Thank you Grumpy for the excellent review!  It was well worth the wait to read!

This seems like a great movie!  One I would actually enjoy seeing.

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

My eldest daughter is still talking about how much she enjoyed this movie.  Her and her girlfriend referred to it as "A life altering event".  Whatever the heck that means! LOL!  Anyway, she is going to see it AGAIN today!

I am starting to think this is a "must see" movie, worth full price!

Thanks for the great review.

Less is BEST!

There are six of us in our family, one large dog, and typically a few of my daughter's friends over each week to spend the night.  I grocery shop  two times per month with the occasional extra trip for milk and fresh produce.  On average we spend about $150.00 per week. 

Entertainment, eating out, and purchasing toys for the kids is fairly limited, so I don't  have a budget for those items per se.  The kiddos typically only get toys for their Birthdays or say, Christmas, unless they have their own money to spend.

I consider myself pretty thrifty and save money whenever possible.  That is not to say that we have a huge savings, because we don't, but we are not to proud to wear hand me downs, we always eat leftovers (reinvented of course!),  and if we go out to eat, we drink water or to the movies, we bring our own treats.

Less is BEST!

This tragedy is so sad and has left you with a difficult decision to make.

Here are my thoughts...

 I am all about community support, getting to know your neighbors, and lending a helping hand whenever needed.  Personally, there would be a great deal of factors to consider before I would go to the funeral.

SJ mentioned many of those reasons, and Holly had a wonderful point herself.  I don't typically have anyone to watch my children, and I would absolutely not take them to a funeral, especially for someone that I did not know personally.  That would be my biggest factor.

On another note, a situation recently occurred on my street, where very unexpectedly one of my neighbors died.  Long story short, he was medically prepared for a surgical procedure incorrectly, which led to infection, multiple heart attacks and subsequent death.  It was so sad.  And although he was a neighbor,  I had met him just one time (he had only recently moved in), I did not feel it was my place to attend his funeral.  He lived at his home alone, and had older grown children, a girlfriend (not living with him), and a wife (not sure how they all fit together, because we didn't know him). 

The house has been empty since last year, and is now in forclosure.  For me, I didn't want to intrude on their private heartache and it was a reminder to me how precious life truly is, and how much we take living for granted.

We,  as neighbors,  offered support to his family and several neighbors have tried helping take care of his yard and pool for all the months the house has been vacant.  We all felt that his funeral was a private family matter.  However, every situation is different,  and only you can make the choice of whether or not to attend.  Best wishes...

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

Obviously, nobody is going to take care of my children the way that I do, not even Hubby.  We are pretty much on the same page. 

I prefer to have my parents or my in-laws watch my children.  The in-laws live out of the country, so they try and babysit for us when they come in to town about twice a year so Hubby and I can have some time to ourselves.

My Dad is retired, but he doesn't have a car, and Mom works full-time, so I only ask them to babysit for really important occasions.  I think for me, the fact that my eldest daughter is home to help out is part of the reason I feel comfortable enough to even leave my children.  She knows the routine, the medications, and the bedtimes.  Besides she is great with rules when it comes to her siblings. She likes to be in charge!

Every so often, Hubby and I used to go to a late movie after all of the younger 3 children went to bed, and then our eldest daughter stays up to keep a watch over the household.  We have excellent neighbors, so we always have a number we leave for her of who will be home in case she has an emergency.

It is certainly a personal choice, and everyone has valid reasons for whom they feel comfortable enough to watch their children.  Sometimes you just have to go with instinct.  If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.  My children are treasures, and I will always guard their well being and safety before my own pleasure.

Less is BEST!

This place is really fun!

Less is BEST!

I never would have believed some of those crazy laws!

Some people have wayyyy to much time on their hands!

Less is BEST!

Glad to know that I am not the only one.  I still check on my children, every one of them, before I go to bed.

It certainly is not strange.  You are just a great Mom!

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

Congrats Mary!  You've got one smart girl there!

All my kiddos said "dada" first. 

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!

Less is BEST!