Daddy Time

I did it again. I left town without the kids. JM has known for a while that this week was coming. I have planned to go to Texas the week before my brother's wedding for months--ever since my mom decided to do the catering herself! I was scheduled to leave on a Tuesday afternoon flight to Texas. JM took off work Wednesday through Christmas. I think he purposefully decided to work on Tuesday because it is a tough-run-the-kids-around day!?! Thankfully, our sweet all-purpose housekeeping sisters, Ms. Roberta and Ms. Dot, were there to save the day! they picked up the kids from school, ran all Tuesday dance and dance runs, fed the kids, and got them ready for bed.

On Wednesday, JM kicked into "mommy gear"! It started with a bang as always. A real bang that resulted in Lauren loosing another tooth. Does this sound familiar? (Last month I went to Texas for a funeral and my brother's wedding shower. JM took off a few days to watch the kids, and the kids ended up breaking a TV screen and knocking one of Lauren's teeth out.) This time Corynne flipped the 2nd row seat down in the Suburban to climb in the back and the seat hit Lauren's mouth just right. It truly was an accident, but tell me how this always happens on JM's watch?!?!

JM got the privilege to take all the kids to the dentist today. This appointment was scheduled 6 months ago, so I just left it. It is an easy job...you just have to get the kids to the office and sit and wait. JM seemed to have no problem, no cavities, and only 1 tooth pulled. He did notice that the waiting room was designed to be loud with a waterfall and echoing ceilings and floors. He decided it was so you could not hear the kids crying and screaming in the back.

On Thursday, JM got a taste of kids of all ages in 2 schools during finals week! Drop of 3 older kids at 7:30. Drop off Lyndsey at 9am. Pick up Tyler at 9:30. Get Ty to haircut at 10 am while taking care of banking business next door. Drop off check to contractor at new/old house under construction and answer a list of questions about a/c, plumbing, gas and windows. Pick up Lyndsey at 12:15. Pick up the other girls at 12:30. How does Misty possibly do all this and keep her sanity???

Friday morning was much like Thursday morning. Big kids all went to school at 7:30. JM finished up packing the car and picked Ty up by 9:30. Then the girls had Christmas parties at their school at 11. Did I forget to mention that I am the room mom for both the girls' classrooms.? Thankfully, the co-room mom for Lauren's class is Kelly Treadwell. She took over the party organization and execution for that class. I enlisted plenty of volunteers for Corynne's class, and JM was just in charge of bringing the entertainment for each class. Actually, he had to sent Corynne to school with the bingo game and bag of prizes and bring a bag of Christmas books to Lauren's class where he was to read some of them when Kelly told him to do so!

Again, he did a great job!

After the parties, it was off to the airport to catch the 1 pm flight to TX.

Well, before they got through security they found out the flight had been delayed 2 hours. They ate a Subway lunch and danced to the music provided by a DJ in the Montgomery airport for a while. Then JM decided to take them back to the car to watch a movie. Thank goodness for technology!!!!

They did finally board a flight. Lyndsey declared, "Dad, we are flying now. I want my snack."

After a 2 hour flight to DFW, they landed and began their journey to the Gaylord Texan where they were spending the night. JM had purchased tickets for the ICE show for them tonight and they went!

After a 10 pm snack/supper, JM got the kids to the room and in bed by 11:15pm. What a day!