Well, I had a great time spending the day with the kids today! We had a great bonding experience in this project. This would probably explain why I don’t get a lot of sewing done. Now, before I post the before pics, I want to clarify that I DO actually do laundry on a regular basis. However, no matter how many loads that I do, the dirty pile seems to be getting BIGGER no matter what I do! Let’s analyze this, shall we? Maybe some of you can relate:
1) I use cloth diapers, so that is one extra load every 2-3 days, and that load takes forever, because I do 3 cycles (I know, overkill but I would rather rinse too much than not enough…don’t flame me, please). Then, the AIO’s that we use take at least 2 dryer cycles to get totally dry. Did I mention I even have 2 dryers????

Ok, now on to reason 2) the kids use lap sized blankets for every imaginable game/project/pretend/fort, etc…and they never take the blankets back, then the dog decides to use them as doggie beds, and once he curls up on one for 2 seconds, the blanket is unfit for human use until properly washed…Rocky just stinks.

One of the biggest culprits for laundry: 3) No matter now many times I tell them, the kids think they should use a clean set of pajamas and a clean towel every night. They get baths/showers every night, so how dirty do you think a towel is going to get after drying off a clean body for 2 minutes? Heck, they dont’ even really use them to dry themselves, they just use it as a cover to run from the bathroom to the bedroom and then drop it on the floor to dig out ANOTHER clean set of pjs to wear. 3 kids=3 towels and 3 sets of pjs per night. Remember, once the towel hits the floor, it becomes a doggie mattress. You would think that I even things out…since I don’t work, how dirty do you think I get every day? I can stretch out bras, pjs, and jeans indefinitely without having to wash them again (again, no flaming…don’t tell me none of you do the smell test to see if those items need a trip through the washer? Now, who will cast THAT first stone?). Plus, I figureif I skip a bath here and there, that is one towel that doesn’t have to go through the wash, lol.

I guess that is all I can think of as to the reason I can’t seem to bump this laundry monster down to a manageable size. The other reason I’m posting these pics is in hopes that I will either A) get a few BTDT comments so that I dont’ feel like I’m the only one with this massive of a laundry quandry, and B) perhaps it will make someone ELSE out there feel like they aren’t the only person in this situation either.

Now, on to the project. First, we had to collect all the dirty clothes in the house and take them to the basement, which just happens to also be the kids bedroom and where the laundry area is. I just told them to dump everything on Austin’s bed since she is at her dad’s this week and would never know. Then, since all the baskets were now empty from dumping, we began to separate into colors, and as each one got full, I moved it into the closet just to be out of the middle of the room and to give me a bit of organization so I can feel like tackling this mountain. It really doesnt’ look as bad in the pics as in person, but here goes:

Keep in mind this is a California King sized bed!

Then, Braylin’s job was to hold Dallas and keep her occupied (she chose that job over sorting), and Carter and I sorted…and sorted…and sorted some more until it was finally finished and became THIS:

The blankets/sheets are piled in the front. Here is a better view of the back (and you can see the Superman undies Carter bought Daddy for his Bday, lol):

That is about 7 small baskets (1 load each), 6 large baskets (at least 2 loads each) plus several loads of blankets, I’d say 3-4. So, you are talking about 23 loads of laundry, PLUS you know there is a diaper pail nearly full upstairs. Even at 3 loads per day, that is 8 days of washing if NO clothes continued to get dirty!!! It’s times like these I consider loading up the kids and the laundry and spending the day at the laundromat…a ton of quarters, some coloring books and snacks, and I’d come home with a car full of clean clothes, and ATTEMPT to keep caught up. Anyone ever done this? Don’t lie now…I have actually done it a couple of times. It works for a short period of time, but it’s not long before it’s Mount Everest again, so I figure I’ll save my money this close to Christmas.

Ok, that’s it for today, let’s see if we can qualify this as a “real” blog post! Personal account of spending quality time with the kids? CHECK Something productive getting accomplished in the process? CHECK Pics documenting the action? CHECK Commentary that is interesting enough to keep everyone reading? I don’t know, but if you comment below, I’ll assume that is a CHECK also. Hey, maybe I can end up beign one of those “REAL” bloggers after all!!! Watch out, Susie Homemaker, I’m coming through!!!!!