Laundry is taking over my house

The laundry is seriously taking over my house right now. It feels like B and I are CONSTANTLY washing and folding and trying to get it all put away. It never gets completely put up and there's always dirty laundry in piles.

We cloth diaper, so there's a load every 2-3 days. The big boys feel they need a new towel every day. I refuse to wash them or their clothing that's not in a laundry basket. Doesn't help. B just does it for them and then complains about the laundry. I tried to point out the other day that if just the 4 big people got a new towel every day we'd go through 28 towels a week. That's nuts. That's at least a load every 3 days. Then there are the normal clothing loads for 6 people.

I've had enough. It's time for a new system and I'm looking for ideas. Here are the components I need to figure out:

1. How to get B and the boys on board with not having a new towel every day.
2. How to get the laundry put away.
3. How to contain all the piles and get everyone to use their laundry basket.
4. How to not overflow our laundry basket all over the bathroom floor.
5. How to get it all washed without feeling like that's all I ever do.

I've decided to start by tackling number 3 and ordered this laundry sorter from Amazon.



I know it's kind of big for the bathroom, but we have a nice little niche it will fit in. Once we get our 'real' house after selling all 3 I can put it in the laundry room and get a larger hamper for B and me and E her own hamper in her own room. With the sorter I can use the hamper for B and then the sorter for me, E, and towels.

I'm also thinking I'm going to have to throw a load in every morning before work. Our washer has a timer so I can set it to wash right before I get home from work leaving the evenings still open for diapers. Of course, this adds another item to the morning routine.

I think a schedule of who's items get washed each day might work too. Every day of the week I'll just grab one hamper and toss those items in. The schedule or calendar will hopefully keep me on track. Then on the weekend I can do towels and any other random laundry that's around.

I guess then the big items are still, how to get it all put away and how to get the boys to stop using so many towels and B to stop enabling them.

What's your laundry system?

WW - The Dress

This is the dress I think I want when B and I get married!

The Soda Debate

I was reading a thread on an on-line community I follow about "strange" rules in the home. Some made me laugh. Some made me roll my eyes. Most though, made sense to me. One of the rules another mother posted was about soda. She stated she doesn't let her 4 or 5 year old have any and her family thinks she's strange.

This always baffles me. Why do some parents think it's strange to limit what a child eats or drinks? We put all kinds of limits on kids.

I have a no soda until age 5 rule and a no caffeinated soda until age 10 rule. It's not really about the sugar since I do give juice. It's more not needing soda and it's lack of any nutritional value. I'm not completely naive though. I know I will not be able to keep little A and E away from soda forever, hence age 5.

As for the caffeine, I have a hard enough time having the energy for them some days when I have caffeine and they don't. Why would I willingly give them something that gives them even more energy?! Although I suppose I would get more exercise in if I did!

Do you have an age limit on soda? What are your reasons?

Menu Monday - April 18

We have a big week this week. It's spring break. I have a work conference. There's a 4 day weekend with Easter coming up. The first soccer game of the season. I'm tired just thinking of it. Onto the food for the week. I've linked up this menu to Menu Plan Monday over at Orgjunkie.com.

Sunday: Mac n Cheese with Bacon Topper

Monday: Chicken and Yellow Rice with Green Beans

Tuesday: Cream of Asparagus Soup and Monte Cristos

Wednesday: Baked Pork Chops, Broccoli Cheese Rice, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Take Out

Saturday: Cincinatti Chili and Cornbread

Sister for Sale

It happened. Just shy of 5 months and Little A is ready to sell E. It all started when he asked for candy at 6:30am. I told him if he could get dressed and brush his teeth without throwing a fit he could have a few sweet tarts. He couldn't do it. After flinging himself on the floor 3 times (once over his jeans not feeling "good," once over not getting to wear shorts, and once over it being "too cold" to get dressed) he came into the bathroom where I was getting ready. This was our conversation.

Little A: "I want to give my baby back."
Me: "She's my baby and I want to keep her."
Little A: "Well I'm going to sell her."
Me: "Who are you selling her to?"
Little A: "James" (little friend at school)
Me: "Well, why don't you see how much you can get for her today and then we'll decide."
Little A: "No. We're giving James our baby and all your money."
Me: "What will we do for money then?"
Little A: "You and B will have to work extra hard and make more."

I can't believe he's ready to pay someone to take the baby just b/c he couldn't have candy. What happens when I really make him mad?

WW - Nana & Little A

Nana is having surgery today. Here she is with her best grandson ever.

Menu Monday - April 11

Only 3 more weeks until T gets married. Hard to believe we'll have one with her own family and one that's only 5 months old! Onto the food for the week. I've linked up this menu to Menu Plan Monday over at Orgjunkie.com.

Sunday: Sausage & Veggie Pasta with Texas Toast

Monday: Crockpot Chicken Lo Mein and Crab Rangoon

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Maple Pecan Pork Chops with Peaches, Carrots, Baked Potatoes

Thursday: Crockpot Cincinatti Chili and Corn Bread

Friday: Take Out

Saturday: Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Rolls, Parmesean Noodles, Green Beans

Purse or diaper bag?

Have you played the bridal shower game where you look for things in your purse? Whoever has the most things of the list wins. I think I'd win by a landslide right now. Most people say that the diaper bag becomes their purse when they have kids. I think my purse becomes a diaper bag. I dug in it the other day to find some lip gloss. I pulled out:

• a diaper


• 3 head bands


• 2 kid sunglasses


• a matchbox car


• a paci


• part of a school bus


• a checkbook, wallet, and DR envelope system


• a cell phone


• 2 hair ties


• a reusable bag


• some receipts


• change


• a coffee shop punch card

I didn't have any lip gloss. What's in your purse?

WW - What was he thinking?

Notice the "custom" smokestack coming out of the side of this old Mercedes.

Too Much Wisdom

E had her 4 month well baby check this morning. I'm still not quite sure how it's already been 4 months since I had her. The nurse walked us back to the exam room and asked if we were there for the 4 month visit. Then she asked little A how old he was. He told her 4. Then he proceeded to tell her he was just moved into Ms. T's room at school. The nurse being used to little ones pretended to know exactly what he was talking about. Continuing on, little A said:

"You have to be 5 to move to that room, but I have so much wisdom I got to go now."

Stifling laughter, she asked him where he got all that wisdom. He replied, "I don't know. I was just born with it."

Friday Favorites - April 8

Zulily is a great site for boutique items at great discounts. Their stock changes daily. Right now there's a $15 off coupon!

French toast, pumpkin pancakes, eggs benedict.... yum. Kids eat free for the month of April at IHOP.

With the royal wedding coming up in 3 weeks there has been a lot of trinkets floating around. Here are some of my favs for this week:

Royal Wedding Pez
Knit your own Royal Family
Royal Wedding Gnomes

Menu Monday - April 4

Happy first week of April! April showers bring May flowers and we're definately off to a good start with the rain today! Only 4 more weeks until T gets married. I've linked up this menu to Menu Plan Monday over at Orgjunkie.com.

Sunday: Hot Dogs and Hamburgers on Grill with Potato Salad

Monday: Pulled Pork Sammies, Baked Potatoes, Broccoli & Cauliflower with Cheese

Tuesday: Chicken Strawberry Club with Veggie Chips

Wednesday: Grouper Sammies, Potato Salad, Mixed Veggies (eventually I really will make these)

Thursday: Leftover Pork and Chips

Friday: Take Out

Saturday: White Wine and Herb Grilled Chicken, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Corn