Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fall in formation little soldier!!!!

As a stay at home Mom it is pretty common for your life to settle into a routine. I find myself doing the exact same task at the exact same moment everyday. Although it may seem like my life is stuck on repeat, it's actually really comforting to have those moments. I know that it makes my children feel really secure to have a routine. I'm not making any effort to establish these daily rituals at all. Our life has slowly settled after the birth of Koen and Griffin starting back up at school this year. Most of these rituals are normal everyday things that take place in every household everyday. Things like, making breakfast, loading the dishwasher, forcing your child to stop what he is doing and put on his shoes, etc.

Well, there is one ritual that takes place in our home every evening at 5:58 pm. It cracks me up when it happens because it is just so ridiculous. Here is what happens...
I'm in the kitchen throwing dinner together.
I look just like this...minus the apron and perfectly coiffed hair.

Griffin is in the living room watch Arthur on PBS.
He is entranced and happy as can be.
It's a win/win situation.

As I cook, I am closely watching the clock.
I am peering out the window and surveying the driveway
for Roger's car pulling up after his long commute home from work.
Roger has but one request and that is
that the television be turned off and that we greet
him with complete love and adoration at the door.
His fantasy looks something like this.

In order to create the perfect greeting for Roger
I have to synchronize his arrival with the turning off of the television.
Griffin and I both like waiting until the very last moment to turn it off.
I get to cook in peace and he gets to watch the end of his show.
So...I am like a little wizard in the kitchen.
Tossing food in the oven, setting the table,
shoving a pacifier in Koen's mouth as he
plays in his exersaucer.

Then, the moment comes when
Roger pulls up in the driveway at 5:58 pm.
I scream to Griffin in the living room
"Dad's home...quick, tun off the TV!!!"

Griffin runs like a bat out of hell
and turns off the TV as fast as he can.
Then he runs like a good little soldier to the window
and peeks at Dad walking up the steps to the front door.
He jumps up an down and shouts
"Hi Dad!"
out the window as Roger
unlocks the front door.

I grab Koen and toss him on my hip.
We all migrate to the front door
with love and excitement to hug Roger.
We pull off Roger's blissful welcoming everyday
the exact same way.
We are like a well oiled machine.

It's the least we can do
for the man who works so hard
to bring home the bacon!

60 comments:

KristinFilut said...

Wow! Well oiled machine is right! The only thing I do with any consistency is take a nap after I drop the monsters off at school! I keep telling myself I need to get motivated to get important things like cleaning and laundry done... *sigh* Maybe one day...

Unknown said...

Wow, Leigh!
You really do have it down to a science?

I am trying a new ritual/routine at our house lately. I am trying to watch the news while I cook dinner instead of the kids watching their cartoons. I have no idea what's going on in the world...and it sucks.

We should also probably try to greet Dan this way, at least some of the time. Although the girls usually get up and run to him most days as soon as they hear the garage door opening....

Lesley said...

love this....I bet he loves getting greeted that way everyday.....

Lee said...

I am completely impressed, June Cleaver! When hubby comes home, I am on the computer and I ask him to put dinner on the counter!!

Dame Nuisance said...

Darling Husband would pass out cold if Darling Daughter and I did that! Good for you for pulling it off every day.

Stopping by from SITS to say hello!

Ducky said...

I think its awesome. You know, I actually looked forward to having moments like that while I was pregnant. There is just something about June Cleaver and domestic life that really draws me. Maybe its because I have to work...but my time off this past summer with Girl was awesome. I even grew my own herb garden and had fresh stuff to cook with. I actually dusted (which I hate) and we went for long walks. It was awesome!

Love the photos you chose for this post. *Sigh* Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era...

Moooooog35 said...

Who ARE you?!?!

Anti-Supermom said...

So funny... generally we are already sitting at the table eating when my husband gets home.

You have your priorities, I have mine ;)

Ha-Ha.

Twincerely,Olga said...

stoppin in from SITS!! sounds perfect I am going to have to do that!

Kimberly said...

I think you just described my household..LOL, only without baby. Ours is similar. I'm cooking supper while kids are watching or playing video games and it all gets turned off to meet daddy at the door everyday, and then we all sit down to eat supper. How great!! love it. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does this...

MamaOtwins+1 said...

That is a well oiled machine - too funny.

These days I'm the one who is coming home and usually there are so many jumping on me - I prefer to enter unnoticed as to be able to hug each one individually (including the dogs)

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

Aw, so cute! Even if you aren't a perfect family, sounds like daddy gets a lot of love when he comes home. =)

Thanks so much for coming by my blog today! I knew my SITStas would come through with some comments for me. =D

Alicia said...

hahahaa!! YES YES YES!! we do the same thing!! i always have the hubs call me when he leaves and then i set the timer! we do a last minute clean sweep and assume our roles as doting family!! LOVE IT leigh!

Anonymous said...

Hahah, oh to be this cute! I think the only routine that we have is everyday when hubby comes home for lunch, I have his lunch already done or cooking in the microwave. And I'm usually in the baby's room at the changing table working over a dirty diapey. Everyday. But this, this is much much cuter and far less messy and requires no plugging of noses. I'm jealous!

Mrs Montoya said...

Oh my gosh - really? That is the sweetest gesture EVER. Your husband is a lucky guy. I am stopping in from SITS

Tracie said...

Really? By the time mine comes home, we are all in bed.

JennyMac said...

HAHAHA..you are awesome. You could teach this...

Ally Wasmund said...

awwww how sweet! i'm so jealous! i'd love to do that for my hubby. he drives over an hour and a half...each way. poor guy. he'd love this!

maybe one day! :)

Debbie said...

That is one great picture you've painted for us there! I can just imagine you all pulling it all together in seconds.

Matty said...

Wow, what a routine. Lucky dad. Post a picture greeting him at the door.

Beth said...

I'm not worthy! I want to run to greet my husband with love and adoration when he arrives home, but I'm usually so overwhelmed and exhausted from work and the kids and taking care of the house/dogs/bills/miscellaneous life stuff that I can barely muster up the energy to drag my sorry carcass out of the kitchen to mumble, "Hi, honey." My only real routine is the glass of merlot at the end of the day. Cheers!

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

HEY GIRL! just popping in real quick to let you know you're up and on at the crib :) hope you get 50 new followers!

Tom Bailey said...

I connected through another blog that gave you an award. The way that you tell stories is great it is very easy to read.

Best regards

Holly Lefevre said...

That's fabulous. I wish I could organize such scene for my hubby...he'd just ask me how much I spent or what I wanted.
Holly

A Box of Chocolates said...

I am falling over laughin here! Lately when my husband comes home I am on the computer or trying to get off the computer before he gets to my office. The kids are still at work (they are 20 now) and it's been along time since we met him at the door. I know when we did all meet him when he walked through the dorr he absolutely loved it. Good on you!!!

UBERMOUTH said...

Although that sounds really 1950's, it's really a touching gesture and must make him feel like amillion dollars.
Good for you.

Cranky Mommy said...

Despite the sweet nature of this ritual, I will say that if the TV stayed on just a little longer and he joined you in the kitchen, there could definitely be something more than a quick pat on the butt HAHA!
My husband is the opposite, if he could sneak in undetected and magically appear 10 or 15 minutes later, he'd be happy.

Following from SITS

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Sweet. I think. LOL... I might be a sassy southern woman, but I might say to my husband, (insert very thick southern accent) "um, sugah-pie, you want WHAT?? Oh bless your little ole heart." Kiss, kiss, pat, pat - back to work! ;)

Happy SITS Day!

Louise | Italy said...

You've been reading too many 50s housewife manuals! But you're right - it would be nice if we could greet our bacon-supplier like that every day...I hope yours is suitably appreciative.

cat said...

Love those 50s pictures.

Caroline said...

Love the storyboard layout of this post! And, I must say, we have a similar routine! High-five to all those that bring home the bacon and another high-five to those that keep the household running! :)

Melissa said...

Leigh, this is such a sweet post. I love the last line!

CyndeJo said...

Happy SITS day!
Your blog post is so fun. Have a fabulous day

Jennifer Juniper said...

I really should make more of an effort with the welcome home greeting. I'm usually cooking and he kisses me on the fly and then searches around the house for the kids. That's bad. Thanks for opening my eyes :)

Anonymous said...

I love pushing the limits just like that too. lol...what fun. Does Roger know this is the routine?

Jennifer Vanderbeek said...

That's a really sweet gesture & I love that your son plays along.

said...

I bet your husband will always remember these times. That is so neat.

Congrats on your SITS day!

Joann Mannix said...

You know, I had someone scoff at me one time, because I said I liked to have a happy, clean peaceful home greeting my husband when he walks in the door at night. They called me a throwback to the 50's and said I was bringing the women's movement along with me.

I'm sorry. I'm a progressive woman, equal in every way to my husband, who chose to stay home and raise my daughters. Thanking the man who brings home the bacon by giving him a peaceful, tidy home to come to, does not demean me or the progress of women's rights in any way.

It is so nice to see someone else who feels the same way.

Congratulations on your SITS day. You rock!

Aleta said...

You know what... I hope this is a real thing. Sincerely. Most women would get upset over the idea of taking the time to greet a husband with smiles and hugs, because "we are too progressed." Who wouldn't want to be greeted by the person/family you love with smiles and hugs? What's a few extra minutes of time and effort to make the home life wonderful? Greg usually gets home before I do from work... and I always see his smiling face. It helps me to let go of the work day. I'll have to remember this for the days I get home before him. Thank you for this post. It's wonderful!

Marie said...

That is just amazing! No wonder y'all still have the fire going!!!

Unknown said...

What he doesn't know won't hurt him! We always try to greet Dad at the door, too. My son was playing at a friend's house and when the kid's dad came home my son asked him how his day was. The dad was absolutely shocked because NO ONE had ever asked him that before! So sad!

Unknown said...

I love this! So much. I try to make a big deal about my husband coming home too. Usually though I am like, Don't forget to take out the trash. Can you get the trash from upstairs in the bathroom? How was your drive? Did it take you an hour? See, I knew it was only 45 minutes. You complain for nothing. Can I have the mortgage payment?

See, I am a jerk. I need to be nicer like you : )

Kearsie said...

Funny, seeing that picture of the little boy in front of the TV, that's just how my daughter sits on the floor. She's so ladylike.

Kim said...

From SITS...

How sweet! I used to do "something" like that many moons ago but something happened and we fell out of doing it. Now we pass each other as one is coming home and the other is leaving. Hang on to it as long as you can!

Kim
The Misplaced Midwesterner

Marie said...

Wow, how 50's of you, I am sure he LOVES coming home to that everyday. :)

Unknown said...

Leigh,
You really do have your priorities down pat. Very well done. Lots of admiration here. Keep it up!

Sarah Baron
www.anonymous8.com

Lourie said...

That is pretty cool. I would be sweating every day, and be totally cranky about it. You are a good wife.

Stopping by from SITS! Have a grand SITS day!

metta1313 said...

Love! You crack me up. You had me as a new follower with your previous link. So glad to have found you via SITS!

LindaFaye said...

I love it! Just reading your favorite three posts has made me admire your family for the normal humor and sincerity you use to portray this season of life. Sometimes I wish I could communicate so smoothly in a way that people would nod and smile knowingly. Well Done!!

See Mom Smile said...

Soooo sweet. May I borrow your apron and dress?

Annie @ astonesthrowfrominsanity said...

Impressive! The kids still tackle hubs in adoration, but sometimes its all I can do to throw him a sideways glance and a "PLEASE HELP ME!" plea when he walks in. :) Maybe its the 3rd kid that put us over the edge?!?

Anonymous said...

That is too sweet. I hope your husband appreciates you as much as you appreciate him!

Jodi Widhalm said...

Sounds like a supermom to me!! We usually don't even realize the provider of our bacon is in the building! Kudos to you and the soldiers!

pixielation said...

And now you've posted this he knows what goes on seconds before he arrives! But at least he gets the fanfare. My husband gets a grunt from our girls sometimes!

twinkietotmom said...

Maybe I will try something like that this summer when I'm off with my kids (I'm a teacher so during the summer's I consider myself a SAHM)...my husband would love a greeting like that every day!

twinkietotmom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

We have a similar routine--mine involves touching up my makeup, though, so I don't greet him looking like a total hagso he doesn't run back out the door, preferring to go back to work than look at my tired mug.

Lorri S said...

Wow, that is nice.

Julie {Angry Julie Monday} said...

Hey stop stealing my life!!!!

Leslie Harris said...

Loving your blog, Leigh! We do the door greet with my Hubby and his shop is right next door. Everyday, I greet Hubby at the door with a hug and a kiss, and everyday, my four kiddies laugh at how silly we are. :D