Imperfect Timing.

The other day, my house was pretty much spotless.  It was great, and I relaxed on the sofa under 2 fans with the sweet satisfaction of knowing the kitchen was clean, the dishwasher was empty, floors were swept and vacuumed and the children were all getting along peacefully and were seated at the kitchen table coloring and creating for a couple of hours. A yummy scented candle burned on my countertop (thanks, Hayley!) and my home was cool, calm, and clean. This peaceful moment was set to the lovely soundtrack of my washing machine singing a chorus of productivity in the background.

How come THAT wasn't the day a friend decided to "drop by"? 

Today, my house is a wreck, laundry is everywhere, the kitchen is a mess, there are chips and cereal crumbs all over the floor, and everything reeks of the exploding diaper I just changed on my three year old--you know, the kind of diaper that is so potent, you are sure the stink has burned it's way into the walls and will stay there until you paint again?  The kind that you dry heave while changing? That kind of diaper.

Kids were sticky, unbathed, and still wearing yesterday's whatevers, rice crispies were in the process of cementing themselves to my kitchen table, and of course the tv was on, because after rushing through our morning routine (cereal, prayers, etc) before Aaron left for work, I had gone back to bed and stayed there until the diaper stink made it's way down the hall, beat down my bedroom door and pulled the pillow off of my head.

That was the moment someone stopped by.

Let this be a lesson to us all about appearance.

1) Next time you drop by a friends house and it is totally spotless, they already have dinner ready, homemade cookies are baking in the oven, and the place looks like Martha Stewart lives there, don't be too hard on yourself.  Just go ahead and assume that there is probably an unflushed poop in the toilet down the hall and at least one of the children most likely helped themselves to leftover candy and fruit snacks from a birthday party goodie bag for breakfast.

2) If you decide you stick your children in front of the tv and go back to bed for an hour, make sure you brush your teeth and put a bra on, first.