Good Wife Update

In my last post, I set a goal for myself to try to have the house in order each day when Lance gets home from work. And I quote, "I would love to have Lance come home to a clean house, dinner on the table, and a smiling, happy, attractive gaggle of adoring family members." Such a lofty goal...

Lance's hours are never the same so he gets home anytime between 2 pm and 6:30 pm. Since setting my "good wife" goal, he has come home to:

1. Me fast asleep on the couch (I am having my first ever experiences with migraines)
2. Zoie in time- out and Tobin crying
3. A horribly messy house and all of us out at the beach (it was a last minute idea-- so we tore the house apart looking for swimsuits and beach towels)
4. Me reading a book with my feet propped up on mountains of clean, unfolded laundry.

I never said it was an easy goal to achieve. Of course, Lance says he doesn't care at all, but I will keep working on it.

The Good Wife's Guide

I saw this article from Housekeeping Monthly in 1955 on a friend's blog-- The Good Wife's Guide. I don't know how my grandmothers put up with some of this stuff. For example:

• Remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment... You have no right to question him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.-- (I really wouldn't mind doing this, but Lance would HATE it!)
  

I love living in the 21st century where women are considered equals. However, I actually agree with some of the "tips" in the article.

• Have dinner ready. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of a warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Touch up your makeup...and be fresh-looking. I really do agree with this, in theory. I really like doing my hair and makeup in the morning, but by the time I see Lance at the end of the day....
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
  
• Be happy to see him.
• Don't greet him with complaints or problems.
• Greet him with a warm smile.
  
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Am I old-fashioned? I feel so lucky (most days, anyway) to be able to spend my days at home with my kids while Lance is working on various job sites in the hot Florida sun. Why not make my home the kind of place he can't wait to come home to? And what kind of husband wants to come to a messy house and a cranky, homely wife and kids?

I would love to have Lance come home to a clean house, dinner on the table, and a smiling, happy, attractive gaggle of adoring family members. Something to shoot for...

2008 Inaugural Beach Trip

Hooray! The Beach is Back! Yesterday, some friends and I decided to have a play date at the beach. It was a gorgeously perfect day. The water was about eighty degrees and ideal for swimming.

The kids were amazing and I actually found time to relax by myself-- an unforeseen treat. Zoie and Tobin kept themselves entertained at the water's edge without wandering too far. In light of this good behavior, we hope to frequent the coast all summer. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day:

My Good Kids
(Tobin is actually ripping the umbrella off the chair in this pic)

Tobin in the (now) umbrella-less chair


Beach Beauty


Brit and Me

Eternal Slumber Party

Okay... the title of this post sounds morbid-- like a bad mystery novel.

Zoie was sick last week. One night she woke up with a high fever and to comfort her, I laid down in her bed for a little while (something I rarely ever do). I would open my eyes and she would be about an inch from my face just staring at me with so much excitement. She kept whispering "secrets" to me. She thought it was the funnest thing in the world.

It reminded me of when I was 9 or 10 and sleepovers were all the rage. I loved sleepovers! At every party, I was always the last person to go to sleep-- which means I got to be the one who pulled pranks on the other girls. I would always look forward to the weekend so I could have a sleepover with my friends.

I remember the first few months I was married, I couldn't believe that I got to "have a sleepover" with my best friend every night. It felt so amazing to be able to lay in bed and talk all night. After seven years of marriage, I hate to admit that I now take that blessing for granted. But no more!

How wonderful that we get to find the person that makes us the happiest in the world and then spend eternity with them! Hence my creepy title, "Eternal Slumber Party." If you are married, when you go to bed tonight, remember how blessed you are to spend every night with your best friend.

Punk Rock Mom

Lance called yesterday and told me that he was coming home early to watch the kids while I took the rest of the day off to get my hair done. What a thoughtful husband.

Mistake #1: I went to a new stylist

Mistake #2: I went into my hair appointment without a concrete idea of what I wanted done.

Mistake #3: I told the stylist I wanted something "fun."

Mistake #4: I didn't ask for clarification when he asked if I had an office job and seemed relieved when I said "no."

Six hours later:

My face is stained with hair dye, the streaks are bright pink/red and I'm pretty sure that April is my month to conduct in Relief Society. Oh well. What can you do?

Rasmussen History

Happy Birthday Tobin!

Today is Tobin's first birthday! Although he did not realize the significance of the day, I wanted to make it as fun as possible for him. Throughout the day's activities, I took 78 pictures of him... 78! Here are a few of my favorites...

After he ate, he sneakily ate Zoie's breakfast while we weren't looking...

Playing at the park

Cookies after lunch

Getting into mischief

Discovering presents


Laughing at Dad during dinner

CAKE!

The cake necessitated a good bath


Opening presents (yes, I realize it is not exactly classy to hang out in just a diaper, but after 3 wardrobe changes throughout the day, we gave up)

Family Time

Asleep at last