Where the Wild Things Are

This took 2 minutes. I sent the kids to take showers and get in pajamas, while I finished preparing dinner. (chicken piccata. Yum. Recipe here.)

What you can't see in the shot are the dirty contents of the white basket, dragged to every room of the house, blood and bandaids in the kitchen, or the happily satisfied faces on my very naughty little heathens streaking behind me.

Yep. Streaking.

Somewhere between getting undressed and actually getting into the tub, a roll of wrapping paper was pulled down the hall and my (easily distracted) children realized they could "ice skate" on it in their slippery socks.
Socks were all they were wearing at this point. Classy.

All while I naievely oohed and ahhed over my stove top masterpiece in the kitchen, and even made a lovely facebook post about the lovely day and my lovely kids and the lovely giggles I could hear coming from them in the hall (red flag, meg! red flag!) and how lovely they are at Christmastime.

"Lovely ice skating" was actually naked "ice skating" and it quickly became naked "slip n slide", and naked "slip n slide" turned the fate of all activities that involve my son:

Wrestlemania and someone crying. Or as we call it: Kung Fu Corbin.

A wrapping paper tube fight broke out in the bedroom.
Reese appeared in the kitchen with a giant paper cut on her stomach.
Wrapping Paper Slip n Slide was banned in the Willy House.
Q screamed a lot.
Corbin "Hoooooooooy-YA! Hoy-YA!"d until the cardboard tube battle ended.

The children were fed dinosaur chicken nuggets, and went to bed without showering.
Aaron and I devoured the chicken piccata in silence, took this picture, and cleaned up a 2-dozen-paper-snowflake-mess inthe kitchen,
Then we wrapped a few presents with pieces of the "slip n slide".

Today.

The windows are open and a fresh breeze is blowing fiercely through the house.

The kids are caked in mud, leaves, lunch, and grossness.

There are cookies (yeah, the break and bake kind. we're fancy.) on the counter.

I had lunch with a friend while our children ran wild.
We just sat at the table, stuffed ourselves with chips and hummus, and narrated what we saw the children doing through the window.
We are quite funny, and our kids are awesome.
Then, we went outside and played some more until it started raining.

I talked to my Mom, today.

I scored some books at the Borders liquidation sale.

I babysat sweet little Claire, this morning. She makes me so happy.

I drove Reese to school an hour late.

Another friend called about an hour ago and we had some good laughs about ordinary things.

I got a pedicure a week ago and my toes still look fab.

Aaron and I have a date tonight.

It's 4:30 and the kids are dressed and ready for bed.

Aaron dropped in for lunch.

I read for awhile and did some laundry.

I made running plans for tomorrow. At least 7 of us are meeting for a training run on the course for the Bentonville Half. Go runner girls of Bella Vista! We really need a name for ourselves.
I heart that my "short" run is 13 miles. But I'm also feeling the toll of the longer runs and I've already burned through the running shoes I bought in September.

Corbin didn't take a nap, is cutting teeth, and has a wicked diaper rash, but is still the happiest baby guy ever. And the cutest ever. Especially right now, with dried mud on his nose, sunkissed cheeks, sweaty hairline and sticky everything.

I showered, but put on the same outfit I wore last night. (it was cute, alright? Don't act like you never do that. Plus, I rock at being gross, remember?)

One of my potted plants from last year had tulip bulbs in it that never sprouted, but i discovered 4 little 1 inch sprouts today.

It smells really good outside. Like rain and fabric softener.



Today was a perfect mix of events that were totally ordinary and not so ordinary at all.

I love a day when I can just hang around and enjoy sweet kids and good company. Nothing spectacular or miraculous needs to happen.

My life is a miracle that I choose to see.

Don't tell me I look tired. Just say, "You look like crap today." Cuz it's the same thing, but at least I won't feel the need to respond politely.

I just remembered a promise I made with my kid today. Now I am up at 1:30 am baking blueberry muffins. Good thing I love her so much.