I must say that whenever I took toys to keep my kids occupied, they went through them so fast. They have a short attention span, especially if they know there are more toys coming. Maybe keep the toys hidden and bring them out one by one on an "as needed" basis. When he has gone through the toys, tell him to take a nap (joke). Stephanie has some good ideas. He's a little young for movies though. Does he like to be read to at all? The Spot series of books are good because of the tabs to open. He also might like some little cars. Could try Duplos, but he also might be a little young for those unless he's pretty good with his hands. An interesting selection of snacks can help too. Do you have a teachers' store near you? (We have Lakeshore Learning among others.) They often have some interesting things. Of course, a good toy store would have people to make suggestions. (Not Toys R Us--do they even still exist?)

I think I wrote in an earlier post to you that you need to be careful about the costs of additions -- they are expensive! That was about the construction cost, not the architect's fee. I cannot say how much it should or might be but I can say that we paid $5,000 for just a structural engineer's work and towards the upper end of the range you set out for the architect -- for a 2-story addition. I'm sure there is more than one way to accomplish all of this but here's one way. First, you shop around for an architect, the same way you would for anybody else: interview, check references, look at portfolios. While I personally would not recommend design/build firms you do want to make sure that the architect you hire really has a firm grasp on construction costs. You seek to have something that could be called "phase I" drawings or "conceptual drawings" or something similar to that. These are just the ideas -- more than one but probably less than four -- and that costs you maybe 1-3 thousand. (I'm sure that if my range is wrong someone will correct me.) Once you have that, then you can obtain an estimate on the cost of construction. This is just an estimate, it's not based on what actual ppliances, flooring, etc. you will have. It is not a firm bid. Nobody is promising that this estimate is accurate. This is where things can also go very wrong. The estimate may be way lower than the actual costs will be. This is where you have to throw away your desire to hear Low Numbers and Demand that your architect give you the really bad news. If you read mightyanvil's comments it appears that he is suggesting that you have a GC involved during this whole process whose job it is to keep an eye on the costs on a consulting basis. (I think this is the idea of hiring an expert on costs to be involved which costs you more up front but keeps you out of trouble later. I have no experience with this.) If your architect doesn't know enough about construction costs he or she will be useless to you at this critical stage because this is where you decide whether you want to plunge in and hire the architect to enter the really expensive part and you need to know what the construction costs are going to be before you make this investment. Now, perhaps your addition isn't at all complicated and you just need drawings, not really anything that's the least bit of design work...I have no experience here either but perhaps someone else can advise you.

I know what you mean yoyo. I usually pass on paperbacks and have one friend who shares my 'taste' in books so no difficulties there. I made the mistake recently of handing on a light, but well-written book to my s-in-l thinking it might amuse here. Vee "Maybe you'd like to read this ? I don't want it back so pass it on when you have finished with it." H "A book? For me? To read?" Looks suspicious. Vee " Well, I found it quite entertaining. I just thought you might enjoy it." H Taking book as though it is a consignment of drugs and she should have on her rubber gloves. "I don't know, err but um . . ." Vee, feeling very stupid as though she should have remembered H belongs to a sect that forbids the written-word or maybe never learnt to read " It doesn't matter, it was just an idea." H "Well OK . . . thanks. I don't normally read books." Vee, in amazement "Never read a book?" H. "No, although I did read one a few years ago which was quite good." Vee realising she has almost lost the plot "Oh, what was it called?" H. " I've no idea."

Did I miss your birthday? If so first of all Happy Birthday! Yesterday Mostly fiddled with the Christmas tree. My DD likes to tease me that I spend 3 weeks on the Christmas tree decorations and 3 hours to take it all back down. This time I think it's going to be a few more than 3 weeks of having the tree up. I really need the tree this year . Went and picked up groceries at 8:00 p.m.. Unpacked groceries and found for once they had given me everything I ordered. Last time they missed the chocolate milk the time before that they missed the garbage bags. We check off absolutely everything on the list since we sometimes don't realize something is missing till we go to use it. And it is listed on the receipt as paid for. Things don't get lost in my car because they are packed into three lidded and bungee cord locked bins in the back of my pickup truck. The bins are carried in and are unpacked right by the storage area for the food. They always refund me immediately. I have a feeling they find the things they missed and realize they did.