Like it's 1999

Last night we FINALLY had the neighbors over to play. Who knew that organizing having people walk across the street could be so difficult? I mean, they invited US over for dinner LAST SPRING, and we still haven't made it. Sad.

Well, I got up Saturday, spent an hour or two on the computer and drinking my coffee (I'm now only drinking coffee on the weekends, I've managed to completely cut it out during the week). Finally just after 10:00, I got out the cleaning supplies and got the crew to work.

I sprayed down the bathrooms with foaming bubbles and got Keith to wipe it up (he LOVES doing this). Mary got to clean up the toy den and of course the bunny cage (the former really suits her I'll-work-alone-and-get-everything-put-away-just-right style, the latter she HATES, but they are HER rabbits, and that's part of the DEAL, lady!). I gave Izzy a wet washcloth and had her wipe down every wall/surface within her reach. She loved it. And she kept finishing before I was ready, "What now, Mama?" Um.... Everyone picked up their rooms (well, a little). I focused on cleaning the kitchen, sweeping and mopping all the floors, getting some laundry caught up, and picking up some of the clutter. Keith was supposed to pick up the toys in the living room, too, but this was apparently just TOO MUCH for him. He kept getting distracted and IN TROUBLE, and that's when I sent him to pick up his room (which didn't really get done, either, but at least he was OUT OF MY WAY for a while). I decided Mary was old enough to start using the vacuum, she did NOT like it and complained, "I'm never doing this again!" Well, it IS still a bit too heavy for her spaghetti arms right now, but oh yes, child, you WILL become acquainted with the vacuum again!

The house looked smashing. Except for the fact that I forgot to finish dusting. Ah well.

The neighbors called while I was in mid-purge and invited us to go down to the garden store three houses down for their "Family Fun Day" around 4:00. Sure! So after the house was done, and John was on his way to pick up our copy of Indiana Jones and all the groceries for the hors d'oeuvres-only party, the kids and I got our jackets on to see what all the fuss was about.

Well...I'm not going to kick up much of a fuss about that Family "Fun" day. Not only were the pony rides a whopping $4 (we carefully distracted all the kids away and didn't walk by them again!), but even the bounce house and the lame hay ride was $3 a piece! There is also a Haunted House that the place runs (we hear the "screams" and "yowls" on most evenings while sitting in our living room), but we weren't sure if it would be "scared-down" enough for our little ones and didn't go in (gee, wonder how much THAT was).

So we're not COMPLETELY cheap, we did let the kids in the bounce house, but THAT WAS IT. And then we went in the awning which had samples and coupons and FREE EAR BUDS (but, for what?).

John caught up with us as we were picking out pumpkins. John and I have found that this place is overpriced ALL YEAR LONG. I mean, it's sad when there is a garden center down the street from you, but you go to one across town to get your mulch because its cheaper--EVEN THE DELIVERY. We have found that the pumpkins are usually "pretty reasonable" and usually do get them there. So the two families walked home with four pumpkins, and the promise to meet up after we fed the kids (and I got my cheeseball and other foods prepared).

Around 6ish, the neighbors came across the street bearing their pack'n'play for the 18-mos old (BTW: JJ, I gave ours to my friend L, as I figure the next time you all visit Christopher will be WAY TOO BIG for it, and no other visiting families I know are planning more kids soon--and I can always borrow it back if they do), a sleeping bag for the three-year old, and some kick-@$$ dip.

After the dime tour of the house, we settled the kids into the den, and the adults tried to play some games.

Our first attempt was Beyond Balderdash--for which we had no instructions. Um, OK, let's play our electronic Scattorgories--which has never even been opened. Upon reading directions, it seemed it would be kinda dull with only four people. Ah well, then, the ol' fallback: EUCHRE!

Even with crappy hands all night, Brittni and I managed to barely scrape a win from John and Bill. Lucky. I hardly ever win when I'm playing against John.

We did get the instructions to Beyond Balderdash from online and played a few rounds. But everyone's brain cells seems to be sluggish (maybe it was the beer?), so we decided to put the games away, lay the kiddies down in their sleeping bags with a movie in the den, and get out the ROCK BAND.

Brittni and Bill took to it like ducks on water. But the noise was keeping the kids up. The baby did pretty well in his pack'n'play in Keith's room, but little M just would not stay down! Brittni finally gave up after a while, and let her sit with us on the couch and watch us rock out. We would finish a song and she would clap and say, "Play 'nother one?" Finally at midnight, all adults decided that it was time to clear out and maybe get the little three-year old in bed--in her own house. Our three had finally fallen asleep without the distraction of little M downstairs with them!

Thankfully, the kids "sorta" slept in this morning. And I'm expecting a visit from B&B sometime this morning to pick up the pack'n'play that we told them they could leave here last night instead of dragging it back across the street (um, but they did take the baby out of it FIRST).

I'm glad we've finally got some neighbors with young kids to do stuff with (if we could possibly get our act together and DO the stuff more often). Good times. Good times.