Complaining, complaining, complaining!

My aunt, uncle, and 3 cousins came over to visit today. The two youngest are about 2 1/2, so just a little older than Marshy-marsh. My other cousin is my age, and has recently returned from a mission and is moving back here to go to school. They came over just after 6 PM tonight. Marshy had just woken up from his nap, and we were picking up the living room. They only stayed for about half an hour, but it was really fun to see them.

Shortly after they left, like within minutes, there was a knock at our door. I opened it and there stood a woman. I knew immediately she lived downstairs. UGH! Not again!!

ME: hi
HER: hi, umm I'm your downstairs neighbor, and when your child runs it is really loud for us.
ME: well we've actually just had company over.
HER: oh. well it's just that it's like 24/7
MIKE (who was sitting on the couch doing some work): what do you mean 24/7?
ME: yeah, we've been gone all week except at night, so I don't know what you're hearing, but it hasn't been us.
HER: well it's just that it is all the time, and it's really loud and when you do your laundry late at night it really is loud for us too so if you could keep it down. I mean, I don't want to be a bother, but it is really loud.

We closed the door after a few more exchanges. I turned to Mike and asked "When are we supposed to do laundry if we aren't home during the day?" Mike was fuming. Not just because they come up and knock on our door, but because for the last few days they have been pounding on their ceiling at us. At like 11 AM or 2 PM or weird times like that. It's not like we are staying up late stomping around, or even stomping around on purpose. We have a 1 year old who likes to "dance" which involves jumping up and down erratically (but we don't let him do it after 9 PM. We are considerate). We also just go about our daily activities and they start pounding. The pounding isn't like with a broom either. They actually go to the trouble of getting on a chair and pounding with their fists. We know this because the pounding is really close together, consistent with rapid arm movement. DUMB!

We have decided that next time they come up we're going to be not as nice as we have been the last few times. For her to say that we are noisy 24/7 is ridiculous because we really aren't home all that much, especially this last week. We've been chilling at Grandma and Grandpa's! The other stupid thing is for them to say today that we were extra loud, when really we had all been napping until around 6 and they came up at like 6:45.

Now I want to have a big giant family party at my house with all of Lola's kids and everyone else! Wouldn't that be great and teach them to not complain?! HAHAHAHA You think I'm joking, but I am totally serious.

On a happier note, Mike's parents reported on their mission today. It was a really great meeting. All of the kids wore their cool new African clothes that they got. The men either wore their shirts or their ties, and most of us women wore our dresses. Everyone looked so dang cute! One of these days we'll have to get everyone together in our African garb and take a family picture. I might even have to take Marshy-marsh back to the Penney's studio from he....ck to get his picture taken in it. He looked so cute! I wish I had taken pictures. But maybe I can get him to wear it again tomorrow for a few minutes so I can take one.