In-law laundry

I am back to this.  In-laws coming Friday.  Gotta wash everything that might embarrass me laundry.  No whites left undone for sure.  Rugs.  Bedding in Lauren's room.  Anything I can't hide in closet.  Todd's entire room just to smell better.  All towels they gave us for Christmas last year, just to show "I too can be responsible with gifts"-they are being used and they are clean!  In-law laundry is like cooking...it all has to be washed at just the right time-can't be done too early or too late-it has to be done just in time for the whole "clean" effect.  Pre-visit laundry has to be done on a daily basis-you know so you can have the bathroom rugs done right before and the bedding and towels.  No one can get the stomach flu during this crucial laundry time or the "magic" will never happen.

Arrogant Laundry

For 2 weeks, I was the worlds biggest snobbbedy snob when it came to laundry.  I had finally pulled myself out of "survivor laundry" mode to "2 loads a day" laundry mode.  "2 loads a day" laundry is when even the bedding and curtains and rugs are clean and you wait for your kids/husband to shed the dirty laundry from their body to make  2 loads.  I even started asking them if they wanted to get into their pajamas or comfy clothes so I could wash that days laundry on their backs.  It was getting out of control, and then I turned in to a huge laundry SNOB.  I would hear of others behind in their laundry, and would comment to myself of their incapability to stay with it (granted it had only been 2 weeks since I was in "survivor laundry" mode.)  I thought of my home smelling so April Fresh and congratulated myself on my laundry capabilities.  My snobbery soon came crashing down on me when I got another side job, and one day found that all my towels were dirty, (yes even the car washing ones) my family even started putting in pointed requests as to certain pieces of clothing that had to be washed by tomorrow, and was soon on my way to doing "potluck laundry" again...yes i was "that person" again.  My 2 weeks of being arrogant about laundry was over and I was slapped in the face with it.  So lesson learned if you get to the level of "arrogant laundry," learn from me... you are just a couple days away from potluck or survival laundry...don't ever forget that.

My hunger has been satisfied

I waited for it.  I read it.  Loved it.  She always surprises me in her books.  The series has ended and I was very satisfied with the ending.  After I finished it, it was a "wow" experience.  Love Suzanne Collins and her "Hunger Games" series.

Our whole life is about Missionaries

This is our missionary with his first companion Elder Schmidt from Japan.  His dad is obviously in the military.  He's doing good.  He says teaching in Spanish is going better and he loves the "fountains of juice" in the MTC.  Devin has a page on missionsite.net   I've posted his emails and pictures there and it has his current address there.  It has a link over to dearelder.com  where you can write him for free.  You need to create a quick account for yourself(email and password) and then you can write him for free while he's in the MTC(til Oct.6th.)  You just need to know his box #(211) and his mission code (1006.)   If you forget, it is on missionsite.net . 

Kick 'em to the curb MTC style

Yeah, you heard it.  We now as families, because of the extreme behavior and overdoing it in every way farewells at the MTC, can either send our children on a plane to the MTC or do what I refer to as "kick 'em to the curb."  We kicked ours to the curb.  I'm not being cold, but factual.  You now have a few seconds to unload your missionary's luggage and missionary, while a host(a missionary at the MTC) takes said child and luggage.  You are informed to take all pictures and say all farewells before you get there.  I obviously broke the rule of taking pictures as he got out of the van and unloaded...I was going to keep the rule but saw most family doing "posing pictures" and no one stopped them, so I hurried and took unloading pics.  We had all of 30 seconds or less at the drop off.  I understand why they do it...it's an easier separation for the missionary, less drama, less extended family(oh you're only allowed one vehicle) and no big ta do's with banners and pics and long drawn out picture taking sessions.  Still, it feels like a drive by drop off to me.  Hard on us, well me, easier on him.  I guess they knew what they were doing after all.

Kevin's coquitos

My nephew, that is in Chile on his mission, was introduced to these tiny coconut-like nuts called coquitos.  Aren't they cute!  I think they would be divine dipped in chocolate!  (the  inside, that is)  Tick, tock.  This Sunday is Devin's farewell.  Our family's life will change forever...for the better of course.

Trek livin

Well no one told me I'd be crying randomly for 3 weeks after I went on the trek.  Every time I see a person that helped me pull my handcart or a person that was an "angel," I lose it.  It was so hard and so good.  It was so worth it because of the kids in my family.  They obviously wouldn't have bonded as a family so quickly if we hadn't have gone through really really hard things.  It was way harder than I could've ever thought and better too.  We had a great time, and are having our first official family reunion Friday.  We went to Toy Story 3 with our family the week after we got back.  Here's the pics.