And the beat goes on...

• The Pugs are chasing one another around the room with a busted up Cool-Whip container. They're happy, and fortunately it doesn't take much. Give them a piece of old Tupperware or a knotted sock and they have a big old time. Don't have to buy toys, but give them cast-offs. Easy.
• Another child is down with the stomach virus, and I'm wondering if the two kids who had achy stomachs (without the throwing up) last week had this sickness or were just play-acting. Kidding. Three have had the heaves for sure, 2 just stomach twinges, so we have 3 to go. Not that I'm expecting everyone to get sick, but it pays to plan. Oldest daughter says that everyone should go to bed with a plastic gallon ice cream bucket, so as to be prepared. She was halfway serious. Not that I have that many buckets to hand around. Must eat more ice cream.
  
• Desirous to get out the house and play a bit. Husband handed me off some cash last night, and I jokingly asked if I could buy clothes with it. He gave me a look. Anyone who really knows me, knows that shopping for clothes is totally abhorrent to me. Truly, any money that comes into this house, with few exceptions, goes to the necessities. I was trying to be funny, but it fell on deaf ears. Guess I should try harder. The thing about him is that he doesn't give a rip what I do with the money. He knows I'm overly responsible with money, to the worshipful attitude about it (a bad habit I'm trying to mend), so he knows I'll buy necessities. But to come home with something frivolous sure sounds appealing, you know?
• Glad I have dinner stuff in the house, though. Barley soup. Major yum. My new meal and one I enjoy making and everyone seems to like eating. Get you a packet of that Barzi Gourmet Pearl Barley Soup mix (the one with the seasoning), and after it's been washed and drained and cooked according to the package directions---add a large can of diced tomatoes, two bags of frozen Mexican/Southwest style veggies, two Knorr beef bouillon cubes and water to fill the pot a bit. Dishy. You can brown some chopped onion and garlic to add, if you like. Warning though....this Barzi soup packet is expensive, in the four dollar/something cents range, but altogether with these ingredients, you're spending about ten or twelve bucks, depending on sales. To feed ten people, I consider it a deal.
• Must go rustle up kids, to see who's get-up-able and who's not. We're running behind schedule, but that's not an issue. We have all day. And with me only getting 5 hours sleep last night (can you tell I'm a bit ditsy?), I'm in no hurry at all.