Woohoo Clutched, congrats on your new computer!! 
MT, I hope you're feeling ok...that sucks about the car!
MT, I hope you're feeling ok...that sucks about the car!
* Hayden-Harnett Hottie's Hangout! *
- Thread starter Nat
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Ok so my news for this week...which a lot of you already know from FB lol...we're getting Jace an iPad for Christmas! 
And the app Proloquo2go. I'm really, really, really hoping that it will be a way for him to be able to communicate with us. I don't know why I never thought of the iPad before...seriously, I think I've gotten dumber every year that I've been a mom...but hey, better now than never. 
I also found an awesome wheelchair mount with a locking holder lol, don't want any crazy mall shopper trying to take off with it! It's due to arrive on thursday, and I'm so nervous. I really want this to work for him. Especially since I'll be eating Ramen noodles for the next few months and my cc is completely maxed. 
I've never had an Apple product before...I feel like a traitor to my lovely Android phone haha! Anyway wish us luck! 
And the app Proloquo2go. I'm really, really, really hoping that it will be a way for him to be able to communicate with us. I don't know why I never thought of the iPad before...seriously, I think I've gotten dumber every year that I've been a mom...but hey, better now than never. I also found an awesome wheelchair mount with a locking holder lol, don't want any crazy mall shopper trying to take off with it! It's due to arrive on thursday, and I'm so nervous. I really want this to work for him. Especially since I'll be eating Ramen noodles for the next few months and my cc is completely maxed. I've never had an Apple product before...I feel like a traitor to my lovely Android phone haha! Anyway wish us luck! 
Hey NIKKI, HEART, Carlie, Ging....
I love all the "oldies but goodies" coming back in the fold!!!!
CHO--don't stress yourself about eating ANYTHING! You look beautiful and radient! You're growing a PERSON in there!!! Just enjoy yourself now and worry about workouts after little mini-Cho pops out! TRUUUST me, you'll be back to hawt sexy mama in NO time!
I love all the "oldies but goodies" coming back in the fold!!!!
CHO--don't stress yourself about eating ANYTHING! You look beautiful and radient! You're growing a PERSON in there!!! Just enjoy yourself now and worry about workouts after little mini-Cho pops out! TRUUUST me, you'll be back to hawt sexy mama in NO time!
Carlie - take your time with the ipad. It is a wonderful product but might take a bit of getting used to it. My mom had an inner ear problem in the summer and we were worried about her safety going up and down the stairs to the computer to check her weather updates or email grandkids or google whatever the news people suggested she google and so we brought over DH's ipad for her to try. She ended up getting one and is hooked. She loves that it is so lightweight and she can easily lift it off her bedside table or chair side table with one hand. She keeps it beside her bed at night and if she wakes up in the night she plays solitaire for a bit until she gets sleepy. All her senior citizen friends are getting them - they love it.
Thanks for all the sweet words! Even though I never did the hottie meetups, I still feel like you all are family! It is so good to be back!
Gingey, I was so tipsy I completely missed the outdoor activities at your place! 
Carlie, that sounds wonderful!! I hadn't realized that was an option, but it makes perfect sense!
I really hope it works for him...
Nikki & Carlie: SO glad y'all are popping in again/more! And anyone missing Angie, she's fine, running her new website/blog and getting her photography up and going.
And YAY! Clutched!!! New computer=freedom
Carlie, that sounds wonderful!! I hadn't realized that was an option, but it makes perfect sense!
I really hope it works for him...Nikki & Carlie: SO glad y'all are popping in again/more! And anyone missing Angie, she's fine, running her new website/blog and getting her photography up and going.
And YAY! Clutched!!! New computer=freedom
In NYC I think at this point in time it would be more than I earn TBH! Seriously.
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.
However, I believe the usual criteria still holds after all these years.
First it depends on where you live.
Then the rest depends on how many kids you have, ages, age and experience of babysitter, how many hours/daytime/nighttime/weekday/weekend.
Plus what do you expect the babysitter to do. Will the kids be in PJ'S. Will the sitter simply feed them a meal/snack and if it's nighttime, let them hang out until they fall on their faces from exhaustion and carry them to bed?
Will she have to supervise bedtime ablutions (face-washing, teeth brushing etc) or bath or shower?
Do homework with them and check to see their schoolbags are packed and ready for tomorrow.
OK..clutched darling...I could ramble on but I know you get my point..
Carlita..you are such an amazing mother. I can't tell you what I've observed over these many years but take it from me, you are one special woman in all of your "avocations-incarnations"...your boundless love for your children, and what you do for them bowls me over
carlie, i'm so excited for you and jace! i hope he enjoys it and is a way for him to communicate with you all. good call on the wheelchair mount, for sure.
i want an ipad so badly. i think i'll get one for my birthday next year from dh. lately, it seems like all my presents have been tax deductible for our biz. lol. to repeat jenni... such is married life.
i want an ipad so badly. i think i'll get one for my birthday next year from dh. lately, it seems like all my presents have been tax deductible for our biz. lol. to repeat jenni... such is married life.
Clutched I pay about $8-$10 per hour depending on the amount of time and the sitters age/qualifications/whether they have to deal with bedtime. That's for 2 kids 4 and 6.
Carlie I hope Jace loves his iPad!!
Carlie I hope Jace loves his iPad!!
Jen..LOL..I have no idea what they were doing but boy did it look like they were having fun. I simply went to bed and let madness reign. I woke up @7AM went downstairs and there they were, a sprawl of college kids (is that a new term..like a murder of crows?) on every flat surface available, laid out the breakfast stuff, went out for my walk (egads it's nasty here) and returned to what looked like a co-ed dorm..bleary eyed yet totally happy young men and women, perhaps a wee bit hungover, yet they all made it to class on time..now I really feel old.
Tonight is round 2 of "Greek Madness" (in a way I find it ironic since the antagonists in the Chanukah story tried to "Grecofy" the Jews). Jets/Patriots game @8:30 PM in chez gingey..I expect another huge crowd of hungry men..I think I'm going to make potato kugel and bake on huge trays, then cut into portions, rather than sling another gazillion potato pancakes..!
Hopefully, I can convince them to order in pizza..and merely supply the non-potent potables and nibbles.
Gotta bounce for now. Working on and off today. But you betcha I'm gonna be home when the first dude or dudette arrives. The four frats, DS is in Alpha Epsilon Pi, DD is in Sigma Delta Tau don't know the other two frat/sororities involved but I've met all the young men and women and yes, they are typical college kids in many ways, but they are, for the most part, giving me hope for the next generation.
Plus my DS really is amazing. He knows not to drink or anything like that on a school night, makes sure his friends do the same when they are here at least, makes them clean up. Younger DD is the same. (As was/is older DD) They are terrific kids, help each other in school and out of school. I was a bit afraid that Greek life would be detrimental to my DS's and DD's academic life but they are having fun, and still doing their work on time and conscientiously; balancing both beautifully with no lapse in maintaining GPAs. Fingers crossed.
Wow..totally wordy post. I think I am wiped..sorry..Love you all.
Tonight is round 2 of "Greek Madness" (in a way I find it ironic since the antagonists in the Chanukah story tried to "Grecofy" the Jews). Jets/Patriots game @8:30 PM in chez gingey..I expect another huge crowd of hungry men..I think I'm going to make potato kugel and bake on huge trays, then cut into portions, rather than sling another gazillion potato pancakes..!
Hopefully, I can convince them to order in pizza..and merely supply the non-potent potables and nibbles.
Gotta bounce for now. Working on and off today. But you betcha I'm gonna be home when the first dude or dudette arrives. The four frats, DS is in Alpha Epsilon Pi, DD is in Sigma Delta Tau don't know the other two frat/sororities involved but I've met all the young men and women and yes, they are typical college kids in many ways, but they are, for the most part, giving me hope for the next generation.
Plus my DS really is amazing. He knows not to drink or anything like that on a school night, makes sure his friends do the same when they are here at least, makes them clean up. Younger DD is the same. (As was/is older DD) They are terrific kids, help each other in school and out of school. I was a bit afraid that Greek life would be detrimental to my DS's and DD's academic life but they are having fun, and still doing their work on time and conscientiously; balancing both beautifully with no lapse in maintaining GPAs. Fingers crossed.
Wow..totally wordy post. I think I am wiped..sorry..Love you all.
Gingey, I was so tipsy I completely missed the outdoor activities at your place!
Carlie, that sounds wonderful!! I hadn't realized that was an option, but it makes perfect sense!
Nikki & Carlie: SO glad y'all are popping in again/more! And anyone missing Angie, she's fine, running her new website/blog and getting her photography up and going.
And YAY! Clutched!!! New computer=freedom
link to Angie's blog/website please..and give her my regards.
Gingey - you are such a great mom to cook all that food and put up with the shenanigans.
Clutched - when I read your question I smiled because it has been a long time since I paid babysitters. But - it also depends on how valuable the babysitter is to you. We had one babysitter I loved. She lived down the block, looked after our cats when we were away and was great with the kids. As she got older she got a job as a waitress at the local fish and chips restaurant. Of course - she was making hourly wage plus tips. I decided that it was worth it to me to pay her well at that point so that if she gave up a shift at the restaurant to babysit for us, we would compensate her for that. So at a certain point I was paying the local minimum wage plus extra to cover her tips. When she knew we would do that she would happily switch her shifts around at the restaurant to cover a Friday or Saturday night for us. So I was paying for her babysitting time but also for the confidence that I could get a babysitter when I needed one. Would have been stressful and time-consuming for me to have to find someone new and it was worth it to me to keep her. She ended up becoming an accountant and worked for my husband's company.
Also - ask other moms in your local area what the going rate is.
Clutched - when I read your question I smiled because it has been a long time since I paid babysitters. But - it also depends on how valuable the babysitter is to you. We had one babysitter I loved. She lived down the block, looked after our cats when we were away and was great with the kids. As she got older she got a job as a waitress at the local fish and chips restaurant. Of course - she was making hourly wage plus tips. I decided that it was worth it to me to pay her well at that point so that if she gave up a shift at the restaurant to babysit for us, we would compensate her for that. So at a certain point I was paying the local minimum wage plus extra to cover her tips. When she knew we would do that she would happily switch her shifts around at the restaurant to cover a Friday or Saturday night for us. So I was paying for her babysitting time but also for the confidence that I could get a babysitter when I needed one. Would have been stressful and time-consuming for me to have to find someone new and it was worth it to me to keep her. She ended up becoming an accountant and worked for my husband's company.
Also - ask other moms in your local area what the going rate is.