it almost makes me cry...

 Something spurred a memory of bedtime routines with lots of kids.  Oh, I couldn't wait until they were all tucked in, phew.  Impatient while they brushed and flushed, putting on pajamas and night time pull ups and listening to their prayers...when they really wanted to drag things out, and wanted God to bless everyone in their class, by name, and everyone's dog and cat.  Tap tap tap with my foot.

Ahhh.  A little bit of quiet.  Since I had sixteen babies, usually when the bulk of the children were cozy in bed, I'd still have a baby to rock and feed and change, so it wasn't like I actually had free time.  I didn't even know what that WAS until Camille went to kindergarten.  

I would give all the money in the world to go back to one of those crazy evenings again.  

Today, I went to swim class, then drove up to Oswego, where I picked up a few things from a pallet store. A travel backpack($20), a couch cover ($6), and a little footstool ($15).  The backpack is really nice, the couch cover was totally worth six bucks, and is on the ugly red couch already, but the stool is missing the hardware to put it together.  dang.  I either take it back, or find the right screws.  I had wanted to do it myself, but I think I'll have to ask for help.  (I use a Little Tikes plastic chair for my foot stool now, I have a recliner but hate the way it reclines, makes my feet way too far up.). 

I then went to the Walmart up there, for some D-mannose, if you ever get a twinge of a UTI, take some, and it'll go away.  I wandered around the store all by myself, and found a few Christmas gifts, some eggs, and some cream.  Then I went to visit Wulf and Tenny for a few minutes, then home....ahh, home.

Paul was just leaving for some bow-hunting, and the Casper mattress box was on the deck, empty!  It was delivered today, he already took out our old Sleep Number bed and put the new mattress on our bed frame. I hate to be a pessimist, but it looks really flat still.  We had ordered a different mattress that Kathryn recommended, but it didn't come for two weeks, so we canceled the order.  Then Prime Days were happening, so we got a decent deal on this one.  We'll see.  I just wish it were higher, maybe we need box springs.  

The refrigerator needed cleaning out, so I did that.  We have to be so much more careful, there was too much waste.  I have to be more careful, have to cook in small amounts!  It HAS been a while since I purged the salad dressings and such though, we don't really eat them here anymore anyway, for the most part.  Now it will stay nice and neat and clean with no yucky leftovers, right?  

Camille is home from work, and Jon brought Rosie out to dinner, so we fended for ourselves for dinner.  I had bacon and eggs, she had leftover pasta turned into some nice creation with sautéed onions and garlic.  Paul came home after a nice afternoon in the woods, no deer.  Cam is at a girls' evening at Mariel's house, Jon is off with his friends, and we're here in the quiet.  The old kitty is purring on the arm of my chair, couldn't get any closer to me.  She's such a funny girl, she was never this friendly, but I think she misses the hubbub around here a bit too.  

Tomorrow some of the grandkids will be coming over, and we're doing things around the house...then Sunday after church, the fam is coming over for Chili Day.  What is this, you ask?  Not sure, but Mariel is bringing chili, and I am making some...what will the others bring?  We'll find out!

It seems like my Florida friends are okay from the storm?  Please let us know if you need anything!  Have a good evening, all.  :)