Dress Down Friday

Yesterday was another gray, overcast day. Rain, again. Only 4 days worth this time, not 2 plus weeks, Thank God. I threw on a old pair of rarely used work out pants and my baggiest, oldest, softest flannel shirt. Because, and here's the kicker, I did not have to get into my car EVEN ONCE. All day. If you have kids, or have had kids, you know what a rare occurrence that is. And it was purely wonderful. Here is what I did with my day:

• Got the older kids up and off to school.
• Emptied the dishwasher and loaded the breakfast dishes.
• Blog surfed while I drank my tea.
• Folded 3 loads of laundry.
• Put the laundry away.
• Ventured into "Momma's Magic Attic" to retrieve summer clothes for the 4 year old.
• Discovered that the north facing window in the attic was totally rotten and that water was getting into the house.
• With the help of the 4 year old, put her "new" clothes away in her dresser.
• With more help from the 4 year old, discovered a rotten piece of fruit in the bottom of a toy container.
• Put my dirty clothes in the washer.
• Lay down on the couch to read for a moment (Wicked).
• Had the 4 year discover that her Momma's body was in the prone position and perfect for laying on.
• Played "imagination" game with 4 year old until lunch time.
  
• Made lunch.
• Greeted 8 year old son at back door as he returned from school.
• Read 8 and 4 year pre-nap book.
• Tucked reluctant children in for nap ( 8 year old was supposed to be cleaning his toxic waste dump of a room. He played his guitar instead).
• Was woken from my nap when the 13 and 11 year olds returned from school.
• Listened to 13 year old relate how she was able to overcome her negativity about her role in the school play.
• Switched my clothes to the dryer.
• Put the new Dixie Chicks CD on and danced in the living room with the 8 and 4 year olds.
• Blog surfed while I drank my afternoon tea.
• Went through the mail and threw most of it in the recycling bin.
• Asked 8 year old to clean toys and bucket containing rotted fruit as he was the most likely culprit.
• Chatted with a sister on the telephone.
• Hung up on sister when I heard the screams of joy coming from the kitchen.
• Instructed the 8 year old to stop sliding in the 15 gallons of water he had "accidentally" dumped onto the kitchen floor.
• Went outside when the 4 and 11 year old joined in the sliding fun.
• Came running back in when the 4 year collided with a piece of furniture and hurt her foot.
• Comforted the hurt child.
• Turned on PBS.
• Poured myself a glass of wine.
• Informed the 8 year old that he could only watch TV when the kitchen floor was dry.
• Started dinner (Tacos).
• Stayed the hell out of the way as the 13 and 11 year old had a food fight with the Taco fixin's that they were preparing.
• Told the 13 year old that "I don't care what you do as long as I can't see that you did it."
• Poured myself a second glass of wine.

And there the tale of my Dress Down Friday ends. Except that I have to express gratitude to my 8 year old: My kitchen floor is clean!