October 6, 2010 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm

I was going to do “a day in the life” post, but realized it would be much too long, so I opted for an hour instead. And here it is, a typical hour of my life:

Help Taylor type his newspaper article.
Judge horse races between cowgirl Jesi and cowboy Xander.
Give Jesi my condolences after she announces that her horse died. (This would be her stick horse.)
Try not to smile as she pretends to cry dramatically.
Help Graci with math problem.
Help Xander spell “sorry your horse died” on a picture he drew for Jessica.
Watch Jesi hug Xander tightly after she opens his note.
Think how glad I am that our kids usually get along like this.
Fold half of a huge load of laundry while quizzing Graci on spelling words.
Tell Jesi that, no, she can’t set up a lemonade stand because among other things, it’s raining outside.
Get Elli off the bus.
Remind kids to finish chores.
Cuddle Elli.
Give in to Elli’s pleas for candy corn.
Give in to Taylor’s plea to have a friend over.
Fold the other half of laundry.
Listen to Xander explain to me that Jesi is selling juice outside.
Tell Xander to fetch Jesi.
Listen to Jesi explain that she was obeying me, because she didn’t sell lemonade, she sold juice!
Put clean clothes away with Xander’s help.
Listen to the fun sounds of my boys playing with friends.
Listen to them groan as they come upstairs and ask what stinks.
Realize that Elli is VERY messy.
Change a diaper.
Shut my bedroom door so friends won’t see the mess that is my bedroom.
Listen to Elli’s screams.
Listen to Elli’s giggles.
Listen to Elli’s screams.
Get a hug from Parker.
Eat a granola bar.
Praise Graci for getting her chores done.
Walk in the kitchen to find an absolute MESS.
See that Jesi has dirtied eight cups and used up a full jug of apple juice.
Assess the mess on the counter and try to figure out how many kids made their own after-school snacks and whether or not I should embarrass them in front of their friends by asking them to come and clean it up.
Decide to let it go.
Eat another granola bar.
Try not to look aggravated as I see Jesi smile sweetly at me from the table, with cinnamon toast she has made for herself.
Kiss Jeremy as he walks in.
Explain to Jeremy that the kitchen had been clean before the kids came home.
Grimace as I realize I'm walking barefoot on a floor covered with sugar.
Yearn for the 5,000th time for a bigger kitchen.
Try to talk myself into feeling blessed with the one I have.
Smile as I see Jer take pictures of Jesi and her toast with his cell phone.

Giggle as I realize that’s the outfit she was “selling juice” in.
Ask Jer to take pics of the kitchen while he's at it.

Give in to Elli’s screams and pick her up and sing to her.
Look in the fridge and try to figure out what I can throw together for dinner.
Give up on the fridge and turn to the freezer.
Find some honey-glazed chicken I had bought on sale and some fruit to make smoothies.
Congratulate myself that it will be an easy dinner night.

And that about does it. Do you want to hear 5:00-6:00?

Just kidding. (:

--Christianne