Play by Play

Here it is, a play by play of me trying to pick up the kitchen. It could be a ten minute job, but get the two kids involved and it goes something like this:

I go into the fridge to get a soda or put away the leftovers or whatever
Shelly crawls over quick as can be, stands up and starts re-arranging the condiments
Archer walks in to discover what Shelly is up to and then tells me (obviously I'm aware because I'm standing right behind her)
Archer is not satisfied with my response (ignore what Shelly's doing because she's entertained and not making a major mess) so decides to take matters into his own hands and tries to push her out of the way to shut the door
Shelly screams because she's not getting her way
I step in to referee
I pick up Shelly, take her in to the living room, find a toy on the floor that she hasn't played with in the last five minutes, put it in front of her and run (literally, run) back to the kitchen to put a couple more things in the dishwasher
She finds me
I return her to the living room, wonder if I'm letting Archer watch too much Disney chanel, then run (again) to the kitchen to put away a couple more things.
She finds me (again)
We repeat the cycle (again and again)



There must be a better way to get things done but I just can't find one. I try to occupy them with toys but they get bored easily. I try to bribe them with food but they get bored with that too (and its really not very healthy). I feel guilty just turning on the tv, and also Shelly's not that interested in tv anyway. WHEN will she be old enough to play with her brother? I suppose right around the age she's old enough to fight with him... Maybe we should hire a maid.