Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Sweaty

Yesterday we went to the gym. Kids had a great time, and didn't want to leave (as usual). I worked up a decent sweat in the hour I was there. Elliptical, bike, treadmill, and weights. I've moved some of my weight training to the free weights, and can tell a nice difference in my arms, shoulders, and back. Front too, but that's mostly due to a good bra.

Got home and planned to take a shower. One thing lead to another, and it didn't happen. After dinner, Husband decided the lawn needed mowing while I inwardly groaned. Kids went outside and after cleaning up the kitchen, so did I. After drawing multiple rainbows and flowers on the driveway, I started wishing I was a bit more artistic in the sidewalk chalk department. Ah well, the kids don't care - and that's what matters. Husband peeked around after mowing the front, and asked if I'd like to mow and he'd play with the kids. I jumped on that one. I don't mow much, but I rather like doing it. He'd already done about half of the edging. Up, turn, down, turn, up, turn... Over and over, diagonal in the yard. Around the trees, around the plantings, up, turn, down, turn. Straight lines, hum of the mower, wacking off the dandelions - but mostly being alone. No questions to answer, no fights to break up, no whining. The funny thing is, when I was done, the kids greeted me like I'd been gone the whole afternoon - not just half an hour.

I finally got a shower while the kids were in the tub. Now that's a two-fer. Kids were scrubbed and smelling good and so was I. Since I've been home, I prefer to take my shower at night. Finding time during the day with three kids is a little difficult.

Woke up this morning, fresh and new and planning a trip to the library. Looked out the kitchen window at my fabulous mowing job, and my eye caught the planting in the back. Looks like crap. There's weeds, grass, and a lot of trimming to do. Took off my cute new Janeville Tshirt and capris and threw on my grubbies and worked out there for almost two hours. Pulling, digging, clipping, and hauling to the lawn waste bin. Filled it up too - 64 gallons. Didn't make it to the library - I was too sweaty and dirty. The kids were happy to play outside, and I got one more "This House Doesn't Need Anything" job done. For now. Now I'm planning how "we" are going to re-landscape it. It's just too big - too much maintenance for me. We'll probably cut it in half, and make room for a swingset seeing as the planting currently resides on the flattest part of the lawn.

This afternoon, I'll take advantage of my gross state and clean out the Suburban. It's a beautiful day - 70's and sunny - which means only one thing. I can now smell the forgotten sippy cup of milk. Eeew.

6 comments:

Builder Mama said...

Yeah, we had the lovely experience of an upside-down leaky sippy cup of sour milk in the back seat pocket of the Tahoe a few weeks ago. Talk about a very un-fun job cleaning that mess up...

Tanaya said...

Love those chunky milk sippy cups!!!

MPPs Mom said...

I got a nice little grin when I read "janeville".

Anonymous said...

LMAO! After a taxing afternoon with two year old, I offered to mow the lawn Monday night when dh mentioned it really needed to be done.

All was restored in the universe as I plugged along, unable to hear a thing and she rode past the house on her new bike wearing her birthday crown waving at me like she hadn't seen me in a week.

I'm rather bummed we've hired out the back forty cutting job to the 12 year old across the street. I'll do it for the price of 1.5 hours of peace and quiet...

Gretchen said...

BuilderMamma and Tanaya - the cups went in the trash! Nasty!

Xina - I had MY Janeville shirt on while typing that yesterday!

Megan - 1.5 hrs of peace and quiet? Where do I sign up?

Mrs. Wheezer said...

That all sounds good to me. Gretchen, I read your blog and I think maybe, just maybe I should give staying home a whirl.

So did you know that if you forget about it long enough the milk in a sippy cup will turn flourescent pink?