You just play with toys all day?

A few weeks ago I found myself out to dinner with some gals - none of whom were moms.  A very sweet, well-meaning-single-thirty-something-woman asked "Do you just play with toys all day?"  The conversation shifted, so I never actually answered the question, but it has had me thinking for the past couple weeks.

I have to make a conscious effort to actually get down on the floor and play with my kids each day.  So, what do I actually do all day?!?!

What is the best way I could describe raising a toddler (G is definitely past the baby phase) and a preschooler to someone without kids?  The best I can come up with: it is like the times that you come home from work and your pet (dog/cat) has gotten into something that they shouldn't.  And you have that "UGH" response.  That is kind of what things are like all day long here.

Prior to having a toddler/preschooler (these are all real events occurring within the last couple days):
* The toilet paper was always on the roll.  Not all over the floor.

* I never found my socks mixed in with my pots & pans.
* My shoes were usually in the closet/entryway.  Together.  Happy.  Now they are commonly found in separate locations throughout the house.

* I never climbed in bed at night to find my <child's> mittens under my pillow.  
* I used my salad spinner to spin salad.  Never did I think that it would be awesome to spin matchbox cars.  (Which it is.)  When it came time to use it, it was in the cupboard; not under someone's bed. 
* Cupboards were used for storage.  I never emptied them out and played in them.  Though I think I should have, it looks like a lot of fun.

* Kids eat constantly.  I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen, cutting fruits/veggies, etc into tiny toddler sized bites.
* I never looked for my kitchen towels under my bed. 

* I didn't ever take an egg carton to the bathroom and try to fill it with water (don't try this experiment unless you really like cleaning up soggy cardboard). 

* I never saw the fun in "decorating for Christmas" year round by putting silly bands and beaded necklaces on all the cupboard knobs & door handles.  Making it impossible to open them easily. 

Similar idea.  This weekend when Elijah went out to grab something from the truck.  He instead stayed out there decorating.  Marty went out to see what he was doing and this was it!  :)

You get the idea.  It cracks me up (and sometimes makes me feel like I am losing my mind).  In the mornings and early afternoons I am really good at retrieving said items and putting them back in their homes.  By late afternoon/evening, I just giggle and leave the socks with the pots and pans.  Really.  Then I can see them the next day and giggle again.

And you wonder what I am doing while the kids are having all this fun?  I 'usually' know what is going on, but decide to just allow it so that I can shower, get dressed, clean the kitchen, pay the bills, or cut the food into toddler sized bites without G screaming that he wants up or E whining that he is bored.  And I choose that I will just clean it up later.... sometimes that means later in the week.  :) 

A final common "ugh" momentt: *When I stepped in something wet on the floor prior to having kids, I assumed it was water, not an unknown bodily fluid.  Which brings us to the quote of the weekend.  As I'm getting ready to walk out the door to run some errands and Marty is staying home with the boys I ask if he is overwhelmed or doing okay.  He responds (rather sassily) with "I was FINE until I stuck my finger in POOP!"  That sums it all up.

I love my kids.  And the fact that they make me giggle every day.  I will take the "ugh" moments they give me every day.... and next time someone single asks me what I do all day, I'll know to start my response with "Do you have a pet and does it ever get into things it shouldn't?"