Jessie got home in one piece, Ella had her pictures taken, and all our lives are slowly heading back towards "normal". I don't care who the company is, kids are so excited when the company is around they pop themselves off routine. Lily was the worst napper (well, for her anyway) while Jessie and Ella were here. She just wanted to be a part of all the fun she was hearing. Hannah just wanted to be with her Aunt Jessie and cousin so she was out of sorts as well.
While having company is wonderful, it can also be exhausting (I'm sure Jessie knows what I mean, and will really be feeling it Saturday!). Being the company is no picnic either. You are at someone else's house and have no space of your own save the guest room (should you be lucky enough to have one). So, you feel like a heel because your "stuff" begins to take over their house, no matter how hard you try to keep from doing so. It is especially difficult if you have two kids in tow. I always feel dreadful every time I visit my mom. She lives alone (not even any pets) and has a meticulously clean home. The minute we walk through the door her home looks like it has exploded with our junk. Mom works so hard to keep the house clean and clutter-free and then we arrive. I'm so sorry, Mom!
In other news, Lily is becoming a real little chow hound. She now LOVES her cereal and sits there like a baby bird with her mouth open waiting the next spoon of food to be plopped in. I keep waiting for a "cheep cheep" to come out of her mouth =). She also enjoys Robert's Veggie Booty, fruit puffs, Zwiebak toast, and avacado. Acutally, she adores the avacado. I never would have thought to give it to her, but Jessie was slicing some up for Ella and suggested it. Boy am I glad she did! Lily seems happiest with foodstuffs she can feed herself. She is also creeping along like some kind of little speed demon and if there is anything on the carpet/floor you don't want her to have/she shouldn't have, she will find it!
The photo above is a self-portrait. The other afternoon while Hannah was supposed to be napping she was instead exploring the world of Mommy and Daddy's camera. She took 48 pictures of absolutely nothing in particular. The ceiling fan and the cat were particular faves. You know, you can put a kid in bed but you can't shut their eyes for them and make them sleep. While I was rather impressed with her artisticness, I was also more than a little peeved she had not napped, not stayed in her room, nor asked permission to use the camera. I know I should just relax, but really, that's a $400 piece of technology! ARGHHHH!
And, finally, Holly the Hell dog strikes again. I spent a good 10 minutes exploring my neighborhood today. Why you may ask? Well, let's just say Jessie was loading her car and Holly took an opportunity to bolt. I swear if I didn't like the little demon I would throw her out a window (okay, not really, you know what I mean). When Holly has escaped the confines of home she thinks it's some sort of keep away game and will run and run and run. So, I spent 10 minutes striding barefoot on HOT asphalt chasing the ding dang dog through the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Lily had been left inside with her little mouth gaping open for another shovel of cereal. Poor baby! No, I didn't wring the beast's neck and make a fur muff, but I have to say I was sorely tempted!
5 comments:
I'm glad to see another family sensitive to the clutter of guests. Although we are happy to see guests, the house does change when they arrive....it simply never regains that clean orderly appearance that is so comforting.
When my sister comes to visit, she is so careful where she puts anything, keeping clutter to a minimum - she even takes all her toiletries and stores them in her van, out of sight. She does this for herself, as well as for me, as she loves an ordered environment. Here, there are generally so many people, one must constantly pick up to keep things nice. I've really appreciated her sensitivities.
I have not yet had company since I have been married. I am sure though someday I will! :) We are always the guests at other family members homes. Last summer when we were visiting family I tried my best to keep our space very tidy. I did feel a little bad that my things were cluttering their space. It is so cute, whenever my gramma visits someones house she always hangs everything up in a closet and then if there is a drawer for her she will put things in there as well. Even when they stay in a hotel she will do this. I am hoping that I will remeber this the next time I stay at someones house. :)
Your girls sound like they had such a great time. I always loved it when we would visit my cousins when we were kids.
Rach, I know we were a total mess for you. Thanks for being so kind with your space!
Jessie, I really and truly wasn't thinking about you when I wrote this. I was thinking about how nice it is to get home and be able to spread out without feeling guilty, and to have a space for all my "stuff".
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