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Are We Normal?

Saturday night I got out this sweet little book to read the girls before bed. The pictures in the book look old. I was thinking how sweet the pictures were and then a wave of depression swept over me. Notice how the child's room is so neat and clean. Look at the neat sheets and bedspread. Checkout the slippers and the perfectly tucked in child and teddy bear. Picture perfect wouldn't you say?
Then I gazed upon Emily's room. Oh the reality! It actually looked really good this night!!!!!
Tell me.......ARE WE NORMAL????????????????
I try so hard to keep our house nice and clean. My girls just mess up as fast as I clean up. Any answers??????????????
And......here is a classy touch to Sarah Kate's wall. This was great "how do you do?" the other morning when I went to get her out of her crib.

Comments

Mallory said…
Thanks for the Merry Christmas! :) To your family too! I think ya'll are normal...if my husband and 2 dogs are as bad as they are now, not sure what kids will make my house look like!
Table for Four said…
You are normal :) I often walk into my kids' rooms and think that Children's Protective Services would have something to say about the mess! I feel like I've done well if the "living areas" of the house are clean, the kids' rooms...well, I can just shut the doors :) Merry Christmas!
Tara G. said…
Laurie,
The beautiful thing about parenting is that God gives us guidelines and leave a lot of room for personality: what is normal for some is nothing like another's normal and that's ok as long as you are shepherding their hearts!
Kelly said…
Thanks for always providing a laugh for me :) Your sense of humor is classic! I was greeted with some permanent marker on our entertainment center door this morning...
Stacy said…
Yes, you are normal, my kids rooms drive me crazy, I try so hard to keep their rooms clean, with it being the first day of Christmas break I have already been on them about keeping their beds made, it makes the room look better even if it's messy!!
Ruthie said…
Oh, I actually feel so much better after seeing your daughter's room because it looks just like my house! It drives me crazy to either have to live in a mess or be constantly cleaning up!!! I know I will miss my kiddos being little, but I don't think I'll miss the mess of toys, clothes, stuffed animals and snack crumbs everywhere!!! Merry Christmas!

(I have been reading your blog for awhile, linked over from Kelly)
SO normal!!!! Wes told me to post a picture of our house because it is a DISASTER. I would if I could push aside my pride. But yes, your house is completely normal...at least by my standards : ).
Melissa Martin said…
I have a sign at my house that says, "Excuse my messy house. My children are making memories". My house is always a wreck!
Yes you are normal, Laurie!!! I too love vintage picture books, we collect them, and our girls love to read them, but I can't seem to"indoctrinate" them (Ha) to have a vintage clean room!
We homeschool too, so I can't send them off to school and attack the mess. I keep their beds clean and made, and have learnt not to pick up everything, otherwise they'll never learn to. Every so often I do a major blitz and pretty up if hubby takes them out.
My stupid pride convinces me that I do a better tidy up than they do.I need to learn not only to enjoy my kids but their messes and creativity also (I'm working on this). I don't want to be remembered as a June Cleaver wanna-be with a grumpy face. I need to be content in ALL things...God is on my case!
Bless you
Claire
Sara Campbell said…
You are normal. B's bed looks like a trash compactor for toys. One thing I do, which will be easier when the girls are older, is tell them we have to clean up this spot before we move to the next spot. This week I told them no one was having another meal at my table until their room was perfect. Ooops.
Nancy said…
Welcome to our home as well :)
How do people keep a clean house with little one's? I'd love to know. You are so normal.
Run26.2Mom said…
Your post made my day!! Thank you for sharing what a "normal" household looks like. It gets so out of control, fast.
I love the comment of one of your readers that said the kids are making memories. A fresh new perspective.
Merry Christmas!
His Doorkeeper said…
That was a book Laurie.....think "fairy tale" almost!!
You are so normal!! I don't think your kids will remember how messy your house was in 15 yrs or so but they will remember the fun times spent together as a wonderful sweet family that you all are!
The Garners said…
Things around my house do NOT look like that neat little book, that's for sure! I've threatened to throw all our throw pillows in the trash bin--I pick them up out of the floor 300 times a day! I feel like it's definitely me against 3 kids, a husband and a dog when it comes to keeping things tidy (and I never win!) :)
Diana said…
Perfectly normal!! As a little girl I once had the bright idea to write my name on the wall above my bed with crayon!
Kim said…
I am visting from Kelly's Korner but my daughter is your eldest daughter's age and I have to say her bed looks the same way. She has to have her lovies, her 8 blankets, her babies, and books. I am hoping that she ends up being a neat freak like me...but it is not looking good :-)
Sarah Sharp said…
You are totally normal! I LOVE when my kids' rooms (ages 32 months and 14 months) are clean but most of the time toys are scattered everywhere along with socks or pants or some article of clothing. They make messes so much faster than I can clean! And since I work full time also, the time that I do have at home in the evenings after dinner and baths - I just don't want to clean! My husband keeps saying "Maybe we'll have a clean house when the kids are gone." I guess that is one thing to look forward to!
The Petty's said…
Laurie,

Those darling children will grow up so fast and then you'll have plenty of time to clean. Spend every possible minute with them. It may be hard now, but you won't regret it. When your feet stick to the floor, then mop. Until then read, play, sing and dance.
Beth said…
Normal. That's exactly the way my daughter's room looks too. I afraid if I go in there in the middle of the night, I will fall and break my neck. So every night, she is to straighten her room up. Which means she clears a path to the door. Also, I have the same artwork on my walls. Merry Christmas.
PS - laughed out loud on your cat story about who watches him while you area traveling....
The B's said…
Well, today, I was greeted by fingernail polish on my carpet and bathroom counters. Been greeted by worse so...I hope the mess of my house is normal. And...I only have one. Can't imagine what it will be like when there is another one!
Stacey said…
You are VERY normal. I have a 15 year old and I wish I could say their rooms improve but actually they get worse!! Merry Christmas!
Heather said…
Hi Laurie ~ I originally found you through Kelly's blog but now your blog is one of the first ones I check each day. You are such a breath of fresh air to me, and I love your sense of humor. So, thank you, and keep up the good work...I love reading about what you have to say!
Kimberley said…
the joys of having kids! i'm convinced my house will never be clean until they move out! ha!
R said…
i really, really appreciate you posting these pictures and being 'real' with us! i needed to see that. i struggle all the time with feeling like my home is never tidy/clean/beautiful enough, so it's so nice to know that i'm not alone. :0)
Sara said…
I have to admit I struggle with that too. At times I wonder if I'll ever have a clean house. Thanks too for sharing that with us and helping me and others realize we aren't the only ones. I am becoming a follower of your blog
dj said…
I just took a few minutes to tidy up my two girls' room...couldn't even see the floor! Before I could finish, the almost 2-yr-old came crashing in and emptied a shelf! I LOVE real posts like this! :-)

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