howtheduck is right to assume that we'll go to straight reprints in the next few weeks. This probably means that she'll tell us that Deanna moved to Burlington STREET on the other side of town so she can use her without having to explain too much.Perhaps later; right now, Elly has to pledge her allegiance to squandering her time on bitterness and martyrdom.
Panel 1: As Lawrence has fun chasing Mike with a Super-Soaker in the Pattermanse's back yard, we see Connie, Elly and Barnacle Lass's silhouettes sitting on the porch. Connie's silhouette says "In a few days our boys will be in school, Elly!" Elly, in a failed attempt to be dialect-neutral, says "Amazing, hum?"
Panel 2: As Lawrence and Mike have fun rough-housing, Connie and Elly remind us that their sons are looking forward to getting on the same bus as the other elementary school students.
Panel 3: As we see their fat asses rammed into their Mom jeans, Connie says that it's going to be strange having them gone all day. Elly knows this,,,,
Panel 4: but says she thinks they can manage. It should be noted that she's frowning in disgust because Mike and Lawrence are having fun making faces at Lizzie instead of doing what she's convinced little boys really love: staring blankly off into space as they sit very quietly until their asses go numb. It should also be noted that this is the first instance in which Connie laughed at whatever stupid thing Elly said.
Summary: Elly's reaction is based on the presumption that she could enjoy being a parent better if she weren't so busy and had help; it should be noted that she squanders the time she could have used to make pleasant memories feeling sorry for herself and doing useless things.
ETA: I just realized that yesterday, it was exactly one year since the curtain had fallen on most of the adult cast. Strange how we've forgotten that, isn't it?