It may seem like I have been slacking, since I haven't posted all week. The reality is both girls were sick and at home with me Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I love having the girls at home with me, however, sick girls is a different story. Besides not getting enough sleep Sunday to Monday, since Little Vanilla does not sleep when she is sick, they needed a lot of attention. We all know getting sick turns us into needy people, but kids just look so pathetic laying on the couch. I could give them some stuff to ease the issues, but I couldn't make it all go away, which is what I wanted to do. It was good to see them start to feel better yesterday, and act more like they usually do. And to get sleep. We actually gave Little Vanilla some Nite Time stuff, since she is now old enough, and it did help her (and me!) to sleep through the night, which in turn helped her to get better. Along with the antibiotics the doctor prescribed for each of them.
So today the house is very quiet. It is a bit strange after not being alone for several days running. Bobi is here though, and we are going to go shopping. She isn't too noisy though. I enjoy my solitude, but I am looking forward to summer, and spending time with the girls. And doing a road trip with all five of us to Minnesota! I haven't been back in about 20 years, so it should be fun.
Have a Very Vanilla Day!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Lovely
The new washer and dryer are here, and they are lovely! The washing machine was not difficult to program, and the first load of towels is going. I know it sounds silly, but they are so clean and white and pretty! Really dresses up the laundry room/pantry! I don't remember the last time we had a completely new washing machine, so this is quite the treat.
The delivery did put off my grocery shopping, but Little Vanilla is going to go with me, and have some alone time with Mom. Teenage Vanilla wanted to have some friends over, so Mr Vanilla will be home supervising. And he will be making chicken enchiladas for Cinco de Mayo...after I get back with all of the ingredients. He is a great cook, and enjoys cooking. I have several things I can make, but I don't really get into cooking. I am better at baking.
The dogs are a bit freaked out at the new washer and dryer. They didn't want to walk around them to get to the doggie door, and I had to go first. They are very spoiled! I didn't even put them outside while the machines were delivered; I put them in Little Vanilla's room and they lounged on her bed until I let them out again.
Until tomorrow, have a Very Vanilla Day!
The delivery did put off my grocery shopping, but Little Vanilla is going to go with me, and have some alone time with Mom. Teenage Vanilla wanted to have some friends over, so Mr Vanilla will be home supervising. And he will be making chicken enchiladas for Cinco de Mayo...after I get back with all of the ingredients. He is a great cook, and enjoys cooking. I have several things I can make, but I don't really get into cooking. I am better at baking.
The dogs are a bit freaked out at the new washer and dryer. They didn't want to walk around them to get to the doggie door, and I had to go first. They are very spoiled! I didn't even put them outside while the machines were delivered; I put them in Little Vanilla's room and they lounged on her bed until I let them out again.
Until tomorrow, have a Very Vanilla Day!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Spring
It's spring, and that means allergy season. Mr Vanilla and Little Vanilla are the ones who get hit the hardest. Little Vanilla's cough came back last night. It was our night for no activities, so I could give her the prescription cough syrup early, and then again before I went to bed. She fell asleep on the couch next to me before 8p. She slept through the night, which was good, but I still hate to hear that hacking cough once she gets moving in the morning. She gets Delsym during the day, and it seems to work fairly well. I love to cuddle with Little Vanilla, but I prefer when it isn't because she feels icky.
Tonight both girls have cheer practice, and since Little Vanilla has had the same coach for 3 years, I don't have to worry about her having issues with her cough. She coughs, she sits, or she just marks her spot. I really like our cheer gym. Some club cheer gyms expect cheer to be what life is about, which just won't work for us, and our gym understands other things go on in life. I also like what the girls learn from being on the teams. As an adult it really hits home that in the workplace, there is always someone a bit difficult to work with, and sometimes more than one. Not that there are girls that seem extra difficult, but it has taught them skills for working with others who they don't have a lot in common with - I've seen a lot of adults who don't have those skills. The girls self-confidence also benefits from being on the team, and from what they can do. Besides being limber, and able to be very physically active, they are also very strong. Whether they are lifting someone else in the air, or Teenage Vanilla is being put into the air, it takes muscles. They don't look like they could hurt a fly, but they are both really strong.
I get the new washer and dryer delivered tomorrow. I will know by 9p what my 2 hour window is. I already have another load of towels ready to to in the new machines. I'm even going to use the dryer, to see how well it works.
Have a Vanilla Day!
Tonight both girls have cheer practice, and since Little Vanilla has had the same coach for 3 years, I don't have to worry about her having issues with her cough. She coughs, she sits, or she just marks her spot. I really like our cheer gym. Some club cheer gyms expect cheer to be what life is about, which just won't work for us, and our gym understands other things go on in life. I also like what the girls learn from being on the teams. As an adult it really hits home that in the workplace, there is always someone a bit difficult to work with, and sometimes more than one. Not that there are girls that seem extra difficult, but it has taught them skills for working with others who they don't have a lot in common with - I've seen a lot of adults who don't have those skills. The girls self-confidence also benefits from being on the team, and from what they can do. Besides being limber, and able to be very physically active, they are also very strong. Whether they are lifting someone else in the air, or Teenage Vanilla is being put into the air, it takes muscles. They don't look like they could hurt a fly, but they are both really strong.
I get the new washer and dryer delivered tomorrow. I will know by 9p what my 2 hour window is. I already have another load of towels ready to to in the new machines. I'm even going to use the dryer, to see how well it works.
Have a Vanilla Day!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Laundry Day
Monday is my laundry day to to my clothes, Mr Vanilla's clothes, and towels. The girls clothes are done on Sunday. The new clothesline was put in Saturday, and today was the first day I got to use it! I had been using the pool fence, but needed more room, so got one of those five sided clotheslines you can spin, and that have multiple lines on each side to hang clothes on. As of right now, having hung the first clothes out around 2.5 hours ago, I really like it! And, since after the party almost every towel in the house needs to be washed (swimming), I need all the drying help I can find.
Why a clothesline? Well, with our tri-level house, once the Arizona heat begins to hit, we have no choice but to use the air conditioning, or the bedrooms, which are upstairs, are just too hot to sleep well in. We also have a large diving pool, and our summer electric bills are killer. So, instead of using the dryer, last summer we started to use the pool fence near the end of the summer, and it did help. So this year I started to ban the dryer as soon as the weather warmed up. I don't use the time of use plan, although I am considering it. When I was working it was a pain, because I always wanted to use an appliance when I wasn't supposed to turn them on.
Teenage Vanilla thinks the clothes are too stiff, but I really like the smell when I bring the laundry in the house. And, just shake the clothes, and they aren't as stiff. She did hang all her clothes out yesterday, so she is going with it. Little Vanilla doesn't care how her clothes get dry, which is good. I am also finding there is something soothing about going into the backyard and hanging clothes out among the bushes and trees. I might not feel the same way in July, but I am going to enjoy it while it lasts!
Teenage Vanilla's party was a hit with the kids (according to text messages and FB), and from the parent perspective, the 18 kids who descended upon the house were good. If we needed to ask them to stop something we didn't have to ask twice, pretty much all of them talked to Mr Vanilla and I a little bit, and none of them tried to really get away with anything. They were there to hang out and have fun with their friends, and they did just that. They swam (and it was fairly cool that evening and windy), they threw a football, played Foosball, listened to music, watched a scary movie, and talked non-stop. Since I want the kids to feel comfortable here, and to want to make our house their hang out place, I was very happy with how things went. The only thing Mr Vanilla and I would change is how late they stayed. I took the last teenager home at 12:30a, and I realized Wow, that is late for me! Next time I would have them come earlier and leave earlier. I don't care that they come over for six hours, just that the six hours end a little earlier.
Today I have to price new washing machines and dryers. Sigh. My washer barely agitates anymore, and is about done with what it does. I probably could stay with the dryer I have, especially since I don't plan to use it during the summer, but Bobi said we should just get a new set of the energy efficient ones, and then we won't have to worry about them for a long time. I can't even remember how old this washing machine is, or what house we got it at. The dryer either. So, I am armed with Consumer Reports, and the Internet, and hopefully I can find a great deal and have a new set here for next weeks laundry.
Have a Wonderfully Vanilla Day!
Why a clothesline? Well, with our tri-level house, once the Arizona heat begins to hit, we have no choice but to use the air conditioning, or the bedrooms, which are upstairs, are just too hot to sleep well in. We also have a large diving pool, and our summer electric bills are killer. So, instead of using the dryer, last summer we started to use the pool fence near the end of the summer, and it did help. So this year I started to ban the dryer as soon as the weather warmed up. I don't use the time of use plan, although I am considering it. When I was working it was a pain, because I always wanted to use an appliance when I wasn't supposed to turn them on.
Teenage Vanilla thinks the clothes are too stiff, but I really like the smell when I bring the laundry in the house. And, just shake the clothes, and they aren't as stiff. She did hang all her clothes out yesterday, so she is going with it. Little Vanilla doesn't care how her clothes get dry, which is good. I am also finding there is something soothing about going into the backyard and hanging clothes out among the bushes and trees. I might not feel the same way in July, but I am going to enjoy it while it lasts!
Teenage Vanilla's party was a hit with the kids (according to text messages and FB), and from the parent perspective, the 18 kids who descended upon the house were good. If we needed to ask them to stop something we didn't have to ask twice, pretty much all of them talked to Mr Vanilla and I a little bit, and none of them tried to really get away with anything. They were there to hang out and have fun with their friends, and they did just that. They swam (and it was fairly cool that evening and windy), they threw a football, played Foosball, listened to music, watched a scary movie, and talked non-stop. Since I want the kids to feel comfortable here, and to want to make our house their hang out place, I was very happy with how things went. The only thing Mr Vanilla and I would change is how late they stayed. I took the last teenager home at 12:30a, and I realized Wow, that is late for me! Next time I would have them come earlier and leave earlier. I don't care that they come over for six hours, just that the six hours end a little earlier.
Today I have to price new washing machines and dryers. Sigh. My washer barely agitates anymore, and is about done with what it does. I probably could stay with the dryer I have, especially since I don't plan to use it during the summer, but Bobi said we should just get a new set of the energy efficient ones, and then we won't have to worry about them for a long time. I can't even remember how old this washing machine is, or what house we got it at. The dryer either. So, I am armed with Consumer Reports, and the Internet, and hopefully I can find a great deal and have a new set here for next weeks laundry.
Have a Wonderfully Vanilla Day!
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