It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Today marks another occasion where I shouldn't have to do anything except enjoy myself and leave the work to others. In the past, it has also been the middle of winter...

oh wait a sec, it IS the middle of winter, though to look outside you'd never know it.


Rascal is too young to understand that mama deserves a break today, so in typical fashion he started the day by dumping chocolate pudding on the table, floor, chair, a few of his Hot Wheels, and a plastic bag for good measure. Then he smeared the whole thing around with his hands and then on himself. This picture was taken after I had already cleaned up about half of the mess.


Now that he was clean, he trotted off to the living room and somehow - I'm still shaking my head - managed to spill Danimals drinkable yogurt down his back...

As I sat down to write this post, he was watching the movie Cars. He munched on some Princess cereal and at some point realized I wasn't paying attention to his antics.

So he dumped his bowl on the floor again, but at least it was only dry cereal. I scolded him and sent him over to clean up his mess. As long as I was watching, he dutifully picked up piece by piece. The moment I turned my back to continue this post I heard the crunchcrunch-crunching of naughty little feet.

I'd take another picture, but frankly I've already done more work than I was planning to on this day...

A place for everything and everything in its place

Is it horrifying or hilarious? Medical emergency or laughter as the best medicine?

Rascal is up to old tricks again.

He hasn't done this in a while, and so I didn't even worry about leaving certain items lying around the house.

A little background information while I allow the suspense to build to epic proportions! I am not the neatest housekeeper. Husband and I believe in the 20/80 rule (that we invented), which basically states that 20% effort will make things look 80% better. We also believe in the law of diminishing returns, which states that you can strive for perfection, but as you approach infinity you can never attain it.

Sooooo, I make my children pick up their junk, but am satisfied enough if they use a bin or box that we have in the living room for such occasions instead of carrying it up to the playroom and put it away properly. That happens once a week or so, otherwise it would be hours and hours a day of trudging up the stairs.

Back to Rascal. He has a sense of order that will not tolerate deviation. He lines up his cars in roads on the coffee table and stacks his movies one on top of the other.

He also shoves sunflower seeds up his nose and pencils in his ears.

Didn't see that one coming.