amazing race birthday extravaganza

my first baby boy, dean turned seven! i've been trying to think of new and creative ways to celebrate the kids birthdays without going broke or trying to compete with the party next door. so.....i came up with the scavenger-amazing race for 7 year olds and their siblings. noone had to zipline across a cliff or climb the outside of a 100 story building. the kids read clues and had to figure out the answer of a riddle and where to go next. i was so thankful that our local stores seemed to love the idea, and were pleased to hand out the next clue and prize for the kids. the final destination was a pizza party and a week of rest until my next baby boy turns four.

the struggle to juggle

my job calls for another trip out of town for 3 days and 2 nights, right in the middle of the week. the preparation for these little trips are a struggle for me, and a juggle for my husband while i'm gone. how does one get 3 kids to two different schools, and get to work by 8am? with help! yes, help is the answer, and i've learned that if you don't ask than it's your own damn fault. i am extremely lucky to live near family which has helped us out with our kids on a regular basis.

but with that said...my trips need prep, and at these times i am the most organized. i have outfits for the kids set out, lunches and dinners planned. everyone involved is set with their pick up and drop off duties, and they all have phone numbers for back up. wow, seriously...why am i not always this organized? if i could keep this up while i am home, my life would be a lot easier on a daily basis. but what i haven't mentioned yet, is the fact that i am exhausted and drained after all the prep. i am not that kind of working mom, i will never be that organized, but i will continue to try.

soooo...what would happen if i just packed and left? my husband is a very hands on daddy. he's a wonderful cook, loves his family, and reads to our children. but I still think we'd have kids in mismatched clothes and messy hair at school, with a bag of fishy crackers in their lunch, while i was gone.