Quick Takes.

1. Honestly? My house just hasn't looked very good since Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, people. I had a good thing going for awhile, a routine that produced a picked-up, cozy haven for my husband to come home to. Now he comes home to the ultimate, cliche sitcom house: The two older kids (more likely than not) are running laps on the main floor, dodging piles of crayons, puddles of apple sauce, and a mysterious substance that no one wants to identify. And I (more likely than not) am standing in the middle of it all with the baby... and we both look dazed and confused.

2. Normally I'd give myself the "Hey, don't sweat it" pep talk, but we're preparing to leave for a 2-week vacation (eeeeeeeeee!) in Ohio. And I can't leave a disaster behind because that means we'll come home to... a disaster. Does anyone else feel this compulsive need to leave their abode spotless when they go on vacation? I even tried to talk myself out of it: "C'mon, Lenae... Just turn on the dishwasher, ignore the laundry, throw some stuff in the suitcase and be done with it. No one will know." Couldn't do it. I imagined the house sniffling and crying to itself while we were gone: "Man, you provide shelter, a place to regroup, a canvas for creative expression, and this is the thanks you get. I'm filthy! It's just not right..."

Alright, house, I won't do that to you.

3. My parents sent me a bread machine as an early Christmas present and I ADORE it. I dump a handful of ingredients in it, press a few buttons, and let it stink up the house with fabulous, yeasty goodness. We all hover around the freshly done loaves and fight over who gets the first warm slice. Yum.

4. I always know when my 3-yer-old is going through a growth spurt. If I miss the fact that his pants are suddenly flooding, his appetite is a dead give-away. During the last few weeks we've watched in amazement as he ingests more at mealtimes than his father. I guess I better hurry up and write that bestseller so we'll be able to afford the food he'll consume during his teen years.

5. We set up bunk beds for our older boys a few days before Thanksgiving. They used to sleep in separate rooms but love being roomies. Unfortunately, they like it a little too much; eight o'clock is now party time for them. Their room is lit just enough by a nightlight to avoid stumbling, but somehow they manage to 1) remove everything from their dresser, 2) scatter books all over, 3) completely disrobe, and all sorts of things. The other night as we headed to bed, my husband and I ducked our heads into their room. This is what we saw:
They had dragged their blankets and pillows under the bed and gone to sleep.

6. If you haven't already, click over to This Heavenly Life and enter the giveaway celebrating Sarah's first blogiversary! One lucky winner could win an adorable apron from Jessie Steele! And, um, if you don't like the possibility of winning free stuff, at least head there to read her post from Wednesday: It's the best post I've read in awhile.

7. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! And stay safe, those of you who, like me, will be traveling somewhere for the holidays!

{More Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.}