Kids

This morning Erika was very helpful getting the house ready to turn over to the decorators; dusting, cleaning her room to a spectacular un-Erika like state, cleaning the mudroom, taking out garbage and cleaning the upstairs bathroom. She also got all of her stuff packed for girlscamp and was cheerful doing all of it. So when she asked if she could go to Ali's to paint the ceiling I willingly said yes (though keeping her busy would have been even more helpful but I didn't want to push my luck.)

At Ali's house they are painting part of the basement that was unfinished. When they showed up at our house a couple of hours later this is what walked through the door. Seriously girls, did you get any on the ceiling??

The boys (Derek and Justin) have been a completely different story. By 3:00 I was ready to blow my top after spending the day doing stupid jobs that I normally ignore but that have to be done before the homeshow. All they had accomplished was cleaning their bedroom and they proudly came upstairs gloating that it was done . . . 5 hours after they started!!!! I had assumed (yes, we see what that made me) that they were doing all that was on the list; the bathroom, family room downstairs and dusted. When I went to check it I nearly bit a hole in my tongue not yelling out "my #$%^&# boys, what in the #$%^& have you been doing!!". Instead I reminded them of the job list, walked upstairs to the medicine cabinet and took pills. Herbs actually, but whatever, I should have taken them this morning!

I think the boys could tell that I was holding my breath and pretty much doing all I could not to yell so they managed to get the rest of the jobs done in 1/2 hour. Was that really so hard?!!!?!?!? Why can't the job be done without mom turning into a volcano on the verge of erupting before they do what they are asked??

Now I am finished cleaning my house. If the decorators see something that needs to be done (like mopping the kitchen floor) they can do it themselves. I'm so tired of caring about this homeshow and just want to live in our house without the worry of impressing every Tom, Dick and Harry (or Sally, Judy, Betty) that comes to the door. My latest quote that I love and really do want to live by is from "Yours, Mine and Ours":

"a home should be for free expression, not for public impression."

On another note: My Arms Are Still Burning!