Never a Dull Moment

You know how Staples has those big red Easy buttons?  I'd like a big red Pause button for life. 

There's just always so much to do, and not enough time to do it all, ya know?  This past Saturday, Phil and my Dad spent their time ripping out all the carpet from the second floor, and cleaning up after themselves so the kids could still live in their bedrooms until the hardwood floors get installed.  While that was happening, the contractor for Maggie's new room was here putting up the outside wall of her room.  I was busy keeping the kids downstairs, and driving Maggie to basketball, then Andrew to basketball, and cooking and delivering a meal to my friend who had a baby.  

On Sunday, Phil gave a talk at our parish for Adult Ed, and then made two trips to the dump to get rid of the old carpet in the pouring rain.  Andrew had another basketball game, and the Christmas decorations got put away.  Monday came too quick with work and school, and the afternoon found us with an orthodontist appointment for JP, a basketball practice for Eamon, the contractor coming back to plaster and sand the walls, meeting with a couple who bought the bunk bed from us on Craigslist, and a trip to Wal-Mart (shudder) for some much needed diapers.

Tuesday afternoon was filled with yet another doctor's appointment, a basketball game for Eamon, and Phil's second talk at our parish.  Today's calendar (google calendar has been a life changer for us) shows that the contractor will be back to prime and paint, Maggie has Irish Step class, and I need to get my stitches removed from my mole removal two weeks ago.  Andrew's basketball practice got cancelled tonight (and all the Martins said Amen) so it feels like an easy night tonight.  We might actually fit in the grocery shopping trip we so desperately need. On the rare occasions where there is nothing on the calendar for the afternoon/evenings I get giddy and throw on my pj's as early as possible and promptly fall asleep at 8:30 pm.  Oh, the life.

I really shouldn't be complaining about this busyness of ours.  After all, we do have six kids, and we do work out of the home during the day, so all of the chores and errands have to be done at night and on weekends.  Plus, it's me who signs up the kids for all of these activities they want to participate in, and we really do enjoy watching them play.  It's the life and lifestyle we've chosen.  It's just sometimes I get burnt out and need a break.  And I need a break like yesterday already.  This is when I like to start planning a family vacation so we can get away from everything, even if it's just for a night or two.  This February, if the weather and everybody's health allows, we will be doing a big week-long trip to somewhere warm.  Although I detest long drives, the destination will be worth it (I hope!).  In the meantime, it's life on fast forward until someone sends me that Pause button.