So. I totally skipped yesterday.

I know. I suck.

Or maybe you didn't even notice. Shoot. I shouldn't have said anything.

Well, if you did, let me offer an excuse. My yesterday was busy. Ok. My yesterday morning, when I usually sit down to write all of my profound thoughts was busy. We had family coming into town. I say had, because now they are physically in town. So, the morning was taken up with a few extra kids and cleaning the house.

That's not easy to do, in case you didn't know. I mean, taking care of the five kids while cleaning the house. Luckily for me, they get along so well, PLUS they are good little helpers.

Give them each a swifter and watch the dusting magic happen.

Of course, only things three feet and smaller are accessible and their arms have like a foot and a half reach, but, it's help all the same!

And then, after all of the cleaning, I spent as much time as I could outside! The weather is absolutely, incredibly PERFECT. I cannot get enough of the 70 degree weather and gentle spring breeze. I do have to admit that my face and neck are a little sunburned, from the three hours I spent in it. That's right. I have the same skin pallor as Edward the Vampire.

Yes, to answer your questions, I do sparkle. But, in my defense, it's more like a Rainbow Bright/My Little Pony cartoonish-from-the-early-90's type of sparkle. It's kind of embarrassing, ok? So, back off.

After I had my time in the sun (And the kids, of course) it was time for dance. Oh boy, dance. I mean, I love it. I love that Stella loves it. But. I don't fit in.

There. I said it.

I am like the loser mom, like the homeless-crazy-person-child-mom. They are these established women, with money and nice clothes. They are the real moms. I'm just playing dress up.

It's not that bad. Ok, I'm being over dramatic. Again. Besides, who am I really without my witty, sarcastic humor? I win everybody over in the end.

Hahahahaha.

I make jokes about Anthrax. And they talk about preschools and summer vacations. Whatev.

P.S. Are Anthrax jokes inappropriate?

As in, "The box was from Hong Kong and when I opened it, all of this dust flew up into my face and mouth and I was like Anthrax, Anthrax, I'm going to die! It's Anthrax!!!"

Finally, after dinner, my family was here. My Aunt Nancy and my Uncle Terry from Wisconsin. AND my baby brother, who ok, is not so babyish or even littleish, but he is younger than me! Ha. Just kidding. Robbie, oh Robbie.

So, everyone is here, and it is fantastic. I LOVE having people visit. So just keep that in mind all of you out of towners.

The only downside. Robbie brought his dog. Shadow.

Ok, I'm not much of an animal person. Like not at all. We used to have a cat, but he had to go because the girls were scared of him. But Zach is the one who brought him home, Zach rescued him from starvation and let's face it, I'm not one to turn down a charity case.

But Zyldgian(the cat, like the cymbals) drove me crazy.

And now the dog.

As it turns out, as irritated as I get with animals, my children are 1000 x's over more scared of them.

Anytime they can see Shadow, they FREAK out. It's not a little bit of a whimpering, or light crying. It is like screams I have never heard before, like screams I didn't even know existed. And they go from being perfectly happy on the ground, to climbing to the top of my head in milliseconds!

No joke. I'm not even exaggerating. The flip out.

Bananas.

I don't know where the hatred of living creatures came from. Maybe mine is actually genetic and it worsens as it goes down through the line. But seriously, if this continues, it's going to be a long week.

Or, I am just going to have to devise a system where I place walking planks from the top of furniture to the next. Like from the couch to the recliner, to the piano, to the entertainment center to the butler to the table to the kitchen counters and so forth. Like two by fours for my girls to walk across.

I think that is totally safe.

Scarlett would love it.