Dishwashers!

My dishwasher has been slowly declining all year.   In August our 5 year warranty expired, after they had serviced it three or four times during the year.  It had been making some sad noises for a few weeks, and then about a week and a half into December, it died.

Billy and I went to Home Depot that night to order a new one that he had researched online (while I hand washed the dishes.)  He selected a less fancy model (but one that wouldn't be an eyesore in the kitchen) with good reviews. They didn't have it on the floor, so we were a little disappointed, but the important thing was to get it ordered.  Despite the quick turnaround, it wasn't due for delivery until December 17th.

So, for the interim, I had some cute dishwashers helping me each night. = )

Much to my surprise, it was delivered on the promised date, in the promised window, and was even the correct dishwasher*!!!

It's got a hard life ahead of it, but so far it's been working well, running 2-3 times a day.

later days

 *at some point or other all of these things have gone wrong with previous deliveries.

edit 1-17-23: backdated for continuity. 

March 30th, Essential Trips Only: Day 17; Day 11 of School at Home

The expected high today was only 43F.  It was cloudy and cold all day, with a decent wind, so it felt much colder.

My day started poorly with standing water in my dishwasher.  I called the warranty company, and they were able to send the tech out between one and five, today. what?what?

The kids got quite a bit of their work done before 10am, when I set William up on his Zoom call with his class.

I headed out the door to run the recycling by Sarah's and grab the groceries. Kroger was not nearly as busy as it's been, and I was there at the pick up with only one other car.

After that, I dropped some elastic from my stash in a bin at the high school. (They requested donations for the 3D masks they are printing for doctors and nurses.)  I also dropped a small load at the food bank.

I made it back to get the twins logged in with their friends at noon.  Juliet kept trying to chat with her BFF and was so sad that the call ended before they had time to chat.

For lunch the kids made some sandwiches and I fried up some yellow squash. yum!

Not long after the groceries were put away, the repair man came.  The pump was broken. = (  He had a spare one on him, and by the time he left it was up and running!  Yay repair guy!

I messaged back and forth with Kennedy's mom, so she and Juliet were able to zoom until my phone was about dead! = )  It was so cute, they were showing one another all of their special 'treasures.'  Next time I will try to set her up on the gypsy again.

Emily wanted to go on a bike ride, so the two of us made a path around town.  It was a chilly day, but we have enough hills that we were plenty warmed up by the time we made it home.

For dinner we had tacos, since they had tortillas this week (but no bread for us.)

Billy's Anniversary gift arrived.  It was so apropos for this year, I couldn't resist!

Tonight we got word that it is very likely that the kids will not return to school (it is still not official, but everything is pointing that way.)  They will all "move up" next fall with no conclusion to this year. = (

I am struggling with so many emotions.  Right now, I'm just feeling robbed.  I'm so sad that my 'golden' year ended so abruptly, and that Alice will never be in elementary again.  Alice didn't get her send off, or fourth grade trip to the wildlife center.  Emily missed out on a week long field trip to the capital to learn all about Michigan history, and she will never be able to make that up.  William will not get to finish his year with the.best.teacher.  And my twins, well, once again they will not get to finish a school year with their sweet, wonderful teacher. I will never have a kindergartner again.  There was no move up day or chance to say goodbye.

I'm sad about missed opportunity, but still applaud the leadership doing what's best for the majority of the population.

Tomorrow is Emily's Grand Rapids appointment, but it's not until the afternoon, so we should have a normal morning.

later days

December Things

My mom's friend was upgrading her recliner, and my mom claimed her old one on our behalf.  It's a big green one, very similar to the one we had in Houston.  Everyone was happy, except for William who cried when we took out the old, ugly orange one that was only supposed to be in our house for a week and lasted 2 years!

It snowed.

Then it snowed some more.

Then it cleared.  (And I hid William's treasures.) And then it snowed again.

After our gingerbread house fail, I bought a store made kit.  It went over really well.  They even ate part of it!

Grace also wanted to sew a wrist rest like Juliet did.  She was so excited!

Molly hanging out by the tree.

We got a package that did not belong to us.  It was for 313 and we live at 317.  (309 is our immediate neighbor), and I tried to find the owner in a forum, and asked our neighbor but without success. So, after stressing over it, I contacted UPS who sent someone to retrieve it, but not until 8 o'clock that night!  I have never been happier to be rid of a package.

I looked in my rearview mirror and chuckled when I saw all those reindeer antlers!

Our dishwasher stopped draining, so I ended up handwashing dishes for about a week.  The Thursday after it was fixed, my oven went out.  The repair guy came out Saturday morning, but didn't have the part.  He ordered it to be shipped overnight, but I received a call today that there was some issue at the warehouse and it wouldn't be coming today. = (  So, we'll be having something that can be cooked on a stovetop for Christmas this year.  The ham I bought will taste even better next week I'm sure. = )

My mom signed my crew up to help light the 2nd Advent candle at her church.  Alice did a great, careful job with the flame.  Emily's reading of the verses was lovely.  The other 3 were bored and I stressed trying to coral them from below the stage.  Whew.  She said that she got lots of compliments from her friends after service though.

We had the lovely Galvas family come over Saturday, who also has 5 kids!  The adults played Ticket to Ride, and Emily joined us.  From then on, she's been really excited to play again. William likes the idea of it, but is not quite patient enough to play yet.

Such a lovely December.

later days

Around the House this time of Year

We are almost to November, and I still feel like we "just started" school.  We have been busy.  These are pictures to remind me what my "golden year*" looked like.

A pretty sunset.

I finished the game, Detective, that Billy bought me for my birthday last year.  It had been a while since we had played, so I went back through every case, took new notes, and categorized the cards.  I did figure out who did it, and in time!  However, there was an unfortunate typo that sent us straight to the end of the game, so it put a substantial damper on my victory.  = (

Alice made another recipe from a library cookbook: Monkey Pudding!

Emily also joined the cookbook 'club' and made a chocolate chip pizza (but not on the same night as Alice.)

William regularly gives me a run for my money, but sometimes he is so unexpectedly wonderful, I know he will be a great man one day.  He was wiping off his bike seat before school, so I told him to just toss the rag onto the stairs in the mudroom, and I would take care of it later.

When I went out in the mud room later, I saw that not only had he put it in the mud room, but he hung it up to dry on the mitten drying line. <3

Emily wanted to bring a 'healthier' treat for her class.  The recipe called for peanut butter, but to avoid the potential allergen, we used caramel.  On round one, we tried melting our own (it didn't work very well.)  Round two we used a caramel dip.  It also didn't work very well. = (  They were super cute until they slid apart!

Grace practicing the piano with her froggy while William plays a 'coding' game.

Emily woke up early on picture day so that we could do something 'special' to her hair.   You couldn't see it in the pictures, but she felt beautiful anyhow. = )

William accidentally spilled some apple juice on his homework, so he had to read his story on the inside drying line.  Luckily his math was all done!

Grace and Molly.

Every package is bigger from Sam's, but I found the disparity between the actual size of the muffins (L- Sams, R- Kroger) interesting.  They are the same brand.

The kids regularly request "magic" tricks from Billy.  He's found some pretty good ones lately.

My dishwasher is drying again!  It took four technician visits from two repair companies, but look at the beautiful steam!

We had a chance to host the Mitterlings for some Gumbo and games.  Carter (one of their twins) was quite the celebrity to my poor, baby deprived, children.

It's been a fun fall, now I'm just hoping that winter will treat us as well.

later days

*This is the first and final year that all 5 of my children will be at the same school.  One pick up time, all the field trips are staggered, I see all of their teachers multiple times a week.  My golden year.