The view out our back slider made me think that storm chasers were going to come roaring down the street in back of us... Swirling dark clouds, lightening, thunder then a pause before torrential down pours one after another... They left our back sand area more flooded and created mini-lakes under the swings... Come on SUN!!

Evening 5

 

Funny how one thing leads to another... First a bit of laundry, then all of a sudden I'm putting away clothes and get sucked into a major clean-out/donate/organize my closet/dresser mode. Actually, this happens to me on a regular basis. It even was something that drove my mom crazy when I was a kid. A simple, "Abbey, go pick up your room," turned into a major clean-out, room rearranging effort. So, no, it wasn't
on my list of things to do, but it did need to be done so even though I didn't get Deep Clean Kitchen Part 4 even started, I'm pleased I have more room in my room and fewer unworn items to confuse my "what to wear?" daily decision... I could probably go through and be more brutal in my down-sizing (literally because many of the clothes headed for VV are my "between" clothes from post-pregnancy to now), but I'll save that for another time...

I was meaning to get the latest coupons filed, but no. Didn't happen tonight.

Todd is coming home tomorrow having had finished the testing... That is GOOD! I know I've said a number of times to different people that having him out of town makes me get a chance to experience a very small part of what some have too do for months or even years. I'm waiting for him to call because he was out having a celebratory beer with his team and couldn't hear to chat via phone. He said he'll have stories (I'm assuming about the testing day, not the beer) so that should be interesting.

Random thoughts:

I think I'm going to go ahead and try to watch/follow The Next Food Network Star show. I caught the first one (never happens) and got sucked in (something else that doesn't really happen for me for reality shows).

What's up with the cupcake craze right now? This isn't just from the Food Network watching - it's seeming to pop up a LOT lately. Wish I liked cake and frosting more...

Todd just called and it's late, so later...

Making sure that I've got everything figured out for teaching the preschool class tomorrow needs to come first, so I'm not sure how much I will accomplish off the list tonight...

Todd said last night he'll be home a day later than he thought, but at least it won't be days more than he thought...

We broke out the sprinkler today. Keeley LOVED it, Sarah is really only a warm water kid, so she pretended to like it, but mostly ran around singing and then jumped on her towel. No pictures because Todd has the camera. I've commissioned him to try and get a cool shot of a Joshua tree for the collection of dessert-themed prints we've decided would look good in our bedroom. Now if another "free canvas" deal comes around again, I can take advantage of it!

Better go make sure I'm remembering everything for the lesson...I may be back with an update.

Deep clean kitchen part 3 ! 

 
It'll be great to actually have the freezers, fridge, and oven clean all at the same time... I've daydreamed about what it would be like to have the entire house organized and clean at the same time... But, at least for me, it's always in process and that won't happen any time soon if ever. Heck, I create some of the messes myself with MY projects!

Talked with Todd tonight and it seems that "Management" has been pushing really hard and some of his team are on work day 11 or 12 in a row... Thankfully one of them finally put their foot down and they're taking tomorrow off since they can't be the primary test anyway. So off to Magic Mountain...again - at least for Todd. No, not feeling too sorry for him right about now... I'm just glad he has friends who are able to keep up with him on roller coaster enthusiasm since I can't/don't/won't go there...The thought almost makes me nauseous... Off to bed to try and knock out this cold that seems to finally have caught up with me after both girls had it... G'night.

Day/Evening 2

So yesterday was a harder one...We had sunshine, but I was not always having a sunny attitude, however we all made it! After the girls were in bed, I pulled the movie equivalent of  "I ate the carton of ice cream so it wouldn't tempt me any longer,"  and I watched Episode 2 & 3 of Cranford while I organized my coupon binder! Now the Netf,ix envelope is in the mailbox and I don't have that out so...

Day/Evening 3

Today was a LOT better.We went for a walk in the rain this morning. The cup holders on the stroller had their bottoms covered in water even though we weren't out that long... Came back to hot chocolate, a nap for Keeley, playing a game, making 3 batches of play dough (turned out great! I'll see how it holds up after the preschoolers use it at church), and more playing with Playdoh (the real stuff) etc... Didn't make it out for doughnuts because Keeley slept so long, but none of us really needed a doughnut right? Quesadillas for dinner and early bed times! 

Now comes the attempt for deep clean of the kitchen part 3: Set the oven on clean, reorganize the freezers, clean the fridge and listen to more Tim Keller sermons while I do it...We'll see how it goes!

Day 1 Progress

Watch Cranford - Episode 1
I forgot that Disk One has three episodes so guess I get two more nights! Hopefully this won't deter me in getting the other items accomplished. Last night this won out because my upper back was very tired/sore/hurting from picking something up (picking up a 25lb box of cat litter and keeping it extended out from my body as I bent over to pour it into the litter box. Have I said how much I look forward to being "cat-less?" and how much I should probably get my back in better shape? I don't have a bad back, but still...)
On a side note, I think I may be addicted to popcorn...and Victorian Era films... and BBC productions...Certainly something that is good to do when Todd is not around... I know it doesn't look terribly exciting, but it IS good drama for those of us who appreciate historical dramas and it is hilarious too!

Clean out K's closet, go through clothes, etc.
Not on my original "When-Todd-is-in-Palmdale" Project List, but the mood hit me and it needed to be done to store the months of diapers stockpile I've got going on... It was getting hard to walk up the steps in the garage because I had so many packs of diapers on/beside our storage shelves!

Replant Rosemary
In another time/place I would have been a farmer...there is just something in me that LOVES digging in the dirt! So much so, that I sometimes invent things to do just so I can go play outside... in the dirt, like replanting things... But now my pots that had the rosemary in them need a little something... I'm sure I can find some cheap plants/flowers somewhere...

My "When-Todd's-in-Palmdale" Project List

Deep-cleaning kitchen Parts 3 & 4 (bottom cupboards inside and out, weed-out unneeded stuff, reorganize)
Finish making the girls' tutus
Replant the rosemary
Get two more painting bids
Research plants for shade area in back
Weed
Read
Watch "Cranford" Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
Have a girls' night at the house
Make a list of camping stuff we still need to get
Make some fun crafty gifts for my girls
Clean out K's closet, go through clothes, etc.

To be continued...