Dear Reed....

Today was a busy day.  I'd like to think that I got a lot accomplished.  I washed a lot of dishes by hand, because I didn't wash them yesterday, because the Home Teachers didn't end up coming over, so why bother, and it was Sunday, and by principle I don't work on the Sabbath.  Then I took the kids to Target to buy a birthday present for Kyle.  We bought a lot of laundry supplies as well, because I am determined to get that chocolate stain out of Taylor's shirt.  I mean who cares if I spent more money on pre-treater, and Oxy Clean, and dish soap than the shirt is worth.  It is the principle of the thing at this point.  We also had to buy Jake a water gun for the party.  It cost $5 and it is wicked cool.  Then we came home and I swept the floor.  Then we had lunch, except Taylor, who apparently is taking a break from lunches this summer.  Do you think it is because I only offer one choice?  I don't know either.  Then we took Jake to his party, and the girls to the craft store.  We did a cool craft together.  They are so dadgum bored they can hardly stand it, so I caved and we crafted.  Then I picked Jake up from the party and he promptly burst into tears because apparently the party was lame with a capital "L," which is saying a lot coming from a six year old.  Can you say Grumpy?  Then we folded no less than 300 loads of laundry, because as you know I took the week of our nation's birthday off.  Then I cleaned the bathrooms, all three of them.  I know, I'm just as surprised as you are!  I was interrupted by Torey right in the middle of cleaning the bathrooms because she had another earache.  So, I spent some time with the blue bulb syringe trying to determine the problem and then listening to her whimper because she wanted to go play.  So, apparently the earache wasn't that bad.  So then I finished the bathrooms.  Then I had a nice long chat with our other daughter about embracing change and learning to love softball.  Then I made dinner.  We had spaghetti.  It's all I cook anymore.  One day I think I will try something different.  Then I mowed the lawn.  Oh, and on the front I cross mowed.  I know gas is $4 a gallon but I mowed the wrong way to start with, and it was bugging me so I had to fix it.  I was thinking of doing an N.Y. like at Yankee Stadium or a star for July, but then I got sidetracked and started pruning the roses, and I didn't want to waste gas.  Then you called and we talked for a while.  Then I went out and finished the roses, and then cleaned the pond.  I even touched some moss.  It was really gross.  Then I came in and witnessed the kids with their faces smothered in a bowl of ice cream.  They looked kind of sheepish when I saw them licking the bowl.  I am so glad those talks we have had about table manners have stuck.  Then I started to eat a "Fat Boy" and read my blog, which means that I am going to have to sweep again tomorrow because the peanuts and the chocolate shell fell all over the floor.  Those things are not the easiest things to eat in the world.  That was my last one.  It's too much effort for an ice cream bar.  When you come home tomorrow the house won't look that clean because since I washed the dishes, more have been dirtied, and my hands can't take that kind of chapping.  And the laundry hasn't been put away yet, and the kids are bound to put on pajamas which means more laundry.  Oh, and the chairs are scattered all over because I was going to mop and didn't - yet, but now I have to sweep, again, so it doesn't matter anyway.  The bathrooms might not look clean because apparently sinks look better with toothpaste slopped all over them, and we have a little boy, so you know what that means for toilets.  Copper ripped apart a foam ball, so even though the lawn is mowed it still looks a little trashy and there are rose petals all over it.  But we are happy and waiting so patiently for your arrival home from work.  As a special gift to you I am going to wipe the detergent spills from off the washer because I know how much that means to you.  See you soon, I have to go lay down with a boy who has a hurting leg and all he did was jump on the tramp.

Love - Nat