away the extra muffins I've been sending him to his classmates for those weird shaped bracelet thingies that are popular in school right now.

dooney - well at least he's showing initiative?

halloween here is a big deal - everyone does pumpkins & trick or treat. the younger kids wear fancy dress (doesn't have to be scary, can be princesses or anything) to school & 'parade' round the playground. even older kids do trick or treat & dd gets enough candy to last her til valentines.

also, even grown ups will wear seasonal clothes, like an orange top! and they all eat pumpkin pie.

but then i live in small towns ville & it's all a bit 1950s stepford-esque.

Dooney I just wanted it not to be me for a change!

This is a daft question, but are there pumpkin patches all over America, or do they grow only in certain climates? Those we have here are really cool and the dcs love going to play there and choose their own pumpkins! Halloween is so much nicer here than in the UK where all the slightly sinister elements have overtaken the harmless dressing up that happens in Bend. How has dd settled in to her new school year kickass?

DD has already started talking about Halloween (must be from kids/stuff at school). I guess it's better than the Christmas hype that will have started in UK shops by now!

So how much candy should I get in for people calling at our house??? We live in small town so surely not too many trick or treaters?? Maybe I can recycle stuff that is collected early by my kids (as they're young we'll no doubt go out early!)

Depends on the area, I think. If you have lots of houses close together and sidewalks and streetlights, expect people coming in droves to your house, even if they don't live in your neighborhood. I turned out the lights about 40 minutes after we got home last year, because I had almost run out of candy in our 150 piece bag. Sometimes we get groups of kids by the double digits that come to the door.

yeah, i think we cleared about 200 pieces of candy last year! you don't have to do it - round here people only call if you have lights on. some people have sound & lighting effects, and dress up to open the door.

dooney - she's doing ok, not keen on change but settling now it's the 2nd week. the school buses have changed & it now leaves an hour before school starts, or i can drive her & get an extra 50 mins in bed!

I'm glad she's doing well kickass. An extra 50 mins in bed sounds bliss!

What do you think we should take to a green card party? Friends of ours have got theirs and are having a party to celebrate. What about some little flags or something?

The green card party was good though we paid for staying late with dcs behaviour today! Ds has his 3rd birthday tomorrow and I just don't know where the time has gone! We all baked cupcakes today and they didn't do as well as hoped. I don't think the altitude helps! Hope everyone has had a great weekend!

tad hope your DS has a nice birthday . Have seem some amazing cupcakes over here - people have turned it into an art form!

Yes some look absolutely beautiful, don't they? Too much frosting for my liking, a petite little angel cake would suffice. Thanks, red, how have you been?