Day 21: Monday Madness

For starters - 4 of my 5 family members have colds. Yep - all but Skylar are walking around sneezing, sniffling, coughing - the works. But she's been very gracious to help out with her bubba while mommy tends to herself and the baby. I love that girl! But even little dude tried to "help" out as well by playing with baby sis during her tummy-time. He adores her...

So after daddy left for work, I got started on my normal Monday chores...first up, laundry. When people ask if I've noticed any differences going from a family of four to a family of five, that's the first thing that comes out - LAUNDRY! Sheesh it's a lot. I usually try and do laundry twice a week to avoid huge loads but as you can see from this pic...I missed a day...

annnnnd...this does NOT include baby clothes, baby diapers, sheets and comforters, or their nap sacks which are always sent home to be washed weekly. Sigh. I have now requested for our new home to have a utility room large enough to accommodate TWO washing machines and TWO dryers. Ahhh...wouldn't that be heaven?! Oh by the way - there's no new home in the works "yet" but one day!

After I got most of the laundry done - it was time to go to the grocery store. With 3 kids. And no "huggie-land" (aka - child care). I think I've already posted before how I'll never shop with 3 kids again but alas here we are, out of the essentials and forced to go. Boo. Surprisingly it wasn't that bad. It wasn't a walk in the park either but I had envisioned much worse. In fact, we were in and out of there in an hour which I think is pretty darn good if you ask me. Here's a pic of my little helpers...Bryce drove us, Skylar shopped for us, and Eva??? Well....she snoozed cruised. Love them.

...We had plenty of looks and a lot of "gee, you have your hands full!" What I thought was great was that while the sacker did not ask me if I wanted help to my car...nor did the cashier insist that he help me...A lady drove by and rolled down her window, asking for me to allow her 10 year old son to help. I looked at him and he was ready to jump out and help me with a smile on his face. I thanked them and explained I was okay but we REALLY need more parents like that. Parents that teach their kids respect and how to be helpful. It's refreshing when you see a young kid so eager to help because nowadays, it's impossible to find.

So we finally got home, unloaded groceries while Skylar's little friend Francesca was over. Poor Bryce cant say her name so he insisted on chasing her around calling her "Friend?" "Hey Friend!" They all had fun but then B had to go nap so Skylar went to "Friend's" house and mama started another load of laundry and then got started on dinner. Thankfully it was an easy dinner...chicken spaghetti but I was beginning to run out of energy and it was only 2:00pm!

After dinner was pretty much finished...Brycie woke up so we went and got Skylar and came back home to play a bit before daddy got here. Daddy had promised a BIG surprise and so they anxiously waited by the window, watching for his truck. He got home, handed each of them a recees peanut butter cup and promised that if they ate all of their dinner - he'd show them what was in the big box! I already knew what it was and trust me, wasn't thrilled about it...

Meet "Rosie" daddy's new OFFICE pet...

Thankfully, Rosie is only having one sleepover and then it's off to work she goes. However, I'm pretty sure I'll be sleeping with one eye opened...
The kids loved her and thought she was so cool. At first though, Bryce went tearing off to the other side of the living room when Matthew was getting ready to reveal what was in the box. He kept saying...NO! No daddy. I know that this bothers Matthew because he doesn't want his only son to be afraid of things but once the spider was out...Bryce was all over it, asking to hold it, or pet it. It wasn't until later that I looked at the box Rosie came in and saw pictures of mice and gerbils and other furry friends..So I'm betting that's why he was apprehensive but then again....who on earth is afraid of a mouse over a HUGE spider? Not this girl. Can't wait for tomorrow so Rosie can be out of my house....groooossss!