Fold My Laundry Please

Today was a good day in the Davenport house.  This morning started out with a rousing game of "Train Ride".  The kids ran back and forth around the house, riding on an invisible train to such exotic locations as "California", "the United States", and "Mrs. Ippi".  Even breakfast went smoothly.  Everyone ate everything in front of them, cleared their places (without being asked), and went back to the train station to catch the 10 am train to "Huhwhynee".

I was even able to have an event-free shower, mostly because I popped Aurora into the tub with me.  Every once in a while, she wakes up with her hair full of sticky stuff.  I have no idea what it is or where it comes from.  Her pillow is always fine…so…huh.  *shrugs* 

After us ladies combed our hair and made ourselves beeeeaUtiful, I saw the pile of coupons from this summer’s reading program at the library.  When the kids had filled up their reading charts, they each got a coupon packet for a bunch of free stuff around town and a free book.  I flipped through the coupons and saw a fun filled day that wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg.  In fact, it might even be, dare I say it, FREE!

So off we went!  First we went through the drive-thru at McDonald’s for three free small fries.  Then we hit Wendy’s for three free Junior Frosty’s.  (I also bought some chicken nuggets and a soda to share for the kids and I, so I actually spent about $4.)  I drove us to the park where we found a bench in the shade and had a rather enjoyable lunch.  Once food was eaten, I let the kids go wild at the playground for about an hour while some creepy old hag adorable elderly woman kept asking me questions that started out innocent, but rapidly progressed to WAY TOO PERSONAL, LADY, SO BACK OFF!  "When are you due?  Is it a boy or a girl?  Are those three your children, too?  They sure are cute.  Where do you live?  What hospital will you be delivering at?  Who’s your OB?  Will you be taking your kids to the hospital with you when you have the baby or will you leave them at home with someone?  Do you normally deliver early or late?  Will you have someone at home to help you once the baby is born?"  Needless to say, I lied through my teeth after the third question.  With a smile on my face, even.

Once I was sufficiently cooked through from the heat and had tired of lying to old people, we piled back into the car and headed off to claim more free stuff.  We went to our local grocery store and presented our coupons for three free mini flashlights.  They even provided the batteries for them!  Next we went to Papa Murphy’s to claim our three free mini pizzas.  Then on to Jamba Juice to get my free smoothie (that one was mine and I refused to share it, because I can be selfish and petty as well as intelligent and pretty).  And finally, we went to a nearby donut shop for three free donuts.

After all that, we headed back home with our loot.  The kids ran around with their new flashlights, shining them into each other’s faces and shouting, "FREEZE, MISTER!"  When they weren’t locking themselves in the dark bathroom and doing light shows on the mirror, that is.  And I sat down and contemplated taking a little nap, but it didn’t happen.  Oh well, at least I have mini pizzas to cook up for dinner for the kids and donuts for their desert.  I’ll just pop a frozen pizza in the oven for us bigger folks and dinner is done!  So basically, breakfast was stress-free, my shower was event-free, lunch was nearly free, our afternoon was full of stuff that was free, and dinner was thought free!  I love free things!  And we didn’t even use up all of our coupons yet!