The Saga of the Missing Library Books

This last weekend was definitely interesting. It started with Rob leaving to go on his annual fun hike with his friends. (Before you take pity on me for staying home alone with the kids all weekend, don't. Rob gets his hike, I get writer's conferences and such.) He got up bright and early and left before six.

Then the weekend began. I got Beth to the bus! Whoo! Then Caleb to preschool. Then a book I wanted from the library had come in. I checked online to see if others were on their way and realize oh no! I had 10 overdue books. We went and turned everything in on Wednesday. So began my weekend of searching for the library books.

Well a quick surface search turned up three of the books, which I turned in. But I wasn't discouraged yet. The kids room had been bordering on being condemned for a few weeks, and last week it had escalated when Caleb got into the closet and started pulling out the extra toys. I was simply convinced that the books had to be in there. All of the books were comic books that Caleb gets to read on his own. (I had a memory of stacking them all together to take back to the library, but I wasn't positive that the library trip had actually happened.)

Before I tackled their room, I hit up the front room. I moved the couches, got the flashlight and peered behind shelves and just looked everywhere. No luck.

Then I went to their room. It's time to bring out the winter clothes, switch clothes around and finally I decided to get rid of all of the baby clothes and other clothes that the kids won't wear anymore. So I simply emptied the closet all of the way. That way we could be sure the books weren't in there.

Well that happened on Saturday. By the end of Saturday the room actually didn't look any better. Though all of the toys we own were in the middle of the floor. The closet was very clean and empty. And I had broken down a few times at the thought of giving away the baby clothes. But I remembered the fact that having a newborn is not appealing to me right now, or anytime in the near future. The clothes had to go.

When Rob called to tell me he was on his way home on Sunday, I warned him that the mess was worse than he could imagine. He laughed. but he didn't laugh when he got home. He was just very silent. Not mean--he knew not to make any comments.

Monday was spent looking at the mess, and rechecking everywhere for those library books. This was a constant worry for the entire weekend. Still no stuff, but I managed to go through most of the rest of the clothes.

Tuesday we had the kids each pick two toys (yes you heard right, just two) and then I packed everything else up and put it in the closet. There are about eight bins of toys in the closet ready for a yard sale! Whew! But I was extremely happy. No more crazy mess. The kids can earn more toys by keeping their room clean. (So far it isn't going to happen.) The toys aren't put up, but the room doesn't look as though it is going to be condemned either.

Wednesday I didn't get as much done. But I still looked for those blasted library books. I was absolutely convinced they weren't in the house, but I was nearly ready to attack the coat closet, which could end in a very ugly fight. Rob is very possessive of that closet. But I decided I couldn't until the laundry I had been ignoring in my quest for books was done. No one had anything to wear.

Thursday--I've got to sort the laundry, which is piled all over my floor along with the clothes I'm going to give away (which are in big black garbage bags) making it impossible to walk on the actual floor. But instead of focusing I'm worried about those stupid library books. Worry, worry, worry.

So I decide to take the boys to story time, and I also write down the names and call numbers for each of my missing six books. And I spend time at the library with Caleb finding tattoos and looking books up on the computer and Jacob sitting patiently next to me. I look through the shelves. And I find five of the six books. Sitting on the shelf. Sigh.

So I took them up, and they forgave my late fees. And I pay for the book which had gum on it when I turned it in. $13.00 for a book about being an astronaut. Gum is off limits at my house right now.

So I didn't post because of the library books, which are mostly accounted for. Just one left, but I kind of think it is at the library somewhere. I'll keep checking.

The kids are doing well. Beth is happy. Caleb is happy and Jacob has made a major breakthrough with speech and said the SSSS sound. It's not quite right, but he was doing hard 'K' sound for all s and z sounds. Yeah.

Have a happy week.