I was actually going to type this one up yesterday, but I'm kinda glad (I guess) that I didn't because today was worse and DEFINITELY deserves the title more...but still I'll recount both.
But let me back up for a minute. Last week we drove into Ohio. We had great weather, great visits, and an awesome time at the Pork Festival and A Wool Gathering (I will post more + pictures another day). The only downside was that neither Curtis nor I slept much the whole time. We had driven in on 3 or 4 hours of sleep, and it was all downhill from there. Toby was up multiple times a night, then up for the day around 6 (eek!)....and I was having a terrible time getting to sleep at night, so by the end of the trip, both Curtis and I were just Tired.
We drove home Monday. Very very tired.
Monday night we make the mistake of staying up to watch Monday night football. Should have gone to bed at 8...but no.
Curtis had taken Tuesday off since we were both so tired in hopes of resting a little and being able to handle the week a little better. Tuesday started about 7:15, when Toby came in and informed us he had made a mess in the kitchen. Curtis hopped up to see what the matter may be...it was more than a little mess, and it wasn't in the kitchen...it was in the laundry room.
The child had decided he wanted to do laundry, of all things. And had dumped quite a lot of my Clorox for Colors on the floor...and on some clean clothes waiting to be put away. Curtis got me up with a "He's made a mess and I have no idea what to do about it." Sigh, you know it's never going to be a good day when it starts with those words.
Really, it wasn't so terrible to get cleaned...took the paper towels to it first, then mopped and threw all the messed clothes back into the washer.
By this time Lucy's up, and both kids are soon making laps through the house, shrieking and hollering and making a mess like you've never seen. Apparently they were happy to be home and not sleep deprived in the least (or too sleep deprived to know that was their problem). They went like that nonstop all day...one would be good, the other would start bugging the first just to get a rise out of them. Just constant. Curtis and I were ready to rip hair out.
We did manage to get the dog and I filled up the fridge from Food Lion.
Toby had gymnastics, so Curtis actually got to take him and see what it was all about (good part to the day). That meant I had time to shop for a few things with just one child (good thing), so there were some highlights.
Then I tried to print business cards. A few friends and I are putting together a craft booth at Autumnfest in 2 weeks, and I wanted to price my items with business cards. I even had BUSINESS CARD PAPER to use. No biggie, right? Our STUPID printed would not feed the paper right...at first it was printing too high, so I tried to outsmart the stupid thing and then it feeds correctly thus screwing it up since I tried to outsmart it...I have about 300 business cards, none of them usable since the print is cut off! I finally gave up - need to pick up some cardstock and will cut them by hand. UGH.
Finally dinner and bed. The day was looking up. I couldn't wait to get to bed myself, and happily did so early...just to be attacked by more insomnia. UGH. I tossed and turned until well after midnight...and my peaceful slumber was interrupted at 5:00. A. M.
"Hey get up, we have a problem"
I could barely even get my eyes open, I was so tired, much less imagine what problem could necessitate me getting out of bed at such an unearthly hour.
APPARENTLY, we'd had quite the rain storm, and Curtis had heard it while getting ready. The lights were flickering, as they were wont to do when we get a lot of rain (don't ask me why, we don't have aboveground wiring, so I don't know what the connection is). When the lights flicker, so does all the fishtank equipment. Curtis, getting ready, had smelled something odd....upon investigation, the electrical outlet we use for the fishtank had burnt and melted! GAH!
All I can do is thank God.
Thank you God that we use a surge protector and don't have to replace hundreds of dollars of aquarium equipment.
Thank you God that my husband was able to replace the outlet and we didn't have to call an electrician.
Thank you God for showing us that we were overloading the circuit without burning the house down. We are now planning to put in a second line with an automatic shutoff when the electricity starts misbehaving. And we have redone our wiring of electronics so not as much is on one outlet now.
I have a particular fear of a house fire between me and the children...and this could easily have been my worst fear. I am so grateful that all we had was a melted outlet, easily repaired and replaced. And yes, there are black streaks on the wall, but again...that we can deal with.
Of course Curtis and I are still tired...and I have to admit I was Very Cranky until I had my morning coffee...then just marginally so. The children are climbing the walls still and bugging each other endlessly...makes me think there must be a full moon around the corner.
But we are all safe. We still have a house and each other...in spite of my terrible horrible no good very bad day, there is a lot to be thankful for.
Our pumpkins - this one Curtis carved -
And this is the one I did -
Lucy loving the precarved pumpkin (or punk-y, as she calls them)
Toby and the little pumpkin
Pulling out the guts
The family at the pumpkin patch!
I think this is the only picture with 2 kids looking at the camera!
Toby has grown so much - these pumpkins used to look huge next to him and now they look so small!
A couple weeks ago we painted the pumpkins from Grandpa and Grandma M.
I've been busy sewing - this is Toby's new fleece vest
