Our washing machine is on it's last leg, and the dryer has stopped working.  This set we have we got used.  The last time we bought a brand new set was almost 20 years ago.  Those died after about 10 years.  I just don't know how we are going to come up with money to get another set.  We don't just do laundry for 5 but we have had to do my mom's laundry for a number of years now.  So somehow Jehovah has to find us a set or find us money.  It isn't like it is a hard task for him by any means.  It is just stressing EO out.  I have just left it up to EO and Jehovah to deal with.

Yesterday, I put in 2 hours in service.  Yet it took me 4 hours to do.  Colton was pretty chatty yesterday and then Steph came home while she was on break, so we were all gabbing.  We think we want to have another flash light tag party next month.  Either that or a scavenger hunt.  We could maybe do both, the hunt earlier in the day then have the flash light tag game.  I wish there was a way to put it to a vote if we should do one game or both.  The only thing with the hunt... well the fl tag... there were some major cheating going on!!!  We didn't find out until later.  But I had no idea how much people were enjoying it.... and enjoying cheating.... bunch of cheaters lol.  Anyone who is reading this, feel free to comment. if you would be interested in playing either or both games.  

I think we would do this mid to late September.  We did have some younger ones playing flashlight tag too, they stayed with a parent and both the kids and the parents had a blast.  So we would do the same.  We just wouldn't want anyone too little to get lost or scared, but if they are with a parent or sibling, it still worked well.

It turns out, for those who didn't come last time, once the word got out, they asked if we could do another one so they could come.  Boy, it really was fun.  The hunt,... when we said "GO"... my mouth dropped when everyone took off running.  I just didn't expect that enthusiasm.  But the funniest part, at one point they were told to track Lauren down to get the next clue, and she too was playing the game, and they had to scramble to find her.  Lauren said that part was super funny!  

I know our family really loves having a yearly event.  They really look forward to it.  the FL tag was CRAZY!  One person was a rock climber so he was up in the trees.  Another was an avid hunter and he would lay on the ground and cover himself in leaves and branches... they were freaking people out!  Mostly I just sat outside and listened to all the hoots and howling, but a couple times I walked a bit just to make sure people were safe.  One brother from up north who came, had tagged me, but I totally cheated and said... "if you can't remember my name, you can't tag me".  He bought it.  LOL yeah, I totally cheated... but actually, right after that, everyone did that, which was totally funny.  

I have such a headache today, but recalling these parties really have kept my mind off of it.. sort of.    We had a number of people thank us for those parties... well everyone who attended.  but what stuck with me, was there were a few people who said, so many times, the same few people get together and their kids feel left out.  "Clicks" are just so dangerous.  Yet, there are so many in every cong. 

Each time we have a party, I think it will be our last one.  Every year, I do less and less for the parties.  Pretty much all I do now is help organize.  All the physical part of it, cooking, cleaning, setting up... is all done by the family.  They really have gotten good at it.  I've been teaching the kids how to organize a party, and I think they all do pretty well.  They will ask me questions about it or ask me to do part of it, but I tell them what they need to do, and that I know they can handle it, and they do.  So as long as the family wants to keep doing them, I'm fine with that.  

UPDATE:

We talked it over and we figured out what we are going to do.  I recently was watching a reality show call "The Great Escape".  Where they had 3 teams of two brought aboard an air craft carrier, or one week they were in Alcatraz.  They were locked in a cell, and had to find a key to unlock their cell.  When they got out they had a task they had to do.  They had to complete a series of tasks to get to the end and escape.  The thing was, there were guards all over the place, and if they were caught, they were brought back to the cell and had to start again.  Although the various tasks they accomplished before they didn't have to redo, just the task of finding another key to get out of their cell, then they had to make it back to where ever the next task was for them, without getting caught.  So we are going to do a form of that, cause clearly we don't have an air craft carrier handy.  We are working out the details and the tasks and MAN OH MAN are we having fun coming up with all kinds of fun and cool things to do.

Afterwards those who want to can still play flashlight tag.  Oh, I didn't mention this game will be after dark.  We plan to have some cool glow in the dark items that we are using.  It is going to be so much fun!  Plus kids can play... well not little little kids like Ivy's age, but because it is in teams, parents permitting, anyone can play.