My *ATTEMPT* at a photo essay - Yesterday's Recap

I said I was getting my LIFE organized - not my home - just to clarify. This is much bigger than my home. ::snort::

I began by going to

I went a bit later than normal and didn't have to deal with the ladies asking a lot of questions. I went again this a.m. and saw the trainer who knew me. She asked questions. She was sorry. I figure if I go later one more day, the regulars will know by next week. I don't REALLY mind going at 7:30. Later, during the chit chat that goes on when you are at a new time and no one knows you, one of the ladies said, "9 kids - any twins?" and I said no and teared up. I guess I got my crying in for today early. ::sniff::

OK - yesterday I determined to do what so many of you do. I would capture the day with photos since I have a handy dandy small camera in my purse. I'll save my comments for later....Here's my a.m.

I loaded up tons of boxes, newspapers, and 4 younger children.....

(Note cars behind me were not appreciative of me taking this photo).

I had a list of things to buy. I didn't want to venture to the Gates of Hell with the younger set...so I thought I could find the laundry baskets, hamper, and ant traps somewhere else that I could go to Sam's for the grocery items. This would save me time because Walmart always takes me forever. Seriously, I'm a bit ADD and the busyness and crowds in Walmart really distract me.....as well as Zander doesn't do so well with tons of fluorescent lights and lots of strangers bumping into him.

We went to Tuesday Morning....

no baskets, hampers, or ant traps but we bought this duck.

We went to the Dollar Tree...

no baskets, hampers or ant traps but I let everyone buy one item (I bought a hat that matches Stacia's, focus is funky on this little camera).

Finally - I gave up and went to

We were run into 3 times by folks rushing out of an aisle and not looking where they were going. OK - this doesn't usually matter but I had Stacia IN the cart and Zander rides on the end of the cart - so he got squashed three times (slow learner? - very determined! ::snort::). Arielle and Nolan wrestled with a second cart behind me.

Zander - a bit JAZZED after the Walmart experience! ::snort::We got all we needed but the ant traps.

Came home for lunch and decided not to take any more photos of the day..... OK - having a camera handy is nice - but I will NOT be taking all those lovely photos of our outings.....why???? Because I realized as I left Walmart that um.....those of you who have the lovely minute by minute photos....don't have a 5 and 2 year old in tow. I held up traffic in stores all over town as I snapped shots, I wasn't thrilled with the workings of the handy camera, it made our trip take much longer and now blogger won't load the photos. ::snort:: Too much stress. I'll keep the camera in my purse for those times when I've forgotten to bring the Nikon or for the pool....LOL BUT I'm not going to ever be as great as some of you at recording every minute. I failed...maybe in a few years when I don't have a toddler????

As for the Walmart dilema? They LOVE me in there. They LOVE the kids. It just frazzles me...but it certainly would have saved me time in the end to simply go their first. Hmmm....on the other hand their milk is so much more than Sam's that I do have to run to Sam's today...there is no way out of these silly grocery trips - as much as I co-op and shop by mail. ugh.

Back at home we spent the afternoon working on my "to do" list and some "home organizing things". I'll share those later. Maybe I'll take a few pictures. Basically, I found MY CHORE CHART in the SHS files....revamped it and started that system again. ::snort:: AND the little chore flip chart I'd ordered for the younger set arrived - which is why I needed 4 laundry baskets - more on that later.

I had a MOUNTAIN of laundry to do. Seems that one son during the hail storm covered his car with blankets. Another son the next day was told to clean the back yard. First son had spread out blankets to dry. Younger son put wet, really wet, blankets in the linen closet. Fast Forward to yesterday afternoon. I opened the linen closet and thought our water heater had sprung a leak as Shanna's did because the blankets were all wet...but no....younger son admitted to putting away a really wet blanket...so we washed blankets (was one of those seasonal jobs anyway ::snort::).

Mike got to use the Celebrate plate last night. Yippee!!! A contract was signed in Dallas (finally) and we are going to have a new chapel on our base. It is slated to be done in 500 days - we shall see. Note: I did cook dinner last night, he hadn't filled his plate.

I spent the rest of the evening working on the To Do list and folding a LOT of laundry. Stacia was a bear to get down and I had no time to blog. The To Do list goes on....but I'm getting my life organized.....

**Hmmm....not sure about the spacing or the centering - but every time I try to fix it - it deletes photos. My time is UP.