Home Again...

Sometime long after darkness took to the skies last night we rolled into our driveway to find our world covered in much more snow than we left it.  Our house has wicked icicles hanging in the front, some of which go below our large windows.  Heading out on this little adventure of mine I knew I was leaving my house messier than I had ever left it before.  There is always much to do when you've been gone for an extended period of time and leaving it messy doesn't help.  I knew to brace myself when I walked through the side door.

Sure enough things were still about as messy and as dirty as I left them, but I was almost instantly struck by the closed up, vacant, old house smell that penetrated my nose.  It was a nostalgic moment reminding me of our first days and weeks in our abode.  I'm a believer that all homes have a scent and no matter what you do (to a degree) they will hold their smell.  Isn't it amazing that even after three years, all our linens and furniture, fresh paint, new kitchen, all the baking, cooking, cleaning (or lack there of the last 6 weeks) and Warm Vanilla Sugar Wallflowers our house still retains it's original smell.  Must be something in the wood or the air ducts.  (How often are you really supposed to get those things cleaned?)

Then I took a look around my kitchen and  struck with awe, remembering just how much I really do LOVE my kitchen and my kitchen sink.  Who knew I could be so attached to an inanimate object, much less a room???  I felt like my happy kitchen was smiling at me, ready to give me a big hug and welcome my tired bones home.  What a sunshiny place, with the words "Hail to the Chef!" calling to me to fix up whatever I wanted for dinner, be it cold cereal, ramin noodles, or beef stroganoff.  It was my workspace, designed especially for me by me and I could make whatever my heart desired.  I opted for Lucky Charms.

In exhaustion I lay on the couch as Nick dispersed his many gifts that he brought back for us from his great adventures to the Far East.  He was most generous, and I feel completely and utterly spoiled.  Did you know that Hidrebad, India is also know as the Pearl City?  I have a stunning new beautiful string of pink pearls to prove it.  (I suppose that makes up for a missed valentines day.)  Oh, and did you know that Kinder Joys are made in India even though they are marketed as a German treat?  I'm not sure I care where they are made or who makes them as long as they aren't made by children in sweat shops.  They are delightful.

While I'm taking in all these wonders, remembering how much I love my couch, and my bed (Oh, HEAVEN HELP ME!  I love my bed!)  my kids were rediscovering all their toys.  "My pony!!!!  My purse!!!" the little lady exclaimed.  "My Woody!!  And look, Mom!  His hat!!" shouted the little boy.  Everything from toys to colorful Ikea water cups to bed sheets brought out shouts of joy equal to (or possibly even surpassing) the delights of Christmas morning.  Though sad to leave their beloved Grandma behind, the babies were very happy to be home.  

Then I woke up this morning.  The clouds came in, the headache pounded, the icicles on the front of the house loomed, and the lack of home cleanliness started yelling at me, begging for a change.  Overwhelmed by it all, I loaded the kids up and headed out to Brighter Beginnings.  Avoidance may only be a temporary fix, but this morning it worked.  Now we are home and it all lays before me.  In my efforts to organize my mind and face the dirty ugly truth I made a list....

To Do List

Menu Planning for this month and next

Balance Budget

Redo Calendar

Talk to work about cutting back my hours

Take out all garbages

Sweep bedrooms

Sweep and mop kitchen and living area

Sweet upstairs

Vaccum livingroom

vaccuum basement

Wash living area windows

Clean mirrors

Wash all laundry

Fold all laundry

Put away all laundry

Clean main bathroom

Clean upstairs bathroom

Pay Mandy back

Confirm Dr appt babysitting for Thursday 

Write and mail thank you notes

Brainstorm preschool lesson ideas

Reorganize kids toys

Clean bedroom

List and sell microwave on Craigs List

Go Grocery Shopping

Pick up "stuff" around house

Update blog

Hang glow stars in kids rooms

Photograph icicles on house

Knock down massive icicles

Reorganize linen closet

Reorganize hall closet

Prepare Singing Time

Make March Singing Time plan and Calendar

Calling visiting teachees

RSVP regrets to Saturday baby shower

Put away luggage

Vaccum van

Wash van

Get Struts replaced on Escape

Take a nap

Does this count as updating the blog?  Can I cross it off my list?  Cold cereal counts as a meal or two a day until I get around to the grocery store, right?  As tempting as it is to try and tackle this monster list, I think I'm going to go and accomplish my last (and by far most important) item of business: 

Take a nap.