This past Friday night we were at Walmart (why? BECAUSE WE WERE BREATHING, THAT’S WHY), and Alex asked if he could have a little puzzle book of mazes. The child loves a good maze – always has – so I threw it in the cart and bought it, and he spent the entire ride home trying to catch little rays of traffic lights and street lights so that he could look at all the pages.
Once we got home he sat down at the kitchen table and made his way through every single maze – about 40 of them – and then he told me that as much as he loved the maze book, he was a little sad that he’d worked them all because it made him feel like he’d wasted them.
Oh, bless him.
Anyway, later that night I was relaying the whole maze adventure to Melanie on the phone, and she mentioned that she’d found a bunch of free connect-the-dots printables for Caroline on the internet, so maybe I could check the Google and see if there were some free maze printables as well.
And I was all, “FREE STUFF? ON THE INTERNET? WELL, I’VE NEVER!”
So the next morning I did a quick Google search, and sure enough: FREE MAZES GALORE. I downloaded and printed about 60, I think, and do you know that Saturday afternoon A and our neighbor B sat (relatively) still for over an hour while they plowed their way through one maze after another after another?
THEY DID.
And in the midst of all the maze-ing, I cleaned out my laundry room – which was a hot spot all its own – and even organized my storage shelves. It looks so much better now that I find myself walking in there just to look around and admire my neatly displayed paper products (the surplus is thanks to D’s last trip to Costco) and Pellegrino bottles and smile.
And yes, that last sentence is absolutely the lamest thing I’ve ever written.
MIDDLE AGE IS AWESOME.
All I can say is T.P. much?? Wow!
Oh, and since I’m #1 and #2 (sorry!) I also have to add that I love your title–tee hee! :)
Shelly,
This is what happens when I send my husband to Costco. It’s a sickness.
:-)
It’s SAM’S club for us. HH is not allowed to go alone. Honestly I get overkill if he goes to the grocery store alone.
Oh man, I know what you mean! I spent almost a week cleaning out the attic and I can’t resist sneaking up there to admire the orderliness…not only that, I force my children, husband and even friends to admire it. Sheesh…
That closet is a thing of beauty. :) I have to ask, what do you do with the pellegrino? I’m trying to cut back on my diet coke (sob/sniff) and have heard that sparkling water is a good substitute. Do you drink it straight or mix it up with something else? Carbonated water tips would be most appreciated. :)
I’ve never tasted Pellegrino. Please enlighten to me as why I’m missing out by not having 22 bottles of it in my cupboard.
Still. Choking. That. You. Called. Us…
MIDDLE AGED!!!
And do you like LaCroix, too?
I heart Pellegrino too.
Oh and your son’s happy face…too adorable. I spent my Saturday cleaning out my pantry (sorry no pictures), my spice cabinet and my frig and freezer. It was that kind of weekend I guess.
Wow! You are stocked up!
I admit it.. I’ve been lurking… but now I’ve decided to come out of hiding for once and for all. The world will never be the same..
.. or it could never notice the difference. :/
But we have the same ice cream maker! How often did you get to use it? We got it last summer and used it a grand total of two times.. of course, in our difference, we moved over the summer and were broke, so homemade ice cream was a luxury in time, money, and energy..
but I have hope for this summer!
I do the same thing after I clean something like that. A girl has to admire her own work!
love love love it!! the neatness, the availablity and even the colors!!
middle aged? I thought we were acting our shoe sizes!!! ;-)
Dang girl…Robyn and I (she was in town for my bday surprise) had to make a trip to the Walgreens for some TP. WE HAD NONE. I’m ashamed of my lack of TP.
We have been out of printer ink for some time now because of all the mazes.
And I’ve been to Walmart numerous times and haven’t bought the cartridge for the printer. Kind of like Big Mama and her deodorant. :)
I think you have enough tp in the event that James Spann is correct and we get snow on Friday! Now what about bread, milk and cream cheese…..
Being totally middle ages myself:)…I was wondering if you could send me the color (name) of your kitchen blue…I just love it:)!
If you get a chance:)…thanks
No, what’s sad is that I’m JEALOUS of your freshly organized surplus paper products!
I think P and D would get along fabulously. What with them being all about the essentials and everything! :)
Of course you were at WalMarts on Friday night. Anyone who is from Mississippi can understand why you would be at the WalMarts on a Friday. When I am home in Mississippi, we go to the WalMarts at least once a day if not twice! And I am coveting my neighbors toilet paper. That is some serious stockpile!
We purchase our paper products at Costco also! In a family of six it lasts a while. I cannot imagine how long all that tp lasts in a house with only one girl!
Oh I feel you. I cleaned out my pantry last weekend and took two dozen pictures of it; and every morning I just open up the doors and look in and get a big old goofy grin on my face- and honestly- the high lasts almost until lunch- what drug can do that? Yes- middle age does rock!
um…that’s a lotta terlet tisha! You’ll be all set next time you have a bridal shower or need a mummy costume.
You crack me up–middle age is something, huh?
Oh, and Boo, tell me if the Pellegrino is helpful in cutting down on the diet coke over ice. I find it hard to find a substitute…
Oh my, yes. Middle age IS awesome.
My oldest daughter loves connect the dots and I have NEVER thought of printing them out from the internet. Brilliance. Thank you.
Boo Mama…after that episode, we NEED a Bachelor review by you.
My first grade class and I LOVE this website for making our own puzzles:
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
(We make our own word searches using our spelling words, our classmates’ names etc.)
Your boy has a long attention span! Sure sign of good things ahead.
(Love your closet.)
I go back and look at my handiwork after I straighten stuff too. Glad to know I’m not alone. =)
is it tmi and creepy at all that i feel a tad closer to you now that i know our families use the same toilet paper and paper towels?
it is?
ok, well never mind, then. :0)
Oh, YOU are awesome! That’s what! :)
Free stuff? I HAD NO IDEARS.
Oh, and when my boys started getting into mazes, it was like jackpot for me. We tuck those little books everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Which explains why my house is a cluttery mess.
Moving on. If you ever want to make your own puzzles, check out: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ I mean, it’s a little bit of work (not something I do very often) but for a party or something you might want to make a word search or simple crossword with your own words. It’s pretty slick. And on the internetz! For freez!
I’m just barely entering the “middle age” phase of my life, but I ABSOLUTELY love when I re-organize a room. I’ll walk in there 20 times a day to admire my work. Yes, we’re dorks and proud of it!!! :)
Is that a generic version of Scott tissue???? For a couple of years I have wanted to do a whole post on the cost of toilet paper and how I think that Scott tissue is the way to go for saving money, but I have had many people tell me that they are “Ultra Charmin Super Fluffy Quilted whatevers” and they just don’t DO cheap toilet paper. I’ve never been one to care about toilet paper that much.
Okay, time for my second cup because I’m not making sense. Your laundry room looks great!
Good for you, working on those hot spots! We’re having a snow day today, so I plan on hitting some hot spots of my own! Blessings to you…
whyyyyyyyyyyy didnt you talk about the office yet???
I love all your San Pel bottles! My husband and I are pretty obsessed buying it in bulk from Costco (another obsession)…it’s even become our road trip drink of choice. I know, pretty lame, but equally fabulous at the same time!
I love how there are stacks of toilet paper and then six rolls up front with the outer covering all the way off of them. Because you never know when you will have a t.p. emergency and won’t have time to remove the wrapper. You are well prepared! ;>)
If a well stocked, well organized pantry is a thing of beauty. That is the Miss America of pantrys.
I know you saw that Bachelor episode, in which the most dramatic, interpretive dance, EVER, was performed. I sure like Tensley, but man alive that was uncomfortable.
Oh my, he is cute. And the Pelligrino looks so pretty!
Funny the things that THRILL us as um… 30 something yr olds opposed to the thrills as 20 something yr olds. Ah life changes…definitely for the better.