Your Least Favorite Topic: Housework

I'm not sure how many comments I'll get on this one, but I've been thinking about it, so we'll see. How do you keep your house clean? I've been in a few houses that always seem to be in order, even when I come over unannounced. Do these people clean all night after their kids are in bed? Does their husband love to help and do chores?

I've gone through different routines with our house. For a while I had a chore for every day: Mondays were laundry, Tuesdays were bathrooms, etc. But if one day got busy I usually didn't make up for it the next, so the chore waited for the next week. Ew. Then I switched and tried to do a big clean once a week, usually on Saturday. But I got burned out on that pretty fast.

Now I clean something every day but there's no schedule. I just look around and see what needs to be done and how much time I have that day. Today was a busy Tuesday so I just vacuumed. Yesterday I did laundry and swept/mopped the floor. What works for you?

And the other part: how do you teach your kids to work? For a while Trevor's job was to wipe off the kitchen table. Now I give him options as long as he does something every day. I probably should have some kind of chart to help me be more consistent but it hasn't happened yet. How do your kids (and husband) help at home?

A Little Home Decor

My sister-in-law Lori just started an amazing new business called Plum Street Prints.

They make art prints for your home that arrive via email in printable (jpeg) format. You can also do customized and personalized prints, or a completely custom order. Check out her site, she's so talented and I know you'll find something you like!

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/plumstreetprints

Blog:
http://www.plumstreetprints.blogspot.com/

Etsy Store:
http://www.blogger.com/www.plumstreetprints.etsy.com

Our Match

We'll be doing residency here in Tucson!!! I won't lie--there's a part of me that really wanted to go somewhere new. But all day I've felt calm and I know that the right thing did happen. The best part is Birch got "transitional year" for the first year, which means that he'll be doing rotations again instead of a year of surgery or internal medicine, which is a lot more hours. A little less stress is always good!

The theme of match day was Disney so we had fun dressing up as Peter Pan characters. Trevor loved it--he's been calling us Peter Pan and Wendy all day.

Not the best picture but it shows what happens at Match Day. Everyone meets in an auditorium to watch a skit by all the different specialties. Then one by one, the students are called up on stage to get their envelope with the residency assignment and open it in front of the crowd.

Luckily, everyone also got an email a few minutes before they started the envelopes so we saw where we matched before Birch went on stage.


After the big ceremony we had a party in the park. Birch was in charge of entertaining the kids so a jumping castle took care of that. Now that we know where everyone is going, it's sad to see friends who will be moving away. Trevor will especially miss one one of his best buds, Nash.

I can't believe four years has gone by. Finishing this process has seemed so far off but we're almost to the end. Just one more big hump to get over.

Compatibility

I had a friend who once said, "My husband and I don't have anything in common, not like you and Birch do." I almost laughed, because I think we all go through phases where we wonder "How in the world did we ever get married?"

Birch and I do have some similar interests but usually do them separately. We both like to exercise, but he requires a ball and a competition; I prefer being alone outside on a run. We both like to read but I usually have a novel or parenting book while he is always reading the news.

For Christmas Birch got me a cookbook, The Bread Baker's Apprentice. It's another one of those gifts that's for "me" but also for him. This baker has bread baking down to a science and the book reads kind of like a textbook. I decided that's why I'm not a big fan--it takes all of the emotion out of bread-making. Sounds silly but I love making my mom's recipe for rolls or a loaf of bread that a friend shared with me.

But....this book has given us a new hobby to do together so I'll take it. We've made some tasty English muffins and this amazing Sicilian bread. I didn't take a picture but it looked pretty close to the bread below:

Birch is doing an at-home reading elective for school right now so it's given us a little more time for baking. We're also trying to plan a vacation for just the two of us after he graduates, probably a cruise.

What do you and your husband do together? I know some of you are really good about spending time together and others are probably more like us, taking any little thing that you might have in common after being married a few years. Tonight it was Chex Muddy Buddies--yum! But is there anyone who doesn't like those?