wishful thinking day

My dear sister-in-law, K, is going away for a few days with her family! She has 12 kids, and is going with 10 of them....2 days at a waterpark hotel. Our family is just bigger enough that it would be so costly....Not that all 18 of us would go. Emily has work, Ab is in college, and so is Ben. That is still 13 kids. And two parents....that is 3 rooms. At $250 a room, for 2 nights, that's $1,500 dollars....just for the hotel. If breakfast is included, that means just a few more meals to buy, but I can't imagine spending that much for 2 days. That is one tough thing about having such a huge family. I was looking out at the snow the other day, dreaming about taking the whole family to Florida. I got to the plane tickets part, and sighed...Mariel and Molly are there now, with Gramma and Grampa. Hey, if we go away when they're there, that's two less kids! Still, 13 of us, we wouldn't fit in 2 rooms.....or would we??Does Camille count as a person yet?

I went to Target last night and bought a dyson vacuum cleaner!!! It was pretty exciting. I didn't realize how much I love vacuum cleaners until recently. They were sort of a necessary thing;;;we burned out the motors, and bought another... I have had: Eurekas, Hoovers, Dirt Devils, an old Electrolux, Sears brand, ect.... Mostly belt troubles.. the Oreck I inherited from my dad is still working great, but it has no attachments for corners and cobwebs. I absolutely love vacuuming cobwebs. I like vacumming the furniture, too. So anyway, I go look at the vacuum cleaners last night, and this dyson is half-price!! Of course, that's obvious, or I wouldn't have bought one. It's pretty sweet so far, the hose stretches to 17 feet. I can vacuum the stairs without moving the cleaner.

Anyway, I am enjoying this typing without Camille on my lap. She is taking a huge nap. I have to wake her up soon. She is just getting cuter and cuter. She is totally fascinated by her hands....fists, I should say. Then she punches herself in the face....duh, what was that?

My extra nice older brother stopped by with some treats, and he stayed and visited for a while. He was at BigLots, and there was a half price bin....He brought us Craisins, M&M's ($1 a bag!), and some crackers. He is a good brother, he built this house for us. He's the kind of guy who's always there when you need him. He knows where to get the best price on everything.

I am thinking stir-fry for dinner. I would like to hire a housecleaner, and a maid, and a cook. No, just someone to clean up the mess while I cook. And someone to hold Camille while I cook. And someone to take the clothes out of the dryer while I cook. And someone to break up all the fights while I cook. And of course someone to clean up afterward. Wait, I have kids!!! Just have to get them to turn off the Simpsons, and I'll be all set!

Emily and Ab are going to the sisters' conference this weekend, for young sisters that is. So tonight there isn't any activity club for the kids, which is kind of nice. I like the cuddly Friday night feeling that comes with staying home....and it's mid-winter break!!!No school for 9 days!!! I really love having the kids around. I am praying for patience, though. I really want to be good to them and listen to them...I have learned to make use of the quiet times, to prepare for the crazy...