Hang Out and Post

[Duma]

Not bad at all! I haven't actually bought anything yet, but I was already thinking of what to get last week. At least the prices aren't driven up yet and you can find a lot more stuff that isn't Christmas related.

What did you buy?

[Mouseykins]

I have 3 kids to shop for and they each can cost a bit, so this year I decided to break it up a bit. Last week when we went grocery shopping I picked up our baby girl's presents. For the other two I'll probably order online and get them shipped home that way they don't physically see them and I can  unpack the boxes when they're asleep.

[Zafie]

10 hours ago, Duma said:

Not bad at all! I haven't actually bought anything yet, but I was already thinking of what to get last week. At least the prices aren't driven up yet and you can find a lot more stuff that isn't Christmas related.

What did you buy?

Ah no worries you've got time lol. Yes that's certainly true. I still have lots to get and the only things I've bought so far are for my sister. I got her Animal Crossing New Leaf for 3DS, a set of clothes, and a DIY maker tattoo set :)

[balloongal247]

I finished Christmas shopping earlier this week.  I started in the after Christmas sales last year.

[Duma]

Oh, that's smart, when all the Christmas gifts are being sold for a discount! I've thought about that, but never felt like keeping them for a year. Maybe in the future I will though, if I have plenty of space to keep them.

[balloongal247]

It also works really well, because like for my mom, I can have her pick out items for herself, and then be completely sure she'll forget all about them and they'll be a surprise.  Like today I gave her ornaments we bought last year, and she was so surprised by them.  Though, they were the ones she'd forgotten about by the time the shipments came, so this method can also work in the weeks and months before Christmas.

[Mouseykins]

Sadly that method does not work with children. The longer you hide gifts around the house, the more likely they are to stumble across them and want them immediately as opposed to waiting for their intended gift date.

Earlier this year for my oldests birthday I ordered her a plush toy from the Disney Store. I also go her younger sister one too and an outfit for her baby sister. They were here when the delivery came and wanted to open the box right away. She knew what it was because I said I might be ordering her something from the Disney Store and the logo was on the box. My MIL was a bit ticked that I also ordered the other two girls something because it's not their birthday and they should have to wait. Well my middle child had a really crappy birthday this year and I was supposed to get her something like this anyways so this was a late present for her. And do I need a reason to buy things for the baby girl, no I do not. Plus I had to import them from the United States, so figured I'd better get my money's worth and hope the duty fees weren't over the moon. Turns out they were only $13.

Since today is Black Friday I should see what the Toy store has on sale.

EDIT: I ended up getting all my shopping done last night from the comfort of my computer! I ordered K and A's presents, plus stocking stuffers for all three girls. I ordered something I need for our classroom and a gift for myself as well as a book I was supposed to get for my birthday. My husband already got his gift. I got new tires for his truck earlier this week. Now I just need to get a small plush toy for S's stocking and some gifts for Mouse. She was supposed to get a jacket and booties for Christmas but we got her jackets early and she's been wearing them outside since it's been so cold. I think I'll get her a couple of toys and some treats. She won't really care either way.

[Rileeey]

I got super excited about all the snow we'd been getting

 

But then, boom, sunshine, and now it's pretty much all gone :(

[etrnldarkness]

I always start a year early with after holiday sales, haha. The kids are usually pretty oblivious to new things since I am pretty sneaky at hiding. Between after holiday sales and black friday we can get most, if not all, our shopping done fairly easily...and not break the bank!

***

@Rileeey Is it still lacking snow there? ;( We got hit pretty good the last couple days including icy roads last night (so many accidents!). I hope you get snow in time for Christmas!

[Naamah D.]

I get to go on a shopping spree in April. Some of my clothes are old and aren't really my style anyway. Gotta love some new outfits. 

[pxrxsxkx]

It's finally starting to cool down a little, this was a very brutal summer. California keeps burning up more and more, every year. So sad.

[Greywindd]

Summer is here The roasting of the sidewalks have begun and since I live in NYC, the oven-like underground subway stations. Eughhh

[jellysundae]

9 hours ago, Greywindd said:

Summer is here The roasting of the sidewalks have begun and since I live in NYC, the oven-like underground subway stations. Eughhh

A lady I follow on Instragram lives in the East Village and she said pretty much the same thing yesterday. It doesn't really help knowing millions of others are in the same boat though, does it, especially not when it's called cold comfort!

[Mouseykins]

We've had such a cold brutal winter in my area and all of a sudden it's warm. Since the grass is green and the dandelions are everywhere and it's sunny out my oldest is bugging me for the sprinkler almost every day. It's not quite warm enough out for that yet. We still have a breeze on most days and it's a bit cool. They'll have plenty of time to enjoy it, though I'm sure they'll miss Mouse playing in the water with them. I've been trying to weed my flower garden but having to keep an eye on a 2-year old constantly is making it take longer. It was strangely quiet not having Mouse bringing me her ball or other toys constantly and dropping it on my plants like she normally did.

[MysteryAF]

The Midwest U.S. encountered the polar vortex last winter, and guess where I live? It was quite the experience gearing up so I could stand outside in -35F/-37C wind chills. Brutal!

It's starting to warm up now, but it's been night after night of loud thunderstorms... ugh. I wanna go out in the rain (cause I'm weird and like rain, don't judge me ), but I dislike startling thunderstorms and threatening lightning.

[jellysundae]

I just found out that a v.cool person whose Youtube I subscribe to  Safiya Nygaard

Their birthday is the same day as mine. So that explains her coolness, doesn't it.

She is cool though, she and her boyfriend are very entertaining to watch so you should totally do that. I absolutely don't apologise if you end up sucked down the rabbit hole and binge-watching.

[Mouseykins]

On 5/28/2019 at 10:50 AM, Mouseykins said:

We've had such a cold brutal winter in my area and all of a sudden it's warm. Since the grass is green and the dandelions are everywhere and it's sunny out my oldest is bugging me for the sprinkler almost every day. It's not quite warm enough out for that yet. We still have a breeze on most days and it's a bit cool. They'll have plenty of time to enjoy it, though I'm sure they'll miss Mouse playing in the water with them. I've been trying to weed my flower garden but having to keep an eye on a 2-year old constantly is making it take longer. It was strangely quiet not having Mouse bringing me her ball or other toys constantly and dropping it on my plants like she normally did.

Now I have to worry about Kai standing overtop of me while I'm in this vulnerable position. He seems to enjoy tackling me and charging me. He just gets so excited! Last night I went outside because the kids told me he was chewing on something, as usual. Trying to get what he's got and he runs around wanting me to chase him. I don't give him that satisfaction and instead pick up one of his toys and throw it at him. It glances off his head, and goes skipping across the yard. I didn't intent to throw it directly at him, but he moved and missed the catch. I go to pick it up and bring it to a different part of the yard. Kai comes charging up behind me and rams right into me with his paws on my shoulders as he lunged. I get pushed forward a bit and stayed on my feet. His front paws slipped down my arms and on my left I now have a scrape from his dew claw, a.k.a. his thumb nail. Hurt like a bugger too! I got mad at him and the whole time I think he thought it was a game.

[jellysundae]

@Mouseykins Ouch! How easy is it to train a big dog to not jump up at people like that? Can it be done?

[Mouseykins]

11 hours ago, jellysundae said:

@Mouseykins Ouch! How easy is it to train a big dog to not jump up at people like that? Can it be done?

Usually when I'm in the yard I have a broken swiffer sweeper pole with me or the rake if I'm using it. Both act as a deterrent for him to come charging over. Even if I tried, I couldn't possibly hurt him with either of them. I just use them to stop him at a distance by holding it towards him. After a few minutes in the yard he does calm down so it's not like he's doing this the entire duration. However, he will still come up behind me when I'm kneeling or sitting on the ground. Kai stands over top me and usually puts a paw on my shoulder while he tries to slobber all over my ear and nibble on it. YUCK! Basically it's his way of claiming me as his. LOL

When he behaves like that when we come home, we try to ignore him until he calms down so he knows he has to be calm in order to get attention. It's a work in progress and eventually he will learn.

Kai's been in the "dog house" this last week because he destroyed something that was brand-new for the yard and my Mr. was tempted to return it because there was a problem. We bought a lawn sweeper to pick up all the pieces of styrofoam and whatnot Kai has strewn about the yard. But Kai decided to leave his mark, so now we can't return it and have to find some strong thread to stitch up the hole he made in this basket. luckily my Mr. was able to fix the wheels. Kai left it completely alone for 2 days and on the third, just because Dad leaves without Kai, Kai has to be a jerk and get some revenge for being left at home. Kai is a very social pup and loves to go places.

[lalaiscool600]

On 8/7/2006 at 3:40 PM, Captain Awesome Pants said:

MUFFINS!!! :woot: They totally rock! Who agrees?

i work at the muffin factory

[jellysundae]

18 hours ago, Mouseykins said:

It's a work in progress and eventually he will learn.

It sounds it! But he is just a pup, isn't he, I mustn't forget that. Isn't it a good thing human babies aren't so big!

[Mouseykins]

37 minutes ago, jellysundae said:

It sounds it! But he is just a pup, isn't he, I mustn't forget that. Isn't it a good thing human babies aren't so big!

I'd be done for if the were!

I brushed Kai last night and then used the de-shedder rake on him and I can probably make another dog with the amount of fluff I got out of him. He looks so much more handsome now! My husband's like "Now he looks presentable to go for a walk instead of looking like he just came in from the sheep."

I was planning to brush him outside but it's either been too windy or I've been sleeping so since I had to sweep the floor anyway, I just brushed him inside. He wouldn't let me brush his back too much, he wanted his belly rubs! I still need to do some more with the rake and I may need to take the scissors to the fluff behind his ears. It's so soft and fluffy that it's gotten matted from everyone scratching him behind the ears and him scratching himself behind the ears. I'll have to enlist the Mr's help for that so I don't hurt Kai. Next on the list is his nails. I still need to give him a bath too but it's not warm enough outside for that yet and the vet isn't doing any grooming appointments yet. I was going to have them pamper Kai.

[MysteryAF]

I just want things to go back to normal

[Mouseykins]

10 hours ago, MysteryAF said:

I just want things to go back to normal

I feel ya! I would like things to go back to normal, but looks like this is our new normal for a while.

@jellysundae We finally got Kai into the vet for his nail trim! He went last week for his annual check-up and immunizations. It was way past time for him to get them trimmed. About a week before he went, I was out in the yard and he charges behind me and pounces on me. His big paw caught my shoulder and his front dew claw gave me a nice long scratch from my shoulder down to the middle of my back on that side. It's still healing and hopefully it won't scar. Funny thing, at the vet they put a muzzle on him. He was scared to go into the treatment area. Poor boy! He remembered his ear treatments and it was the same vet. After they put the muzzle on him, he completely calmed down. I find it funny that they muzzled my big boy. I"m not mad at them for doing it, he's a large dog and not knowing how he'd react, they're just keeping everyone, including Kai safe. Kai's also been at the farm a couple of times now and he has a blast! We're going again on Sunday for a day trip.

[FreyaFox]

@Mouseykins ...Ok this might age me  but your explanation of Kai reminds me of one of the first books I had ever read called Mr. mugs. i believe it was when I was in first grade. He was a big furry ball of fun. Mr. Mugs was a Old english sheepdog.

What type of dog do you have?