I really appreciate everybody's input. It has been really valuable to me to read and help me work through this. I talked with her BFFs parents last night whose daughter is not at the school. Her BFFs mom picked up for me as I got stuck in traffic behind a wreck. She read her folder notes and was a bit shocked about the complaints such as wasted time during center time, not standing still in line, etc. Then her husband mentioned that it is not worth for your child to be feeling like she isn't good or picked on at this point in her life when you can do something about it since even though the teachers doesn't say it all the kids know who is the one they call bad and no point in harming her self esteem at this age. He also said he has never ever seen her act like anything but a normal 5 year old and they are around us a lot. They also have a strong willed daughter. He told me to listen to my instincts. I felt better to have talked to them and validate that I think it is a bit extreme. He also said he was sure the administrator wasn't used to talking to somebody who is well educated and researches everything and then contradicts her. They both know the person in question. It is funny because that is almost exactly word for word what I thought after talking to her yesterday morning about what the law actually says. Yesterday went good and later in the afternoon when I checked in to see how things were going they said if she wasn't asleep by a certain time then she'd get to read books and do puzzles. Seems like they decided to listen to me about what the state said after all. This morning was more like a normal drop off with one exception. My daughter said as soon as I parked and came to her side to help her out that "Mommy I have a tummy ache" and I asked if she needed to go and potty, the answer was no and I could feel it seemed more psychological than physical as she was dragging to go into school. Since late last week this has been going on about not wanting to go in vs. she used to run ahead of me and be all excited. I really feel for her as it can't be easy to process. I left her with that I think she is an awesome kid and I know she is the best and she reluctantly let me go. Then this morning I got a call from principal at the school we were hoping she would get into for Kindergarten - didn't make it into pre-K, saying they have an opening in the Spring in the pre-K class. I'm going in on Tuesday to meet with the principal. DH and I are going to discuss some more, but we are fairly certain we will switch. I don't want to deal with anymore threats of you can leave if you don't like it when discussing things as I feel it is unproductive and I feel bullied when it is said. The upside too is that if she already is a student then she can continue into the Kindergarten program and we don't have to worry about being on the waiting list. I also looked at their published schedule and they have story/naptime and at a much later time that seem to fit much better with an older childs need for a nap than the 1.5 hr earlier that they enforce at her current school which works for younger children. Their time is more in line with the time she actually falls asleep on the weekend than the time we tell her to go and take the nap (we try to stick to the same schedule as school). This just seems like a wonderful gift to me as I was worried about moving her through too many places and doesn't seem like it could have come at a better time. One of the boys on our street is also in this class and she plays with him and his older sister who is in 1st grade at the school. This post was edited by lyfia on Fri, Dec 13, 13 at 15:07

Check out the web site linked below; it's all Irish gifts. I ran across it while looking for things to put in my St. Patrick's Day bathroom. And here's a link to Guinness bar stools: http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=561&P=45&Rec=1&Ntt=360062&N=37&Nao=0amp;R=2682 The same place also has a Guinness throw: http://www.ltdcommodities.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=485&P=105&Rec=1&Ntt=424158%2D4T34&N=37&Nao=0amp;R=15337 Hope this helps! Here is a link that might be useful: Keara's Irish Gifts

In our area, some of the school kids go door to door selling stuff for their fund raising projects. One of them has subscriptions for $12. When you buy those, you get a voucher for each magazine you paid for that you fill out with what magazine you want and mail in, and your subscription starts soon after. These would be useful for any age because they could pick whatever they want. ALTHOUGH.... I have a couple of 'little old lady friends' that I gave these to and they thought they were going to have to send a check with it and so they THREW THEM AWAY!!!!!!!! Even though it said "Prepaid" clearly all over the voucher! So if you give these, be sure to include a note that says that they're already paid for and all they have to do is pick what they want and send it in. I do understand there are some prepaid magazine offers that are scams. I've never had any trouble with the ones I buy from the school. And it's probably too late to get them now. If you want to do this next year, you could call your local school and see if any of their money-making projects include these. --Ilene

::: furrowing brow ::: Not true. I am not sure if that could have been accurate in the past, but it isn't now. It also may have been that you misunderstood the "valid thru" date, which applies to the physical card, not the balance you have. From Amex: Are there any fees for the use of the Card after purchase? The Card has NO FEES AFTER PURCHASE (including dormancy, service or other fees). Do the funds on the Card expire? No, the funds on the Card do not expire. If the funds do not expire, what is the "valid thru" date associated with the Card? The "valid thru" date on the front of the Gift Card or associated with the eGift Card is the date through which your physical plastic Gift Card or eGift Card card number may be used. This date is required to process transactions at merchants that request an expiration date. Even if the "valid thru" date associated with a Card has passed, its Available Balance remains unchanged and intact. In order to keep making purchases with your Available Balance after a Card's "valid thru" date has passed, please call 1-877-297-4438 for a free replacement Card. Some of the more onerous gift card business practices have been regulated. If you still have the info, or if it ever happens again, complain. Maybe you can sue them. Or, uhh not... thank you VP Pence.