I have a couple of friends who do the 'show me a piano and we'll do a sing along" thing... I might add "The Trolly song" "A guy is a Guy" "Are you sincere" "The Thing"...( Phil Harris...get out of here with that * bump de dump*) Good Morning Star Shine Yes sir That's my Baby Heart of my Hearts...I love that melody.. Cool Water Mule Train High Noon (speaking of Frankie Laine!) Matilda Peg O' my Heart Guantanamera See Ya later Alligator Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polkadot....etc And there are great "Country" sing along soneg...such as "I walk the line" and "Momma Don;t Your Sons grow up to be Cowboys"" And "Ruby don't tale your Love to Town" And of course "Daddy sang bass and Momma sang Tenor..." And a few that are not fit for polite company!! LOL!...Something about "clover"??? Linda C

coating chocolate

My SD9 wants to live with her mom. We asked her why? She says it's more fun there. She misses her mom and when she goes there, it's 'do whatever you want'. She's competing for her mom's attention with the BF and his three kids. She thinks if she is there, mom will pay more attention to her since her mom ignores her when she's here.. and sometimes when she's there too. The bottom line, it's up to both parents to agree on what's best for the child and when they can't agree, a Judge will decide. Changing custody is usually not an easy task, but laws also differ state to state. In CA, there has to be a significant change in circumstances for a Judge to consider changing custody once there is an order. I also see the courts favoring 50/50 or significant co-parenting when possible and if your arrangement is working, there wouldn't be any reason to change it. It really is sad that they are threatening to take her away if she talks about what goes on in their house. I would tell her that you want her to be happy in both homes & you are fine not knowing what happens or what is said at dad's house. However, I would let her know that if there is anything serious or dangerous going on, she needs to tell an adult. Let her know it's okay to tell her counselor or a teacher or any other trusted adult if she isn't supposed to tell you. (of course, as a parent I would want my child to come to me but I would also rather not cause any added anxiety. Plus, some kids will learn to manipulate the situation when they know what to say and how everyone will react)

Bebe, just my two cents here. While the new desk and chair are gorgeous, changing will throw off your whole "game" because the old one and where you store each item is so "familiar" after all these years. It will take quite some time for it to "feel right". You have a huge room, maybe you could have both in there. The old one for painting, and the new one for your computer or fabric/paper crafts. I think you must have been reading that book "where women create" or looking at blogs with craft rooms and now think your room needs a face lift. I've seen some of those and drooled too. Some have color schemes and use things like toile fabric. You know the ones I mean. However, I know I am a messy painter because the plexiglass I have on my counter constantly has paint on it, the boxes at the back of the counter all have "speckles" on them and so does the tile floor. I vote for using items that I don't have to worry too much about so I can just relax and paint. You could always paint your current desk and even make a cover for your chair if you really want to spruce them up--but I sure wouldn't want to change for something different after all these years of using them and being so comfortable with where each item is on or in them. You are so fortunate to have a nice big room and lots of storage cabinets. I'd settle for doing some purging, reorganizing, and maybe some new curtains or artwork--but sure wouldn't change out the parts I'm most comfortable with. Whew! You probably didn't really want to hear all that! and the bottom line is that you need to do what will make you happy! ;o) Luvs