Cleanliness is next to...impossible

Shelby again. Sorry to disappoint you Anniephiles out there.

My children are big fans of the second law of thermodynamics, which says that the natural state of the universe is increasing entropy toward equilibrium. In other words, the universe doesn't like things out of balance. Neither do I, but the universe and I differ greatly in our definitions of balance. The universe's version of balance is that the toys that belong in the playroom should be equally distributed over the physical space of the entire house. That's equilibrium. And I HATE it.

Some of you already know that I gave Annie a Valentine's Day gift of inestimable value: I stayed up all night cleaning the house. Man oh man, did I clean. And clean. And then I slept through bishopric meeting the next morning. You can see where my priorities lie.

Skyler and Aria slept at grandma's house that night, but when they went downstairs the next afternoon, the transformation from slovenly to spotless was nearly impossible for their little minds to fathom.

S:"Holy cow! What did you do to the playroom!?"

(As if I had somehow ruined it forever.)

A:"I've never seen it so clean, Daddy. It's feels weird. It's kinda freakin' me out."

It's not their fault. The irrefutable laws of the universe called, and they answered.

I've fought a lot of uphill battles in my life, but defying the laws of physics is a bit much, even for me. Someday the universe and I will have it out over this entropy issue once and for all, and should I win, I know right where I'm putting the trophy. I cleared a spot on the shelf, but now I think it's housing one of Xander's toys.