Help arrives

I have been feeling overwhelmed lately. There’s just a lot of stuff going on! Today I wanted to clean the house before my mom arrived, but I just had too much stuff to do. After I sent Abe a rather desperate email, he sent me an email saying that he booked a maid service to arrive in two hours.

It’s amazing how news that help is on the way can reinvigorate you. Before I found out about the maid service surprise, all I wanted to do was lie down. After I found out help was coming, I raced around the house picking everything up so that when they came, they would spend their time deep cleaning and not doing so much cosmetic stuff.

And deep clean they did! I was thrilled and delighted beyond words to see the top of my fridge clean, underneath the stove clean, surfaces scrubbed and polished…it might as well have been Christmas.

What with the house all beautiful and clean, there was no way I planned on messing up the kitchen by feeding my children. No sirree. Instead, I packed them into the car and we met Abe at Canella’s, where Mary and I stuffed ourselves on my favorite pizza in town and the BEST chocolate beet cake I have ever had. Actually, I’ve never had chocolate beet cake before, but I’m sure if I had had it, this would have been better. Not only was the cake luscious and moist, but the ganache frosting was so thick it basically felt like I was eating truffle with cake. Mary and I fought for the last piece (she won).

Lydia was so tired she slept through the whole experience. Abe put her on his lap several times and tried to shake and talk her awake, but she didn’t even open her eyes. Maybe our afternoon snack of alphabet cookies and clementines was laced with some sort of sleeping drug, because the minute I loaded them into the car (around 6:oopm), she was out. And she never woke up…when we got home, I just put her straight to bed.

Lydia asleep at Canella's.
Lydia asleep at Canella’s.

After that chocolate cake, we said goodbye to Abe (since he was just passing through on his way up to Boise) and went to go pick up my mom from the airport. She looked so beautiful and radiant, and I am so happy to have her home again! (Although I don’t mind sharing her with you, Grandma!!) Mary remembered her too, and they spent the whole evening laughing and playing together.

Of course, I have pictures.

Lydia watching Elmo while Mary plays with the wastebasket and her stacking toys.
Lydia watching Elmo while Mary plays with the wastebasket and her stacking toys.
I was ignoring Mary while doing my cooking school homework this morning when I heard her giggling uncontrollably. I turned around and saw this.
I was ignoring Mary while doing my cooking school homework this morning when I heard her giggling uncontrollably. I turned around and saw this.
While the maid service was here, I took Lydia onto the front steps to eat a snack. She had fun playing after our snack.
While the maid service was here, I took Lydia onto the front steps to eat a snack. She had fun playing  after our snack. Here she is jumping on our walk.
While we were eating, Lydia turned to me and exclaimed, "It's beautiful outside today!" This is Lydia holding her "favorite" leaf and examining an alphabet cookie.
While we were eating, Lydia turned to me and exclaimed, “It’s beautiful outside today!” This is Lydia holding her “favorite” leaf and examining an alphabet cookie.
We spelled her name with cookies.
We spelled her name with cookies.

Mary and Mom and had a joyful reunion.

IMG_5319 IMG_5322 IMG_5323 IMG_5317Hi Grandma! I love this scarf from Mom, and she said you'd want to see it on me. We are thinking about you and wish you were here!

Hi Grandma! I love this scarf from Mom, and she said you’d want to see it on me. We are thinking about you and wish you were here!