It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!

We started off the day with a little Christmas miracle. That's right, I have a brand new washing machine in my laundry room today! After 10 weeks of waiting and negotiating, Maytag had agreed to let me choose a new washer, Whirlpool or Maytag brand and receive 67% off. I poured over the two websites, I studied Consumer Reports, and Consumer Affair Hot lines. Since I was actually having to pay for a third of the washer, I decided I couldn't gamble, so I got a regular boring super capacity Whirlpool washer. I have never been happier to be doing laundry in my whole life!



The washer got here first thing this morning, Charlie went and got some Whataburger for our breakfast. After doing two quick loads of laundry, he and I went over to Walmart to pick up some groceries for the day. We got home, rounded up the kids and went over to the Christmas Tree Farm.

They griped and complained and made each other cry, then when we got to the farm, they griped and complained and fought over the tree selection. We finished up with each one drinking a soda and having some popcorn. It was getting late and we had to rush home to get ready to take Ace to a birthday party at two.

(I snapped this shot of Ace in the middle seat with the Christmas tree on top of his head.)

He was dragging, which was odd after a week worth of countdown to Joe Bob's birthday party. We loaded up, headed to the party. When we got there, he went straight to the back where the kids were jumping on the trampoline. After that, we went in and had Spiderman cake and ice cream and then went on a hay ride. It was SO windy and starting to get pretty cold, so after the pinata, we loaded up and headed to Sonic for something to eat. It was four o'clock in the afternoon and we hadn't had anything since breakfast and we still had to go to Melee's basketball game at 4:30 and John was getting ready to be in the Christmas parade at 6:00. By the time we got to Sonic, Ace was complaining about not feeling good. I assumed he was car sick, as usual, and continued to order us something to eat. By the time the food got there, it was clear he REALLY didn't feel good. Luckily, I had an old towel in the car, so I put it in his lap and told him we were going home. Before I was able to get out of the parking lot, he hurled. Red Spiderman Cake hurl. I called Charlie and told him we wouldn't be making it to the game or the parade, and he and I passed each other on the road. I got Ace home, still assuming he was sick from the ride and sugar intake. I made him wait till I helped him out of the car to minimize the carnage, and when I got him out of the car, he stumbled out like a miniature drunk guy and collapsed in the yard and spewed again.

In the meantime, Peach was whining and complaining about basketball games and Charlie decided he would have the best chance at actually seeing the game if he brought her home and left her with me. He dropped off Melee', then John. By the time he got home I had Ace in his pajamas on the couch and was cleaning out his car. Now it smells like cigars AND vomit. (he used vanilla air freshener which smells like cigars to me.) Peach acted like she didn't feel good, so I put her in pajamas and put her in a chair and turned on Spongebob. I went up to the attic to try to find the Christmas tree stand. By the time I made it down, Ace had hurled again. It was about 5:30. He blew chunks a couple more times and then it took a turn for the worse.

Because it's been so long since I've had any diapers in the house, he's been wearing maxi-pads since about 7:00. It's wrong I know, but after two clean-ups, I had to get creative. The roto-virus has come to my house. I haven't had to take care of anybody that sick in a long time. And can I just say that my washer came JUST in the St. Nick of time!