Too good to be true

 After running errands and going for a walk today, I was explaining to the girls how important it was for me to clean and start dinner once we got home.  I was listing off their options to keep busy, when Talullah volunteered to do the dishes.  Then the big girls started arguing, until finally we all agreed that it sounded like a great idea for Berlyn to do dishes, Talullah to vacuum, and for me to rush around like a mad woman doing the rest.  We were all very excited.  As soon as we got home, I washed all the breakables and filled the two sinks with plastic items that were Berlyn proof.  I showed Talullah how to work the vacuum, and things were going just beautiful.  My mind was reeling in anticipation of a future blog describing how helpful and independent my girls are becoming.  I grabbed the camera for a few quick shots.  You'll notice that Berlyn has a new obsession with posing.  Every photo turns into a succession of shots as she strikes pose after pose. 

Then, I switched to cleaning mode.  I started a load of laundry, put dinner on the stove, stopped the baby from fussing, and started putting new sheets on the bed when Talullah came into my room.  "Mom.  You have GOT to go see Berlyn."  A comment like this warrants no questions.  You drop what you are doing and you hurry yourself to your adventurous daughter.  And there it was.  A completely naked Berlyn sitting inside the sink full of water, a grin from ear to ear.  You might notice that the dishes had not yet been done.  So, maybe I'd been a bit over eager about my new little helpers taking on roles a bit bigger than they can handle.  A mom can dream, can't she?  I guess we'll take the level of expectation down just a notch for the time being.  Berlyn can stick to emptying trash cans, picking up toys, and if she's lucky.... feeding the cat.

 I just have to note that a short time later, I came into the kitchen to find (a still naked) Berlyn, sitting on the floor with the kitchen rag that typically hangs from the oven door.  When I asked her what she was doing, her reply was this: "Mom.  I stepped in chicken poop.  I'm cleaning my foot."  So, next time I pick the up the rag off the floor to hang it up, I'll surely remember this event and quickly throw the towel in the laundry instead.