Dishes or Penny Dreadful? That is the question.

I am sitting on the sofa facing one of those life changing decisions. My daughter is at school and my tiny son is finally asleep upstairs. This is one of those rare moments when I could have something called 'me time'. What is that you ask? Well really, I have no idea but I am keen to try it! I cue up the latest episode of Penny Dreadful (one of my guilty pleasures) when suddenly my life flashes before my eyes. All I can see is a mountain of dishes piled up in the kitchen from last night's dinner and today's breakfast, laundry that needs folding, and....wait....what am I sitting on?? A giant Lego *sigh* How long have I been blissfully unaware of its presence? That was the tipping point. New plan. Do the dishes and tidy. The laundry can be done later. And so, with what feels like an elephant sitting on my legs, I slowly and sadly rise from what could have been a very exciting adventure in 19th-century England fighting demons, witches, and revealing the newest snag in this captivating tale. After what seems like an eternity, I arrive at the sink and am immediately overwhelmed by the enormity of the task in front of me. "How can a family of 4 possibly use so many dishes?" I wonder. But there is no time to ponder this matter if I am to make my quickly approaching deadline. I don't know how much time passed before I realized that the pile in front of me had hardly grown any smaller. Once again, I agonized over the choices. Dishes or Penny Dreadful?..........Dishes or Penny Dreadful?......... Dishes or Penny Dreadful?........ Just as I had decided to give in to the notion of sitting down, I heard a noise from above then the clunking of tiny 2 year old feet descending the staircase. Perhaps another day. But will I make the same decision next time or will I be able to ignore my chaotic surroundings?

Good Clean Fun

I was deleting old emails while the children were out playing in the garden nicely together (for once) when I found a message my other sent me ages ago that I had yet to read. 1/4 of the way through reading said email, the children came inside and B (the little brother) followed L (the big sister) into the bathroom, as you do when you’re a little brother. She shut the door which he usually hates but this time he seemed fine with it. Red flag #1 but I thought as long as they leave the bathroom alive and semi-intact I’ll leave them to it. Another sentence read and the screaming starts:

L: No Brannon stay there! Stop moving!!
B: ajfdkjhalejhoieaflkdn;ksajf; lakuioejfkjdfjkfd;iri (I took this to mean “leave me the F*** alone sister!”)

It’s ok they’ll have to sort it out themselves because this email is just getting good.

*silence* red flag #2. I’m sure they’re fine. I don’t see any flooding…..yet…….

2 more sentences read

B: adkfldhkahskdjfkdfklsjlkdfjklsjdfk fjdksla;sdkfjdlksjfalsjdkflj jdfklsaksdjf;lkasjdl;fkjskljfkljd *bang bang bang on the door*

They’ll be out in a minute I’m sure………..read to the end………*silence* red flag #3……………door flies open and out comes Brannon using his angry tell-on-sister-voice shouting about something I can’t understand

Me writing back looking at the computer: What is it Brannon? You ok?
B: NO! HAIR! SISTA! HAIRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

*look up from computer at Brannon who is now at my feet stomping his very loudly* oooooh I see Brannon *as he is batting at his wet hair with both hands trying to get the water off*

And the best part? I am sure you're wondering just how this could possibly get any better...... he now has wet crumbs glued to his hair and scalp. Bath time anyone?