Reality? Check.

Do you think you're ready for a REAL day at the Sanatorium? This is the history of October 19, 2010, unedited version:

Slept in an extra twenty minutes. This may not sound like that big of a deal, but it did put us all behind schedule, since Ben has piano at 7 am.
I drove to piano in my nightgown. And set out the garbage cans in my nighty, too.  Brad was asleep, since he'd been up late doing bishop stuff.

I tried to iron Ben's shirt with my curling iron, but it just didn't have the strength to tackle a job of that magnitude.  How do you lose an iron?  Ours developed legs and walked somewhere.

Hyrum watched hours of TV this morning while I worked on the class I teach and neglected him.  Evie slept the morning away.

Then we ran a few errands.  I got a new iron at Target.  Bought the one my sister Karen recommended.  She said it changed her life (or maybe she said her life is laundry--don't recall).

Something snuck into my bag--okay, I confess.  Five or six times a year I'll cave in and buy People magazine.  Sue me. I bet you do it too.

I have a first birthday so close I can taste the frosting.  I found this little phone at Target and thought it would be perfect for the birthday girl.  The package convinces you that it's easy to convert into a gift box.  I have a college degree, and it took me almost ten minutes to figure out the directions.  But it didn't beat me.  I did it!

Hyrum pitched a fit in the parking lot at Safeway.  Why?  Because I wouldn't take him to Burger King for lunch.  "I hate you!"  "You're the meanest mom in the world!"  "You're weally dumb."  How do you handle such outbursts?  Oh, I forgot.  You're all perfect, so this never happens to you.  My personal philosophy is this:  If we're at home, words like that warrant a dose of vinegar, some time in the corner, and an apology.  If we're in public, I just ignore them and get them in the car as quickly as possible. Drove home to sobbing, kicking, and eventually the silent treatment with folded arms and scowling face.

Since he threw that fit, he was swiftly whisked into bed and I enjoyed a favorite gourmet lunch: Banquet turkey pot pie with ketchup and diet Pepsi.  Blame my dad for both of these shortcomings.  He'll gladly accept the blame. But I did get to savor People magazine over my lunch, effectively procrastinating what I should have been doing during naptime--working on class and ironing. (Is anyone else sad about Courteney Cox and David Arquette?  I'm always sad when kids are involved).

Think it's time to replace these pillows?  I can never seem to find the time to keep them on the couch, let alone recover them.  Why aren't they hidden in some closet?  Stay tuned and you'll see why.

Cute as a button, but those headbands are beginning to turn into toys: chewed, thrown, pulled down around her neck.  Girl, ya better grow some hair or leave the blasted things alone!

What do you think Hyrum had for his snack after naps?  Five dollars to the person who guessed raspberry Crystal Light.  Five dollars to the person who guessed fishy crackers, granola bar, yogurt smoothie, yogurt, and orange cheese.

This is why the pillows stay on the couch.  Like my "tchotchke" closet?  It's not too messy yet.  The door still shuts.  It's been on my list for over 3 months now.  It'll have to wait till November now.  This is the most humiliating admission of the day.  Ouch. I'm cringing.

Around 2:30 I made my to-do list for the day.  That may have been a little tardy, don't you think?  Number three on the list: Self-portrait for this post.  Okay. It took me 10 shots to get a self-portrait where I was even mostly in the shot.  This is what my hair does every day around 2 pm, no matter what I do.  Fine, straight, and thin.  This can be traced back to my dear mother.  Thanks, Mom.  But at least I didn't get her early gray.

2:30 is also about when my daily carb fest begins:  Today it was half a snack bag of Bugles (from who-knows-where), half a sleeve of Ritz crackers and a slice of Havarti, three handfuls of pretzels.

I had forgotten that I had to drive boys to soccer practice at 4:15.  Oops.  So I hurried to the bathroom for a quick pit stop--and stepped barefoot into a puddle at the foot of the toilet.  Two possibilities here--Hyrum missed, or  . . . a quick swipe with a wipe confirmed my second possibility.  Roxy drank out of the toilet.  Never have I been so grateful that Ben forgot to water his dog.

Rounded them boys all up, headed over to the field.

Keeping it real today, right?  Micah is not the star.  He isn't even close.  He was the only kid there without his soccer socks and shin guards.  He doesn't even own cleats. He's six.  It's okay.

What did I do during practice?  Cheer on my kid and appreciate his developing skills?  Nope.  I dropped off handouts for my class to be copied and then I worked on Thursday's presentation.  What? Not what I should have been doing?  I did take his picture!

Since I'd forgotten I was carpool Mom today, we ended up with four brown and orange boxes for dinner--Little Caesar once again saves the day!  Have you had their cheesy Italian bread?  It is a carb-and-fat lover's dream!!  I know fish and shells would have been healthier, but seriously.  When did I have time to cook?

I came home from our Relief Society meeting around 9:15 and headed upstairs to kiss and tuck in my kids.  Hyrum was stirring, so I tucked his silky close around him, rubbed his clean head, and whispered in his ear, "Rum, I love you."  He nestled closer into his pillow and sleepily uttered:  "I know."

Then that means today was perfect.

Here's the link.
Let's see the real you. Are you brave enough?