Chaos, Total Chaos

This is why I haven't posted in awhile. Trying to get a well-lived in house on the market ain't fun.....

If you happen to see my Dad around town anywhere, make sure you tell him he's awesome.

He did a LOT of work.  And now our house is officially on the market.  As of yesterday.  Any takers? 

We spent the entire day yesterday decluttering and moving boxes, toys, and all kinds of extras you accumulate in an 11-year marriage to my man's office.  They have the entire downstairs empty right now (and wouldn't you know it...someone came by yesterday to look at it to possibly lease it....all while he's trying to store boxes!!) which gives us TONS of room.  To store crap.  Let's just admit it -- it's crap.

And now my house finally feels clean and decluttered.  And now I get to start the process of trying to tell 3 kids they can't get out more toys, or take their cups outside the kitchen, or eat in the living room, or mess up the pillows on my bed (a favorite evening activity), or decorate the front porch with sidewalk chalk, OR any of those other fun things we normally do in "REAL" life.

Cuz let's face it -- selling your house is all about marketing.  It's all about making it look like a magazine picture.

Basically making it look NOT REAL.

Of course, I'd have a lot cleaner house if I practiced these rituals in my real life.  Hmm.

I saw a blog post a couple of weeks ago where the blogger said her house is always clean enough or picked up enough that she could get it "just right" in 20 minutes.  Ya know, in case unexpected company shows up.  Like the pope.  Or the prez.  Or that gossipy lady from church who'll tell everyone what a slob you truly are.  20 minutes?  Seriously?

And so that's my goal for the new house.  I always tell my kids:  Don't just put it down.  Put it AWAY.  WHERE IT BELONGS.

If we truly followed the rule [for everyone], my house really would be ready in 20 minutes or less.  Just in case the prez does show up and need some convservative advice on running the country.  Or balancing a grossly over-indulged budget.  Or how to save the country millions by simply asking his wife to quit jflitting about the world on private jets.

Well, anyway....we're extremely excited about the new house.  And Bruiser asks every day....Are we moving today?  Trying to get a 4-year old to understand what 3-weeks means is like....well, trying to teach a 4-year old to grasp the concept of time.  It ain't happenin'.