on cleaning

Whenever I have somebody coming over to our house, there is typically the cleaning action going on before they arrive. But I've been finding that I don't want my house perfectly clean. I consciously don't clean things. I want my house to look lived in, like we don't just sit on the couch and stare at the wall all day.

When family comes to stay, the house gets a deep clean. Except last time I didn't bother to vacuum the upstairs. When friends come over, there's a surface clean going on. But I will either not dust or not do the dishes or not sweep the floor.

Today's cleanup was inspired by a boy I could potentially tend while his mom works. It's a part-time deal for me. Anyway, I caught myself looking around and thinking "what can I NOT do that will make me look put-together and busy, scheduled but not too scheduled."

I think I'm having a personal rebellion against the need to have everything perfect. And in so doing I am rebelling against the structured life that requires everything to be clean all the time.

Now excuse me while I go vacuum my stairs so I can leave some clutter on them.

Foods.

I am looking for dinner ideas. I feel like part of my brain has died, particularly in the food area and I just need some more variety. In return for yours, I am now sharing mine with you in advance, showing my faith in you.

Stuffed peppers

Penne pasta with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, chicken, and an italian dressing. Maybe pesto.

Homemade spaghetti

Chicken noodle soup

Baked chicken with mashed potatoes and green beens

Chicken salad

Chicken enchiladas

Alright. That's what I've got. Please share your family's favorites (or, rather, what you've been cooking lately because that's all you feel like making). THANKS!!

mornings bring...

I have discovered that my little boy likes to sleep in the nude.

If ever we put him in bed without pants over his diaper, it is inevitable that we will find him without the diaper when he wakes up. Even when it's those bumGenius diapers that Brian and I struggle getting unvelcro-ed. I'd show pictures, but that's both embarrassing to his teenage self and inappropriate for internets.

And as cute as it is to see his little bum in the morning, this has made for a lot of laundering of sheets.

We are in big trouble when big boy underwear comes later on.