In The Laundry

No worries Gretchen. It's not like I was trying to fold that laundry or anything! xo 

Monday Morning

This is the sight that greeted me when I arrived home from Pure Barre class yesterday morning. "Well, we all live here so I figured I'd do the laundry!" she told me when she saw me in the doorway. What an absolutely love surprise to arrive home to! Thank you, sweet Emma, for such a lovely start our week! xo

At The Laundromat

Over the weekend we discovered that our dryer wasn't drying (it's twenty-one years old so this is not terribly surprising). Dave is pretty sure that the thermostat is the problem this time around. Sadly, he was unable to get a new one yesterday (hence our trip to the laundromat today). Much like our trips to the laundromat this past September the girls pretty much took care of the whole task (seriously, these two totally rock)! With three dryers going the wash was done in no time at all, and then with the three of us working together to fold it all we had that done in a flash too! The laundry is one of those tasks that I've never truly enjoyed, however, as we three were working on it together today a thought occurred to me: We should make this task a part of our daily (or weekly) family rhythm. If we do, then it will surely get done in a much more timely fashion. After all, as my Grandma liked to say: "many hands make light work!" 

Monday Wash Day

What do you do when your dyer stops working? Why head to the local laundromat, of course!

Our first trip to the laundromat was on Friday (as anyone who follows us on Instagram and Facebook can attest to). The girls had such a blast, and since we had more wash in need of doing (and therefor drying) we headed back today! 

The girls really only needed me to drive the car and carry the baskets of heavy wash in. After that they took it from there!

Passing the time while the wash dries. 

They took turns checking on the status of each dyer. 

While the girls were keeping an eye on the wash I got to do a little coloring!

The full baskets were my cue to start folding. I'm sure the girls would have done this part too if they were tall enough to reach the folding tables!

What made it even more fun was that my friend (and fellow homeschooling mama) Sharon is also sans dryer currently. She was the one that suggested we join her at the laundromat and I am so glad that she did! Not only did the girls have a fabulous time experiencing a new place, but it gave Sharon and I a chance to chat while we were there. Thanks Sharon for inviting us along! It was such a treat to have a sidekick during this dryerless time!

Little Laundress

My mom has a love for the laundry like none other.  She has the ability, pardon me, the gift to be able to fold contour sheets like nobody's business and make these sheet bundles that no matter how many times I try I just cannot master.  Many years ago she used to do the wash for an older woman in town and she would often times tie beautiful satin ribbons around the laundry bundles before she'd drop them off.  I am sure that it was magical to be handed such a lovely bundle of wash.  

So, it was no surprise when last year she gave the girls the wash and rinse basins (and later on a wash board).  Grace and Emma don't miss a beat and in no time at all they had their doll clothes and drying rack out too.  This has remained a favorite activity ever since, and so when Em got out these items and set them all up on the front porch recently I couldn't pass up the chance to take pictures.  The first two were taken with me still inside (hence the odd reflection) and then shortly after I made my way out she finally noticed me.  It was so sweet to watch her work.  And even sweeter that I got to capture these moments for all time.  

With any luck, the ability to love the wash skips a generation.  With any luck my girls will inherit my mother's laundry doing abilities.  And who knows, maybe when I'm an old lady they'll do my wash for me and bring it back with satin ribbons tied around it! XO 

Wash Day Fun

Here's the final installment from last Sunday's adventures.  My parents gave Grace and Emma the lovely wash and rinse bins that you saw in yesterdays post.  No sooner were the bins filled and brought to the lawn than the fun began! There were so many wonderful moments captured that I could not miss out on the chance to share more of these beautiful pictures with you!

Gramma brings the wash bin.

Uncle Grant brings the rinse bin.

Showing Em how to rinse the item.

The wash and rinse bins quickly became a favorite item.  Ever since last Sunday when they were first given to the girls they have played with them each day.  They always loved their drying rack but the addition of the wash and rinse bins have made them love the drying rack even more!  What a fabulous addition to their toys!  Thanks Mom for making these bins extra special for them. They will certainly be enjoyed for years to come!