A Typical Day's To-Do List

On my death bed, I will not remember or care that today I failed to:

• vacuum the smashed bits of saltine crackers on the family room rug
• wash Katie's peed on undies
• dead-head the blooms on the lavender bushes while my kids frolicked in the yard  

Today there was no vacuuming or washing.  There was no dead-heading.

There was no frolicking, because the water in the splash pool was too cold.  Katie didn't like the feel of grass under her bare feet.  "Up! Up!" (Hold me, mommy).  Andy spotted a yellow jacket and dashed inside.

Do you want to know the secret to being a happy stay-at-home mom?  The secret is not to stay at home!  Most days we don't.

Do you want to know the secret to having happy kids?  The secret is to say yes as often as possible.

Today Andy wanted to stay home, and I said "yes".

This was very hard for me.

On my death bed, I hope I will remember that I crossed some items off my kids' wish-list today:

• Walked with Katie to the horse ranch across the street, made horse-blowing noises.
• Watched as she poured water back and forth between two glasses.  Cleaned up the mess.
• Put a diaper on and off Elmo.  Put Elmo on and in the potty.
• Read and sing the picture book It's a Wonderful World.  Read and sing it again.  And again.  Point to the horse.  Point to the sheep.  Point to the monkeys "Eee, eeee, eee"!  Console: "Yes, I see that the baby has a lolli-pop, and yes, you want a lolli-pop. I'm sorry, we don't have any."  Turn the page quickly!
• Pick up, hold, kiss, snuggle.  Repeat.
• Learn the difference is relative size and geologic time period between the Allosaurus and the Giganotosaurus.  Compare models in a sandbox.
• Learn techniques for defeating a polly-graph, and watch as the Mythbusters team fail the test.
• Listen to ideas for future Myth-busters, such as "On a really cold day, is it possible to grow an icicle from your nose?"
• Read Mystery History of a Medieval Castle.  Learn about medieval table manners. Play the assassin board game inside the book.
• Read and learn about the disgusting 36 foot oarfish that lives in the deep and is rarely seen alive.
• Make plans for a Pokemon tournament and a Magic the Gathering game day.  
• Google funny cat videos on youtube.  Laugh together.