Jamie, Elton & Mr Clean

On Tuesday we are going to our concert!!

(Wa-hoooo!!!)

*singing* I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words....

I've been listening on Youtube to all of Elton John's tunes so I can be all prepared to belt out all my fav songs. I love Elton...I hope I can convince Guliano to dress up in Elton's 70's glory days.

Anyways, since the concert is on a weekday, we needed to find a non-teen babysitter to come keep our kids from 4pm - 12am. Or...around that time. Its quite a long time we'll be gone...we have to drive to Regina early enough that we can get decent parking...and I have to waddle myself to the concert building..than the concert itself & the craziness of leaving the grounds after wards & trying to get out of congested traffic & drive back to our small town. So....its a bit too long for our regular 14 yr old babysitters.

We found Jamie to babysit. She's the pharmasist at the drug store here. She volunteered. Thats one of the few joys of living in a small town....you just need to put the word out & you can usually find what/who you need. So Jamie is coming to sit for us. Jamie has never been to our house.....we don't really know her....but she was in weight watchers with me about 2 years ago...and her husband works with my husband....and of course....she fills our prescriptions. So we know her...in that small town kind of way.

Sooo...the key words above were: Never been to our house.

We have a SMALL house....with 5 people living in it...3 of which are kids...and 3 pets. You know that saying "Cleaning your house while your children are still growing, is like shovelling the walk while its still snowing"? Well.....who ever said that quote...obviously was at my house at some time.
If you are here between 4pm & 4:30pm, you will see my house nice & clean. Thats right after chore time....if you're not here...you're gonna miss it. Usually our house is a bit....well....crazy.

The living room doubles as a family room & play room so it usually looks like a crate of polly pockets & a crate of barbies blew up around us. We're expecting a new baby soon, and his change table is in the living room as well..because we havent' figured out where we are going to put him yet. Sooo...his change table is in the living room...and all his clothes & diapers are stacked on the shelves under the change table. Our TV stand doubles as a DVD/VHS holder & a book/magazine shelf.

Our kitchen is tiny....and our table multi-tasks as a computer table, sewing table, & temporary storage place for my canning supplies. Since we don't have enough cupboard space our counters hold all our big appliances: microwave, stand mixer, bread maker, slow cooker, toaster oven....and...well.....it doesn't take long for our place to be messy.

Since its fall, I have been going through all the kids fall/winter clothes & I have half filled garbage bags of too small clothing in the hallway waiting to be filled & donated & baskets of shoes/socks to be donated to the school.

So this worries me.....Jamie has no kids & I imagine a spotless house. I've been a little panicky about having her come over and be alone with the craziness of our household.

Enter Mr Clean.

I plan to douse the house with Mr Clean & set everything on fire & start fresh.

Just kidding....sort of. I do plan on having everyone & everything sterilized before she comes & dousing down everything with Mr Clean & spraying everyone & everything with Lysol spray...that way....if it doesn't look clean...at least it will smell clean.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I'm forcing everyone to help hide, I mean clean, the majority of the mess & hopefully come Tuesday, we can do a "10 second tidy" and have it look/smell half decent for when Jamie arrives. Pray for me people.