A clean house?! What's the occasion?

We're having company over tonight. We haven't had company over in a long time...probably since Simon's birthday in August. I like having people over for the obvious reasons: socializing, eating and laughing.  The not-so-obvious part, being that it forces me to clean. I dislike cleaning. I love the end results, but I hate that is doesn't last. Before the night is over, you probably wouldn't even know that I spent countless hours, dusting, vacuuming and de-cluttering (how did we get so many toys?!). It's well worth the effort though and I'm sure my husband wishes we had people over more often...just for the clean house. ;)

I find that I have to be SUPER organized when it comes to hosting. A clean house, dinner (salad, homemade French baguettes, loaded potato soup, apple/rhubarb crisp and vanilla ice cream...), a presentable me AND kids, doesn't come easily and they all must come together relatively at the same time.

I have a few lists laying around the kitchen counters (the only safe spot in my kitchen where the boys can't destroy) and they all pertain to different things. Food: What I'm making, when to make it, when to have it ready, etc. Schedule for the day. To-do list for the day: Clean, cook, get ready, etc. On top of all of that I have a list running through my head: Miles' schedule, naps, waking up, bottle, etc. Simon's schedule: school, pbs time, nap, etc.  If I didn't write things down, I'm sure my head would eXpLoDe.

I'm so thankful for busy days like this. It gets me up off my butt, and I find that I have way more energy when I have a to-do list to go off of. Plus, the boys seem to be happier, when I'm popping in and out and not so readily available to their every whim - weird, I know. Not to mention I'm really looking forward to the fellowship that we'll have with this sweet couple tonight. I'm SO grateful for happy boys today too, I don't think I would be sane if they were like they were yesterday - crabby, whiny and against naps. Yay for happy cooperative boys (hopefully that lasts throughout the evening...).