a day off, ha

The kids had today off from school for Thanksgiving break. So, we made pies. Emily went out and got some apples, so we made 3 apple pies, 6 pumpkin, and one large chocolate pie. We have the crust ready for a lemon merangue.....

So after rolling out dough, and overseeing the girls mix up the pumpkin, and generally clean up little messes, it was onto other things. I sorted out the toys that just seem to get thrown into the dollhouse bins, and it was actually fun....while I was sitting on the floor sorting, I set up one of the big dollhouses.....I really haven't grown up yet. Then I thought I would get a chance to sit down, and Camille really wanted me.....anyway, time to make dinner. We had soup from last night, I had made a six quart pot, I added a few cans of vegetarian vegetable soup to it, we had salad, applesauce, and some of the kids had some leftover rice. And for dessert: we tried some of the pie....we had alot of leftover pumpkin stuff, and baked it without crusts.....it was an excellent dessert.....Camille thought so too...

Well, the treadmill is very popular. Camille has to be in someone's posession when it is in use, which has been almost all day. Those little girls are going to be in shape! I took a turn, too. I really like it. It is a big sturdy nice one, with incline, and a built-in fan. So far, only two injuries. Sam went flying, he had it on way too fast and was fooling around, and Charlotte Claire went on it when Evelyn was using it, and hurt her thumb and toe.....which is kind of good, if you know what I mean. She knows now that we are serious that she needs to stay away from it when someone is using it......

I am so very thankful that we got it, I think it will make winter more bearable. Does anyone else feel like they are going to jump out of their skin when they are stuck in the house, and have no excercise except vaccuming? When it is too cold to go out? Last night, the kids fell asleep so fast after we tucked them in. I think they got they got plum tuckered out!

Paul got out of work a bit early tonight, and he went right in and helped the little girls (and Jon) clean their room. What a nice daddy. They are not allowed to bring papers, pencils, crayons, markers, ect, in there....ha. As soon as it gets clean, they start playing school and office. And they are having so much fun, I hate to be the big meanie.....they are really looking forward to having it painted. For some reason, there is alot of writing on their walls. Names, like Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, Suzanne, and Sonja.....and some abc's....and a few little pictures....and oh, the tack-marks. A while ago, Suzanne went beserk with her pictures and made a whole art show in there. There were over 50 pictures taped to the walls.....so, now that we are re-painting, a few old rules need new re-inforcement. I mean, they wouldn't even think of writing their names on the living room walls.....at least so far....and hey, none of them know WHO did it anyway.

The hot tub is turned way up, and I am looking forward to a nice relaxing soak sometime this evening. I don't know if I'll wait until the little ones are in bed or what....

Today: I had to really remind myself that getting some down time is not my goal on earth. It really seems like the focus of my day sometimes, then I realize how much I am longing to just relax.....and it makes me sort of resentful about all I have to do around here. But in theory I believe: it is not doing what you like that makes you happy, but being happy in what you do. But when all you want is some time out, try telling yourself that!

Today: 2 wet beds, one load of darks, one load of lights, one load of towels.....which reminds me, I need to switch over some laundry still.

Today: While I mixed and rolled out pie dough, I talked Evelyn, 9, through the steps of mixing up the pumpkin pie filling......she cracked the eggs, opened the evaporated milk, opened the cans of pumpkin, measured, mixed......pretty good. Emily and Kathryn, 10, peeled apples. Abigail washed all the pie pans....(how can they get dusty sitting in the cupboard?).....and as you can probably guess, we laughed and talked and fooled around and had a great time.....Camille was in her nap, and Charlotte Claire was being a nuisance, trying to get her hands into the flour.....

Oh my goodness, the Wal-mart ad for Friday is pretty tempting: $8 fleece lined sweatshirts for the whole family....(my boys want them)....jammy-pants for $4, princess Barbies for $5.....and the bicycles, $29! The glitch: starts at 5:00am. Not that I mind, I have been there at that time for several years now on post Thanksgiving Friday. Even last year with a 3 week old baby. But this year, I have to either send Abigail with a list, or get Camille dressed at 4:00 and drag her along. What would people think? She just wakes up for me too often for Paul to want me to leave her home. She doesn't take too kindly to anyone but me in the night....I am thinking about bringing a big comfy pram, to keep her safe and cuddly in case she just wants to sleep more. I can't imaging sitting her up in the cart-seat at that time of the morning/night.....

That early morning shopping is great fun for me. It must be something like winning a prize when you score the cheap items before they run out. It is a massive hunt, with bloodthirsty shoppers waiting behind the yellow caution tape until the clock strikes 5:00, carts crashing, grabbing, shoving....I will stay out of the fray with little Camille, and send Abigail The Brave to stalk the prizes....Aaron and Mali want to go too, this year, which might just be good strategy. I know, I know, Christmas is not all about $69 cameras and $8 jeans....

We usually end up going to a few other stores in quick sucession, before the early bird special are over. Then, out to breakfast, though we usually pick McDonalds, for speed and convenience. We gloat over all the trophies, rehash the rude shopper encounters, and I try not to think about how much I spent, saving so much money.....