When you spend so much time involved in a certain activity it tends to stay in your mind even when you are taking a break from it.
That’s why I’m sitting here posting pictures of laundry on my site today.
That’s not entirely the reason, though, it’s also because I had to call in the troops to help me overcome one particular mountain of it yesterday. And the troops descended upon the mountain and got it conquered in no time!
We had a folding party. (Caleb was the only one not folding because he was too busy throwing up in the other room to be of any use.)
Little Seth even “folded” his own pile….everyone helped the best they could, and that’s all I ask. I don’t care about wrinkles and stuff. Just fold everybody, fold!
We got to this point and then I sent the boys outside b/c they were so wild and crazy. They took their daggers and swords and did battle against skunkweed out in the woods.
It took me a long time to get these piles delivered to all the bedrooms. I don’t think nudists have to do so much laundry but we are not about to take up that practice.
We have only done 4 loads today.
I like using fabric softener and the way it makes my clothes smell so fresh and nice.
I have a front loading washer and have no complaints with it. It stopped working once last year but it ended up being a sock clogged inside. And a lego man.
I throw the family socks into one big basket now, and whoever wants socks has to paw through the basket to find a pair. This is the latest stage of my ongoing problem with matching socks for 9 people.
Seth likes to watch me fold clothes. He tells me who the items belong to. It’s cute.
I enjoy hanging clothes on the line but it’s been raining here for days so that’s not possible lately.
I prefer using Tide laundry detergent but will use anything that is on sale. I am currently using some from Target (the store brand) and it smells good…lavender, I think.
I have stuff to make my own detergent and will do that now that I’ve collected enough empty containers to put it in.
I took pictures of an adorable tree frog today.
Stay tuned.
PS, Doing laundry is important. This is part of our ministry to our families. It’s not a waste of time, it’s of great value. Mamas, please remember that God’s will is for us to nurture and care for our families, so do it with joy and purpose, even the laundry. And if your family forgot to say so today, let me say THANK YOU for all you do. You go, girl! You are one wonderful home-maker!
Good to be Home 
Oh do I hate laundry, but Oh does it feel so good when it’s all done!! ……Speaking of, I think I forgot a load in the dryer yesterday. Making your own detergent? That sounds interesting. Is there a major cost difference? I’m not sure I could part with a.l.l…..
I always enjoyed folding laundry but I only had three kiddos not seven.Hope Caleb is soon feeling better.
Laundry ..laundry..LAUNDRY …whew, I’m tired just saying it (Typing it) ! 😉
Laundry is my favorite chore. I think that I am in love with my clothesline–on sunny days, I look around to see if there is any wash that I can run so that I can spend some time outside hanging it to dry. Although I am also anti-sock matching. Now if I could only find some equivalent for cleaning the bathroom!
JuSt finishing up “Mt Washmore” from our camping trip. Laundry is probably my favorite chore. Scrubbing showers/tubs is probably my least. You are an awesome homemaker! Love ya, and mailed you a letter yesterday!
What a great idea to gather the troops for a folding party! Cute to see Sarah and Seth in there with everyone Hope little Caleb is feeling all better and the flu is over for the rest of you. I have always been thankful that dirty, smelly clothes come out all washed and smelling good. Folding isn’t a problem, but putting away sometimes is! David took on doing most of his laundry now, so I only have the household laundry, Bob and my own. Rainy, cold here too. I have been praying for all those affected by flooding.
The laundry never gets done around here. I am anal retentive though. I like to fold each load as it comes out of the dryer. I hate folding and it is worse when there is multiple loads dumped on the bed. Oh, and if there is an uneven amt. of sock…it drives me crazy. guess the jokes on me with 7 in our family, eh?
“I don’t think nudists have to do so much laundry but we are not about to take up that practice.” You’re hilarious!! I love this post, all those helping hands! And thanks for the sweet reminder that laundry is a holy act of service in the light of the gospel. You go girl! There’s just 2 of us and there’s always “missing” socks. I average 5 loads per week. I usually alternate b/w a store bought detergent for sensitive skin and soap nuts. Snuggles has always been my favorite! My dad even gave me a collection of snuggle bears. 🙂 It’s been a sun-shiney day … time spent in the garden and outside reading.
I actually enjoy the entire process – except carrying it all upstairs and putting it away. I like sorting (so does Abbey) and I love folding the warm clothes from the dryer (so does Nicholas). I’ve found that getting yummy smelling dish soap also helps the older two (Thomas and Anna) enjoy washing dishes. . well not enjoy. . . but not detest 😉 I love the reminder that what we (homemakers) do for a living is Gods will. I’m thankful everyday that I can stay home and take care of our family. Love the pictures (as always) and I’m sorry Caleb isn’t feeling well.
That’s a great laundry crew you’ve got there 🙂 I think I might adopt you sock basket technique… socks are a never ending battle at our house.Thanks for reminder and the atta’girl! All these small acts of service add up to something very important… being Momma.
i can’t imagine having to find the matching socks for 9 people. wow. so fun to have seth helping you and telling you whose clothes belong where…my dad needs that kind of help…though he only has to figure out my mom and my clothes ;)sounds like you had a full day.
I like doing laundry too. I enjoy hanging them out and having them smell like fresh air when they come in. I tend to match my socks as they get hung on the line. I fold them together before throwing them in the basket. A big safety pin works well to clip them together before washing.You would have to do it as you take them off to put in the dirty clothes hamper.
Laundry – my favorite job of all – and I’ve done LOTS of it over the years with a family! (I even like sorting socks!) But my little piles for one look pretty meager in comparison now!!!
I actually Love to do laundry! Have you tried Purex Crytsals? It’s a new fabric softener. I have never been a fan of fabric softener. I had coupons for a free bottle, so I decied to try it and I LOVE it! They make three types…I think the lavender is my favorite. Your laundry piles look just like my house. I have about 5 loads to put away and I keep looking at the baskets like they are going to walk themselves to the drawers…hahaha!Happy Wednesday to you. =)
Thanks, Shanda!! So are you! 🙂
Big PILES of laundry usually has a sermon calling me to listen to as I fold! I enjoy that time to listen!
what an encouraging person you are! laundry is not my favorite household chore, but i do find that if i keep after it, instead of letting it get out of hand (which is my tendency) it is much more do-able.hope everyone is soon back to good health in your house!!
@Elizabethmarie_1-i know! i LOVE that purex softener stuff! smells SOOO Good!
I’m not sure how I never found your blog before but I’m glad I’m here now! I’m Emily, a SAHM from Texas with three munchkins (3, 2, 10 months).Laundry is one of my least favorite chores, although I’ll do it over dishes anytime! Laundry seems to hate me though: first our washer and dryer didn’t work right and then I had to try new detergents because my husband and kids have sensitive skin but nothing seems to work as well as Tide. I boost my detergent with baking soda and vinegar but I still can’t get the clothes to come out bright. My new whites turn dingy after just one wash.
I used to wash my kids’ clothes separately so I didn’t have to think about which outfit belong to who lol. So nice that the kids all helped to fold!!
I LOVE laundry! It’s my favorite “chore” but my washing machine is having issues right now so we are piled high and I don’t get to do it
Wow! that’s a lot of laundry! I used to sew different colored thread dots in the toes of my boys socks so I could tell them apart. Maybe different colored permanent markers would work too! But then again, I guess the basket idea works as well! I love seeing your children all pitching in to help!
I’ve often said that laundry is my favorite household chore. Love the clean smelling and orderly stacks of folded clothes. I love how you have each of the children to help. Way to go!!!
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WOW! That is quite a mountain of laundry! With just the two of us, my laundry is very doable! I just hung a load on the drying rack. We have no dryer, so we have to wait for a day or two for things to get dry.
I wrote one time about laundry, which is one of the most mundane tasks for a mom but it is one of my favorite and best because I’m good at it. And I’ve also written about ironing, the part of laundry I don’t love. My daughters, on the other hand, do NOT like doing laundry….I failed to pass on my genetic predisposition for neat folding and stain removal. Living on a farm presents such laundry stain challenges and I love a good challenge! Being a mom of seven presents its own laundry challenge…VOLUME! Every child should learn do take care of his/her own clothes, and you are wise to start them young. And I like your sock basket idea…why make yourself crazy with trying to match up a million socks? Socks are NOT a matter of grave importance, are they? But how thankful I am that I don’t have to knit all the socks my family has worn…bundles of many pairs just alike are a GOOD thing.P.S. You have two WEIRD comments there. 🙂
Laundry doesn’t really bother me, which is a good thing considering. Then again, I don’t fold any of the kids stuff. I sort it all out and make them put their own stuff away. I got small baskets that fit in the drawers for their socks and underwear. Those don’t get matched up either. We just hit our first real sock dilemma in that my new socks and my oldest daughter’s new socks look the same. I will let her start sewing now by having her sew a few stitches in each of her sock toes, one color. Then I’ll know they’re hers.But I think laundry is on hold this morning. We’re going outside to watch the paving trucks as our road is being repaved.
I never consider the impact of having to do laundry for nine people! I only do three loads a week..now I’m think how often you have to do dishes too. Lord bless Shanda with you abundant, joy-filled strength!
Shanda i just loved seeing all your children hard at work and your piles and piles of laundry on the couches….makes me feel so….NORMAL!! Have a lovely day!
I saw this quote once, and it changed my view of laundry completely: “I am thankful for piles of laundry… they remind me that my loved ones are nearby.”I love that. When I lived at home, there were 7 of us (which is still far less than laundry for 9!!), so there were always piles… but I guess that is always better than the pain of not having any laundry at all to do.THANK YOU for this post. It was very encouraging and uplifting 🙂
LoL. Your kids look like they are not enjoying themselves. But you seem to enjoy watching them suffer. Tsk tsk, so much for laundry ettiquette. I have bump into hispanic strangers at a public laundry. Some people think they have the right to stare at me. I suck it all up, and remind myself laundry is every three weeks.
OH man. I don’t envy you of your laundry pile. Mine is about half that size….but it still feels like a mountain. 🙂 I put all my kids at the kitchen table- we turn over the laundry basket and we all fold, fold and fold some more. I don’t mind folding…but I really hate putting it away.
Ugh, I dislike doing laundry! And we have so-o-o much of it with a Restaurant and Dairy farm… so this encouragement came at just the right time , because I have a lot of it to do tomorrow! Cute picture of the children helping! Mine help also… I usually fold and they put it away. Please let us know how your homemade laundry detergent works. I tried that for awhile and it just did not get my clothes clean enough, so I went back to tide. I watch until it goes on sale and use coupons on top of the sale. So that helps! But your recipe may be better… am curious to hear about it! Have a good weekend!
I fold some of my clothing and give my husband his own clothes to fold. We make quite a team.. But, 7 kids..that would help get the folding done even more quickly. I do three loads per week ..and that is it.
I love the way you documented laundry day and wish I would have done that when my children were small!! Aren’t we glad that we each have our own favorite chore and also ones we dislike? Laundry happens to be my favorite. I remember one lady saying that when she folds and puts away the wash, she prays for the person to whose laundry she is folding. It’s a great idea – if I can remember to do it!!