Sew Not My Day!: Bowling for a clean house

While Robb and Ryan were out of town having a blast with Robb's old high school buds, I worked my tail off on Saturday.

I guess there's a ~~lot of~~ little bit left...

So before I had to get Meri to work, I did a garbage run early and picked up a Rug Doctor. Saturday was MY day to get the house, ok maybe just the living room, in ship shape for the holidays! Got back in time to get her to work and after ANOTHER run over to her work place to take her lunch that she forgot, Leon and I got down to business.

He helped me sort toys by scattering them all over the rooms so I could sort them easier. When he got down for a nap after lunch, is when I could work more earnestly. However quietly as my MIL had begun a nap on the couch behind me.

Short lived. I started with his multi bucket shelving unit that stores a bajillion little toys. I put all small balls in one, small "guys" in another, cars in a bigger one, dinosaurs in another. It was going smoothly until Leon came to the top of the stairs. He must have heard me and was mad that I was sorting toys without him.

After many false attempts at getting him to stay in bed, I gave up. Let him stay up! If he crashes, he crashes... My MIL was waiting on a ride and when she left, Leon and I started in on the living room carpet.

Having 4 dogs, 3+ kids, a husband, mother-in-law and myself around this house, our carpet takes a beating... and a dumping... and a spill. or three. I don't know what it was underneath the love seat on the floor, but I think one of the dogs had been sick and we just covered it with the couch... It very well could have been stew...

When did we last have stew?

No matter! I put Leon onto the job of pre-treating each big spot with some foam cleaner and a brush. He went to town! I did the vacuuming and steam cleaning. We put all the couches, coffee table and desk up on pieces of styrofoam while the carpet dried.

By the time we were done, the floor looked marvelous! But it was still wet and we wouldn't know for sure until it dried. I was disappointed in a couple spots but over all pleased. Do NOT take red soda into that room... Just a warning this time...

Leon and I made some supper and then took the cleaner back. He fell asleep on the way. So when we got to the store, I wasn't sure how I was going to manage him and the cleaner. But then a (I'm sure, well meaning) guy walked by and saw my dilemma. He offered to stay with Leon while he slept and I shopped, so I figured it out quickly...

Um... thanks but no. *wow - that was kind of creepy*

I put the cleaner in a shopping cart and carried the boy with his face curled up in my neck.

He woke up while we were inside. We went to pick up Meri from work, bringing her a little food too. I wanted to surprise Leon and not upset him if the place closed early that night, so after we waited for over 30 minutes for Meri to finally get done, we headed to the bowling alley and I sent Meri in. They were OPEN!!! and had a lane available!

Actually all the lanes but one were open, so we had our pick! The one with the gutter bumpers please! They work to my advantage...

This was Leon's first time bowling and he LOVED it. He loved the shoes! "These shoes are neat!" He loved messing with the balls! I was certain he'd get his fingers pinched, but he didn't.

Twice he thought he could just set the ball down and give it a good slap. The ball rolled about 4 feet down the lane and then back a little and then stopped... He eventually started getting the hang of it and would give it a firmer push down the lane.

But even then, it took five minutes for the ball to reach the pins.

What else is there to do than wait?

and wait...?

Meri's cell phone was out of charge so I took a few photos with mine. She later took a few with hers when it charged up a bit. But I don't have those.

I caught Leon waiting at the ball return like he was a champion bowler. So casual, so cool...