Tag: chores

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Repairman #1

Once again, my washer has been misbehaving. This time, Jake determined the drain pump was malfunctioning. Thanks to YouTube and Shecklet #1 leading the charge, we figured out how to replace it.

Here’s Shecklet #1 removing the spring on the front of the washer boot. There was a lot to take apart in order to get to the pump!

Old pump is out!

I didn’t take any more pictures. If I had, you would have seen a very frustrated mom trying to put the two springs back on the washer boot. Not an easy task – even with two teenage boys helping! But we persevered and were able to get everything put back together – without extra pieces!

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Building with dishes

I love finding evidence of my kids being in the kitchen. (This is what happened when the girls dried dishes tonight 😂)

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Purge and re-org

A spring cleaning bug bit me today (late in the afternoon) and I completely emptied the girls’ closets. We pulled out things they had outgrown and passed them down accordingly. The things that no longer fit Shecklet #4 are bagged and ready to be given to a younger little girl. The reorganization of their closets gives me a sense of peace. I know that sounds strange, but it’s true. (Not sure how long that peace will last, but I have it for at least the night.)

The bins on the shelf are full of sentimental items. I go through them every so often and am trying to get past the “mental” part of the sentimentality. Truth is though, it’s hard. Everything has a memory. Jake helped me with a few items tonight and I’m really grateful for his input.

Next up – the boys’ closet 😬

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Household helper

Lincoln decided to give me a hand with the vacuuming today.  I don’t know what it is about this machine, but both boys love it.  It’s gotta be the fact that they can move it around and switch out the attachments.  That, and the fact that it has a retractable electrical cord.  It honestly is one of the best “toys” we have in the house.

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OTW – feeling crummy

My weekend actually started Thursday, if you count the weekend as the days I’ve felt less than 100%.  Not that I feel 100% a lot of the time, but I’d say it’s generally at least in the 90’s.  The last four days I’ve been down in the 25-30% range.  Not fun.  Thursday I started an on and off streak of migraines that have had me down for the count most of the weekend.  Friday morning I woke up in such pain that I called my mom to see if she could come over to wrangle the mini-men.  Thankfully, she was able to clear her schedule and come to my aid.  I was in bed (and in pain) until dinnertime.  My awesome mom not only handled the boys (play time, lunch time, nap time & dinner time) but she also helped me get started on the mountain of laundry that has been silently growing in my basement.  What a gift to me she was on Friday.

Unfortunately, the pain did not subside on Saturday and Jake was kind enough to pick up where my mom left off and took care of the boys, meals, etc. all day.  In the morning, he took Lincoln to the swimming pool while Papa & Nolan went to Lowe’s to build something together.  That something was a fantastic jewelry organizer!  Nolan was SO proud of his project – and rightfully so!  I love it!  And to make it even more perfect, Jake’s Valentine’s Day gift to me was a beautiful sapphire necklace, & earrings made by our family friend, Becky.  The boys rounded out their Saturday morning outing by stopping for lunch at Nana & Papa’s and a little cake decorating.  They boys had fun with all of the frosting and sprinkles (or crickets, as Nolan called them.)  After dinner, we enjoyed the finished products.  Yum!

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Fun in the kitchen sink

Lincoln insisted on helping with dishes this afternoon.  I went to wipe off the table and came back to a drenched 22 month old.  He was trying to mimic me by putting his towel into the water to wash the dishes.  The result of his actions was one wet kid.  He loved it though.  I think he thought it was like bath time with bubbles.

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More “organizing” and “go-karts”

My organizing son struck again.  This time his target was the basement family room.  He cleared out everything in the room (minus the couch) and created a “hockey rink.”  I don’t know what he meant by that.  Maybe it was just the first thing that came to mind when I asked him what he was doing.  I just smiled and thanked him for organizing the room for me.

Later in the day, Lincoln turned one of our wheeled containers into a “go-kart” and rode it down the hallway.  Nolan noticed it was so much fun, he joined in.

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OTW – friends, volleyball, and little helpers

Friday morning we ventured out into the below zero wind chill to spend a few hours at my friend Brooke’s house.  The four of our kiddos had fun playing with little people and cars, munching on Chex Mix, and eating sticky buns.  Good times!  I love it when we have a chance to hang out with friends.  It’s great for the kids to play with other kids and I welcome the conversation with another mom.  I came home refreshed.  Thanks, Brooke!

Jake and the boys hung out on Saturday while I played in a day-long volleyball tournament.  This particular tourney has become an annual event for me.  It’s my one non-stop (almost) day of being on the court and is a fantastic workout.  The only downside are the aftereffects.  My muscles scream at me for a couple of days, but eventually I recover 🙂  Good news is, we took second!  Not bad for a team that hasn’t played together as a group of 6 before Saturday morning.  During my absence, the boys apparently had fun using the containers on wheels from the toy room to store “stuff” and themselves.

After a full day on Saturday, Sunday was much more low-key.  After we returned home from mass, we had an early lunch, and Lincoln and I crashed.  Nolan and Jake ran a few errands and returned home with a new bird feeder.  Nolan was SO excited to show it to us from the living room window.  Jake hung it in one of the Linden trees out front.  It’s bright red, so you can’t miss it.  Now we just need bird visitors.  N & L decided they would “pick up” the toy room later in the day.  Lately this entails moving everything that was previously organized on one side of the room to the other.  Sunday’s migration of toys ended with everything being placed in front of the doors to the porch.  I walked into the toy room to check on my little helpers and found them sitting in chairs overlooking their accomplishment.  Too funny!

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Fall clean-up take two

We started round 2 of leaf cleanup this afternoon.  I took the boys outside and they pushed leaves around while I blew them into a pile before loading them into the yard waste bin.  In order to fit them all in, they needed to be compacted.  I stomped them down first and then Nolan wanted his turn.  He was pretty excited to give it a try.  (Oh, and it’s dark, but it was only 5:30 when this was taken.)

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Two QOTD from Nolan:

As I was getting dinner ready tonight, the boys were eating bananas and peanut butter.  Nolan calls to me and says “Mommy, I think you should take a picture of me licking this.”

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Then as we were finishing dinner (or trying to,) I said, “Nolan, you need to eat your dinner.”  His response, “It’s not dinner, it’s pizza.”  Jake and I just chuckled to one another 🙂

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When Dad’s away…

the goofies will play.  Jake had a dinner outing for work tonight, so the boys and I spent the entire day together.  The closer we got to bedtime, the sillier things got.  I think everyone was a little over tired.

Nolan has been asking me about my swim goggles lately.  I don’t know who told him I owned a pair, but I guess that’s not really very important.  As a “reward” for finishing his dinner tonight, I pulled them out and let him try them on.  Not to be outdone, Lincoln also had to have a turn.  He didn’t want them anywhere near his face.  Apparently he thought they made a better necklace.  Next up, the two of them decided the laundry basket that I just emptied would make a good boat.  Initially, Lincoln sat in it while Nolan pulled him around their room and then dumped him backwards.  They both thought it was hilarious.  Then they climbed in together (emphasis on climb, for Lincoln) and laughed some more.  I think we had a double case of the sillys tonight.  I’ll gladly take those ANY night over the whinys, sobbys or the tantrumys.