Things on my mind

It's been a week since I posted. Even though no big events have happened (still pregnant), I've had so much on my mind. So much, in fact, that it seems overwhelming to sit down and blog. So forgive the randomness of this post.

Lauren is scheduled to arrive in six days. I've made endless, detailed lists of all the things I need to do, make, pack, rearrange, etc., and I'm happy to say that I've crossed most of those things off my lists. I still need to get the car listed for sale, pack my bag for the hospital, and finish up a couple of gifts for the kids for Christmas. I was unpacking baby clothes from storage today, and noticed that a large number (like, half of them) have puke stains from Faith. Why IS it that they don't show up until they're stored? So now I have to go through and try to treat all those stains so we don't have to spend a small fortune on onesies and other essentials.

And speaking of treating stains and doing laundry, I had a load in the dryer and another in the washer earlier today, when I started catching whiffs of a burning smell. I tracked it to the basement, and when I opened the laundry room, it was full of smoke. After a quick moment of panic while I looked for flames, I realized that our washing machine motor, or bearings, or something, burned out. It's been pretty noisy lately on the spin cycle. Since I've had the washer for about seven years, and it was given to me by someone replacing hers with a new set, I'm guessing it's at least 10 years old. Jeff did some research online, and figured we are better off buying a new one than trying to fix the old one. So, off to Lowe's I went. Our new washer will be delivered on Friday, at which time I will attempt to clean the aforementioned stained baby clothes.

Does anyone have any great secrets to getting puke stains out? Particularly puke stains that have been stored?

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Of course, Thanksgiving is on my mind. We are having dinner this year with Jeff's extended family down in Draper at his Aunt Kathy's house. I signed up to bring three apple pies. I have a great pie recipe (thanks, Becca!), and planned to make them. But then I decided that I'm just too tired, and lazy, to peel all those apples, and especially to do all that pie crust. So I bought three Marie Callender pies. I feel a little guilty for being a slacker - I've never bought a pre-made pie in my life. But at $3.88 each from Macey's, I'll be a slacker and save myself the time and work. Sometimes it's worth it to pay a little extra money.

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This week ShopKo put up their version of the angel tree, where you choose a kid and buy Christmas gifts for them. Last year was the first year that we did it, and we decided to make it an annual tradition. Since with the baby coming, life will be a little more hectic during December, we went last night to do our shopping. It was kind of fun. Last night after the kids went to bed I went out to find the last couple of things. Let me just say, Ross is a great store.

While I was driving around, I just felt so grateful. For some time to myself. For the means to provide Christmas gifts for these kids. For my own kids. For Jeff. For my crazy, stressful life. For my job. For Michael eating one and a half plates full of spaghetti at Golden Corral. For my friends. For being almost done with Christmas. For my doctor, who was very kind yesterday even though he had so much going on. For my van (yes, I really do like it). For silence - no kids' music playing on the radio. For my ward. For my house. I'm really so blessed.