He's on his way home...

Two of us wearing raincoats
Standing solo
In the sun
You and me chasing paper
Getting nowhere
On our way back home
We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going home

-the beatles

So this is what I do when I've been crafting all day and I realize it's 4:15 and I have 30 minutes until my hubby gets home :)  Actually, even when I've been cleaning all day (okay..I never clean ALL day...)
- it still seems I need to pick up.  So I let my senses be my guide.

First - Sight

I stand at the front door and look up.   What is the first thing I see?  Usually toys and fabric scraps.  Sometimes laundry.  So I start there.  The view should be nice when he walks through the door.  I pick up the toys and put the fabric scraps over in my pile.  Then I walk to the couch area and make sure that is picked up - that way there is a nice place to sit when he comes home (don't worry - I don't untie his shoes or anything...)

I also try to fix myself up a bit - after all he's been in an office with women wearing sassy business clothes all day...it would be nice if he didn't come home to me in my p.j.'s with peanut butter in my hair.  I usually just throw on jeans and a clean shirt, brush my hair, reapply deodorant, and put some concealer under my eyes - takes about 3 minutes, but I look (and feel) way better.  I also try to wipe Charlotte's face and make sure she doesn't look like a total ragamuffin.

Second - Smell

I try to create a pleasing aroma throughout the house.  I usually do this is by lighting candles, but sometimes the smell of clothes in the dryer, or the smell of a clean bathroom is great too.

Third - Sound

When I'm really on my A game, I put on some fun music -  not too loudly.
Music just puts everyone in a better mood.

Fourth - Taste

Now Ryan gets home earlier than most, so I usually don't have dinner cooking when he walks in the door.  But I at least try to have it planned and prepped.

Fifth - Touch

We love to greet Daddy with hugs and kisses.
What better way to show someone you're glad to see them?

Now, some of you may roll your eyes at this and think it's a bit June Cleaver but here's the thing.
A good marriage and a happy family takes work.
I'm certainly no expert on that, and there are afternoons when I practically knock Ryan over as I pass him in the doorway, reaching for the keys, leaving to find my sanity. 

But I really appreciate what he does - heading off to work every day, and I really appreciate that I get to stay home with our sweet Charlotte.  This is one of the ways I show him that.  And on those days when I am crazy, he takes over - knowing that I try most days to make our Home a calm, lovely place for him to come home to. 

I also know that I only have one little kiddo. 

So here's my question: 

How do you Mama's of more-than-one make your home a happy place to come home to?

Happy Homemaking!

jessica