Today was rough.

It was just one of those days.

The older 3 came back from their father's house at 7:30am. It was early for them and it was early for me, especially since I woke up with a splitting headache. They were grouchy, I was grouchy. Bad combination.

The plan for the day was to straighten up the house a bit, then enjoy the 100+ degree heat and go to the lake for a while, then maybe to Burger King for supper, and get a movie to watch this evening.

The attitudes started almost immediately. Bickering led to arguing led to screaming led to fist fights and on and on...I couldn't even begin to count how many times various kids were sent to their rooms to chill out, and then it would start over again.

I'd ask (tell) them to do something - "pick up those shoes and put them in your closet" - and would either be ignored or, worse yet - hear "but I don't want toooooooooo".

Asking them didn't work. Telling them didn't work. Bribing didn't work.

At one point I quit and tried to focus on fixing the vacuum. It works fine, but the "retractable" cord doesn't retract anymore, thanks to *someone* yanking it out too far. I tore it apart, but couldn't get to the part that is supposed to spin to retract the cord, so I gave up and put it back together. It still works. The cord is just annoying.

Finally, I ended up basically standing over the kids telling them "You - put those shoes away. You - throw that in the trash. You - put that plate in the sink." But we finally got the house looking halfway decent.

Then there was more fighting. And bickering. And fist fights. And a toileting accident, which led to an early bedtime for one ticked off 5 year old who should have known better in the first place.

Supper was had. Some TV was watched. Some peace overcame the chaos.

So tomorrow, since we're theoretically starting out with a clean house, we will attempt the lake.

Please, let us get there this time.