2). The Illogic: The kids didn’t finish their milk. I didn’t want to throw it out, and I wasn’t in the mood for milk. Problem solved.

3). The Stretch: The counters were too cluttered. Problem solved.

4). The Metabolic: Hey, I ran 16 miles yesterday. I need the calories. Problem solved.

5). The Scientific: It’s been proven that I require more chocolate on Mondays than all other days of the week combined. Problem solved.

So during the course of all this sickness, I have managed to somewhat cook for the family (somewhat), and keep up with the laundry and the diaper changes and the diaper washes.  But one thing has fallen off my to-do list entirely.

Dishes.

Unfortunately, Josh is also extremely busy recently with creating labs, teaching labs, grading labs, doing homework, doing projects… the usual grad school stuff.  So he hasn’t been doing dishes either.

I fed the kids breakfast this morning on paper plates.  And realized someone had to do something.  And since Josh left at 5am this morning to finish a project that was technically due last night, that someone was me.

So I’m postponing Meet-and-Greet until the dishes are done, to motivate me.  And to motivate you to motivate me. And I’m going to post pictorial progress, to help me see that slowly, but surely, they are getting done.  And, of course, to break up the monotony that is doing dishes for four hours straight.

My progress thus far:

Bowls and silverware. Every bowl and spoon we own.

The load in the sink:

Every salad and dinner plate we own.

The many loads yet to come:

Every cup and mug we own along with just about everything else we own.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to find a small something to eat because I need to make this sick feeling go away again so I can do more DISHES.

*Update*

The bowls and silverware have been dried and put away. Plates have been rinsed.

A sinkful of cups and mugs:

Lots left to do:

Of course, I took a small break to cuddle and play and change a diaper. Back to work!

**Update #2**

After more than a brief break to make lunch for the kids, put Benjamin in time-out for throwing quesadillas, make lunch for myself, not finish lunch for myself because Benjamin decided it was naptime, put Benjamin to sleep, and then finish my lunch, I got back to dishes.

I dried and put away the plates and washed/rinsed two sinkfuls of cups and mugs:

Filled the sink with new, fresh, hot, soapy water and crammed in as many miscellaneous plastic items as would fit:

The end is in sight! Maybe two more sinkfuls?

And, really, the fact that someone out there is actually following this post gives me the motivation to finish. Plus, I had Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch. Feelin’ good! It was my last can though…

***Update #3***

I was able to get a sink-load done pretty quickly with Benjamin asleep. Only had to stop briefly to ooh and aah over the letters Olivia was making on her magna-doodle (so smart!)

My accomplishment:

The load ready to be washed:

And I think I can cram the rest into one sinkful, which will make me DONE!

And yes, there are Legos on the counter, and yes, I have to wash them. They were bath toys a couple weeks back. And our kids are notorious for their inability to control bodily functions in warm bathwater.

Unfortunately, both kids are awake now, so these last two loads may have SEVERAL interuptions…

And also, the effects of the soup are wearing off. The sick feeling is rising in my esophagus and the bad taste just won’t leave my mouth. I keep eating Twix to keep it at bay. It’s a really temporary solution.

Well, I was right. The last load was horrendously stretched out, due to multiple interruptions and a certain 19 month old who clung to my knees and whined when he couldn’t think of anything else to do.

And I tried to update before my last load, but Picasa stopped responding and the only thing that fixed it was a reboot, which I didn’t attempt until I was done. So here are my last two updates, combined.

****Update #4****

The finished load from my last update, which had to be dried and put away so I could rinse and dry this load:

After that, only a few more things!

*****Update #5*****

If I counted right, I think that’s my sixth sink-load (fifth rack-load) of dishes. Took, what, eight hours? Don’t tell me it’s not a full time job to stay at home… don’t even think it.

Clean! Empty!

Clean! Empty! I’m done!

… I bet those durn family members of mine want some kind of supper now…

(Will update with more pictures. Stay tuned!)

(Click for a bigger version.)

Thanks, Ashley, for adding to my incontinence problems.

First, bridle thy fastest stallion and make heed for CVS.

HALT. Didst thou remember thy coupons? Send back thy manservant at once.

Right. Back to thy local CVS.

Now, I must warn thee so that thou wouldst not keel over at the news, but by my faith, CVS hath several good deals! If thou purchasest $20 in certain products, they will giveth HALF OF IT BACK TO THEE (in Extra Care Bucks (which can then be used to buy anything thy heart desireth from CVS (but to make the most of it, prithee dost turn around and use it on another deal that will give thee more Extra Care Bucks (ECBs)))).

Thy first transaction shall consist of the following:

3 Halls Pro Health Defense @ $4 each = $12
4 Halls Naturals @ $2 each = $8

Thou hast now reached the desired total of $20. Beseech thy coupon organizer for two coupons for the aforementioned items totaling $1.35. Dost thou wish to savest another $4? Then thee shouldst have printed one of these before leaving the castle. For his lack of forethought, thy manservant must be punished.

After hiring a more worthy assistant and awaiting his return with a good-sized stock of $4 coupons, continue with thy transaction.

Thy new total is $14.65. Behold! Thy purse containeth an ECB of $14! Payest thy bill of $0.65 and receivest thy $10 ECB. Thy minions cheer thy efforts.

But thou art not done. Transaction #2:

Robitussin cough and cold 8 oz = $6
DayQuil 20ct = $6
Airborne Seasonal Relief 16ct = $9

Thy total is $21. Thy manservant cowers, but thou reassurest him that he hath no need for fear: ‘Twas not possible to attain a total closer to $20. He hath served you well.

Thy total is reduced by a $1.50 Dayquil coupon from yon local Sunday paper inserts. And a $3 Robitussin coupon can be sought here. After thy trusty $4 coupon, thy total is now $12.50. Thou payest with thy $10 ECB, and givest thy cashier her pittance: a mere $2.50.

Thou art but half-done. Ignore the calls for extra cashiers to alleviate the back-up thou hast caused. Thou art saving money.

Transaction #3

Children’s Tylenol 4oz = $5.50
Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold 4oz = $5.50
Motrin 80-100ct = $9

Thy manservant beameth. Thou beamest back. Thy total is $20. Handest the cashier thy $3 Tylenol coupon, trusty $4 coupon, and the $10 ECB from thy last order. Hark! Thy new total is but $3.

Thou art almost done.

Transaction #4:

Charmin Ultra 12 big rolls= $5.99
Bounty 8 pk = $6.49
Pantene hairspray = $3.67
Puffs tissues = $0.99×3 = $2.97
Dawn 12.6oz = $0.99

Thy total is $20.11. Once again, naught could be closer to $20, given the products available. Well done. Handest over thy $0.25 Bounty coupon, $0.25 Charmin coupon, $0.50 Puffs coupon, $0.50 Dawn coupon, $1 Pantene coupon, trusty $4 coupon, and $10 ECB. Thy new and final total is $3.61. However, this deal offereth a lowly $5 ECB.

As thou makest ready to leave the store, on a whim, thou criest out, “Doth thou offer any more free stuff, CVS?!”

And they will answer: “Aye! Yonder Beano! And mouthwash!”

“Forsooth!”

Transaction #5:

Beano To-Go 12 ct = 2.99
Crest ProHealth Night mouthwash 250mL = 3.29

“And doth thou offer any more ECB, CVS?”

“Aye! $3 in gratitude of thy business this past summer!” (Dost thou not know CVS giveth a percentage of thine expenditures back?!)

Thy cashier asketh for $6.28; thou givest thy $3 ECB and payest $3.28. Thy cashier giveth thee $6.28 in ECB. Thou hast made $3.

On to Walgreen’s with a vengeance! Bursting through the front doors, thou repeatest thy victory cry, “Giveth me thy free stuff!”

And they shall pileth thy booty upon thee:

Colgate Total Advanced Clean Toothpaste 4.2 oz
Pepcid Max Strength AC or Complete 8ct
Beano to Go 12 ct
Buckley’s 4 oz chest congestion or cough syrup
Breathe Again Nasal Spray 3.3 oz
Garnier Fructis 25.4oz
Ameal BP Capsules, 60 ct.

Thy faithful manservant handeth over a $1 coupon for Garnier Fructis (from thy local Sunday paper), a $1.50 coupon for Colgate Total, a $1 coupon for Beano, yet another $1 coupon for Beano (store coupons art compatible with manufacturer coupons, Marry!), and a $1 coupon for Pepcid AC.

The friendly wench behind the counter may asketh you for $52.33. But knowest in thy heart, dear mistriss, as thou handest over but $47.83, that thou hast made $4.50 in this, thy final transaction. Takest thou of the EasySaver book. Keepest thy receipt. Before the month is out, thou wilst mail in for a full rebate of all thy Walgreen’s bounty.

BEHOLD!

If all has gone according to plan, thou hast paid $14.06; and thou hast saved $127.66!

~~~

To learneth more from the master, clicketh here.

To seeth more frugal posts, clicketh here.

Then, about three months post-partum, those fabulous filaments start appearing on your sweater. And in dinner. And in diapers. And on that one spot on your back you just can’t reach. And don’t even get me started on the drain.

Not only is your marvelous mane now diminishing at an alarming rate, but you can no longer set your infant on the carpet without first administering some sort of hairball preventative medication.

Your shower time lengthens as shampooing consumes most of your morning simply in vain effort of finding an end to the squandering of your sensational strands.

You eventually give up, and it’s good that you do. Because as soon as you pick up that brush, whatever remains of your tantalizing tresses leaps so willingly from your thatch to those bristles that you might get a little suspicious.

And suddenly, you start to sympathize with Britney Spears.

So that’s why she did it.