For something like three seconds, it was the end of the world.
RIIINGG.
Caller ID: Fili.
Me: (Ohmygodpleasedon’tsayyoucan’tcome.) Hello?
Fili: Hi Heidi. I was better on Wednesday, but I’m sick again so I can’t come.
Me: Oh no, that’s too bad (for you AND for me)!
(Discussion about rescheduling.)
Me: Well, just get some rest and take care of yourself. I’ll see you Wednesday. (SHI-HIIIT!!! Ihave16peoplecomingtomyhousetomorrowandit’sdisgustingandtrashed. BAHHHHH!)
CLICK.
See, I spent last night getting the basement and upstairs put back together from Pseudo Move thinking that I’d be able to pick up the main floor while Fili worked her magic on the other two levels, and that I’d be able to get cookies decorated without any trouble.
Instead I went into denial mode and went to Whole Foods to pick up some Sesame Oil. I spent a lot more time there than I’d planned. It took a looong time, but I was able to get everything on my list and the fridge is loaded so we’ll actually be able to eat meals this week as opposed to scrounging more than one kind of cereal to get enough to make a full bowl. Obviously avoiding the true project at hand wasn’t completely in vain.
Fortunately, by the time we got home, Ang was on her way. She’d agreed to keep L occupied while E took her morning nap so I could get cookies iced and she was prepared to keep E busy while L napped (if they didn’t sleep at the same time) so I’d be able to finish icing cookies and get some of the other food made for Molly’s shower tomorrow.
Um, she totally got screwed.
E didn’t nap this morning and L didn’t nap this afternoon.
But among keeping the two of them busy and Olivia happy, she somehow managed to pick up every eyesore on the main floor AND clean up the kitchen.
This looks GOOD, my friends. You should have seen it before.
While cleaning the kitchen, she also made Food Network magic.
Can I tell you how awesome it is to use a measuring spoon, turn around to use it for something else, and find it CLEAN? I would actually cook rather than bake if someone would follow me around and clean up my messes every day.
She was here from 11 to 5.45 and she worked the whole time.
The scary thing? I still have to clean some more tomorrow!
I would have kept on it, but I had to stop and get ready for dinner and pictures with A’s fam. The kids were dressed by the time she left, but I wasn’t. Somehow I changed clothes, fixed the hair, slapped on some makeup, and we were on our way at 6.02.
And by on our way, I mean driving out of the driveway. It takes at least five minutes to get everyone strapped in and inevitably I have to come back in the house at least once for a forgotten item.
If you can’t see where this is going, just do the math. It took me no more than 12 minutes to dress, fix my hair, and put on makeup.
This is unheard of.
And we were still late, but only by five minutes.
Anyway, when we sat down to order around 7 - when L usually goes to bed if he hasn’t napped - and he was already shaking his head from side to side with his eyes rolled back in his head, I knew pictures were going to be a challenge.
But when L had a meltdown due to the automatic toilet flushing while he was still sitting on it, I knew that the chance of getting pictures went down right along with the unexpected burst of water that caused L to throw himself off of the toilet screaming that he did NOT want to poop on this particular potty, but wanted to GO. HOME. TO. POOP.
When I returned to our private dining room carrying both children, Gabe was throwing a fit about something and it was clear that pictures were a no-go.
That was FINE with me. I don’t think I could have calmed L down and E eventually fell asleep just like this - with her foot still in her hand.
I don’t think any of us have ever been this happy to see our own beds.
