bath buddies

Our evening routine has made a necessary shift in the past month.  Most often these two come in from afternoons outside so filthy that they must be striped at the back door and carried to a pre-dinner bath.  When they climb into the tub, streams of mud follow them down the sides of the bath.  Even after a good long soak and lots of bubbles they still have dirty little boy toenails.  Which to be honest DRIVES me CRAZY!  I've always (judgmental pre-boys me) thought it was so strange that parents would let their kids  be seen with dirty fingernails and toenails.  (Who is getting the picture that I'm slightly OCD?)  Oh the irony.  I need to buy a stiff nail brush.  

PS.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I have to pin them to the ground with my entire body in order to q-tip their ears.  It seems cruel (there is a lot of ridiculous screaming!) and is exhausting so it doesn't happen often.  But good heavens you should see what comes out!  I've taken to calling them my 'dirty birds', which does at least make them laugh.