Random Life Events: November 2005

Hectic Day

We are getting ready for our trip out of state tomorrow. Or should I say I am getting ready for our trip. I started the day by going to the Laundromat at 8:30 this morning. Really, if you must go to the Laundromat the earlier the better. It really starts to fill up after that. It makes me a bit sad even knowing that fact.
I only had four loads of laundry to do so that wasn't too bad. The kids were really good, except Elyse was really testing me at times by running out the door and down the sidewalk, I was certain that someone would pop out and kidnap her at any moment. I finally had to confine her to her stroller, she was not a happy camper. After that we had a ton of errands to run before lunch at McDonald. I know, I know, fast icky food. But I was tired and couldn't bear the thought of making lunch. I will make up for it by serving broccoli for dinner.

So now all the laundry is done and put away and I am sitting her procrastinating. I just don't want to pack, packing for seven people and trying to foresees every thing that might pop up is overwhelming. So here I sit blogging.

She speaks

I just want to share this, on my way out to get Jeff from school I was yelling for Elyse to come outside. I could hear her in my room yelling - where are you? Just as clear as can be, three words all together, this is a biggie. She says one or two words but this was her first three word sentence. Yea, yea, maybe not that exciting for everybody but for a mom who has had two kids in speech therapy it it a big deal.

Time to go pack, 3:00 a.m. will be here before I know it...

Table Talk

Funny Guys

I thought I would share a couple of things that were *discussed* around the dinner table tonight. With seven people crowded around it it can get pretty lively.

Christopher: Mom, wanna hear a joke?

Me: Sure!

Christopher: What is brown and sticky?

Me: After a few random guesses; What?

Christopher: A brown stick, followed by big laughter!

Remember, he is just four years old :).

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Scott to Jeff: What is your favorite animal.

Jeff: An elephant.

Scott: Why an elephant?

Jeff: Because they have big butts!

I almost spit my food out!

The Laundromat

So, our washing machine broke last week. Now I have to lug laundry for seven people to the Laundromat twice a week. What a nightmare, and it is getting expensive, $1.25 to wash a load of laundry really adds up, especially when I am doing at least seven loads of laundry each time. Drying is another .50 for 30 minutes. So the quandary is, do we invest in a new washer knowing that we will be moving it soon or do we wait until we move to buy a new washer? What if the new place comes with a washer and dryer? If that's the case what do we do with our *new* washer? But why continue to pay $20.00+ a week to wash laundry when we could use that money for a new washer. Not to mention the emotional toll going to the Laundromat is taking on me! The Laundromat is cut throat. I fight to get a washer, then I fight to get a dryer and keep the dryer. God forbid the dryer stop for 15 seconds before someone is trying to shovel your clothes out.

There is entertainment at the Laundromat, but it really isn't cheap entertainment. There are the snott nosed kids running up and down the aisle. For extra fun they push each other in the dirty laundry carts and aim right for my toes. If they aren't enough entertainment there are my own kids. Trying to do seven loads of laundry and keep a four and one year old alive is a challenge in itself.

More entertainment was watching the *missionary* from one of the local churches going through the Laundromat trying to pass out her pamphlets while giving mini sermons on how we really should be at church instead of washing our clothes. I was thinking that cleanliness was next to Godliness so I shouldn't be on the straight path to hell like she implied.

Then there was the homeless man taking a bath in the utility sink after digging through the trash can for his breakfast. I did give him a fresh doughnut my kids conned me into buying, I figured feeding the needy might take me one step further away from the hell I was promised for being there at 9:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

There is a feeling of accomplishment driving home knowing that the laundry is completely done for at least four days. That is until I walk in to the house and my 12 year old son dropped his stinky gym clothes at my feet and said, you forgot these...