Bouncy Castle Indignities

Still no computer. What will I do with myself? Oh yeah, laundry, cooking, cleaning... Help me! If I didn't have a library card I'd probably go insane.

The van is showing the "low fuel" light now. I have been pretty frugal the last few weeks, which probably still isn't frugal enough. At least gas prices are coming down a little now. The kids keep pestering me to take them to IKEA, but it's so far away that I have put them off. We go grocery shopping, to the library, to the park, and if it's farther than that I tell them to put on their helmets, get on their bikes and have fun. I, for one, have changed my habits because of gas prices and rising food costs. You can tell that to the surveyors who ask you.

Last night was the culmination of all my smaller children's hopes and dreams. Imagine if you will: going to a big grassy field and playing on three huge inflatable toys as much as you want and as often as you want (no lines) without paying a cent. And dinner, too. It was our ward party last night. The adults ate pulled pork sandwiches and all kinds of potluck goodies and the kids failed to eat at all because they were playing on the inflatables the whole time. I'm sure we weren't the only family leaving for the night with kids complaining about hunger. "Why didn't you eat? There was loads of food?" And they all answered, "But I was having too much fun!"

I actually went on the obstacle course. I raced against Child Two, who is, in my defense, really sporty and energetic. I lost so miserably that it's hard to describe. She zipped under the obstacles, over the hills, up the wall and down the slide while I was still trying to negotiate the small round opening at the beginning of the course without losing all of my limited dignity. It took me two attempts to scale the climbing wall (there was a long pause between attempts as I contemplated the sorry state of my upper body strength), and after I flopped down the last slide, all I could do was lie in the grass and pant loudly and unattractively.

I didn't even look at the bouncy castle.

Husband, to make me feel better, reminded me that older, heavier adults really sink into those inflatables while those light little kids skim across the top. It was kind of him, but I did not see him floundering around like a moose who had, suddenly and inexplicably, sprouted three extra legs while trying to exit a pool of quick-sand. I think he even beat Child Two on the obstacle course. He had so much fun that a kid who was visiting and didn't know him said in disbelief, "You're the bishop?"

What, bishops can't enjoy a bouncy castle?

Anyway, we had a good time, and after I recovered from the obstacle course I had several dignified adult conversations with some ward members, which is what I'm hoping people will remember. Child Five lost his shoes and we have no idea how or where they went, but he was due for some new ones, which he got today. It all came out well in the end. I'm only a little sore.