Cleaning house

My mother-in-law announced last week that she'll be visiting this weekend. Well, she did ask if the dates were ok with us - she didn't say she was coming and there was nothing we can do about it.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

Anyway, when I learn that my MIL will be visiting, I have a moment of panic.

This woman's house is spotless - even when all three boy children lived at home her house was spotless. I am intimidated by her spotlessness.

My house has never been spotless. It's come close a few times, but I don't think I've ever achieved spotlessness.

MIL would never be so rude as to say anything about the state of our house, but I can't help but feel self conscious about her visit.

In anticipation of THE VISIT, I usually start cleaning a full week ahead of time, so I won't have to spend one entire day cleaning.

Yesterday I decided to try to clean our shower.

Our shower has been gross since we moved in. I've used nearly every bathroom cleaner known to man trying to get this shower clean. Nothing worked. So, I stopped trying. I mean, if you can't tell it's clean when it is clean, why bother cleaning? Make sense? Thought so.

I found this new cleaner and thought I'd give it a try. Could hurt, right? It turned out to be the miracle cleaner and I was so beyond thrilled to have found something that actually worked!

TWO HOURS LATER.....

Our shower was finally clean. It was so clean, my husband could tell a difference. (love you honey)

It's so sad that I got such a great sense of accomplishment from simply cleaning a bath tub/shower.

It's even sadder that I couldn't shut up about it when my husband got home.

Me: "Look honey! It's clean! Can you believe how clean it looks? I don't think it's been this clean since we've moved in."

Husband: "Hell, I don't think it's ever been that clean."

Good man.

He knows how to shut me up, all I need is a little recognition and I'll return to my corner.

Now, for the rest of the house....

Too Bad We're Too Far Out for Merry Maids....

Ok, I was kidding about the crack pipe.

I realize I've been a slacker lately, with both posting and commenting. I think I may be on my way out of the "newborn fog" that I've been in for the past four months. As I'm becoming more aware of my surroundings, I'm noticing that a clutter monster took a giant dump all over my house.

My goal is to clean and reorganize one room a day.

stop laughing!

So far, I've done our bedroom and the dining room. I'm currently working on the computer room (aka - the dumping ground). I've even rearranged all the photos on our hard drive and put them in neat little folders. Then I went nuts and uploaded more pictures to flickr, because I can't ever stay focused on the task at hand.

While reorganizing our closets, it occurred to me that if I'm going to be successful at this whole "three kid thing" I'm going to need to be more organized. I have plans for chore charts and reward charts and schedules and I'm even breaking out the label maker!!!! Of course if I know my kids, in only one week the labels will be peeled off and stuck on the walls and the charts will be colored with pretty little scribbles.

Too bad my mother-in-law can't plan one of her visits for the one week out of the year when everything is neat and tidy.....maybe I should call her ;)