Memory Reload

Dear Readers,

It is Sunday and I have recovered from last night's lapse of memory. Sundays always have a way of renewing my perspective.

What was I thinking?

Let me explain,

I volunteered for this job because my parents are amazing. They help us in so many ways and we love them dearly. The biggest reason though is because my heart is so thankful they've stayed married these past thirty years. This is a small way I can say thank you.

Actually, there are several reasons to enjoy my time here. I may need reminded of these in a few days.

I'm thankful for two big boys to help lug this seventeen + pound baby around in his carseat.

I like having a bigger girl who lets me experiment with her hair.

It is good to know there is a pyromaniac handy to light fires IN THE FIREPLACE at regular intervals.

Don't forget the handsome pirate I get to keep my eye on.

I have four dishwashers

I call them West-pool, Lan-ergy Star, Kat-moore, Jax-idaire.

They run really well, especially when I try to catch them to make them do the dishes.

I crack myself up!

They call themselves slaves, by the way. Aren't they funny?

I feel closer to my great-grandmother as I hang-dry EVERYTHING.

There is something fun about finding pictures on your camera you didn't take or know anything about.

The laugh factor is high here - Like when I thought I'd be nice and wash someone's very dirty stuffed animal.

It turned out to be the dog's toy and it was so 'loved', it left bits of stuffing and beany-things all over in the washer. Arrrrrrrrg-hahahaha!

Being around older kids means my kids are learning bigger vocabulary words (for the record, 'Idiot' doesn't count). I overheard Bee "reading" to Pip and she was telling him all about 'one hundred percent'.

But my favorite part, by far, is this.

THEY GO TO SLEEP!

Well, the little ones do. But these ones can dress and feed themselves, for the most part. Do your teenagers stay up all night?

Then I go find my happy place again by soaking in a hot bathtub (that's bigger than ours at home, by the way).

Can you tell my post last night was before my bath?

If it gets too bad around here I resort to my Parents-are-away-for-2-weeks-and-I-have-their-kids Survival kit:

Joe Scruggs Cd's (Even the big kids sing along)

Ramen Noodles - Need I say more? 

Vitamins - I put this in here because three of us are feeling unwell at the moment and I am praying we don't all get sick. Imagine a house of eight people sick with the stomach flu.... Nix that, I'm sure you don't need that kind of nightmare keeping you awake tonight.

Water - I wouldn't want my throat to be too dry to yell.

And when the yelling, begging, asking, pleading, reasoning, wheedling doesn't work...

I bribe them! Yes, this is the biggest weapon in my I'm-not-your-mom arsenal. Get familiar with it and use it often. It works.

Love,

Me